The Rowdy Bear Mountain

Visitors to Gatlinburg, who are looking for some adrenaline-fueled fun during their vacation will definitely want to stop by Rowdy Bear Mountain! This all new attraction is home to two amazing thrill rides that are guaranteed to get your heart racing.  

The Gravity Coaster

In mid-June, Rowdy Bear Mountain officially launched the Gravity Coaster.  This spiraling alpine coaster cuts through scenic woodlands and offers gorgeous views of downtown Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. 

The Gravity Coaster is self-propelled, which means that passengers can control their own speed.  Darebevils can push their cart to the limit to zoom down the track, while folks who are looking for a more relaxing ride can go slow and soak up all of the area's breathtaking natural beauty.  The Gravity Coaster reaches a top speed of 30 miles per hour and the entire ride typically takes 5 - 7 minutes, depending on how fast you decide to go. 

While riding The Gravity Coaster during the day offers the best mountain views, nighttime rides on the coaster are a unique experience that you don't want to miss.  In the evenings, the coaster is surrounded by thousands of colorful lights that passengers can admire as they whizz down the track.

The Mountain Glider

In late October of 2017, Rowdy Bear Mountain will open one of the most hotly anticipated rides in Gatlinburg: The Mountain Glider.  The first ride of its kind, The Mountain Glider will allow guests to soar through the forest canopy like a bird.  Passengers on The Glider will be suspended in a harness and can experience the ride in a seated position or with their arms stretched in front of them like Superman.  The Mountain Glider will feature two parallel lines, so you can race a friend or family member through the trees.

Click here for more information.

Top Halloween Activities in October

It's always a great time to visit Gatlinburg, but every season brings its own unique treasures to enjoy.

If you love ghost stories, spooky adventures, and feeling your hairs stand on the back of your neck – then you'll have an incredible time exploring the Great Smoky Mountains in this eerie time of year.

Maybe it's just the chilling air in the mountains, the shifting sounds of the forest, or the pale light of the moon making figures in the dark, but we think this beautiful part of the country has plenty of frightful fun to offer!

For October 2017, beautiful Gatlinburg, TN has more than its fair share of scary things to do to celebrate Halloween.

To help you find the best scary activities to enjoy in Gatlinburg, we made this guide with 5 Spooky things to do in Gatlinburg this Halloween 2017!

1. Fright Nights at Ripley's Haunted Adventure

Dates: Sep. 30 - Oct. 31

Every year, Gatlinburg's largest haunted house takes its terrifying adventure even further with a themed show for the spine-chilling season of October. Ripley's Fright Night's will have the theme of "Monster Movie Madness." This spine-chilling show will feature the most terrifying monsters to ever appear on film. You can see Frightnights every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October. Additionally, there will be a Frightnight performance on Halloween night as well.

You'll have a screaming good time trying to make your way past cannibals, mutants and ghouls in this multi-million dollar, year round haunted attraction in the heart of Gatlinburg.

2. Explore Gatlinburg's Mysterious Mansion

Located a short walk off of Gatlinburg's main drag on River Rd, you'll find an innocuous-looking house that gives passersby an uneasy feeling. The Mysterious Mansion may seem low key, but inside unimaginable terrors and thrills await! In fact, this haunted attraction is just right for anyone who relishes a top-notch haunted house. For Halloween, this spooky destination is bound to bring even more blood-curdling screams and classic fun to Gatlinburg!

3. Ghost Tours in Gatlinburg

People have called Gatlinburg home for hundreds of years and this quiet mountain town has some terrifying stories to tell. You can explore the ghost stories of Gatlinburg first-hand by scheduling a Ghost Walk in Gatlinburg. These nightly tours will fill you in on local folklore and take you to some of the creepiest places in town.

4. Kyker Farms Korn Maze

For an evening of classic fall fun, head over to Kyker Farms Corn Maze in nearby Sevierville, TN! By day, you can bring your family on a non-scary walk through the maze, but at night, this fun maze transforms into a terrifying trail with menacing figures around every corner.

This year, Kyker Farms is even offering a special Zombie adventure where visitors must fend off the hoards of the undead with paintball guns on this ride through the woods.

5. Trick Or Treat Kickoff Karnival

Date: Oct. 31

From 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, guests will find a great Halloween kick off activity at Ripley's Aquarium Plaza in the heart of downtown. Not only will this Halloween Trick Or Treat fair have plenty of fun displays and candy, but also there are also costume contests, pumpkin carving, and inflatables to play on!

If you find yourself in Pigeon Forge on Oct. 28, The Island offers a similar event from 5:30 pm until 9:00 pm that comes complete with candy stations, hayrides, ghost stories, and more

Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner Show

The Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner Show is a small and intimate theater, which proves perfect for the up close and interactive show it provides.

 Our traditional, restaurant-style murder mystery plays out all over the dining room, so every seat is the perfect seat. There are four sidesplitting, parody style shows played in repertory each week: Scarlett Reloaded (New for 2017), Moonshine Murders, The Killbillies, and Frankly, Scarlett… You’re Dead! Guests will be given the opportunity to participate in the mystery, either by becoming an audience actor or by solving the murder using the clue packet provided at each seat. 

New for 2017, Scarlett Reloaded is the sequel to our audience favorite, Frankly, Scarlett… You’re Dead! Moonshine Murders stars the Luke family who have been runnin’ shine in Sevier County but are finding it harder to evade the law with all of the tourists in town. The Clampetts are the stars of The Killbillies who have relocated to Pigeon Forge, where Jed is looking for a new life and a new wife! And then there’s Scarlett and Melody, the not-so-sweet daughters of Colonel Simpson, who is looking to marry-off his two bundles of joy in Frankly, Scarlett… You’re Dead!

Your ticket includes our “laugh ‘til you die” murder mystery show with a Prize Package for the Top Sleuth of the night, as well as a three-course dinner with choice of soup and desert topping.

            Seating is assigned when you check-in at the theater.

Click here for more information and dinner menu.

Anakeesta Aerial Adventure Park

Anakeesta is a 70 acre aerial adventure park that just opened on September 1st.  Guests of all ages will enjoy scenic views, ziplines, tree top canopy walks, concessions and more!

Anakeesta offers a unique outdoor mountain experience for all ages.  Begin with a scenic 12-minute ride from Downtown Gatlinburg to the summit of Anakeesta mountain on the Chondola's quad chairlift or enclosed 6 person gondola cabin where you will arrive at Firefly Village, a whimsical treehouse-themed village that features local craftsmen, retail and casual dining options. 

From there you can stroll through the scenic treetop canopy walk which includes 16 hanging bridges more than 50 feet in the air. 

Soar through the trees on Gatlinburg's fastest dual-racing zip lines.

 Fly through the forest on the high-speed mountain coaster, climb through the Anakeesta tree house playground or simply sit back and enjoy the breathtaking views of Mt. Leconte and sparkling lights of Downtown Gatlinburg. 

Click here to discover the magic that's in the mountains.

The Albright Grove Loop

The Albirght Grove Loop trailhead is just 11 miles from the Garage Mahal and 6.7 miles roundtrip.

The trail is named after Horace Albright, who was the second director of the National Park Service and worked diligently to help establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The Grove is home to some of the oldest and tallest trees in the park as the area was not logged by Champion Fibre, who sold the land to the park service. Due to its location in a more remote area of the park, the trail is not heavily traveled, allowing you to enjoy a quiet journey in the woods.

After departing the Maddron Bald Trail, the trail narrows and begins to climb for roughly .3 miles as it follows Dunn Creek.  Eastern hemlocks and tulip poplars are plentiful throughout the grove.  If you have explored other areas of the park that were logged before its formation, you'll notice that the trees here are much larger.  This is an example of what a mature, cove hardwood forest looks like.  Imagine a time when all the forests in the Smokies looked like this.  The trail levels off along a ridge before it turns right and descends back to meet up with the Maddron Bald Trail.  During the descent, there is a small spur trail that leads to a giant tulip tree, roughly 25 feet in diameter.

The trail joins back up with the Maddron Bald Trail .3 miles away from the first trail junction. From here, you can go to the right as the Maddron Bald Trail makes its way towards the Snake Den Ridge Trail or you can go left and head back to the parking lot. 

Click here for directions and more information.

Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort

You may not think of skiing when you think of Tennessee, but if you love to ski, check this out!!  

Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort opens its ski hills as soon as winter begins.  As they also make their own snow, you are assured the best skiing experience possible.  No matter what your skill level, there isa  terrain that is suited for you.  From beginners to the advanced, there are slopes that are guaranteed to entertain and challenge you.  From its debut in 1962, the Gatlinburg Ski resort has grown over the years to the Park that it has become today.  

If you are unsure about skiing, there is a 10 lane snow tubing park to enjoy.  Guests will drop 5 stories before coming to a gentle rest at the bottom of the hill.  This 1.5 million dollar brand new park is a great alternative for families to enjoy.  

For those that love to practice their skills, they can visit the brand new freestyle terrain park.  All hills and parks are groomed daily so guests are assured the best skiing and tubing conditions possible during their stay.  The fully equipped Ski Mountain Sports store carries every style of ski and snowborading equipment you may need.  Equipment is available for rental or for purchase along with a wide range of winter clothing.  Fully qualified instructors teach the art of skiing and snowboarding at all levels.  

They also have an ice rink!

Click here to see all that Ober Gatlinburg has to offer!

Photo Sessions!

Are you coming to the Great Smoky Mountains to celebrate something? Or, would you like a personalized souvenir?

Get a hold of Hannah before you come to set something up!