Looking to visit Anakeesta? I’m sharing our review below!
If you are planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains, chances are you’ve heard of Anakeesta. Located high above downtown Gatlinburg, this mountaintop adventure park has more recently become one of the area’s most popular attractions, and I totally understand why. You just have to see it to fully understand how great Anakeesta is. Thanks to its incredible views, family-friendly activities, dining options and outdoor adventures, families absolutely love Anakeesta. But with ticket prices adding up for families, is Anakeesta actually worth visiting? After visiting there four times now with my family, I can honestly say the answer is yes. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
What Is Anakeesta?
Anakeesta is an outdoor adventure park located on a mountain overlooking downtown Gatlinburg. Guests ride an enclosed gondola to the top, where they will find attractions, restaurants, gardens, play areas, shopping and some of the best views in the Smoky Mountains. Unlike a traditional theme park, Anakeesta is designed to encourage visitors to slow down and enjoy the scenery while still offering plenty to do. It is gret for all ages – from little kids to teens to even adults!
What We Loved About Anakeesta
The Views Are Incredible
The first thing you’ll notice once you ride the gondola to the top of Anakeesta is the panoramic mountain scenery. Whether you’re visiting in spring, summer, fall, or winter, the views alone make the trip worthwhile. It is breathtaking when you reach the top and look around. It is so peaceful and beautiful there. There are multiple observation areas throughout the park, making it easy to stop and take photos or simply enjoy the mountains and take it all in. And for the kids, don’t worry, there are ENDLESS things to keep them busy too!
It Is Great for Families
One of my favorite things about Anakeesta is that there is something for every age group. My kids loved exploring the play areas, the slides, the trampoline line attraction and walking the treetop bridges. Matt loved Oktoberfest and the mountain coasters. The girls love Astra Lumina and the mountain coasters too. And I loved the views, the peacefulness here, and how how much fun my kids were having. Also, all the food was so good here! Unlike some attractions where you’re constantly rushing from one ride to the next, Anakeesta encourages families to slow down and spend time together. And this is apparent throughout the entire park.
It Encourages You to Spend Time Together
What I love most about Anakeesta is the overall atmosphere. Even if you are not typically an amusement park person, this experience is completely different. Instead of feeling crowded and fast-paced, it is designed to help you slow down, enjoy the mountain views, and spend quality time together as a family. While there are not dozens of rides, there is still plenty to keep everyone entertained for hours. Kids will love the play areas, gem mining, treetop adventures, and mountain coasters, while adults can enjoy the scenic Skywalk, stunning views from AnaVista Tower, and relaxing spots throughout the park. For those looking for even more adventure, Anakeesta also offers ziplining and additional thrill attractions.
One thing that surprised me was how much there is to do beyond the attractions themselves. The park features several restaurants with both indoor and outdoor seating, multiple bars, an ice cream shop, food trucks, snack stands, and a variety of unique shops. We found ourselves spending just as much time enjoying the atmosphere, browsing the stores, and taking in the views as we did experiencing the attractions. It truly feels like a destination where the entire family can find something they enjoy.
What Is There to Do at Anakeesta?
The Treetop Skywalk
The entire reason I booked our first trip at Anakeesta was because I heard of their Treetop Skywalk. I saw a video about it, and it looked so cool! The Treetop Skywalk is one of Anakeesta’s signature attractions and one of the longest tree-based skywalks in North America. Suspended high above the forest floor, the connected bridges offer a unique perspective of the Smoky Mountains and create some beautiful photo opportunities. It consists of 880 ft. of hanging bridges suspended 50-60 ft in the air.
The AnaVista Tower
One of the first attractions you’ll want to visit is the AnaVista Tower. As the highest point in downtown Gatlinburg, the observation tower provides breathtaking 360-degree views of the Smoky Mountains and the surrounding area. If you only have time for one photo stop, make it this one. On a clear day, the views seem to go on forever.
The Rail Runner Mountain Coaster
For families looking for a little more excitement, the Rail Runner Mountain Coaster is a must. Riders control their own speed as they wind through the mountainside on twists, turns, and curves. It offers just enough thrill for adventurous kids and adults while still being family-friendly. We absolutely love this coaster!
BirdVenture Play Area
If you’re visiting with younger children, BirdVenture is one of the best areas in the park. This large treehouse-inspired playground encourages kids to climb, crawl, slide, and explore. My kids could have easily spent an entire day here. It is a great place to let them burn off energy while adults relax nearby in adirondack or rocking chairs.
Hellbender Mountain Coaster
If your family enjoys thrill rides, the Hellbender Mountain Coaster delivers an exciting mountain adventure with sweeping curves and beautiful scenery along the way. The coaster reaches higher speeds than many visitors expect and quickly became a favorite attraction for older kids and adults. This one is FAST, and we all love it so much!
The TreeVenture Challenge Course
For children who love climbing and obstacle courses, TreeVenture offers rope bridges, climbing elements, and elevated challenges designed to test balance and coordination. It adds another interactive element that helps make Anakeesta more than just a scenic attraction. They added on over the years, and it will keep them busy for hours!
Astra Lumina
If you are visiting in the evening, Astra Lumina is worth considering. The immersive nighttime experience combines lights, music, and storytelling to create a magical walk through the forest. It was one of the most memorable parts of our visit and felt completely different from the daytime experience.
The Most Beautiful Seasons to Visit Anakeesta
One of the things that makes Anakeesta so special is that it offers a completely different experience with each season. Spring brings blooming flowers and lush greenery throughout the park, while summer is perfect for enjoying the mountain views, outdoor dining, and longer days. F all is arguably the most beautiful time to visit, as the Smoky Mountains come alive with vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold. The park is also filled with pumkins, and they even have up fun Halloween decorations during the month.
During the Christmas season, the entire mountaintop is transformed with thousands of twinkling lights, festive decorations, carolers and holiday displays that make it feel truly magical! While there is no bad time to visit Anakeesta, fall and the holiday season are especially memorable and offer some of the most breathtaking scenery of the year.
Is Anakeesta Worth the Hype?
In my opinion, yes. While there are many attractions in Gatlinburg, Anakeesta offers a combination of mountain views, outdoor adventure, family activities, dining, and relaxation that is hard to find elsewhere. It is one of those places where the experience is just as enjoyable as the attractions themselves. If you are visiting Gatlinburg with kids, planning a couples getaway, or simply looking for one of the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains, Anakeesta deserves a spot on your itinerary.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re crossing the Treetop Skywalk, taking in the mountain views, enjoying dinner overlooking the Smokies, or watching your kids explore the play areas, Anakeesta is 100% worth adding to your next Smoky Mountain trip. For our family, it ended up being one of the highlights of our Gatlinburg trip, and now it is a yearly tradition!
WAS THERE LAST SEPTEMBER NOT TO IN PRESSED WITH IT AT ALL THEY JUST NEED TO ADD SLOT MORE STUFF YO DO!!!!
We loved it! I agree they need to add more, but I love that it’s not too big or overcrowded. It is so relaxing. We went again in December, and they already had an entire new exhibit added. They are building more this year too, but I’m sure you saw all the construction going on when you went in September.
I disagree with you completely Tammy. I was there two days ago and it was amazing! Lots to do, a few places to eat and if you go back at night astra lumina was something out of a movie . We can’t wait to back. Worth every penny and it’s suited for all
ages . You also have three choices to get the top . Which are : The open gondola, the closed red cabin gondola, and the truck ride up mountain. We saw bears on the truck ride up and enjoyed the view from the closed cabin on the way down. We had drinks and sat in the rocking chairs and enjoyed the view and also enjoyed the fires to warm up. The tree top walk was so much fun for all ages . Highly recommended to anyone who goes to Gatlinburg.
We went last fall and the wait was hours long for tickets and also to get into the attraction. It’s probably great for kids but a big waste of time for adults! Nothing to do there besides walk around! Waste of money!
All of the adults with us actually loved it more than any other place we visited in the area. We loved the gorgeous views, the amazing food, the mountain coasters, the rope bridge, the zipline, the observation tower and Oktoberfest. I actually feel like it’s better for older kids and adults than super young kids, but my 2 year old loved it too. I guess it depends on what you’re into, but there is plenty to do in Gatlinburg for sure!
Went there last June and plan on visiting again this June.Its beautiful up there.Great
views and loved the rope walk.Went with my daughter and grandsons.
I live about 10 minutes outside Gatlinburg, and my husband and I have had annual passes since it opened in September of 2017. Rainy, snowy, sunny, it doesn’t matter to us because Anakeesta can take on different vibes depending on the weather. Sunsets are beautiful. Sitting by one of the firepits in one of the rocking chairs while its snowing is peaceful. Drizzly, foggy, low visibility where you can’t see downtown gives the mountain a fairytale feel. We go just to grab dinner or take our three year old granddaughter when she’s staying with us any time of the year-she loves Willow. I understand the folks that expected more “stuff”. The owners are kind of playing catch-up because it drew bigger crowds a lot quicker than they anticipated. They purchased more property behind them and have been getting plans on developing that acreage in stages. Last I heard, there were discussions on having treehouse overnight rentals and a conference room at some point. If you weren’t impressed on your first visit, please be patient. The improvement plans I’ve heard discussed will be awesome when they are completed. If you do Facebook, follow Anakeesta on there. The manager posts some of the best pictures.