Anakeesta Tickets and Rides Guide - Tennessee
- Laura
- Jun 3
- 5 min read
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Be transported the mountaintops of Gatlinburg on an unforgettable day of adventure, relaxation, and family fun. At Anakeesta Park, enjoy a thrilling ride on a mountain coaster, zip line, or treetop walk. Then, be charmed in whimsical lands with panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Use our Anakeesta tickets and ride guide to plan your day.
TENNESSEE TOURS & EXCURSIONS
WHAT IS ANAKEESTA THEME PARK
Anakeesta in Gatlinburg TN is a 70+ acre theme park. Built in the mountains above downtown Gatlinburg, guests are transported to the park by the Chondola Chairlift or Ridge Rambler Adventure Truck.
Anakeesta is arranged in a series of “lands,” each with its own attractions, shops, and restaurants (Firefly Village, Black Bear Village, Forest Adventures, Vista Gardens, Stone Village, and Trail Head Plaza). From all of the lands there are great views of Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. A trip to Anakeesta is one of the best things to do in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
WHERE IS ANAKEESTA GATLINBURG
The Anakeesta ticket office is located on the Gatlinburg Parkway. The physical address is: 576 Parkway, Traffic Light #5, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.
ANAKEESTA TICKETS
There are two types of Anakeesta tickets: general admission and add-ons (prices fall 2024):
General Admission Anakeesta Tickets
Include all day park access and unlimited use of:
Chondola Chairlift and Ridge Rambler Rides
AnaVista Observation Tower
Treetops Skywalk
Vista Gardens
TreeVenture Challenge Course
Treehouse Adventure Play Area
BirdVenture
General Admission Anakeesta tickets range in price according to age, time of year, and other factors. The best price is usually attained by buying tickets online in-advance. For reference: online ticket for age 12-59: $34.99; age 4-11: $22.99, 60+ $27.99, 3 and under: Free.
Add-on Anakeesta Tickets
Hellbender and Rail Runner Mountain Coasters: Two rides for $16.99
Astra Lumina Enchanted Night Walk: $17.99
Dueling Zipline Adventures: $59.99
ANAKEESTA PARKING
There is a large paid lot behind the Anakeesta ticket office (not owned by Anakeesta). Or, there are paid lots in nearby City parking garages.
Click on the following link for information on car rentals in Tennessee.
ANAKEESTA HOURS
Anakeesta is open year round in all kinds of weather. In the summer, there are lots of umbrellas to keep guests cool. In the winter, there are fire pits scattered around the grounds. Plan to spend around 6-8 hours at the park to experience all it has to offer.
Check Anakeesta’s online calendar for specific hours. Generally, the park is open:
Summer: 9am to 9pm
Winter: 10am to 7pm
HOTELS NEAR ANAKEESTA THEME PARK
There is so much to do near Anakeesta Park including exploring Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Consider these well-reviewed area hotels near Anakeesta theme park:
ANAKEESTA ACCESSIBILITY
For the mobility impaired Anakeesta Park has some areas that are flat and/or designated as accessible including the Chondola Gondola, Firefly and Black Bear Villages (shops and dining pavilions), some scenic viewing platforms, and restrooms.
Non-accessible areas include the Treetop Skywalk, Astra Lumina, AnaVista Tower, and more.
TRY THESE GATLINBURG AND PIGEON FORGE TOURS
ANAKEESTA RIDES & THINGS TO DO
AnaVista Tower: Climb 86 steps to the highest point in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Get 360’ views of the park, Gatlinburg, the Smoky Mountains, and Kentucky.
Astra Lumina: Take an enchanted night walk designed to connect the earth with the stars. Let the lights, music, and sounds of this production transport you from the Smoky Mountains to the stars via a celestial pathway (extra fee).
BirdVenture: An aviary-inspired challenge course where guests explore three colorful kid-sized bird houses, serpentine slides, and other adventure zones.
Chondola: A scenic chairlift to / from the Anakeesta Park summit.
Dueling Zipline Adventure: Take a 3-zip guided tour with multiple rappels and zip lining over 2600’ of tree canopy (extra fee, reservations encouraged).
Gem Mining: Families love the interactive waterfall and sluice that allows guests to mine for gemstones and fossils.
Heart Twigloo: Photo spot that perfectly frames Mt. LeConte.
Hellbender and Rail Runner Mountain Coasters: Mountain coasters offer exhilarating twists and turns on a downward slide. Seatbelts for up to two passengers (extra fee).
Ridge Rambler: Adventure truck that takes a winding road to / from the summit.
Treehouse Adventure Play Area: Treehouse themed village with multiple bridges and physical challenges including a plank walk, maze, a tube-net crawl, and more.
TreeVenture Challenge Course: Interactive outdoor family play area with climbing, swinging, crawling, and sliding elements. There are netted bridges, treehouses, and more.
Treetop Skywalk: Trek the longest tree-based skywalk in North America. Find over 16 bridges connected by wooden walkways suspended 50-60’ in the air. Keep an eye out for black bears, birds, and other critters.
Vista Gardens: meandering pathways through a multi-sensory botanical garden. Many fantastic creature elements and phenomenal scenic overlooks.
ANAKEESTA EATERIES
Anakeesta Park offers a variety of dining options from fine dining to food trucks. Almost all dining venues – whether indoor or out – offer fabulous views of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Restaurants: Cliff Top, Smokehouse, Kephart Café, Mimi’s Creamery, Watering Can, Rocky Top, Canteen, Snack Shop, and more.
ANAKEESTA SHOPS
There is one (or more) gift shops in each of the Anakeesta Park villages and we would encourage you to save some time to shop. There were many high-quality offerings:
Shops: Great Outdoors Trading Company, Catching Fireflies, Adventure Outpost, Mercantile, Bear Essentials, and more.
IS ANAKEESTA WORTH IT
Randy and I really enjoyed Anakeesta. At first glance, stepping off the chairlift, we were a bit disappointed. Although beautifully landscaped, it seemed as though the park was all restaurants and shops. Then. we realized most of the things to do fall away at the edges of the park, radiating out into the beautiful woods (the treetop walk and Hellbender were our favorites).
The general feeling at the park is one of whimsy and family fun. There is a top-of-world kind of vibe with activities for all ages. There are great interactive play areas for families with children, thrill rides for teens, and top notch bars, restaurants, and firepits for couples. Although it is a family fun park, you will be surprised at how relaxing the atmosphere feels.
We visited in the fall (just after peak foliage) on a weekday. We found Anakeesta Park to be worth the admission price. That being said, we have these cautions as we feel bigger crowds and inclement weather could affect your overall experience:
Visit on a weekday
Avoid the months of July and August, peak foliage weeks, and holidays
Go at opening time or later in the afternoon
Watch the weather; go on a clear day with no high winds
So long, hope to see you on the mountaintop, Laura and Randy
For more information on travel to the Great Smoky Mountains read our Working Joe Travel blog posts on:
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