8 of the Newest Things to Do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge
From restaurants, to shops, to attractions, the Smoky Mountains are constantly adding new ways for visitors to enjoy themselves. The past few months, countless ways to spend hours of fun have been introduced to the area. Visit My Smokies has put together a list of 8 of the newest things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for you to try when you visit.
1. Dine at Cliff Top Grill & Bar
Cliff Top Grill & Bar recently opened at Anakeesta in Gatlinburg. If you want to enjoy a delicious dinner while taking in stunning mountain views, this is the place to do it! The menu includes options like ½-pound chargrilled burgers, entree salads, their famous fried green tomatoes, house specialties like their Smokehouse Stacker and more. After your meal, enjoy a drink from The Bar at the Top of the World, where majestic views of the Smoky Mountains surround you on every side. When you visit, be sure to enjoy the rest of the fun at Anakeesta, like the Dueling Zipline Adventure and the Tree Canopy Walk!
2. Ride Ice Bumper Cars
Ober Gatlinburg has a way for everyone to enjoy the ice all year round: Ice Bumper Cars. It’s a fun twist on a classic attraction that is designed to bring smiles to everyone’s faces. It doesn’t matter what your age is, everyone will have a blast bumping and spinning around the ice rink. This new attraction is located on the indoor ice skating rink at Ober Gatlinburg, which is separated by a divider so visitors can enjoy both ice skating and Ice Bumper Cars! While you’re there, try the recently added rock climbing wall as well for even more fun!
3. Mountaintop Zipline Course at CLIMB Works
CLIMB Works is one of the best places to zipline in the Smoky Mountains, and they proved it with the addition of their second zipline course, the Mountaintop Zipline Tour. On this tour, you will experience higher vantage points and longer lines than ever before and get 360-degree views of the Smoky Mountains. There are 5 dual ziplines that allow you to ride side-by-side the person of your choice, as well as 4 aerial bridges, an ATV ride and the opportunity to rappel off one of their platforms. You will get to see the Smoky Mountains like never before!
4. Watch Diving Dogs & Hillbillies
The Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud recently introduced a new addition to their show: a 22-foot-deep swimming hole! Now, visitors have the opportunity to watch diving hillbillies do all sorts of tricks, as well as 5 diving dogs. This just adds a whole other level of entertainment to the already hilarious show. The theater says that visitors can expect to see more diving animals added in the future. And don’t forget you also get to enjoy a delicious homestyle feast of fried chicken, homemade bread, mashed potatoes and more while you watch the show!
5. Visit Yee-Haw Brewing Company
Yee-Haw Brewing Company recently opened a new location in The Island in Pigeon Forge. Yee-Haw Brewing Company is one of Tennessee’s most popular breweries. Visitors to their new location will have the chance to enjoy a pint or a flight of the brewery’s signature beers, as well as pick up some Yee-Haw merchandise! The brewery is right next door to the Ole Smoky Moonshine Barn and has 20 taps that serve all of the brewery’s products. It is the first Yee-Haw location that offers large format bottles of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey aged beers.
6. Watch Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Adventure
Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Adventure opened this spring with a new show that includes real lumberjacks, real competition and real family fun. The show has 11 competitive lumberjack events featuring the Dawson and McGraw families’ world-class lumberjacks! There will be high-energy axe throwing, chopping, sawing, speed climbing, log rolling and more competitive events you will love watching. And you will even have the chance to participate in an exciting, interactive experience on stage!
7. Try the Fire & Ice Ninja Course at TopJump
TopJump Trampoline & Extreme Arena offers a safe and fun adventure for people of all ages. There is an open jump area, climbing area, arcade, and now, the Fire & Ice Ninja Course! This course allows you to test your skills and battle the elements as you go head-to-head against the yin and yang of nature’s fury. You will jump, climb, flip and race your way through a 20-foot-tall maze of ramps, rungs, beams, steps and more. The attraction even records your experience so you can share it with your friends later on!
8. Explore the New Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is back and stranger than ever. The newly renovated museum has the largest collection of weird and unusual items from across the world that are sure to entertain the whole family. There is a Harry Potter inspired dragon made of recycled materials, a two-trunked African elephant and albino giraffe, a vampire killing kit and even a tribute gallery to the Great Smoky Mountains! The gallery includes exhibits on synchronized fireflies, the tallest underground waterfall and more. To learn more about all the new additions, read our blog, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not in Gatlinburg Reopens with New Design and Exhibits.”
Now that you know all about the newest things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, it’s time to come try them all yourself! Check out more things to do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, then start planning your trip!
