Anakeesta
Anakeesta
Anakeesta is an outdoor adventure park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Located on a mountaintop above Downtown Gatlinburg, the park includes an observation tower, elevated walking trails, mountain coasters, botanical gardens, children's play areas, restaurants, and shops. It opened in September 2017.[1]
Visitors access the mountaintop from downtown Gatlinburg by the Crystal Express Gondola or by road while aboard park-operated vehicles. Among the park's attractions are the Treetop Skywalk, Astra Lumina, AnaVista observation tower, Rail Runner and Hellbender mountain coasters, and the Vista Gardens.[2]
History
Anakeesta opened in September 2017 as a mountaintop attraction accessible from downtown Gatlinburg. Its original attractions included a scenic lift to the mountain, a treetop walking course, zip lines, and a mountaintop village.
The park began a major expansion in 2019 that added its gardens, walking areas, dining, and retail offerings. The expansion also included the construction of AnaVista Tower, an observation tower that opened in 2020.[3][4]
In 2022, Anakeesta announced a $34 million expansion project intended to increase the size of the visitor area. The project included Stone Village, a new mountain coaster, and Astra Lumina, a nighttime walking experience created with multimedia entertainment company Moment Factory.[5] Portions of Stone Village opened in 2023, and the Hellbender mountain coaster was added as part of the expansion.[6]
In November 2025, the park announced a five-year, $100 million expansion program. Plans included a replacement for its original lift system, additions to the Treetop Skywalk, and further development of the park's attractions and visitor areas.
The Crystal Express Gondola opened in 2026 as a part of the expansion, replacing the park's original primary lift system with enclosed glass cabins.[2] The park also introduced the Firefly Experience, a nighttime light and sound installation incorporated into the Treetop Skywalk and based on the synchronous fireflies found in the Great Smoky Mountains.[7]
Attractions
Treetop Skywalk
The Treetop Skywalk is a series of suspension bridges constructed within the forest canopy. It is one of the park's original attractions and has been expanded since the park opened. In 2026, a portion of the walkway became the setting for the Firefly Experience, a nighttime attraction using synchronized lighting and sound.
AnaVista Tower
AnaVista tower is an observation tower located at the summit of the park. The tower opened in 2020 and provides views of Gatlinburg and the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains.
Vista Gardens
The Vista Gardens consist of landscaped walking paths, gardens, and outdoor gathering areas.
Mountain Coasters
Anakeesta operates two mountain coasters. Rail Runner opened after the park's initial opening and uses a single-rail track on the mountainside. The Hellbender mountain coaster opened in 2023 as a part of the park's $34 million expansion.
Other Attractions
Other attractions include children's climbing and play areas such as BirdVenture, TreeVenture, and Treehouse Adventure. The park also operates zip lines and a gem-mining attraction.
Astra Lumina is a nighttime walking experience that combines lighting, projections, and sound along a wooded trail. It was introduced as part of the expansion announced in 2022.
Park Areas
The mountaintop park contains several developed areas with restaurants, shops and visitor facilities. These include Firefly Village, Black Bear Village, and Stone Village. Vista Gardens occupies a landscaped area surrounding AnaVista Tower.
Transportation
Access to Anakeesta begins in downtown Gatlinburg. Visitors can travel to the mountaintop using the Crystal Express gondola or the park-operated Ridge Rambler vehicles.
See Also
References
- ↑ "The History of Tennessee's Favorite Little Mountain Town | StyleBlueprint". styleblueprint.com. 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "World's First All-Glass Gondola Ride Opens in Tennessee: 'Feel the Magic of This Mountain'". People.com. Archived from the original on 2026-06-13. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- ↑ News, WVLT (2019-04-29). "Anakeesta announces largest expansion plans since opening". https://www.wvlt.tv. Retrieved 2026-07-21. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "New Anakeesta tower will be the tallest point in downtown Gatlinburg".
- ↑ "Celebrating Impactful Collaborations Across the United States". Moment Factory. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- ↑ Grainger, Kyle (2023-11-08). "Anakeesta opens expansion project". https://www.wvlt.tv. Retrieved 2026-07-21. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "This Rare Firefly Phenomenon Only Happens Once a Year—But You Can Now See It Year-round at This Smoky Mountains Park".
This article "Anakeesta" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Anakeesta. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
