A New Adventure Park Will Be Debuting Soon
Normally, I don’t bring you news from the neighboring tourist towns of Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and beyond, but it hits home close enough, indirectly speaking. Anakeesta is in Gatlinburg (or over it), so it makes sense when the owners open an ambitious new park, it becomes worthy of my attention, even if it’s in Pigeon Forge.
What I’m talking about is the WildSide adventure park, which is separate from what Anakeesta currently offers its guests. This is a true outdoor enthusiast’s dream. It’s way more massive than the approximately 70 acres Anakeesta spans. Try 900. But how different is this going to be from their original concept that has turned into a smashing success?
Well, I mentioned it’s for the outdoors lover, and while that may be true, I think it could connect on a much deeper level. Cell service—with the exception of their home base camp—will be virtually extinguished with this in-the-woods attraction. That means forget everything about your world you can’t seem to extract yourself from, even on your laziest day. It’s meant to gather families for an extraordinary adventure of a lifetime. Many of us have ridden UTV-like vehicles through dirt terrain, but this is sure to be unlike any other weekend fun you’ve experienced in your corner of rural America. The panoramic mountain views at certain points are reminiscent of the previously untouched area Anakeesta now sits on. And the fact you’re just a stone’s throw from the actual Great Smoky Mountains National Park is unsurprising.
The expected opening for the new WildSide adventure park is this summer, 2024. And in addition to the 900 acres, it will also feature 15 miles of trails, and an elevation change of a not-so-subtle, 1,500 feet. This expedition is planned to attract not only the avid outdoors persons, but those who only have a passing interest in these adventurous activities. I fall in the latter. That doesn’t mean I’m a 100% homebody. I’m always looking for new exploits to challenge my confined lifestyle to unlock my inner daredevil—if it isn’t too perilous, anyway.
If I’m to be a bit opinionated, I apologize, but I have to get this off my chest. Any one who has spent any time here in the Smoky Mountain tourist areas in the last 50 years has seen all the changes. Most of them bemoan as stripping the mountains of their character. Well, if any one of you has spent any money on food and accommodations at any business—attraction, restaurant, arcade, fun park—you are feeding the beast. You can’t blame anyone but yourself for the expansion of the tourist areas. They aren’t going anywhere. Quaint has been gone since about the early 70s. Yes, there’s no turning back.
I can’t think of a better way to use this land, to be perfectly honest. This will likely be nothing like the Anakeesta theme park on the mountain above Gatlinburg. If not this, some other developer would’ve snatched up the land to do something much worse than this—at least in the minds of dissenters. I personally can’t wait to see this new vision as it kicks the dust up in the summer!
Will you be visiting this new adventure on the edge of Pigeon Forge! I hope you’ll keep following along my publication to read more news and information that helps you plan your next vacation to the beautiful Smoky Mountain tourist areas. Thank you so much for reading and subscribing, everyone, and of course, stay tuned!