Anakeesta

We really enjoyed Anakeesta. The views from the top are gorgeous, and you can see the mountains so clearly. There are plenty of places to grab food, which was nice because we didn’t have to leave or rush. The play areas were great for the kids — they spent so much time there and had a blast. If you’re planning to stay for the lights and Astra Lumina at night, I’d definitely go in the afternoon. It worked out perfectly for us to see everything in daylight and then stay for the night experience. About the chair lifts — they were fine for us, but just a heads-up that there are only a few cabin (gondola) options, so you might have to wait a bit if you prefer those. They also run shuttle buses if you want to avoid the chair lifts completely, which is really helpful for anyone not comfortable with heights. One of the favorite part of the whole place was the Treetop Skywalk. Walking across those bridges with the mountains all around was honestly the highlight of everyone’s day. It was a really fun and easy day overall with kids .

An Unexpected and Wonderful Experience We honestly did not know what to expect going into Anakeesta, but it ended up being an absolutely wonderful experience for our family. The light event was incredible and beautifully done. (Astra Lumina) Walking through the treetop play areas felt magical and immersive, and the hiking trails were peaceful while still offering plenty of adventure for all ages. The coasters were amazing and added just the right amount of thrill to the day. And the views… truly spectacular. Being surrounded by the mountains from so many vantage points made the entire experience feel special and memorable. Anakeesta is thoughtfully designed, fun, and full of moments that make you slow down and take it all in. We are so glad we went and would absolutely recommend it to families or anyone looking to experience Gatlinburg from a whole new perspective. We would happily go back again. Definitely buy tickets in advance. Worth exploring in the day and experience the different vibes at night.

We arrived Saturday, November 15th and this place was packed with tourist. The parking lot was at full capacity so we parked at the garage. $10.00 for the whole day is a fantastic deal. We were walking distance from every where, quite convenient. We took the chair lift(they also offer a closed in cable car)to the top and it was wonderful(a bit scary[windy day] but worth it). The shops, restaurants( the drinks we ordered were delicious), and activities were adorable. Family friendly galore. I wish I had more time to stay for the evening lights part of the park. I loved the food stands and how each stand had a different type of hot chocolate. It all looked yummy! The drinks and the ice cream made my day! They had a show with elves singing and dancing. As we were leaving the carolers were arriving. There's definitely the feel of the Christmas spirit here. I'd definitely return another time.

Absolutely loved it here. It was a nice peaceful ride up to the mountaintop. And once you get up there the views are just absolutely incredible. Then you start walking up to the tower. Just go off the tower The view is getting better. So much to do here especially if you have kids. Unfortunately if you're a tall guy big guy you can't go through some of the activities which is on the standable such as life. But definitely a lot of fun this place. Especially during the fall time.. I would suggest go early though especially during the week. It can get pretty crowded really quickly. Especially if you park in the parking lot where they are. It gets crowded really quick.

The views were beautiful at the top and when riding the lift The line for the gondola that is in closed takes a hot minute but loved it. Rode the sky lift on the way down and it was chilly but loved it as well. Neat stands with hot chocolate (of all kinds at each one) the pretzel was amazing!

The Christmas lights possess a truly magical quality, illuminating the night with their festive glow. Experiencing the light show is an awesome and memorable event. The vibrant displays create a wonderful atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. It is a delightful spectacle that brings joy and wonder to all who witness it. The entire experience is quite enchanting.

Wonderful experience for me and my wife on our anniversary. We were there early, so avoided a lot of the crowds. Enjoyed the alpine coaster, and the zip line experience was spectacular, especially with the team we had (RJ, Belle and I can't recall the other gentleman, we visited on Dec 30 2025). But they were wonderful. Made the experience that much better. We ended purchasing annual passes to come back. Loved it!

We have been to Gatlinburg, numerous times and never tried to go into this A. Theme park, but today it was snowing and we said, let's go to the top, so we took the snow ski. Chair left to the top and what a cool place. Nice little village, great restaurant, incredible views. A lot of the stuff was closed because today it was snowing so they didn't want anyone to get hurt. But the things that were open the bridges all the walkways we had a pretty good time. I give it 4 stars only because it was 29°. Maybe on a 75° day, it would have got 5 stars. Some of the things were closed. So I can't give it a full review. Thanks again for getting us in and out. So quickly.

We visited Anakeesta during the Christmas and New Year holiday, and it was an absolutely fantastic experience! The weather was perfect - cold and crisp, which was a welcome change after the heat of Florida. It really set the mood for a cozy winter adventure. The park does get very busy, especially during the holiday season, so I highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance and arriving early to beat the crowds. It's a popular spot, and once you're there, you'll see why! There's so much to do, especially for kids - from the scenic Chondola ride to the treetop skywalk and the cute little shops and activities. And I have to mention the hot chocolate...it was honestly the best hot chocolate I've ever had! Warm, rich, and perfectly sweet - the ideal treat to enjoy while taking in the beautiful mountain views. Overall, Anakeesta is a must-visit, especially during the holidays. It's an enchanting spot that offers both breathtaking views and endless fun. Definitely planning to return next year!

I was initially hesitant due to the price but it was well worth it! There's so much for the kids to do, even in the cold weather. Just make sure you bundle up because it can't get cold on top of the mountain. There are heaters and fire pits strategically placed along the path at the top. The views are incredible and our kids loved the Astra Lumina exhibit. Well worth the money and will be back.

Anakeesta is a must-visit if you're in Gatlinburg! This mountaintop park combines adventure, nature, and breathtaking views all in one place. The experience begins with a charming ride on the chairlift or the Ridge Rambler, where you can enjoy stunning views of the Smoky Mountains on your way up. Once at the top, there's something for everyone. One of my favorites was the Treetop Skywalk, a series of suspended bridges that let you walk among the trees and feel completely connected to nature. Another highlight is the AnaVista Tower: reaching the top rewards you with simply stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains. If you're looking for some adrenaline, the Dueling Zipline Adventure is a thrill, and the mountain coasters are another standout. During my visit, I paid $16 for access to both coasters, which made the experience even better. For kids, the play areas and interactive activities are perfect to keep them happy and entertained. The park also offers several dining options. I highly recommend the Cliff Top Grill & Bar, where I enjoyed delicious appetizers and drinks while taking in spectacular views. Anakeesta is impeccably organized, with friendly staff, clean facilities, and a peaceful atmosphere that invites you to fully enjoy the experience--whether it's the activities, the views, or simply taking a break from the routine. Every penny spent is absolutely worth it. Without a doubt, I'll be back. It's a unique and unforgettable experience!

Anakeesta is always a wonderful experience. I have been a few times. Most recently November 2024. We bought tickets ahead of time so scanning them on our phones was super easy and eliminated the need for 2 separate lines. I'm a cabin girl so taking the lift up was smooth. We took the truck back down when we left because it was freezing! Parking was $20 all day in the lot attached to ticket office/lift. We visited astra lumina while up there. It was beautiful! But keep in mind that it is a lot of walking on uneven ground with only the light displays to lead the way. It's a go at your own pace and they do have benches along the way. The hot chocolate trail was fun and delicious!

I was really looking forward to visiting Anakeesta during my trip, but unfortunately, the experience was far from what I expected. Here's an honest breakdown of why our family left disappointed: 1. Long, Slow Lines: The lines to get into Anakeesta were incredibly long and painfully slow. Even with staff directing traffic, the process felt disorganized and inefficient. Waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity put a damper on the day before the adventure even began. 2. Poor Efficiency: Once inside, the inefficiency continued. From ticketing to accessing different parts of the park, everything felt chaotic. The lack of a streamlined system for crowd management made the experience frustrating, especially for families with kids or anyone trying to make the most of their time. 3. Terrible Parking Situation: Finding parking was another nightmare. The designated parking areas were not only limited but poorly managed. Guests were left scrambling to find spots or walking long distances just to reach the entrance. For an attraction as popular as Anakeesta, I expected a much better parking system. Add to all this the parking is paid so it's easily $20 or more. 4. Overpriced Tickets: The cost of admission was shockingly high for what you get. While I understand attractions like this require maintenance, the price point felt excessive compared to the overall experience. For the money spent, I expected much more in terms of organization, convenience, and quality. Final Thoughts: Anakeesta has potential, but the long lines, inefficiency, parking hassles, and steep prices make it difficult to recommend. If you're planning a visit, prepare for a lot of waiting, a hefty price tag, and a stressful start to your day. I hope the management takes steps to address these issues because the location and concept have so much promise. For now, I'd suggest considering other attractions in the area where you'll get more value for your time and money. Bottom line they need to limit the number of tickets they sell and more efficiently manage the crowd.

We've been here a few times since 2019 and it has always been improving. We love the gondola ride, the beautiful gardens, and the tree walk. This is definitely one of the must-do tourist attractions in the Gatlinburg area. One small thing I loved was the addition of padding to the gondola seats. However, there are a few things I don't like. I cannot stand the refund policy. Bad weather? No refund, but an option to use the tickets within the next 365 days. This is not good enough for those of us who might not be back within a year. Look at Ober for an example of a better policy. This trip we had rude service from the cashier in the ticket line and the guy taking photos at the top of the ride. Neither one said a single word to us. I pre-purchased my tickets through ticket master so it shouldn't have been a hassle for the cashier. The guy taking photos didn't even look up, just pressed the camera when we were close. He was too busy playing on his phone. It was in the 30-40's today with occasional rain and snow, but they had all of the heaters off and only one fire pit opened.

First time coming here. My wife surprised me with tickets to come here late at night. My first thing I HIGHLY recommend is that you make sure you GPS yourself to the parking lot AND NOT WHERE THE EVENT ACTUALLY IS. We scaled the big mountain in a Camry and didn't realize we were suppose to park up there leaving our parking spot we never had to leave. After fighting for parking, we made our way to the line but the check in lines were not organized and they made no sense honestly. Even the staff were confused. We paid for the photo package and I guess they made it easy for us to find ourselves by using a selfie of us. The lines to get up are really long but I personally think taking the lift to the top is the fastest and moves the fastest.... They have limited family cabins so that line moves the slowest and then you got the trolley which carries 28 * people at a time which is in the middle with it's speed. The money isn't really worth the experience. Everything should be in the ticket value honestly without the add ons except the photos because I guess that makes sense. The late night event was cute to walk around. Felt like as if you were at a late night rave but it's like a half mile walk. Wheelchair accessible friendly too but that part wasn't worth the additional cost. Walking to the top of the tower and even going on the various playsets were also fun regardless of what age you are. Food, drinks and merch were grossly overpriced. It's got a really cool theme and concept. Lines to get down were absolutely long and took longer than getting up. All in all it's a popular tourist trap but there's definitely better things worth checking out.

What a magical place. Very tidy & clean with great attention to detail on the buildings & landscape. We went to see the special nighttime display of lights called Astra Lumina. This walkthru art & light display was so beautiful & creative. The separate cost was well worth it. If you can do one thing in Gaitlinburg , Tenn this is it.

Anakeesta is so pretty and there's lots to do. We had hot chocolate at 3 different places and they were all different. It would have been nice had each location had all of the ingredients to make the ones advertised though. We went to one and it wasn't going to be ready for 5 minutes so we walked to another and they were out of cotton candy for their specialty drink. I wish we had gone a little earlier to do the tree walk and eat dinner but we simply ran out of time!

Anakeesta is a must do when in Gatlinburg but we almost had a horrible experience because we purchased the tickets through tipster shuck unbeknownst to me is considered a third party and tickets are not guaranteed for entry. We waiting in line for 1.5 hours only to be told our tickets were not good because they have closed purchasing and we should have went to the ticket stand before standing in line. We had to fight to get access which was great that they finally agreed. We went xmas eve so they closed the park at 5 but it was well worth it. The views are breathtaking and the activities are fun! The zipline and the rollercoasters are additional to the entry fee but my kids enjoyed the rollercoaster. If you have kids between 3-10 you do not need the add-ons, there's so many cute activities for them. The place was decorated beautifully for Xmas and everything was clean and enjoyable. Lots of walking so not for anyone that has difficulty with mobility. Plenty of sitting areas and great drinks and snacks at reasonable prices. I would recommend visiting anakeesta! We did not get to do astralumina because they closed early for the holiday.

We absolutely loved our visit to Anakeesta. The staff everywhere on site were friendly and helpful. The bathrooms were amazingly clean!! I happened to notice that everything seems to have wheelchair accessibility. Which will be a plus for some. Having the options of how to get up and down the mountain was great. We took the closed in ride up since we had a squirmy 3 year old and she loved it. And the bus may be the faster option if you are in a hurry. We added on the Astra Lumina. To me it was not worth the $16. But it could have also been because I was hot a tired and had been going non stop since 10am. And several things were not clear when we bought the tickets. You cannot take strollers even though the path isn't bad. I'm sure it's for tripping reasons because it is pitch black. It is a very grueling hike up at the end. I exercise 2-3 times a day and it was hard on me. There should have been an option for the bus to pick you up at the end since it passes right by it. The food in my opinion is outrageously priced. $4-for a bag of chips! Yeah no thank you. Pack yourself a lunch. They have water bottle refill stations. There are tons of seating options. The picnic tables were very awkward to sit on. It's hard to explain. But almost like the seats didn't come out far enough. There are a ton of things for kids to play on for free. Mostly for ages 6 and up. The 3 year old we had didn't let that slow her down. There are a ton of slides but they are height restricted. I couldn't tell you what the height was because it didn't say. It was a pole with pegs coming out of it that you had to be taller than. Overall if you have kids on your party it is well worth it. Better than the other 2 ski-lift options in gatlinburg. Unlimited times up and down the mountain. Parking at Anakeesta is $20 and it's only for 10 hours even though it says all day. We got there a little after 10am and left at 8:45 pm and nobody said anything to us. But there are people checking cars for the tickets on the windows.

Okay, what the actual h***!? Why is this place SO underrated? POOR TASTE and shameful for all of you who say otherwise. This place is MAGIC. Just how I always imagined it would be. It's as if you are in a magical forest deep in the Smoky Moustains.. which you basically are! The only way to actually get to the park is on a chondula or small trolly that physically takes you there. There is no main road. LOVE THIS IDEA. The trolly will take longer. This amusement park is also affordable! Unlike 90% of other parks, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get a basic ticket to enter. AND comes with great attractions for everyone to enjoy. YOU SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF HEIGHTS IF YOU GO ON THE SWING. If you are, you need to choose the cabin. You are literally on a bench with no seat belt on. Just like an authentic chondula that you would ride on a ski lift. Every single site is breathtaking. Some are more for children, but if you aren't afraid to be one for a few hours and try all facets of the park, I highly recommend it. I came in the beginning of September, and the park is already decorated with fall decor and hints of Halloween. Simply breathtaking. I love how they have rocking chairs throughout the park so you can sit in awe as you take in the scenery of the Great Smoky Moustains. I highly recommend going during the week towards the evening hours in the summer and fall. You have a better chance of nicer weather, fewer crowds, and watching the sun set. Also, everything lights up at night and is very beautiful. Especially if you stay for Astra Lumina!

Our family loves visiting Gatlinburg and going up to the Anakeesta. The ice cream place up there was good and mountain coaster was fun.

My family and I came to participate in the BearVarian festival and see Anakeesta for the first time. It's smaller than we thought, but the views of the mountains around us were breathtaking ! We purchased tickets online and added on the Astra Lumina show. We took the Chondola ride up the mountain around 10am or so which was a real sight to see! We had a hard time understanding where the entrance was, but we finally had an attendant help direct the people that didn't have tickets out of the line. First order of business was getting our BearVarian punch out cards. The employee didn't seem too happy to explain the rules of using the cards. Lines were long for the concessions, ciders were something that we wanted to get and every time we were waiting 30+ mins just to punch the hole in our beer festival card. I wish there were more areas to get cider instead of just one spot. At the rocky top concession and the top of the vista garden observatory (north and northeast ends) there were wasps nests present. In my opinion they should be actively addressed throughout the year. All of the concessions could use more employees, the lines for snacks and drinks were 20-30 mins long. Prices for souvenirs for the most part were reasonable, but the employees didn't really want to be helpful and seemed really put upon to answer any customer questions. We ate at the Cliff Top restaurant, very convenient to put your name down and wait for a text, they even took us in about 20 mins earlier than anticipated. We had to cut our skeletones concert short (who sounded great btw) but it wasn't a big deal. At the restaurant, the front desk receptionist (can't remember her name, from plantation FL) was very nice and lovely. Our waitress (short woman, on a double she worked the bar that morning and was waiting at night she mentioned, sorry don't remember her name either) was very actively and helpful when we asked questions. We ended the night at Astra Lumina, it was such an amazing show, I encourage EVERYONE to go! Imagine light show in sync with the music and a fog machine in the woods. My only suggestion is to have a warning about the grounds, it's an uneven, unpaved path. We had someone that had surgery on their ankle and didn't plan appropriately with their shoes. We took the Chondola ride back down at around 0830 at night, which was seamless. The day was successful for the most part, but the highlights were: Some Employees were helpful Many employees seemed unhappy Lines were long There were wasps Skeletons sounds great Drink options were okay, but needed more variety.

Well first off let me just say that the 2 star review isn't because of the atmosphere. This place has breathtaking views, nice places to eat, and astra lumina was absolutely well put together. The christmas lights were eye candy for sure! The 2 star review comes from the lack of heaters and lack of structure this place has. We waited in line for 2 hours just to get into the park, and over 2 hours to leave the park. Standing in line for 2 hours in the blistering cold is not something i'd expect to be doing for the amount of money we paid for. Only 4 buses to get maybe a thousand or more people out of this place? Fights almost broke out because of the line cutting and their "security" was too scared to do anything about it. Structure is poor, organization is poor, security team lacks experience. This problem can be extremely dangerous in the future.

Saved this for around sunset, and had a blast. Rode the Hellbender coaster twice, had a beer up by the sky tower, and did the treetop walk. Pair some great photo ops with some great views of the Smokys. Pricing is a tad expensive for what is there, although you can go up and down all day long. $35 for general admission, then $16 to ride Hellbender twice (which is less than the ~$20 average for one ride at other coasters in the area). We didn't eat at the restaurant at the top, but there is a full bar there, as well as an ice cream shop and some gift shops. We didn't go into the playground areas, but they looked nicely kept and there were lots of kids around. Next time I'm in the area, I want to look into the zipline course they have setup - looks great from the tree bridges, but was already closed by the time we inside. Maybe we got lucky, but getting up to the top was quick and painless - we rode the truck up and took the chairlift down without too much of a wait. We didn't spot any bears but there are some in the area - one worker said there was a mother and her cubs, but no sightings today. Definitely look to come back here in the future and see what more they've added.

I didn't know what to expect and was blown away by what we found. Beautiful views, good drinks, a nice assortment of activities. I loved the Christmas decorations, it felt like we were in a movie! I wish we would have timed it so we could see the lights at night, we had to leave that afternoon. My only critique is I wish they included the zip line and/or the mountain coaster in the ticket price, it was an expensive day but worth it.

We paid a $36 entrance fee and rode the chair lift to the top of the mountain. The ticket was valid to ride the lift all day. Anakeesta is very pretty. We went early to beat the crowd. We did the tree top walk. My son got the coaster ass that was $17 to ride two coasters. After walking around there is not much else to do but there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view. They have some food outlets and restaurants. We just grabbed a coffee that was great. Place is clean, staff are friendly. If it's in your budget I would say go check it out. Go early to avoid the crowds.

This place is my favorite place ever in the area . We got there at 11 and left at 700pm. It is immaculate and tons to do, plus they have food like Epcot. It was taste of the USA with different stops. I had tacos, champagne, pork rinds. They have two mountain coasters and so much more. Probably one of my favorite places ever. This is a must do!

We had the best time at Anakeesta for my bachelorette party. They had the taste of the states festival and were were able to drink and eat all around Anakeesta and different state themed stands/trucks. The mountain coasters were so fun and astrolumina was so magical. Honestly the best time. We spent 10 hours here and were not bored once! Cliff top restaurant was beautiful as well

Before coming here, I was unsure if it was going to be worth it as it seemed pricy. My boyfriend and I decided to come because it seemed like it had more to do than the skypark, and we were definitely correct! We spent several hours hanging up in Anakeesta, which felt like its own town. We did the mountain coasters (the rail runner was INTENSE, but the hellbender was lame), bridges, observation tower, obstacle course, and just enjoyed the beautiful views! Would definitely come again!

This place is really neat! The views were fantastic all around, plenty of nice places to eat, drink, and shop, and the attractions all seem fairly priced. The (paid) light show at night was fabulous! But my god, the day we went the chairlift line was 90 minutes wait up and down. Do they have absolutely no control on how many tickets they sell? There's basically no other way to enter or leave either - so we were trapped in a line just to leave for well over an hour. If it's busy, STAY AWAY.

Lines are long, recommend booking tickets online. Definitely a beautiful place to visit however food is overpriced. We got the tacos from one the food place and it was EXTREMELY unorganized. Food was just called out and people were just grabbing it without making sure it's the correct person. I would say it's a nice place if you have young kids, lots of fun things for them to climb on and explore. There are fans through your the parking and they blew water mist with was nice, but it was only at certain areas, and not through the park. I wish there was also more shade throughout the park. Make sure to wear sunblock and good hat, bring an umbrella if you need to for shade. There wasn't much breeze up there. We came in mid August. Additional excursions are pretty expensive. RAIL RUNNER - lines are superrrr long. You don't see it until you get to the bottom, but you will be waiting 30min - 1hr. Would I go again? Probably not. Parking is terrible and traffic is insane. Go early if you want to go.

I visited Anakeesta last week for the first time and really enjoyed it. I was fortunate to be there during a non busy time in Gatlinburg so while it wasn't slammed with tourists there was still a nice sized crowd visiting Anakeesta that weekday. Current costs are $35 for an adult admission and I added a ticket to Astra Lumina ($15). Anakeesta is a relatively new attraction being only a few years old and is accessible in downtown Gatlinburg via the tramway offering enclosed gondolas and open air "chondola" seats for the ride up to the top. I chose the chondola. This offers the best experience for the ride up providing the weather is ok (not raining or snowing). It took me about 20 minutes to get to the top because of the frequent stops of the line to load and unload riders. That's ok because the views are excellent. One thing I found interesting is the safety bar. It doesn't lock so during the ride you can raise the bar above your head and then you have no protection from jumping out of your seat (and you are always 40-50 feet above the ground). Of course, common sense should keep you from raising the bar and then jumping out of the seat yet still there are crazy people out there... On the mountain, there are 2 sit down restaurants, ice cream shop, a grab and go eatery and souvenir shops with many chairs and firepits around the property to just sit, relax and enjoy the views. There are kids activities too. It isn't big up there taking about 5 minutes to walk from one end to the other and width wise much narrower than that. Be sure to visit the Anavista Tower and climb to the top especially at sunset. Also go to the Treetop Skywalk and walk on the swinging bridges over the forest below. It's very scenic and entertaining with rest stops along the way. All of this is included in your ticket price. Remember that other than the 2 sit down restaurants and the souvenir shops, everything at Anakeesta is outdoors. They have mountain coasters and zip lines for an extra fee. The zip lines looked fun and I wish I had signed up for that. The main "side" attraction is Astra Lumina and honestly it was so amazing it could be its own attraction in Gatlinburg. Astra Lumina is THE BEST sound and light show event that I have ever seen. Adjectives like incredible, superb and amazing are fitting in describing it. For an additional $15 it is a steal. Beginning after sunset it is a walking course along a well maintained lit path through the woods in a valley below Anakeesta. The theme of the event is celestial bodies. The beautiful instrumental music played over the excellent sound system was choreographed with the outstanding light show to create effects that were memorable. Being outside and walking beneath very tall trees adds to the magic. There are 8 stations along the path where you sit or stand and watch a show that lasts 1-4 minutes long. It takes about 45 minutes to go through the entire experience and my advice is to not rush it. This is a Disney level of attraction and better than most of those. Like I said, I enjoyed Anakeesta and thought it was worth the admission fee. Astra Lumina is a MUST! During very busy times, it might get crowded up there.

Wifey and I were in the Smokey's for a wedding/our first anniversary. We saw some fun things in the area and some reviews on Anakeesta. It was reasonably priced (or in our price range, so to say) so we decided we would try it out. It was a fun time! We even went during beer fest where I got to enjoy a couple brews. The food was good too! We loved the views. Wish there were more things to do that was included in price. We really wanted to do the lights at night but not in our price range. Not much more to do. We spent a lot of time walking around and debating to do some things a second time.

Super fun family adventure. Well worth the cost, especially if you go just before sunset. Tixs are about $40/person. *Tip: they do offer a small military discount. we just need to show your ID* The ticket included a lift to the top... one of three options. You can take a Gondola (fully included chair ride), a Chondola (up to 4 person ski lift, open to the air), or a bus (nice for those who have height issues). We chose the Chondola, and I LOVED it! I felt very safe and secure, even with my feet dangling below. *Tip-watch for the black bears on the way up, especially earlier in the year* Once you are at the top, the whole place opens up and explodes with things to see and do. This is not your typical Christmas market! Bridges, bows, lights, trees, and the view!! I loved how many levels they have, with things to see and do in all the nooks and crannies. Yes, there are shops, but those do not outnumber the other attractions. There are also 2 roller-coasters (extra $$)! We skipped them ( long line/wait tonight) and went to the Tree House ropes course instead. It's super fun and well organized. Then keep going! There is a huge observation tower, more fire pit areas, drink options (both kid and adult), and of course the views!!! We timed our visit right and caught the golden hour. There are so many photo opportunities. I believe we captured our Christmas card photo for next year. We took the lighted rope bridges at the end of the night back to the ride down area. This was a pretty option to walk, away from the building crowds, and with still more views of the mountains. And once again, the amazing, relaxing, fun ride back down to end the night. *Tip- There are only about 10 Gondolas and about 200+ of the Chondola. So even if the line looks longer, the Chondolas line will probably move faster. Overall, it is a very fun way to spend the night. If you are local to the area, and luck out to visit during Local day, you can normally buy a season pass for about the price of one ticket. It is worth the investment!!

I am not sure if this would have been worth it without the Astra Lumina. I hated the skylight ride up, it felt unsafe and very slow. However, the bus ride down took twice as long. But I didn't mind waiting the 20 mins. It was very cold and some of the heaters were not turned on, they had plenty of places to eat and drink. There are tons of areas to walk and places for the kids to play. But not much for the older kids to do.

Magical place! It's a little bit pricey but it's worth it! Great food and amazing views! There is a lot to do for the whole family. The bear sightings were the cherry on top !

I don't know if it's because I hyped Anakeesta up in my mind too much, but I was totally disappointed by the whole experience. I was very excited to go up and explore Anakeesta. Like other reviewers have said, the price is insane and when you get up there you need to just keep purchasing more and more things. I think if the price was a little less than what we paid I would have given it three stars. We headed up to Anakeesta on the chair lifts and it took forever! They kept stopping it constantly and we would hang there for minutes on end. And of course it was a hot day with the sun blaring on us so that was fun and fantastic. We got up there and my kids ran through the small splash pad. We then did the treetop adventure. That was fun for sure and my kids loved going across the sections of small bridges. We did the treetop adventure twice. My kids then wanted to play in the treehouse area. I was expecting it to be MUCH bigger than it was. It was so small and my kids were over it pretty fast. We then paid extra money for them to mine for gems for a few minutes. We looked around a bit more and that was about it. There were a couple of cute shows for the kids that they sat and watched (a goldilocks and the three bears type show, and one with gnomes). The staff were very nice and of course the views were so breathtaking. Buuuttt, at that price point it just didn't seem worth it. I understand this is a tourist trap and we had to do it while in the area but next time I'm on vacation in TN I'll definitely skip Anakeesta.

overpriced. rude staff. horrible customer service. mostly for children. some places to shop, not many. "tree walk" is just a hike, but promoted as a walk in the trees. overpriced food. i would consider this a tourist trap honestly. however, the chair ride up there is beautiful and me and my mom had a great time together but we were extremely disappointed and will not be returning.

I think it was $35 admission per person and we only had to wait maybe 15 minutes. It was busy but not crazy. You take a chairlift up to the top of the mountain. You do have the option to have an 'open air' chairlift, a more enclosed chairlift or a bus. I did the open air. I have 0 problems with heights so I fully enjoyed myself on this chairlift. My husband, on the other hand, HATES heights but he was okay. They had a few stores to shop at, places to eat, places to see the view, bridge walks, etc. They also had things you can pay extra for such as mountain coasters and zip lines. There is PLENTY to do for free though.. I only did the free options and was probably here for 2-3 hours. They are opening up about 3 more attractions. I don't remember what they were but they had a poster in the park for it. It was VERY hot up there. One of the workers said it's about 10 degrees hotter at the top and it felt like it! I bought one of those towels from the shop there that you wet and it stays cold... LIFE SAVER! And it was only $17. I don't know if I would be back again as I saw everything there was to see. When the other attractions open, perhaps I would like to check those out but I would recommend this place! Great place especially for views!

This was the best thing we did while in Gatlinburg. The views were amazing, the bbq was good and the beers were cold and plentiful. It's very beautiful with lots to do when you get to the top via the scenic chair lift. We were there right after Labor Day as all the Halloween decorations were going up. The whole place is landscaped beautifully and the views from atop the tower are spectacular. The treetop bridge walk was very cool and the 2 mountain coasters were a lot of fun. We spent the whole day then left for a short period and went back up for the Astra Lumina walk that evening. It was a great day. I would definitely recommend Anakeesta over either of the other 2 similar mountain experiences.

I just didn't get the hype. My wife and I rode the lift up, and that was cool. Once we got up there, we bought our tickets for the coaster and waited almost two hours to ride down on a 30 second ride. It really wasn't that great, either. I really wish I had those two hours back. We then did the treetop walk. Guess what we saw. Trees. What a huge waste of time. We took a few pictures at the picture spots, had a pretty good lunch at one of the restaurants, and we headed back down. If you're on the fence about this, skip it. Last time ai was in Gatlinburg, we did Ober, and it was much better. Just my opinion.

This is such a beautiful place. Entering is a little confusing. You get in line at the ticket booth.. purchase your tickets.. then you can get in line for the lifts or you can take the ridge rambler up to a private little resort at the top of a mountain. Once at the top there are different shops and restaurants as well as kiddy play grounds and rope bridges. Your ticket is good for the whole day so you can come and go as desired. This is a pretty pricy experience so if you're not looking to spend money I wouldn't bother. In my experience, it was worth the money for the food and views we had. (It was just me and my boyfriend visiting without our kids) We ate at cliff top. Food was delicious and fresh. The best shrimp and grit cakes I've ever had. Drink was very good as well! The views were stunning. We were able to take our drink to go and we walked around. There was live music playing and stunning views with a big area for sitting. We also took a walk on treetop skywalk. It was beautiful. A little scary but very cool. I didn't like that we cant just eat at the restaurant without buying the tickets.. we would've eaten there every day of our stay. That food was amazing and experience was 10/10. Also, there is only one restroom, it was huge and decently clean however if you are eating at the restaurant you have to exit the restaurant and use the restroom outside. I recommend visiting for lunch and walking around for a bit and leaving. Then coming back for the night walk on treetop.

They didn't tell us that we would have to wait for four hours plus to even get there. They also don't give you a refund for general admission. Tons of people were in the line and we were all upset because it was families trying to get in. Another issue is one of the locals said this is common so the website needs to say a lot longer than thirty minutes early. It's a ripoff....

We had a blast here. So many activities to do. Tree bridges, really neat sculptures and art, kids fun. If you have children you need to get tickets for this place. It's all worth it and I am a penny pincher. Totally worth it. The kids were worn out and the ski lift back down really settled everyone down in a relaxing way. We will be back to zip lining! DO buy tickets online prior to skip the line. We arrived w online tix at 9:30 am in late March 2024 and waited about 40 min to get on lift. Line moves fast and it's fun visiting with other families while waiting.

We came, we went, and we explored. This is a hot spot in Gatlinburg and there are incredible views of the mountains when you get to the top. You can be transported by a chondola (lift) or a truck (rambler). There was a bit of a wait for the lift and the line was moving steady for it. I found it to be expensive for what was offered. The only thing that was included in the cost per person was the transport, tower, skywalk, play areas, Vista Gardens, and canopies. The free ice water helped a LOT since it was in the middle of July. There isn't a whole lot of shaded areas and it's additional for the mountain coaster, zip lining, and gem mining. There are restaurants there and we went to the Cliff Top Grill for a late lunch to escape the brutal heat. Our kids took advantage of the play areas and we got plenty of photos for memories. I don't plan to return there since it was $140 for a family of four and we weren't even there for a half of a day.

We paid $42 per person for general admission and we were told by the hostess that the only things not included in the general admission was the Beer Tasting Card and the light show. We paid the $19 for the light show tickets before we got up to the hill. We got up to the hill and everything was extra $. The mountain coaster was and additional $16.99, zip lining an additional $67, etc. We feel pretty scammed. Not sure what we paid $42 general admission for! Not that I wouldn't recommend this place but just expect to pay way more than you would at Dollywood lol

Well firstly I want to say thank you a ton to the workers. We went the 18th of May and I dropped my phone off one of the treetops. I went to inform an amazing woman at the photo retrieval area and she informed someone right away. Then two men came in about 5 mins to see where it fell. They retrieved my phone in about 10 mins or less. They were amazing and never made it seem like a chore to help me. Before that whole ordeal though it was pouring for a majority of our walk and we still enjoyed everything. We bought ponchos at Willows shop and bought drinks at one of the bars. It was during the sunset and took plenty of beautiful pictures.

Absolutely a must when in Gatlinburg. This place is amazing for all ages. The view is breath taking from every angle. You will start by taking your choice of transportation up the mountain to the park. Options include a Chondola, ski lift or truck (good if your terrified of heights). This outdoor family park was the highlight of our trip. Some of the fun includes a treetop skywalk, a treehouse and gem mining. My almost 5 yearold loved exploring Anakeesta. They also have a new viewing tower that is the highest point in Gatlinburg. The landscaping here is gorgeous. Pretty much every inch of this place is photo worthy with mountains all around. They were building even more fun like a children's splash pad and a mountain coaster. They have really great food and drinks available. We loved the bbq nachos. They also have a bar and icecream shop. Our cocktails were amazing from the restaurant. Associates here are very friendly and welcoming. The highlight of our trip was seeing a family of black bears while going up the mountain on the ski lift and then again while heading home in the truck transportation. Please take my word and splurge on coming here. It's well worth it for the views and the endless fun for family.

Not worth the price and definitely not worth the wait. We had our young son (little under 2) with us so the chairlift was out of the question and had to wait for the Chondola. It wasn't quite so bad heading up the mountain but we had to wait over an hour to get down the mountain. The problem was so many able bodied adults in line for the chondola as opposed to the chair lifts and not nearly enough chondolas. We counted a total of 8 whereas the numbers showed 105 chairlifts. Advertises a lot to do at the top but really there was like 4-5 shops and all the food places were disappointing for the price. The Smokehouse BBQ was good. The one high point for our evening possibly.

Nice views over Gatlinburg. Lots of little shops and places to eat and get drinks. Fire pits were nice on a 45-55 degree day. Service was spotty. Mostly good but there were a few cranky and rude staff to drag things down. It was a fun experience that is worth doing once but is a bit on the pricey side for what you get.

Fun day to visit and spend many hours here. The food is mediocre. I'd eat before hand. The ice cream is good. Don't get a hot dog. Overpriced and the most basic ingredients. The coasters are so fun and feel safe. Real adrenaline. The wait time is a joke. Over an hour to get into Anakeesta and onto the lift. The lift is relaxing though. All the clubhouses and rope bridges are so fun for kids, and even the adults. Great views of the whole town.

Omg this place should be ashamed of themselves. They need to limit the amount of people they allow up at one time. Waiting 1.5+ at minimum to get in and out is completely unacceptable. Bathrooms are disgraceful. And there's really nothing to do here. Don't waste your time or ridiculous amount of money to come here. Absolutely skip this place. 0/5

Amazing park, but EXTREMELY poorly run. This place shuts the park down early at 9pm and leaves thousands of people stranded in lines that are 300-500 yards long in freezing cold weather waiting for hours because they have only 1 bus and a slow "Chondola" operating. They are not prepared or equipped to steward the masses of people they attract. I'm here for the second time having the same terrible experience as an elderly woman is passing out from standing in this ridiculous line and once you're here, you're stuck up here. Seems like Anakeesta doesn't care about investing into helping people exit as quickly as they entered. Not coming back or giving them more of my money for a terrible exit experience.

I'm so excited Fall is fast approaching. The best time to visit in my opinion. Less people means shorter lines lol. I've been here in every season and Halloween time is the best. Can't wait for October

Such a cool experience! We took the ski lift up the mountain to this neat theme park! We had lunch at the smoke house and walked on the tree top bridges! We had drinks and climbed to the top of the tower in the middle of the park to get a 360 view of the smokies. This place is def more kid oriented but it's still fun to go with older kids or adults! Visit this place for some cool views and vibes.

I'm sorry but I can't say that I had a good experience here. Even placing the order for tickets, the cashier didn't give us our AAA discount so we had to go back to get it fixed. The place hires a lot of people who have attitudes. Our party ordered a margarita with no salt. It had salt. We politely let them know and the cashier said too bad it's already made. So we had to get into an argument with them to get it fixed. It started pouring rain and there is literally one place to go to get some cover and eat. I observed an employee make an elderly couple get up from their table and leave because all they had were soft drinks and he wanted some young group of people to sit down. He saw how mad I was and the grumbling I was making so he did get the couple some chairs. I saw other empty tables and there was no reason to do that. I didn't even like the attractions. It was boring. Nothing to see. We returned for Astra Lumina at night but it was really just a light show in the woods. There were a few nice views but other than that it's not worth it at all. I don't write many negative reviews.

Everything was just super. Clean, beautiful, plenty to do . Pretty flowers , good food and many many chairs to sit and rest