The Main Attractions in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Gatlinburg is located in the Smoky Mountains.smoky mountains and rolling meadow image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
Gatlinburg is a resort town in Tennessee that thrives on tourism. Located in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, Gatlinburg has numerous attractions for the entire family to enjoy that include museums, mini-golf courses, rides and fun houses. Even with all of the amusement attractions, Gatlinburg has still managed to keep a rustic atmosphere, with its wooden buildings, heavily wooded terrain and proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. - This 400-foot tower is Gatlinburg's tallest structure. Visitors can reach the observation deck at the top via two elevators, each of which can hold up to 20 people. Once at the top, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Gatlinburg and the surrounding Smoky Mountains with view finders. Located at the bottom of the Space Needle is Gatlinburg's largest arcade, a variety of shows and a souvenir store.
Gatlinburg Space Needle
115 Historic Nature Trail
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-4629
gatlinburgspaceneedle.com - This year-round resort is a ski resort in the winter and an amusement park during the other seasons. During the winter, when the snow has fallen on the Smoky Mountains, visitors can enjoy eight slopes for skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. The resort offers rental equipment and ski lessons. There is also an ice skating rink during the winter season.
During the spring, summer and fall when the snow is gone, Ober Gatlinburg turns into an amusement park, complete with an aerial tramway, an alpine slide and water rides.
Ober Gatlinburg
1001 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-5423
obergatlinburg.com - Wild Bear Falls is Gatlinburg's only indoor water park. This 60,000-square-foot indoor water park features water slides, a 900-foot lazy river and several children's play areas. One of its more popular slides is Clingman's Dome, a 350-foot-long slide with high speeds. There is also Laurel Falls, a 300-foot fully enclosed slide. Visitors looking to get warm after a long day of sliding can relax in Grotto Falls, a hot tub facility.
Wild Bear Falls
915 Westgate Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
866-438-2544
wgwildbearfalls.com - Not all of the attractions in Gatlinburg are man-made. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has one of its three entrances in Gatlinburg, with the Sugarlands Visitor Center sitting near the park entrance. This 521,000-acre national park was originally established in 1934. Here, visitors can explore many hiking trails around these mountains, which are named for the blue haze they give off from a distance. There are several other outdoor activities available in the park, including horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing and camping. There also are several other visitor centers and educational facilities scattered throughout the park that offer information and programs on various topics.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-436-1200
nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
