A local’s honest review of the WonderWorks museum in Pigeon Forge TN

The bend of the Parkway from Sevierville to Pigeon Forge is one of the more surreal stretches of land in the Smoky Mountains. As you cross the Hard Rock Cafe, things get weird quickly. There’s the looming silhouette of the Titanic museum rising above the hill ahead. Across the road is a pair of giant hands holding a camera above the entrance to a building being crushed by a falling skyscraper, also known as Beyond the Lens. Throw in the conceptually out-of-place Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show and you have one of the strangest confluences of attractions this side of Vegas. And that doesn’t include the upside-down building.

The upside-down building is actually a tourist attraction and children’s museum by the name of WonderWorks. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of WonderWorks – a franchise of kid-friendly museums scattered across tourist locations like here in Pigeon Forge, Orlando, Panama City and Syracuse, New York – the sight of an upside-down building that looks like the courthouse from “Back to the Future” can be arresting. But the interior of the building – which is right side up – is a pretty standard science museum. Essentially, it’s a type of indoor amusement park that is entertaining, fun and begrudgingly educational. 

Why is the house upside down?

My best guess is somebody in WonderWorks corporate had a good imagination and a healthy budget. The WonderWorks website says that the museum began as a top-secret laboratory on a remote island in the Bermuda Triangle. Professor Wonder, the museum’s mascot, was doing an experiment when something went awry, and the power of a tornado was unleashed inside the laboratory. A swirling vortex ripped the lab from its foundations and was carried miles away, landing upside down. The rest is history, they say. I think it’s suspicious that history happened six times and landed in tourist-friendly locations.

You also walk through some kind of “inversion” tunnel at the entrance to explain why everything on the inside isn’t also upside down. There’s not enough room in my head for how much I roll my eyes every time I walk through that thing. 

What’s inside the upside-down house?

As you walk in, there’s an illusion of the ceiling being on the floor. But after you pass through the inversion tunnel, there’s a series of interactive and educational exhibits. They’re called Wonder Zones with themes of weather, space and art. For example, the Imagination Lab has a gigantic Lite-Brite feature and a “Dig It” sandbox. They also have a Space Discovery Zone with training challenges and a replica of a launch capsule. The Extreme Weather Zone has an Earthquake Cafe and a Hurricane Shack, where you can feel the power of hurricane-force winds that reach more than 155 mph.

In addition to the exhibits, the museum has a black light ropes course and a 4D XD motion theater. The laser tag arena offers a backlit maze. And before you leave, you’ll do a walk-through of the Wonder Art Gallery, which has illusion art that can play tricks on the mind. They once offered a magic show, but Terry Evanswood now performs at the Grand Majestic Theater.

What to expect at WonderWorks, what my kids loved the most

My kids had a lot of fun with the physical challenges, which included a bed of nails, a bubble lab and a pulley system where the kids can lift themselves up and down. That was their favorite part. Overall, I think the attraction is truly great for kids who enjoy plenty of hands-on activities. I’d plan to spend at least a half day at the attraction and take advantage of all the different types of activities. That way, you get the most entertainment value for your dollar. As you make your plans, keep in mind that closed-toed shoes will be a requirement for some of the attractions, like the ropes course or the extreme bikes. Skirts or dresses are also not allowed on some of the rides.

This attraction is definitely catered to kids, but it’s an attraction that’s built for “kids of all ages”. So, if you’re a pair of adults who feel young at heart, you can still enjoy the attraction. I’d say if your kids have any sensory issues, though, WonderWorks might be a bit much for them.

How much is the upside-down house in Pigeon Forge? How to save a few bucks off admission

Can I tell them my money fell out of my pocket in the inversion tunnel? No. They’ve heard that one and they are NOT amused. Anyway, your admission ticket includes all of the activities. At the time of this writing, tickets for this adventure for adults are $34.99 and children (ages 4-12) are $25.99 as are seniors 60 and over. You can buy tickets at the door, or you can usually save a couple dollars when you buy them in advance on Tripster. Children under four are free. Plenty of free parking is available on-site. The Wonderworks attraction is located at 100 Music Road in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Have you been to WonderWorks Pigeon Forge in the Smoky Mountains? Let me know in the comments.

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