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    Gatlinburg, TN

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    Anakeesta

    3.6 (1k reviews)
    Closed • 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    Kim N.

    Anakeesta was one of the highlights of our trip. We went in the evening, and it was the perfect time to visit. The chairlift wasn't hot like some reviews mentioned it has plenty of fresh air, moves quickly, and we never waited long. The 360° observation tower offers breathtaking views and is a must-do. I skipped the Firefly experience because the line barely moved near closing, and after hearing it took about 35 min wait , I don't feel like we missed much as my son said he didn't see any fireflies This place is magical for little ones. Our toddler had an absolute blast exploring and playing. For older kids, there aren't as many attractions, but the views alone make it worth a visit. Pro tip: Buy the Dollywood + Anakeesta combo through Tripster. We paid about $20 per ticket instead of around $40, plus $20 parking. Beautiful views, friendly staff, and a relaxing atmospherewe'd definitely come back.

    Anthony L.

    Sometimes you do something you know better than to do anyway. Anakeesta sits high above Gatlinburg, perched on a mountain with views that'll make you forget your blood pressure for a few minutes. The scenery is spectacular. The light show? Flat-out phenomenal. If this review were based on the views alone, we'd already be talking five stars. Then we tried to eat. Happy hour started at Cliff Top with two Palomas and an order of fried green tomatoes. Twenty minutes later, the food runner proudly delivered...fried pickles. Wrong order. Back they went. A kitchen employee returned to tell the bartender they were out of green tomatoes and assured us the pickles were good. I'm sure they were, but I didn't order them. We settled on the pimento cheese spread instead. To their credit, they added extra vegetables and toast without any fuss. It wasn't great, but it was a fair recovery. A couple of hours later, hunger got the better of us, so we wandered over to the BBQ joint. They had Duke's, so hope sprang eternal. I ordered pulled pork. Out. Switched to brisket. Also out. That left the ribs, which tasted like they'd been rushed through the smoker and reheated before landing on the plate. The baked beans, however, deserved a standing ovation. They were the undisputed MVP of the meal. The biggest head-scratcher? Waiting nearly twenty minutes for two draft lagers from the bar. Son, in the South, making a man wait that long for a cold beer borders on a misdemeanor. As we were leaving, the bride ducked into the restroom and discovered that five of the six stalls were out of toilet paper. Come on, folks. After dropping nearly two hundred dollars, I shouldn't have to wonder if I needed to pack my own roll like it was the height of the COVID shortage. Here's the thing: Anakeesta is absolutely worth visiting. The mountaintop views, attractions, and nighttime light show are first class. But the food and beverage operation feels like it's trying to keep up with the crowds instead of getting ahead of them. A little more attention to inventory, service, and the basics would go a long way. Go for the mountain. Stay for the lights. Just don't arrive hungry...and maybe throw a travel-size roll of toilet paper in your backpack

    Closed
    Jessica M.

    We paid to come up and then after $150 for our family realized that the sky walk was closed. Many bridges and things were also closed. I was disappointed we weren't informed of this before purchasing. Our dinner at Clifftop restaurant was sub-par. I'm leaving this review at 4 stars since I know many people rave about the sky walk (we weren't able to see this so I'm unsure) and the kids play area was super fun. My kids could have played for hours. It's multiple levels and really large. I felt that staff could have been more present in the children's area though. They were just hanging out and talking and not helping to keep the slide area safe. While we were there a parent lost her child and no staff was present anywhere. That was discouraging. It's beautiful here. So many beautiful views. Entertainment, and lots of nice places to sit and relax. We even had a chance to see a black bear.

    The view
    Madalyn S.

    We last minute decided to buy tickets! It was work it for the views alone! When you get up it can get pretty pricey with all of the add ons! Cool experience and it looked like they were adding more!

    Bar area
    Talgat T.

    Anakeesta is one of my favorite places to visit in Tennessee! The views are absolutely beautiful, and there's so much to do for the whole family. The mountain scenery, rides, attractions, and overall atmosphere make it a great place to spend the day. Everything feels like a fun adventure, especially when you take the chairlift up and enjoy the views of the Smoky Mountains. Definitely a place I would recommend visiting if you're in the Gatlinburg area. It's a great experience for both kids and adults!

    Astro Lumina
    Elaina M.

    I have been wanting to go here for quite some time. The skywalk alone is worth a trip. Even though the park was slightly packed, we did not encounter any trouble getting through the skywalk or any of the attractions that were included in the park Price. We did not do the coasters. But we did add on the Astro Lumina. Do I think it was worth $20 more a person? No. But do I think it was really really cool? Yes! We enjoyed our visit very much.

    Top of the mountain
    Linds O.

    We decided to take a trip up one of the mountains in Gatlinburg. There are several options, as far as different companies, to take a chair lift or gondola up one of the mountains, and each go to their own different mountain. And at the top of each the company that owns them has their little attractions area. I had searched online, but was not able to find much about Anakeesta being ADA friendly. After having visited, I can assure you it is not very ADA friendly at all. For reference point for any longer period of walking I need a walker, but I can go short distances with a cane. The "crystal" gondolas (basically meaning all glass except the roof) can hold up to six people. While you can board the gondolas with a walker or stroller, it will be a tight fit, but it is accomplishable. Otherwise access to the mountain is through a bus kind of situation. Once at the top of the mountain activities are limited if you are using a walker or wheelchair or have children in a stroller. The tree top walk has stairs at many points and while you may be able to switch to a cane, it is a very long course and you will likely not have the energy to complete it if you really rely on a wheelchair or walker. The overlook tower is only stairs. Thankfully, there are some decent places where you can sit and at least enjoy the view while your party goes and does all the different activities. However, I feel that for the inaccessibility, they should offer a discounted ticket for disabled as you're not going to be able to use any of the activities. That being said it is a pretty view but you'll pay a lot just for that view and there are equally great views at many unpaid or cheaper attractions.

    Promising
    Rio R.

    Just steps from The Greystone Lodge on the River, Anakeesta's Enchanted Christmas truly lives up to its name. We braved the cold and took the ski lift up the mountain, (another option is to take the tram through the winding road up and down the hill when you get back) and it was absolutely worth it. The entire area was beautifully lit and full of holiday magic. We also purchased tickets for Astra Lumina, the immersive lights-and-sound walking experience--and it was the highlight of our visit. It felt like stepping into another world, and we didn't even realize how muck walking we'd done because we were so captivated. I only wish it were longer! Despite the lines, everything felt well organized. At the top, there's plenty of places to eat, cozy fire pits and heaters, hot cocoa, souvenir shops, and festive holiday decor. There's something for everyone--kids, families, and couples alike. The staff were warm, friendly, and consistently helpful, which made the experience even better. The only downside was the food pricing--considering the admission and extra ticket costs, more affordable options would be appreciated. Overall, Anakeesta is well worth the visit. We'd love to return in spring or fall to experience the greenery or colorful foliage--it must be just as spectacular.

    Jennifer C.

    My son really wanted to take the glass gondola. That was the main reason for visiting. That being said we went there first thing in the morning which probably made for a better experience. It's quite Disney like up on the mountain and the views are insane on a sunny day. The coasters were soooo much fun and worth the money. But I could see the wait times would get crazy long pretty quickly. The reason for 3 stars? The sky walk was closed without any notice. I checked the website and socials prior to going that morning. I was really bummed about this and of course there was no discount in the pricing. Would I go back? Probably not but it was nice to do at least once. Bonus- young little bear walked right through the park and down a hill in front of us

    Anakeesta Fall
    Clinton W.

    This place was a last minute grab on our trip and boy did it hit well! We did purchase the Astra Lumina add on and definitely a must! We arrived when they opened and rode the trucks up as the lines were significantly shorter. Waited maybe 20 minutes. Got to the top and immediately purchased the BOGO free souvenir cup with unlimited refills. Treetop Skywalk was pretty cool to walk across. The kids loved it. Could see quite a bit out but mostly intrigued to walk the rope bridges from tree to tree. The Anakeesta Tower is where the views come in. With the 2 glass floor rows that give the kids a little excitement while the adults get to take in the views. There are also 2 play areas (wooden bridges) and (birdhouses) for the kids to get a little energy out. From the jump net to the slides the kids of all ages will have fun. Just remember to be mindful of all the kids trying to enjoy it. There are a fair amount of shops to look at while up there for those souvenirs needed to take home. A few food vendors as well as the restaurant that smelled amazing and fairly priced. The Astra Lumina we came back for and spent roughly 1-1.5 hours walking through watching the light shows. It was just something you have to see to understand. At the end rode the chairlift back down and the few of the city at night was a great way to finish the already amazing day!

    Kayla H.

    we had an amazing time at the top of the mountain attraction Anakeesta. The views were incredible from the all glass gondola that whisked us up the mountainside just in time to view the stunning sunset from the observation tower. we booked our vacation to Gatlinburg through Monster reservations and was right in the middle of all the attractions

    Amber B.

    Our family visited Anakeesta, and we all loved it! The scenery is absolutely stunning. We appreciated that the park worked with nature and highlighted the beauty of the mountains, trees, flowers, etc. Every single view was breathtaking! We did not purchase our tickets ahead of time, but when we go back, we will. We were able to use a posted QR code and buy our tickets at the park rather than stand in line for tickets. We purchased the base ticket and added-on being able to ride coasters. The ride up is an adventure in itself. We rode the chair lift up and the chodola back down. For those less-adventurous, there is the Ridge Rambler (big truck)! The staff at Anakeesta if fantastic. Everyone was so friendly! There were lots of options for food at reasonable price points. We stayed long enough to have both lunch and dinner! If you go with children, be prepared to pay for extras. Note what the base ticket includes, and know that riding the mountain coasters, ziplining, and the photo package are all additional in cost.

    Alyssa H.

    Go early 9 am As soon as they open enjoy everything before it get too busy. There's coupons floating around that discount the price it's roughly 40 bucks per person We went right at 9 AM. We were able to do the Vista gardens the skywalk and sightsee relaxing you know enjoy the Mountain View without 1000 people in 1000 kids yelling and screaming. It was very nice.

    Entrance to the park

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    Page 1 of 26

    Anakeesta Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Anakeesta

    Are they open year round?? Looking to go early October?

    Yes they are open in October and you can go to their website to check the hours of operation for each day.

    Do you have to ask to get one of the enclosed rides to the top? Or do you just have to see what you get?

    The line splits at towards the end so you can pick! Keep in mind that there are only 2 cabins every 26 chairs (8 total) so be prepared to wait. There's also the ridge rambler which is faster.

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    Review Highlights - Anakeesta

    “We spent at least 2 1/2 hours roaming and sitting enjoying the garden and Mountain View's from Vista Gardens inside of the park.”

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Gatlinburg SkyPark - Skybridge

    Gatlinburg SkyPark

    4.0(572 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Wow. Pricey, but great experience. Should be some sweet memories for the kids - and us!!…read more Special shout-out to Chad (no idea about last name), who was taking tickets before we got on the lift. Super nice guy - professional and helpful (good tips) - friendly and welcoming. Sending us off with a God bless was a nice touch, although I could see that sounding funny to some folks, ha ha. (Dear God, please watch over us on this chair lift...) It was the kids' 1st time on a chair lift / ski lift, and it was a good one. Had to go open-air. No one freaked out. They even took selfies together on it. So sweet. Great views on the way down! Lift was rebuilt in... 2019 (?) after wildfires destroyed it, but they maintained a great old-school feel. Now! To the top. The SkyBridge. THE SKYBRIDGE. WOW. So so cool. Longest suspension bridge in North America, apparently. It was awesome, complete with grating and plexiglass at the middle. Amazing views. A little scary, sure, but so cool. Was stoked the kids wanted to walk across it multiple times. The trails up top are better than I expected. Not top tier Smokies trails, but better than expected. And more good views. Tulip Tower was cool, too. The overall SkyPark area was also beautifully landscaped. REALLY impressive - beautiful. Highly recommended.

    The Gatlinburg SkyPark is a good experience worth buying tickets for. The ride up was great with…read morenice views of the town (the seats fit up to 3 people) and the bridge had good views of the mountains, and for the thrill seekers had a part that was transparent glass. At the other end of the bridge there is a drink and burger place and seats with a view. Though you might wonder why isn't this review a 5 star review. It's because the workers print out photos of you on the ride up and wait for you at the top asking you to buy them. They also take a photo of you before the ride, knocking the background out, putting it on a picture of the bridge and expecting 36 bucks for it. If you say no it goes in the trash which is a big waste. Now my family's face is shredded like iceberg lettuce and tossed into a dumpster somewhere in Gatlinburg (probably owned by Blake Shelton) The prices of the food were good, though just a notice the "frozen lemonade" is STRAWBERRY lemonade and is pre packaged.

    Photos
    Gatlinburg SkyPark - Bridge at night

    Bridge at night

    Gatlinburg SkyPark - Glass floor on the skybridge

    Glass floor on the skybridge

    Gatlinburg SkyPark - Up top

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    Up top

    Ripley's Mountain Coaster - Snowman and Penguin were here

    Ripley's Mountain Coaster

    3.8(14 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Ripley's Mountain Coaster was a really fun experience and definitely worth checking out if you're…read morein the area! The ride gets surprisingly fast, reaching around 30-35 mph, which makes it exciting without feeling like you're just slowly going around a track. The speed is definitely one of the best parts, and it makes the whole ride a lot more fun. One of the biggest advantages is the pricing. It's normally $25 per person, but during October, kids under 9 can ride for free, which is a great deal for families visiting during the fall season. Even better, your ticket lets you ride as many times as you want until the coaster closes for the day. If you enjoy the ride, you can keep going back for another round without having to pay for every individual ride. The main downside is that the lines can get pretty long, so you might spend a decent amount of time waiting. The actual ride only lasts around 3-4 minutes, which can feel a little short when you've been standing in line for a while. However, being able to ride unlimited times helps make up for that, especially if you plan your visit when it's less crowded. Overall, I had a great time at Ripley's Mountain Coaster. The speed makes it exciting, and the unlimited-ride ticket is a big plus. The October deal for younger kids is especially nice for families, too. Even with the longer lines and shorter ride time, I would definitely recommend giving it a try if you're looking for something fun to do in the area!

    We bought a 3 activity ticket from Ripley's and decided to use it on the mountain coaster. Walking…read morein there wasn't any long lines, which is always nice. All the workers were polite and helpful. The actual mountain coaster was your typical mountain coaster for the area. Compared to other coasters I felt this was one of the shorter rides. They do offer photos from your ride which I did purchase and it seemed to be a reasonable price.

    Photos
    Ripley's Mountain Coaster
    Ripley's Mountain Coaster
    Ripley's Mountain Coaster

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    Ober Gatlinburg

    Ober Gatlinburg

    2.5(808 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    I visited Ober Mountain in early January of this year and spent 2 days enjoyng activities…read more The first day consisted of participating in the fun pass, which gave us a list of activites we could do on the mountain like going to the zoo, ice skating, ice bumper cars, scenic lifts, etc. As an adult, the pass felt a little underwhelming but I can imagine a kid enjoying their time with this pass. I would recommend that you find a groupon/deal to get it at a cheaper rate rather than the usual $50/ticket they offer it for because I genuinely do not think it is worth the $50. I would definitely NOT recommend the fun pass for adults, but would for children (at the discounted price). Our second day on the mountain, we went snowboarding and that was a very fun time for my group and I. Ober has snow machines, so it is not real snow and instead is icy, artificial snow. I can imagine during the colder season, it may be softer and covered much more. I went in early January for reference. The employees are very nice with helping you strap in boots and understanding how to strap into board as well. I decided to do a lesson, which I would recommend for anyone who has not snowboarded before. Although I enjoyed my time, I do agree that it is fairly pricy, considering the size of the mountain compared to other resorts I have seen. I understand the weather determines which lifts are avaliable but the "snow" was ice, no where near snow texture. I think a day of snowboarding would cost roughly $150+ here for day pass and gear rental. My downsides for Ober are the price, the fun pass, and the snow.

    It was worth doing once. Beautiful scenery and very polite staff. September is the perfect month to…read morego. Activities and shopping at the top of the mountain as well food places.

    Photos
    Ober Gatlinburg
    Ober Gatlinburg - The top of the scenic sky chair lift.

    The top of the scenic sky chair lift.

    Ober Gatlinburg

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    Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg

    Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg

    4.0(8 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    We got ghosted on a ghost tour!…read more I would give this place 0 stars if I could - this is not a reputable company despite the positive reviews on other websites. My friend and I had some time to kill before the rest of our group arrived, so we decided to book a ghost tour at 8:30 PM. Booking was pretty easy and quick via a third party site - the site did mention that we would be notified if the tour was cancelled due to not enough seats being booked. We booked the tickets around 4 PM that day, but didn't receive any notification that the tour had been canceled, so we headed towards the meet up spot around 8:00 PM. The instructions said to meet by 8:15 PM at the Dolly Parton statue near the courthouse to avoid any issues with traffic/parking. My friend and I arrived at 8:10 PM but no one else was around aside from a couple of tourists taking pictures of the statue. 8:15 PM rolled around and the tour guide was nowhere in sight.. We still did not receive any communication about the tour being canceled (we even received a couple of text messages reminding us of the upcoming tour time) so we decided to wait until 8:30 PM to see if maybe the tour guide was running a little late. 8:30 PM rolls around and the tour guide never arrived. We tried calling the phone number on their website but the number is disconnected. Their email address also does not work and was undelivered, so there's no way to contact this company. We gave them the benefit of the doubt and waited for 5 more minutes before deciding to leave. The company had the audacity to send an automated text message after the tour asking us to rate the experience. A huge disappointment as we were looking forward for a fun night. There were other ghost tours we could have booked, but we chose this place due to the good reviews and proximity to our Airbnb. DO NOT (BOO)K.

    tour was cancelled last minute and they have not refunded me for over a week. don't waste your…read moremoney!

    Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - Penguins were awesome!!

    Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

    4.2(963 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    This was on our short list for our trip, based on our visit decades ago, and it did not disappoint…read more This time we came with our own kids, and they just had a blast. The aquarium sea life itself is great with all the favorites: a big shark tank, the electric eel, the dragon fish, the ray touch tank, the octopus. It also has that Ripley's goofy charm, a big climbing playground in the middle for the kids, a mermaid show, and even a penguin march through the middle of the exhibits. You can buy food and drinks (including local beers) in between the exhibits. The city parking garage is right behind the location and the trolley drops off right beside the front door. If you have kids, you'll want to spend some time here.

    If you've ever wondered what it feels like to be a salmon swimming upstream during peak season,…read morejust visit Ripley's Aquarium on a busy day. I didn't take many pictures because I was trying to live in the moment--and also because I was too busy dodging people who apparently trained for this event at the "Cutting in Line Olympics (my kid came up with that analogy.) This place was packed. I mean Black Friday at the Best Buy packed. Half the time I couldn't even see the tanks because someone's unk decided the best viewing angle was directly in front of my face. Patience was not the theme of the day. Luckily for him I'm not only patient but handsome. But then... the shark tunnel appeared like a gift from the aquarium gods. We hopped onto a slow-moving convey like a lazy river at a Vegas hotel, for people who don't want to walk. Honestly, I wish the entire building worked this way. Zero chaos. Zero pushing. Just vibes and sharks gliding over your head like "Come on in the waters fine" The stingrays were another highlight--majestic, chill, and many different sizes. Crowds aside,(but not really) those two moments made the visit worth it. If you go, bring patience, comfortable shoes, and maybe a bullhorn to get people's attention. But once you hit the sharks, it will be smooth sailing. FYI I will never go again but it was pretty cool in general..

    Photos
    Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - Family photo.  They offer photo packages

    Family photo. They offer photo packages

    Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - Outside entrance

    Outside entrance

    Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies - My kids In the huge chair

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    My kids In the huge chair

    Anakeesta - amusementparks - Updated October 2026

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