These are the best attractions in Gatlinburg in 2025, says Smoky Mountain local
Things can move quickly in the mountains. One year, you’re on top. The next you’re being closed to make way for the next trend. The only real thing you can be sure of is that if you have a successful idea in Gatlinburg, somebody’s gonna try to copy it. We will ride a wave of repetition until the market is saturated with pancake houses, go-kart tracks, mini-golf courses, or moonshine distilleries.
The motto should be Gatlinburg: We have yet to meet an idea we can’t beat into the ground. It even remains true in the realm of attractions. For instance, look at the three entities competing for the top Gatlinburg mountaintop.
For years it was Ober Gatlinburg and a handful of lesser contenders. Then came Anakeesta with its upscale-ish mountaintop dining, craft beers and attractions. Then, when it seemed Ober might fade away, a fresh investment came along to breathe life into the fading park, now called Ober Mountain.
In that same stretch, the SkyBridge opened, expanding a long history of ferrying folks up and down the mountain on a SkyLift into something more. Now, with SkyBridge and SkyPark expanding, Anakeesta continuing to grow and the now Ober Mountain finding new life, the attraction scene in Gatlinburg has never been better.
1. Ober Mountain
Honestly? I’m shocked at this placement. A couple of years ago and I’m not sure Ober even makes this list. The last trip we made when it was Ober Gatlinburg was just depressing. But with a new investment, I’m seeing Ober with fresh eyes. The combination of value and available attractions makes it hard to beat. Depending on the season, your $50 wristband at Ober buys you a wide variety of available activities, including the aerial tramway ride up from the strip to Ober Mountain, saving the pain of parking.
Included in the price – again, depending on seasonal availability – is unlimited use of the Tennessee Flyer Mountain Coaster, ice skating, the chair lift, ice bumper cars and the Smoky Mountain Bobsled. Winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and tubing are not included in the wristband price nor is the massive zipline. But there is a pretty good bang for the buck on that wristband. Of course, Ober isn’t perfect. It could be used for more dining. Presently, it is mostly just snacks. But the upgrades made are making a difference. Find the directions to the Ober tram entrance on the Parkway in Gatlinburg here.
2. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Ripley’s remains my family’s favorite attraction in the Smokies. Love the various fish exhibits. Love the sharks. And we love the penguins and their little parade. But each year the aquarium’s age shows a little more. The glass in places is cloudier than it used to be. Some of the exhibits show the years and years and years of people passing through. At some point, it should probably close for a couple of months for a good and proper refurbishment. But I don’t see that happening as long as the revenue is coming in hand over fist as it does. Still, even with the needed upgrades, this remains the coolest attraction in the mountains. The Aquarium is located at 88 River Rd. in Gatlinburg.
3. Anakeesta
By rights, Anakaeesta should probably be No. 1. The Chondola up and down the mountain may be the best ride in the Smokies. Coming down on the Chondola at night with the lights of Gatlinburg twinkling below is magical. Anakeesta boasts good dining, a great bar and fantastic views. It’s mountain coasters might be better than Ober’s and the zipline upsell at Anakeesta is more affordable than the one at Ober. The problem? You can’t shake the feeling that you pay a cover charge just for the right to go up and spend more money.
Your $35 ticket gives you access to a handful of things including the Treetop Skywalk, the Observation Tower, play area and BirdVenture. It is not unreasonable to charge people to get in for shopping and dining, all the big theme parks do it. But Anakeesta doesn’t have enough other stuff included in the cost of admission to erase that feeling that you’re getting hosed. Anakeesta is located at 576 Parkway in Gatlinburg.
4. Gatlinburg SkyPark
This is a question of perception. The cost to ride the SkyLift up to the SkyPark where you can soak in views and walk across the SkyBridge is a little more than Anakeesta. However, with SkyPark I don’t have the same feeling of paying too much. That is because the main attraction, the world-record-holding glass bottom SkyBridge, is included in the price.
In fact, with the opening of Clayton’s Landing and the new Smoky Mountain Smash, SkyPark is charging me to get up the mountain to shop, eat and explore just like Anakeesta. But because there aren’t any upsells atop the mountain; I feel like I’m getting my money’s worth. SkyPark does not offer nearly as many things to do as Anakeesta. But it has what Anakeesta doesn’t, a knee-buckling glass-bottom suspension bridge. SkyPark is located at 765 Parkway in Gatlinburg.
5. Ripley’s Believe It or Not
My family can go years between visits to this Gatlinburg icon. But when we do, we enjoy it immensely. I’m old enough to remember when Ripley’s Believe It or Not had a bigger cultural footprint. There was the television show, the newspaper serial, and various books you could buy at the Scholastic Fair. My kids just know it as a place full of interesting, odd, and even slightly scary exhibits. Ripley’s is located at 800 Parkway in Gatlinburg.
6. Ripley’s Davy Crockett Mini Golf
This is the best mini golf in Gatlinburg and maybe the best in the Smokies. There are two challenging, well-maintained courses with plenty of shade for when the summer hits the mountains. Excellent for a bundle opportunity with other Ripley’s Attractions. You can find it at 188 Parkway in Gatlinburg.
7. Mysterious Mansion
It’s a rite of Gatlinburg passage, getting the bejesus scared out of you at a Gatlinburg institution of terror. Welcome to the Mysterious Mansion. If you like to be scared, take an unguided tour of terror through secret passageways and spine-chilling chambers. The three-story haunted mansion will assess your fortitude. The Mansion is located at 424 River Rd. in Gatlinburg.
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