On January 5, 2026, Anakeesta closed for the season to begin our Making More Magic project, which involves over $100 million worth of expansions over the next five years. In the two weeks since the first phase of our renovations began, we’ve already made significant progress on the project.
If you’re interested in how the project is progressing, check out our first update about Phase 1.
What Is Anakeesta Expanding in Phase 1 of Making More Magic?
Since construction began in January at Anakeesta, we’ve accomplished the following:
1. Cleared a Path in Firefly Village
Transporting a crane up a mountain and through an adventure park isn’t the most glamorous job, but it’s essential to the success of our renovation. To make it possible for cranes to reach their needed destinations in the park, we’ve cleared a pathway through Firefly Village. This pathway will allow us to efficiently move cranes around the park to different worksites, keeping us on track to hit our target re-opening in March.
2. Removed the Old Chondola
As construction kicked off, we removed the Chondola’s cable, gondolas, and chairs to pave the way for our new Crystal Express High Speed Gondola.
While we’re sad to say goodbye to our old Chondola, The Crystal Express will offer faster speeds and give riders the chance to take in views of the Smoky Mountains from luxurious panoramic cabins.
3. Disassembled Loading and Unloading Stations
Alongside removing the Chondola, we disassembled the loading and unloading stations for them. With the stations removed, we can add our new, upgraded Crystal Express stations, which will make loading and unloading even easier and more convenient.
4. Prepped Sites for New Towers and Terminal
We’ve also begun site prep for new support towers and both of our new loading and unloading terminals. For example, we poured concrete for all of the Crystal Express’s new support towers, ensuring the gondola ride has a solid foundation. Additionally, we began excavation for new terminals at the loading and unloading zones.
With all of this site prep completed, we’re excited to begin construction on the Crystal Express.
Stay Tuned for More Anakeesta Renovation Updates As Phase 1 Progresses
Now that Phase 1 is in full swing, our team at Anakeesta is working hard to make our mountaintop adventure park an even better experience for our visitors. Whether you’re looking forward to riding in our new gondolas, experiencing our new firefly experience, or exploring more of our Treetop Skywalk, our renovations are on track to make your experience at Anakeesta unforgettable.
Learn more about our ongoing expansion today. If you’d like to stay tuned to our expansion project and any special events, please sign up for our newsletter!
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