Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Phase 1 of Anakeesta’s Making More Magic expansion is complete, bringing three major additions to the mountaintop as of summer 2026.
- The Crystal Express is the world’s only all-glass gondola system, featuring 56 panoramic cabins with glass floors and walls and unobstructed 360-degree views of the Smoky Mountains.
- The Firefly Experience recreates the synchronized glow of the Smokies’ fireflies year-round along the elevated pathways of an expanded Treetop Skywalk, now the longest elevated canopy walk in North America.
- Firefly Village has been fully reimagined with new gathering spaces, scenic overlooks, and a fairy-tale aesthetic designed to make every part of the mountaintop feel cohesive and memorable.
- The Making More Magic expansion runs through 2030, with Phase 2 set to introduce new rides, dining, and themed spaces beginning in 2027.
The wait is over. After months of construction, big announcements, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, Phase 1 of Anakeesta’s Making More Magic expansion is officially complete. The mountain has never looked quite like this. Two landmark additions have opened this summer: the Crystal Express, the world’s only all-glass gondola system, and the Firefly Experience, which is an immersive new attraction woven throughout a reimagined Treetop Skywalk.
Whether you’ve been following every construction update or you’re just now hearing about the changes, here’s a look at everything that’s new at Anakeesta.
What Is Anakeesta's Making More Magic Expansion?
Making More Magic is the largest expansion in Anakeesta’s history. The initiative is a $100 million, five-year investment in the future of Gatlinburg’s premier mountaintop adventure park, announced in late 2025 and already delivering on its promises.
Every part of a visit to Anakeesta, from the moment you leave the Parkway to the last light of the evening, should feel extraordinary. Anakeesta President Bryce Bentz has described the expansion as being driven by purpose above all else. Every decision has been guided by a commitment to honoring the spirit of the Smoky Mountains while building experiences that families will return to for generations.
The 3 Biggest Changes to Anakeesta During Making More Magic Phase 1
Phase 1 of the Making More Magic expansion has brought three major additions to the mountaintop, each one designed to make your visit feel more immersive, more memorable, and more connected to the natural beauty of the Smokies.
These three new additions include:
1. The Crystal Express: The World's Only All-Glass Gondola
As the world’s only all-glass gondola system, the Crystal Express changes what it means to arrive at Anakeesta. Its 56 panoramic cabins feature glass floors and walls on every side, delivering unobstructed 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains, forests, and valleys. The journey up is as breathtaking as anything waiting at the summit.
Here’s what the ascent covers:
- A four-minute ascent that rises more than 600 feet above downtown Gatlinburg
- Nearly 80 feet above the ground at certain points along the route
- Sweeping views through the forest canopy and across the Gatlinburg skyline
The Parkway station has been updated to match. Redesigned loading areas make boarding seamless, with easy on-and-off access that lets families roll strollers directly into the cabins. The experience is faster and smoother than the original Chondola, which carried guests faithfully from 2017 until January, 2026.
Founding Partner Bob Bentz summed it up well. From the moment visitors leave the Parkway, the goal has always been for them to feel the magic of the mountain. With the Crystal Express, that magic starts before you even reach the top.
2. The Firefly Experience: A Year-Round Natural Wonder
Every summer, something remarkable happens in the Great Smoky Mountains. Thousands of fireflies begin to flash in perfect unison, sending rippling waves of light across the forest floor in patterns so precise that scientists believe they’re driven by shared biological rhythms. Until now, experiencing it meant being in the right place at exactly the right time of year.
The Firefly Experience, now open as the centerpiece of a completely reimagined Treetop Skywalk, brings that seasonal wonder to life year-round. State-of-the-art lighting technology, immersive sound design, and carefully crafted storytelling work together to recreate the synchronized glow of the Smokies’ fireflies along elevated canopy pathways, available to every guest in every season.
Already the longest elevated canopy walk in North America, the Treetop Skywalk has been expanded with new towers, wider bridges, and winding pathways that draw you deeper into the forest. More than 60 feet above the forest floor, choreographed lighting sequences synchronize, flash, and fade in patterns drawn directly from nature. Walking through it feels like stepping into a living forest at twilight, a place where light becomes language and the mountain tells its own story.
3. A Reimagined Firefly Village
Firefly Village, the whimsical gathering area at the heart of the mountaintop, has been fully reimagined with a fairy-tale aesthetic. Wander through, and you’ll find a covered bridge perfect for photos, a redesigned fire pit, two new covered seating areas, a Bear Paw Shaped Observation Deck, and a new photo and information booth, all set beneath sweeping new views of Gatlinburg from the village overlook.
Every part of the arrival and summit experience has been thoughtfully considered. From your first glimpse of the Crystal Express cabins at the Parkway station to the last twinkling light of the Firefly Experience after dark, each element connects to form something that feels like a completely new chapter at Anakeesta.
The Magic Is Just Getting Started at Anakeesta
Phase 1 is complete, but the story continues. The Making More Magic vision runs through 2030, with Phase 2 already on the horizon, set to bring new thrill rides, dining experiences, and themed spaces beginning in 2027. Each year will offer something new to discover, and each visit will feel a little different from the last.
To learn more about the expansion, sign up for our newsletter. If you’re ready to experience the magic, check out our ticket options today!
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