Gatlinburg’s Anakeesta: The Ultimate Guide for Your Visit
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Discover the ultimate family adventure at Gatlinburg’s Anakeesta, where the magic of the Smoky Mountains meets unforgettable experiences for all ages.
Anakeesta is without a doubt one of my favorite places to visit in Gatlinburg with my family.
With its unique experiences that you can’t find anywhere else, it creates amazing memories for both the kids and adults.
I created this guide because Anakeesta in Gatlinburg is a must-visit spot for families exploring the Smoky Mountains.
This guide will provide you not only everything you need to know for your visit but also insider tips to maximize your experience at Anakeesta, Gatlinburg’s best family mountaintop attraction.
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What is Anakeesta?
Anakeesta is best described as a mountaintop theme park.
The word theme park makes me think of rides such as a ferris wheel or roller coaster although it DOES have two mountain coasters.
Anakeesta does not have any of these but it does have LOTS of attractions, entertainment, shops, restaurants, and unique experiences.
Per its website, Anakeesta is a Cherokee Indian word that is translates to a place of high ground.
Getting to Anakeesta
You can get to Anakeesta by going on U.S. Highway 441 also called the Parkway which runs through downtown Gatlinburg.
We parked at the McMahon/Parkway Parking garage and it was about 4-5 blocks to the Anakeesta ticket office and where you board to get up to Anakeesta Mountain’s summit.
Parking Information
There is a parking lot right next to the Chondola boarding area, but we opted for the McMahon garage since it was the first one we saw and had available spots. Another convenient option is the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies parking lot, which is also nearby.
LEARN MORE: Ultimate Guide to Downtown Gatlinburg
There are two ways to get up to Anakeesta. One is the Chondola ride, and the other is a Ridge Rambler Adventure vehicle.
Both ways are great options to get up to and down from Anakeesta.
The first time we visited, we took the enclosed gondola up and the Ridge Rambler vehicle down.
They are both fun and unique experiences so I would suggest doing them both if you get the opportunity.
With the Chondola ride there is either a 4 person open chair with a bar or an enclosed gondola cabin that can seat 6.
We chose to do the enclosed gondola since we had a baby and a two year old with us. It was just easier for our family.
The wait was significantly longer for the enclosed gondola as they don’t have nearly as many of these as the open chair.
We probably waited an extra 30 min or so just for the enclosed gondola.
On our most recent visit, the boarding area was much busier, and the workers recommended taking the Ridge Rambler vehicle up since the wait was significantly shorter.
We followed their advice, riding the Ridge Rambler up and enjoying a scenic ride back down the mountain on the open chair after our visit.
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Anakeesta Tickets
I highly recommend purchasing your Anakeesta tickets ahead of time.
If you purchase Anakeesta tickets at least one day in advance, it will save you money plus you will get to skip the ticket line.
When buying advanced tickets, you do have to choose the exact day you want to visit so keep that in mind when making your purchase.
General admission to Anakeesta is $36.99 for adults ages 12-59.
For seniors 60 and over the cost is $29.99.
Children ages 4-11 cost $24.99 and ages 3 and under are free.
Must Know Information
There are additional activities and add-ons that are not including in the general admission cost including the Astra Lumina night walk, ziplining, gem mining, and mountain coasters.
You can add these on when purchasing your Anakeesta tickets online.
Top Things to do at Anakeesta
Anakeesta has SO MUCH to do for people of all ages. Activities included with general admission are below.
1. Anavista Observation Tower
This observation tower is downtown Gatlinburg’s highest point.
The views are breathtaking and the walk up the steps will definitely get your heart pounding.
There is a total of 86 steps to the top!
2. Treetop Skywalk
We really enjoyed the Treetop Skywalk.
The Treetop Skywalk is made up of hanging bridges.
It was so fun to be up in the trees and see all of the great views below!
3. TreeVenture
TreeVenture is a challenge course where people have to climb, crawl, jump, slide, and more through a few different treehouses, slides, and netted bridges.
My kids had a blast doing this!
4. BearVenture
BearVenture is another smaller obstacle or challenge course.
People have to walk across ropes, logs, and more.
It is another fun challenge for the kids and adults too!
5. TreeHouse Village Play Area
This is a cute little play area with tree houses that kids can go in. There are different challenging ways to get to all of the treehouses. Each treehouse is unique and cool to explore.
6. BirdVenture
BirdVenture is Anakeesta’s newest and most incredible adventure play area experience. Its three larger than life birdhouses are colorful with whimsical elements that are sure to captivate visitors of all ages.
The older kids will love the thrilling slides and trampoline net while younger kids will enjoy exploring each of the grand birdhouses.
Expert Tip
Many of the slides have height restrictions, which may disappoint smaller children. We had some sad younger kids that wanted to do the slides.
Additionally, adults should closely supervise younger children and make a plan with older kids, as it’s easy to lose track of someone in this area.
Overall, we loved this addition to Anakeesta! BirdVenture is super fun and exciting for everyone!
The following activities that you can do at Anakeesta require an additional cost.
- Ziplining
- Rail Runner and Hell Bender Mountain Coasters
- Gem Mining
- Astra Lumina (This is an after dark experience with lights, projections, and music that is supposed to make visitors feel connected to the stars and world around them.)
DISCOVER GATLINBURG: Gatlinburg Family Vacation: Guide to Smoky Mountain Memories
Other Activities at Anakeesta
Shopping
Besides the above activities, Anakeesta also has many cute shops that are perfect places to get a souvenir.
Restaurants
There are also many places to eat including a couple of full service dining restaurants plus some bars and quick service eats, too.
When we were there, dining at both the restaurants and quick service snack shops were super busy.
I would keep this in mind when visiting.
Maybe consider eating at an off time or put your name in before you want to eat so you do not run into the problem of having very hungry children or adults.
Live music
Anakeesta also has musical entertainment to enjoy.
When we were there we listened to a great band that played country cover music.
It was so fun to listen to some good music and enjoy the views.
Gardens and Photo Opportunities
In addition to dining and shopping, there are also beautiful gardens to walk through and views to see.
There are also many great photo opportunities including taking a photo with Willow (see photo).
Tips for Visiting Anakeesta
1. Strollers: You can bring strollers to Anakeesta although many of the activities you cannot do with a stroller. You will have to either park it somewhere or have someone stay with the stroller.
2. Parking: Anakeesta does not have its own parking lots. There are a couple of parking garages in downtown Gatlinburg including the one at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies plus a parking lot right by where you get on the Chondola.
3. Dress Comfortably: Wear closed toe shoes and clothing suitable for outdoor activities.
4. Online Tickets: Book tickets online so you don’t have to wait in the ticket line. This will save you some time.
5. Arrive Early: To avoid long lines and crowds, try to arrive as early as possible.
6. Pack Snacks: Purchasing food at Anakeesta can be pricey and often involves long waits. By packing snacks, you can save money and minimize time spent in lines.
7. Stay Hydrated: Bring water bottles to stay hydrated, especially on hot days. You can refill them as needed at the drinking fountains located throughout the park.
8. Supervision: Keep an eye on younger children and have a meeting spot planned in case anyone gets separated. It can be very easy to lose someone in many of the play areas so plan where to meet if that happens.
9. Give Yourself Time: Allow ample time in your day to fully explore all that Anakeesta has to offer. Consider the potential wait times for boarding the Chondola or Ridge Rambler vehicle and the long lines for food. Planning accordingly will help you make the most of your visit.
Top Reasons to Visit Anakeesta
Here are my favorite things about Gatlinburg’s Anakeesta–
- The views
- Gorgeous gardens to walk through and relax in
- The Treetop SkyWalk
- All of the treehouses
Anakeesta is a great place to spend a day or half day with your family especially if you have some perfect weather.
It is both a relaxing and adventurous place all at once.
Our whole family had an amazing time at Anakeesta.
Gatlinburg’s Anakeesta is certainly a great place to make some memories.
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May you love this adventure. KW
