Ober Gatlinburg

Things are heating up in the Mountains of East Tennessee!  If you're looking to beat the heat, head up to Ober Gatlinburg!  

Ober is an amusement park and ski area, located in the mountains overlooking Gatlinburg.  Established in 1962, the area contains a large mall with indoor amusements, a skating rink, snack bars, a full-service lounge, restaurant, and gift and clothing stores.  

Outside there is an alpine slide, the ski mountain coaster, a chair swing, a maze, mini gold and scenic chairlift to the top of Mount Harrison, and kiddie rides.  

What was formerly know as the Black Bear Habitat where visitors could see bears close-up recently expanded to become the Wildlife Encounter, here in addition to the bears there are animals native to the Great Smoky Mountains such as bobcats, river otters, opossums, raccoons, turtles, snakes, and flying squirrels.  An aerial tram connects Ober Gatlinburg to downtown Gatlinburg, about 3 miles to the east.

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Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community

From downtown to the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Loop, authentic mountain handiwork from top Tennessee artists is here.

Made with hands and hearts

The nation's largest organization of independent artisans makes its home in Gatlinburg and the 8-mile Arts and Crafts Loop along Route 321, Buckhorn Road and Glades Road.  The Tennessee artists and craftspeople here create beautiful and useful things with techniques handed down for centuries.  Find gorgeous quilts, old-fashioned straw brooms with hand carved handles, exquisitely woven baskets, hand-dipped scented candles, Victorian ceramic pitchers, pottery, bulcimers, stuffed bears and leather vests.  There is handmade jewelery unlike anything you'll find in the malls back home.  Painters capture scenes of the landscapes and mountain life, while potters and weavers work magic with clay and cloth.

Take the Trolley 

Go green and leave the car in town and take an old-fashioned trolley to the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Loop for just $1 all day.  You can easily spend an entire day exploring Gatlinburg's many galleries, boutiques and studios that are an important part of Gatlinburg shopping.

Pigeon Forge Trolley

You don’t have to worry about the stress of gas prices while you’re in Pigeon Forge, instead catch a ride on the Fun Time Trolley! Adding the trolley to your travel plans will help you save on your vacation. Most of the local attractions, restaurants are located on the five-mile Parkway. Let the Pigeon Forge Trolley transport you and your family to your desired destinations.