These are the most anticipated new attractions that are now open or coming soon
Change is the nature of the business in the Smokies. Attractions come and go. Restaurants follow one after the other.
Sites that used to be go-cart tracks become T-shirt shops or pancake palaces or whatever the next great thing is. And all the while there is expansion.
Land is developed in Sevierville, Kodak or Wears Valley as the tourism footprint goes ever larger.
Here, I’ll list out the most anticipated new attractions for 2024 and 2025.
There is always something new in Sevier County and surrounding the mountains.
Either something is being built or remodeled or something else has just opened or is about to open.
In this article, I will look at what’s new in the Smokies for 2024 and 2025.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Attractions that are coming soon
1. Target
Welcome to the White Whale of the corridor between Knoxville and Johnson City.
Shoppers have been clamoring for a Target – aka Wal-Mart with style – for decades.
We were close once at the development that was Exit 417, but it never got past the site development stage. But now, years of retail dreams are about to become a reality.
The new Target – located not far from Wilderness of the Smokies on Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville – will be 147,000 square feet of affordable convenient shopping experience.
There is no official opening date on the Target website.
However, judging from the outside of the building, it will likely be sooner rather than later.
2. Exit 407: Gateway to Adventure
Changes are afoot at this multi-purpose location just off of I-40.
Buc-ee’s is already open and doing big business, and there is at least one hotel for which construction is fairly far along.
However, earlier in the summer, Matthew Cross, CEO of OE Experiences, said that the retail, dining and entertainment part of the project has been delayed.
Per multiple reports, Kituwah LLC, which represents the Eastern Band of Cherokee’s non-gaming businesses, is changing tact.
Parsing the language, it seems they want more hotels up and running to support the rest of the development, known as the Smokey Gap Entertainment District, which was due to open in 2025.
There will be, Cross said, a resort announcement.
What this means for the planned project with French theme park developer Puy Du Fou remains to be seen.
At one time, the company was working on a “spectacular, immersive show” inspired by the journey of the Cherokee who served in World War I.
If you’ll forgive some completely rampant speculation, you have to figure at some point there will be a series push for gaming at this location or on land across the interstate near the baseball stadium.
When I heard about the delay, I wondered if the winds in Nashville were changing in terms of gaming opposition in the area.
I think there is some foot-dragging to see which way the wind is going to blow.
3. Shipwreck Bay at Country Cascades Waterpark
A hotel and outdoor waterpark located behind the Jurassic Jungle Ride on Sharon Drive on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge – is undergoing a major expansion that will allow guests to enjoy all the fun of a waterpark even when the weather outside is less than waterpark-friendly.
Braxton Beaver’s Shipwreck Bay is an immersive indoor waterpark with theming built around the established characters of Friendship Forest, the in-house theme of the Country Cascades’ current hotel and waterpark.
The centerpiece will be the “newly discovered” shipwreck which belonged to the swashbuckling Braxton Beaver.
The shipwreck structure will have four watersides, various interactive features and a zero-entry splash pad play structure.
All of it will be pirate-themed. Two of the slides will be covered, one will have a twist while two will be more traditional water slides. All will be appropriate for younger children.
4. Rafter’s Rage Slide at Soaky Mountain
Speaking of waterparks, the immensely successful Soaky Mountain is continuing to expand.
For the 2025 season, the park will debut the Rafter’s Rage, a six-person raft ride that starts roughly eight stories in the air and spans 825 feet.
Riders will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 19 mph as they whip down the slide.
“Rafter’s Rage will be different than most water slides with high banking turns and steep drops because instead, it will feature four artfully crafted arcs that rafts will laterally accelerate over sideways.
This thrilling drifting experience – a world’s first for a water slide – will extend a rider’s zero-G feeling, making it an incredible attraction,” said the park’s general manager Dave Andrews.
Soaky Mountain Waterpark is located at 175 Gists Creek Rd in Sevierville. It is a sister park to Wilderness of the Smokies.
5. Nerf Hasbro
Announced last year, the Nerf Action Xperience Park – the third one in the country – is expected to open on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge in the coming months.
The attraction will include blaster battle zones, obstacle courses and also sports challenges.
There will also be a food and beverage area and retail store where guests can update their Nerf arsenals with the latest products.
6. Crayola Experience
Also making its Pigeon Forge debut this fall, according to the website, the Crayola Experience will be the first of five new facilities by 2027 targeted toward kids and adults interested in science and art.
Guests will be able to explore over 20 different exhibits in which they can create their own crayons or coloring book pages.
They can also learn the science behind the crayon manufacturing process.
7. Truth Traveler
From the people behind the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Ky., comes the Truth Traveler.
It will be a virtual reality experience designed to take visitors to biblical scenes throughout time.
It is part thrill ride, virtual reality experience and part Bible lesson.
The VR experience will transport riders throughout time.
Guests can visit Noah’s Ark, the Tower of Babel and the Garden of Eden as well as the birth of Christ during the VR experience.
More likely, I believe it will be shortly after the birth of Christ.
The facility is expected to open in early 2025. There is also a similar experience planned for Branson, Mo.
Attractions that are already open
8. WildSide
This one is an already open site, but there will be more to come.
The new park is 900 acres of wilderness just minutes from downtown Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
The new park offers guests a range of activities from entry-level to challenging for those fearless adventurers with 15 miles of trails and 1,500 feet of elevation change.
Activities include hiking, biking, e-biking and guided UTV tours, which is like an ATV crossed with a dune buggy.
The park is built around the breathtaking views from the summit of Raven’s Den mountain.
Though WildSide is newly opened, there is more to come.
For instance, the park just announced – a mega zipline billed as the longest zipline in America.
The Mega Zip at WildSide will stand atop gorgeous mountain ridges overlooking Pigeon Forge.
The continuous line extends an impressive 5,771 feet, offering an uninterrupted flight that’s more than a mile if I’m doing the math right.
There is a total vertical drop of more than a thousand feet. This means that riders will soar through the air at speeds promised to leave hearts racing and spirits soaring.
The adventure begins from a towering elevation of around 2,472 feet, descending to a final elevation of 1,377 feet.
Whether you’re an experienced zip-liner or a first-time flyer, the Mega Zip at WildSide is engineered to provide an exhilarating yet safe experience.
The Mega Zip is expected to open in the spring of 2025. WildSide is from the same company that owns Anakeesta.
9. Sugarbaby in Gatlinburg
Wait, you’re telling me someone is trying to make a buck selling outlandish sweet treats in Gatlinburg?
It’ll never work. Seriously, though, Sugarbaby is going to make money hand over fist.
It offers everything from over-the-top milkshakes, with boozy options for adults, to whimsical cotton candy characters that bring a playful touch to every visit.
Dive into the sundaes or go all out with the loaded Celebration Kitchen Sink, perfect for sharing.
Is the stated mission to “enrich the lives of guests and team members by providing the highest level of food and beverage quality, as well as legendary guest service in a clean, comfortable environment with an energetic ambiance” a bit grandiose for a milkshake place?
Perhaps. But they do sell the Campfire, which is rocky road ice cream, Nutella, Biscoff dust, a red and orange drizzle, s’mores, mini Teddy Grahams, a toasted marshmallow skewer, a Hershey bar, mini cotton candy, whipped cream, and a sparkler.
So maybe our lives will be enriched. Sugar Baby is located at 727 Parkway #1 in Gatlinburg.
10. The Heirloom Room
For years, businesses have been trying to stretch the Parkway traffic down along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon with varying success.
Sure, Hillbilly Golf has been there for longer than any of us have been alive.
However, other businesses and restaurants have had varying successes.
There does seem to be some consistency developing. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this area become just as active as the regular strip in the coming years.
The Heirloom Room offers a self-billed Smoky Mountain Culinary Experience.
This upscale dining experience focuses on the art and artistry of the culinary and mixology experience.
The menu is a mix of a daring nod to classic mountain flavors and favorites of foodies everywhere.
I doubt a lot of the mountain folk were doing charcuterie boards. But I guarantee they’d cook up some frog legs after a night of gigging.
This kind of restaurant is gaining a toehold in the Downtown section of Sevierville.
It’s exciting seeing someone try to make it work in Gatlinburg. The Heirloom Room is located at 333 Parkway in Gatlinburg.
11. Space Race Adventure
Not every new attraction in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg is trying to reinvent the wheel.
Space Race Adventure – which opened in the spring of 2024 – offers laser tag, mini golf, go-kart racing and virtual reality experiences including a roller coaster.
It’s located across from the Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet Mall on the Parkway.
Is it the best of any of those activities?
No. But it’s fun and a great spot to do a lot of things without having to drive around and find parking.
12. The Dolly Parton Experience
Are you experienced? Have you ever been experienced?
If you were hoping in vain that this Dollywood exhibit would be the Mountain Majesty’s tribute to Jimi Hendrix, you will be sorely disappointed.
However, if you were hoping this would be an upgraded version of the Chasing Rainbows Museum, you’re in luck.
Triple the size of the Chasing Rainbows Museum, the experience invites guests to explore three distinct areas highlighting Dolly’s incredible life.
There is the Songteller Exhibit which showcases her music career. Behind the Seams focuses on Dolly’s ever-evolving but always iconic style through the years.
The DreamSong Theater has also reopened with a revamped queue highlighting Dolly’s personal life, focusing on her family and faith.
Dollywood is located at 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd. in Pigeon Forge.
13. Smokin’ Banjo Wine Company
Located across from the Village Shoppes at 631 Parkway in Gatlinburg, the Smokin’ Banjo bills itself as the rebel of the rollin’ hills of Tennessee.
I don’t know about all that. But they do offer a line of wines and ciders they say are unconventional, so I say flirt with the bounds of good sense.
Sure, they offer several options that are about what you’d expect. There’s a variety of muscadine, a chardonnay and a variety of fruit wines.
But there’s also a Mountain Chocolate that caused one of my eyebrows to arch dramatically. And a Dreamsicle wine that caused both of my eyebrows to leap off my face and seek solace at a more respectable establishment.
Still, it’s fun and there’s a lot of variety – surely something that will please any palette.
There’s a lot of distillery competition in Downtown Gatlinburg.
I don’t know if Smokin’ Banjo should be first on your list. But at least they manage to stand out in the crowd.
14. Cloud Catcher Zipline
When area businessman Joe Baker and his team purchased the iconic but fading Ober Gatlinburg, many in the region were excited.
Baker’s track record of leadership and – frankly – the presumed ability to invest boded well for the attraction.
Those optimistic feelings have been rewarded as the re-branded Ober Mountain located on Ski Mountain Rd. seems to be in the process of reaching new heights. In this case quite literally.
The Cloud Catcher Zipline Experience at Ober Mountain features the highest starting point of any zipline in the Smoky Mountains.
The journey begins as you ride the Scenic Chairlift to the peak of Mt Harrison at over 3,400 feet in elevation.
The zipline course features breathtaking views of Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Each zip features four parallel lines, so you can soar above the clouds – or through them – with up to three of your friends and family.
It’s a 3,200-foot-long zip ride that’s over 300 feet off the ground.
The Cloud Catcher offers a fully automated braking system and state-of-the-art equipment from industry leaders in Bonsai.
It’s hopefully a taste of more to come at Ober.
15. Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay
If you want to make a splash in the Seiver County mini-golf scene, you’ve got to go big or risk getting left adrift in a sea of mediocre courses.
Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay went big. Located across the strip from Teaster Lane near the Mellow Mushroom and Magic Castle, Sky Pirates features 36 holes of “epic” mini-golf theming.
You choose from two 18-hole courses – one mermaid-themed and one Sky Pirate-themed.
In addition to the regular mini-golf obstacles on the courses – one indoor and one on the roof – there are mermaid and sky pirate characters you can meet and interact with along the way.
It’s big, shiny and new and stands in stark contrast to many of the mini-golf courses in the area which have seen better days.
Change is constant in the Smokies. New experiences or new versions of older experiences are always on the horizon.
It’s part of what makes visiting the mountains – or living here – fun.
Whether you’re in the mood to mini golf with mermaids or test the laws of physics eight stories high in a raft designed to make it feel like you’re in space, there’s almost always something new for everyone in the Smokies.
10 New Restaurants in the Smoky Mountains You Need to Try
There are seemingly always new attractions and restaurants opening up in the Great Smoky Mountains. For example, LeConte Tapas & Grill is a new restaurant that just opened in 2023. The highly anticipated Azul Cantina in Pigeon Forge is also now open.
1. LeConte Tapas & Grill
This Spanish-style tapas and grill opened in May 2023. We’ve come a long way, honestly.
Tapas in East Tennessee would have been nigh unthinkable 30 years ago. But be aware.
The lunch menu is a lot more “grill” than it is “tapas” with burgers and sandwiches and apps like pretzel bites and mini corn dogs and fried green tomatoes.
But when the night comes? Everything changes like a culinary werewolf.
The tapas options include bleu bacon dates (bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with gorgonzola, pan-seared and served with blue agave syrup) and gambas al ajillo (gulf shrimp scampi with fresh Roma tomatoes and herbs served with a grilled baguette).
There are also non-tapas dinner options including the miso-glazed Chilean seabass, honey charred ribs, and an executive kabob (with skewered tenderloin tips, Maine lobster, sweet peppers, red onions and squash glazed with wine honey served with vegetable rice pilaf). LeConte Tapas & Grill is located at 803 East Parkway, Gatlinburg.
2. Underdogs Pizza
Keeping up with the comings and goings of pizza joints in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg must be a full-time gig.
Like, I imagine there’s somebody in the depths of the Sevier County courthouse – a subordinate of the Registrar of Deeds – whose office smells vaguely of tomato sauce and green peppers – with a stack of legal documents stapled to the back of pizza boxes.
As for the Underdogs business model?
It’s a bit … different. It’s part of the Smoky Mountain Trout House, Crystelle Creek Restaurant and Parton’s Deli family of business all there near each other on the Parkway.
The place, which opened in spring of 2023, does not deliver, or take online orders.
The menu is pizza, wings, and garlic sticks. The place seats up to 20 customers with a 75-inch HDTV to watch sports.
It’s basic but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. Underdogs is located at 334 Parkway, Gatlinburg beside the famous car parked in front of Parton’s Deli (IYKYK).
3. Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Rooftop Bar
Come for the food, stay for the party. What in the name of Blake Shelton’s is this?
In 2023, country singer Jason Aldean – from Macon, Georgia – became the latest in a long line of celebrities like Jimmy Buffet, Paula Deen and more going all the way back to Ronnie Milsap to open a joint in Sevier County.
Aldean’s seems to follow the Ole Red model, though I’m sure Shelton followed someone else’s model.
The restaurant itself is split into three floors. The first is primarily a gift shop.
Floor two houses the main restaurant. And floor three features a rooftop bar with live music and quick-service BBQ (cooked on a real smoker with much faster service).
Starters at the main restaurant include nachos, buffalo cauliflower and a Bavarian pretzel.
Truthfully, the main courses run the gambit of about what you’d expect – chicken diablo pasta and a pulled pork sandwich – to surprising.
For instance, I did NOT expect an $80 “Tommy” hawk ribeye there amongst the other entrees which range from $16 to $26.
The menu notes it was created by Aldean and Chef Tomasz Wosiak. Let’s hope Jason let the Wos handle the heavy culinary lifting. Jason Aldean’s is located at 644 Parkway, Gatlinburg.
4. Azul Cantina
The waiting? It was the hardest part. Azul looked like it was going to be awesome. The under-construction restaurant with a rooftop bar had a cool design.
It had a cool website that promised authentic Tex-Mex flavors at a time when good Mexican food was hard to find in the area. And then?
Everything just stopped. No work, no updates, no Azul. It had gotten to the point that I assumed Azul would never be. And then one day, it was. Work resumed.
The restaurant opened and everything was as good as promised. It’s good Tex-Mex cuisine with a rooftop bar that offers an interesting view of the strip.
It’s fun, fresh and delicious.
Start with the esquites beef eggroll and go to the birria burrito or the chicken tacos. You won’t be sorry. Azul is located in the Mountain Mile at 2655 Teaster Lane, Suite 305.
5. Crumbl Cookies
Crumbl Cookies is a chain of cookie stores with branches across the country. The Pigeon Forge Crumbl sells cookies for pick up or delivery.
The menu changes weekly with six gourmet flavors – including the mystery flavor for which you must either go to the store or download the app to solve the riddle of that week’s six flavors. What else do you want to know?
They’re cookies. They’re delicious. Are they worth more than $4 each? That’s a personal decision that I can’t make for you but if you’re asking me?
The answer is grudgingly, “yes”. Crumbl Pigeon Forge is located at 2655 Teaster Lane, Suite 245 Pigeon Forge and closed on Sundays (at the time of this writing).
6. Sunnyland Farms
At some point, you have to respect the dedication of a store or restaurant dedicated to specificity. What do they sell? Nuts. Located among the Mountain Mile shops – like Azul and Crumbl Cookies – Sunnyland Farms traffics in the best and freshest pecans and nuts you will find.
They also have “goodies” and “gifts.” “Goodies” are a variety of baked items – most of which contain pecans and nuts – like banana bread, pecan pie or fruitcakes. “Gifts” are a variety of items for giving to other people – tins full of things like nuts and pecans, or a nice-glazed apricot, if you’re into that kind of thing. Sunnyland Farms is located at 2655 Teaster Ln Store #243, Pigeon Forge.
7. The Corner Diner
Located at unsurprisingly, the corner, of the Food City building on Teaster Lane, the Corner Diner is a surprising addition to the Pigeon Forge culinary scene. We are all taught not to judge a book by its cover.
You wouldn’t think a corner spot of a grocery-store-anchored strip mall would be the go-to place to celebrate the intricate beauty of Classic American Diner cuisine but here we are.
Every time we’ve been to the place it is hopping. The menu is a tribute to the beauty of what a true artist can do with a grill. Classic smash burgers, pancakes, French toast, omelets, waffles as well as biscuits and gravy and more.
When you stop in at this diner, do what all true diner-heads do when they find a new spot and sample the chili.
It’s the perfect spot for classic American diner food for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Corner Diner is located at 3060 Teaster Lane.
8. Sun Diner
Located on the first floor of Jason Aldean’s building on the Parkway, the Sun Diner is another Nashville establishment that made its way to the Smoky Mountains.
Open for breakfast and lunch throughout the week and for breakfast, lunch and dinner Friday and Saturdays, the Sun Diner is kind of like the Hard Rock but devoted specifically to the heyday of the classic Sun Records in Nashville and the artists who recorded there.
We’re talking Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.
The menu? It’s Southern fried diner food with a rockabilly twist. We’re talking chicken n’ waffles, country fried steak and eggs, burger melts and more.
If you want the real Sun Records experience, there is one thing you have to do: Get the Elvis Pancake, even if it’s just for the table where everybody can get a bite. Elvis – if he has any real claim to the title King of Rock and Roll – became the King when he recorded for Sun Records.
The best way to pay tribute to the King is to eat these fluffy pancakes with peanut butter drizzle and bananas foster. The Sun Diner is located at 646 Parkway, Gatlinburg beside Jason Aldean’s.
9. Solarzanos Pizza
It’s classic Italian pizzeria food via Hoboken, New Jersey with locations in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and a handful of places in Florida. It’s pizza by the slice, classic signature pizzas and a variety of gourmet pizzas.
If you’re looking for something less traditional, the buffalo chicken gourmet pizza is a classic white pizza with a ricotta base, mozzarella cheese, fried chicken, ranch and buffalo drizzle.
But if you’re looking for something more traditional, the Solorzano’s supreme is the classic pie topped with pepperoni, sausage, meatball, bacon, mushroom, onion, green peppers and black olives. There are now two locations in the Smokies.
The Pigeon Forge location is at 204 Pine Mountain Rd #5. The Gatlinburg location is at 1235 East Pkwy (at the old Taste of Italy spot).
10. Roma Table
Roma Table is the newest concept in the Collier Restaurant Group – which includes a wide variety of tastes and styles including The Melting Pot, TGI Fridays, Quaker Steak & Lube, three different Pancake Cabins and the Golden Corral.
In all, it’s 10 restaurant concepts and 18 locations. Roma Table will offer “elevated” Italian dining that includes pizzas and classic Italian entrees.
Located at 1503 Parkway in Sevierville, the restaurant is across Collier Drive from Quaker Steak & Lube and across the Parkway from the Walmart Supercenter.
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Brand New Waterpark Coming to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in 2025
Massive expansion to Country Cascades will offer slides, spa and activity pool
A brand new indoor waterpark experience is coming to Pigeon Forge in early 2025.
And it could have a massive impact on travelers – especially in the off-season.
It is set to have a pirate theme and offer something for younger kids and adults alike that could give the big names in town some competition.
Country Cascades Waterpark – a hotel and outdoor waterpark located behind the Jurassic Jungle Ride on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge – is undergoing a major expansion that will allow guests to enjoy all the fun of a waterpark even when the weather outside is less than waterpark friendly.
IN THIS ARTICLE
What is Shipwreck Bay?
Braxton Beaver’s Shipwreck Bay is an immersive indoor waterpark with theming built around the established characters of Friendship Forest, the in-house theme of the Country Cascades’ current hotel and waterpark.
The centerpiece will be the “newly discovered” shipwreck which belonged to the swashbuckling Braxton Beaver.
The shipwreck structure will have four watersides, various interactive features and a zero-entry splash pad play structure.
All of it will be pirate-themed. Two of the slides will be covered, one will have a twist while two will be more traditional water slides.
All will be appropriate for younger children.
What do we know so far?
In addition to the Shipwreck, there will be plenty for the whole family to enjoy.
One of the attractions will include Fracilla Fox’s Water Rodeo, which will bring a cowgirl spirit to the park.
The signature attraction will be Francilla Fox’s Lasso Looper, which has twists and turns and features “unique” translucent details that allow riders to see the excitement around every corner.
Guests can also get competitive on Fracilla Fox’s Swirl & Twirl, a dual mat racer that lets riders speed to the finish line.
But the waterpark will not be populated by slides alone.
The Bayside Lagoon will be an expansive activity pool for swimming, water basketball and various activities with the Country Cascades team.
There’s even a warming spa for parents to relax as the kids enjoy all the park has to offer.
All of this will be in addition to the various outdoor amenities already in place at the hotel and waterpark.
With more than 80,000 gallons of water, the Cascades Waterpark is only accessible to resort guests.
All guests will receive full access to the waterpark – an oasis right in the middle of Pigeon Forge.
The resort offers the River Run, a 300-foot long, high-speed body slide that is four stories tall.
They also offer the RiverChaser, a river raft slide that allows for one or two riders per tube. Considered the resort’s signature attraction, at least until the indoor park opens, the RiverChaser features a translucent channel that goes out over the resort campus before returning to the park.
In addition to the kid-friend Splashaway Bay, there’s a resort leisure pool that offers the more traditional hotel pool experience
Opening date and location
Shipwreck Bay is scheduled to open in early 2025.
The Cascade’s Waterpark will double in capacity when the outdoor park re-opens.
The current schedule for the outdoor park is theoretically open during mostly daylight hours from mid-March through October.
But obviously, availability is dependent on weather conditions.
The Cascades is located in the heart of Pigeon Forge, just off the parkway on 204 Sharon Drive behind the Jurassic Jungle Ride.
The already competitive world of Pigeon Forge waterparks is about to get a lot more competitive. Coming in early 2025, the Shipwreck Bay At Cascades Country will offer around-the-year waterpark fun to the hotel’s guests.
The Cascades is also conveniently located to explore the rest of everything Pigeon Forge and the Smokies have to offer. You can check for current rates and offers here.
Are you planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains? Be sure to check out our coupons page for area promos.
Have a question or comment about something in this article? Contact our staff here. You may also contact our editorial team at info@thesmokies.com.
