Where friends and families discover a mountain of fun!
ADVENTURE AWAITS IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS AT TENNESSEE'S AWARD WINNING THEME PARK
The mountains are a place for adventure and relaxation, exploration and wonder. A place where people of all ages can discover nature and family entertainment. You and your family will find lots of fun things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains’ best theme park, Anakeesta.
Ride the Crystal Express Gondola or Ridge Rambler adventure vehicle to the summit to enjoy all day, unlimited access. Then, stroll along our 16-bridge Treetop Skywalk and climb Anavista Tower for 360⁰ views from downtown Gatlinburg’s highest point. Walk meandering pathways in Vista Gardens, a multi-sensory botanical garden featuring whimsy, music and scenic overlooks. TreeVenture and BearVenture challenge courses will delight all ages. Look for the Heart ‘twigloo’ that perfectly frames Mt. LeConte, then pose for a selfie with Willow.
Looking for more thrills? Add to your adventure on the Dueling Zipline Adventure course, soar on the Rail Runner and Hellbender mountain coasters, find your treasure at Anakeesta Gem Mining, and experience Astra Lumina, an Enchanted Night Walk Amongst the Stars the first of its kind in the United States!
RIDE THE CRYSTAL EXPRESS HIGH SPEED GONDOLA OR RIDGE RAMBLER
Enter Anakeesta from the Parkway via our BRAND NEW Crystal Express Gondola or Ridge Rambler vehicles.
The Crystal Express redefines the journey to the mountaintop with a next-generation, high-speed gondola designed for a faster, smoother, more comfortable ascent. The Crystal Express is the only all-glass Gondola system in the world, featuring 56 luxurious all-glass cabins, delivering uninterrupted 360-degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains and the Gatlinburg skyline.
Enjoy the ride and get ready to experience the magic in the mountains.
ANAVISTA SMOKY MOUNTAIN OBSERVATION TOWER
AnaVista observation tower is downtown Gatlinburg’s highest point, and an excellent Smoky Mountains lookout tower! With 360⁰ views of the Smokies and the only one of its kind in the world, it is surrounded by Vista Gardens, a lush botanical garden with meandering walking trails and interactive areas of play. Guests will climb 86 steps to a large observation platform atop AnaVista Tower. From the top deck scenic views as far as Kentucky will surround you. Interpretive signs identify mountain ranges and peaks and two glass panel floors allow guests to peer down into the garden 60 feet below!
Bird-Venture
Families are having a real hoot with the opening of BirdVenture, an aviary-inspired adventure zone where guests play and imagine life as a bird in the Smokies. Kids and kids at heart can explore three colorful, larger-than-life bird houses, a dozen interactive adventure zones, and seven giant serpentine slides with light features that will wind more than 50 feet down the mountain! This unique series of slide paths marks another first of its kind in the United States.
*Height restrictions apply
Dueling Zipline Adventure (CLOSED)
Due to on-going construction for Anakeesta’s Making More Magic Expansion, the Dueling Zipline is currently closed.
Looking for another zipline in the Smokies? Check out WildSide’s MegaZip, the LONGEST zipline in America. Located just 15 minutes from Anakeesta in Pigeon Forge.
Treetop Skywalk (Closed June 1 - June 5, 2026)
Discover the longest tree-based skywalk in North America with 880′ of spectacular hanging bridges suspended 50-60′ in the air. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you walk through the tree canopy. Experience what it feels like to be a bird in the tree tops. Keep a sharp eye, you may spot a bear on the forest floor below or a woodpecker nearby. Be sure to bring your camera for the perfect family memory that you will want to share with everyone! Read more about the rules for the Treetop Skywalk here.
Note: The Treetop Skywalk is closed Monday June 1, 2026 – Friday, June 5, 2026.
Hellbender Mountain Coaster
Prepare yourself for an unforgettable adventure at Anakeesta as we introduce The Hellbender Smoky Mountain Coaster, a highly-anticipated thrill ride. This coaster promises to deliver heart-racing twists, gravity-defying drops, and awe-inspiring scenic vistas that will completely redefine your idea of excitement. Don’t pass up the opportunity to be among the first riders on this exhilarating journey. Get ready to fasten your seatbelt and gear up for an adrenaline-pumping race, as the Hellbender offers the ultimate mountain coaster experience!
ASTRA LUMINA
Astra Lumina at Anakeesta is the 15th experience in the Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series and the very first in the United States. The name Astra Lumina evokes the illuminating power of the stars to connect us with the infinite wonder of the cosmos. Immerse yourself in illuminating encounters of lighting, projection and sound, and connect with the stars before they return to the sky above. Through the magic of projections, lighting, and music, astral energy transforms the Smoky Mountains into a celestial pathway, connecting visitors to the stars and the vast world around them.
Anakeesta Gem Mining
Strike it rich at the Anakeesta Gem Mine! An interactive waterfall and sluice allows kids of all ages to search for that special gemstone or fossil. Located at the beginning of the Treetop Skywalk and adjacent to the Children’s Treehouse Village Adventure, Gem Mining is always a fun family activity.
Gem Mining is weather dependent.
Rail Runner Mountain Coaster
Anakeesta’s single-rail mountain coaster is the first of its kind in the United States! Fly down the mountain on this single rail track with 1,600 feet of downhill twists and turns at speeds up to 25 mph! Race through the trees at your own speed with a 400 ft elevation change! This exhilarating ride offers a thrill at every turn before enjoying a scenic uphill ride to the top of Anakeesta Mountain. Our Rail Runner carts feature back and headrests for a comfortable and safe ride! We offer solo and tandem rides for guests with small children.
Rail Runner is weather dependent.
Treehouse Adventure play area
Children of all ages will love playing in the trees in this whimsically themed treehouse village interconnected by multiple bridges of varying challenge. Physical and educational elements designed to build strength and confidence will surprise guests at nearly every turn. Trek along a log walk to an elevated bird nest to learn about how an American Goldfinch cultivates its home, navigate a plank walk to a maze encapsulated by a house in the trees, and crawl through a tube net to a climbing adventure within the walls of nature.
TREEVENTURE CHALLENGE COURSE
Anakeesta’s treehouse adventure adds more outdoor fun and imaginative play for families. Climb, swing, crawl and slide your way through three levels of play in these interactive treehouses. Six netted bridges and three treehouses offer a different challenge that will delight children of all ages. Climb to the top to enjoy the views from above then slide to the bottom level to begin the fun all over again.
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