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Looking for things to do in the Smokies? These attractions are open now or will be soon.
Here's what's new in the Great Smoky Mountains in 2023 including roller coasters, water slides and treehouses!
Devarrick Turner - Knoxville News Sentinel
Published 5:10 AM EDT Apr. 14, 2023 Updated 5:10 AM EDT Apr. 14, 2023
The vision for the 407: Gateway to Adventure attraction on Interstate 40 in Sevierville is becoming a reality. Smoky Gap, the area’s entertainment hub, just broke ground and Buc-ee’s is slated to open in the coming months.
But you don’t have to wait to have some springtime fun. Various new and updated attractions in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have opened and are available to enjoy right now, including waterparks, treehouse adventures and, of course, Dollywood.
More attractions will open as summer moves in, and there are plenty of new experiences and expansions to look forward to as well.
What's open in spring 2023 in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg?
Anakeesta
The mountaintop adventure park is open, and guests can enjoy its newest attraction, Astra Lumina. The celestial experience brings the stars into a Smoky Mountain Forest lit with projections and lights.
Other things to do at the park include Chondola and Ridge Rambler rides, Treetop Skywalk, Vista Gardens, and the TreeVenture Challenge Course.
You can check anakeesta.com/events for a full list of attractions and events available.
Location: 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg
General admission tickets: $22.99-$34.99; Free for children age 3 and younger; Astra Lumina add on: $15.99
Dollywood
Offering rides, shows, food and Dolly Parton, one of America’s favorite theme parks opened for its 2023 season in March.
Dollywood’s Flower and Food festival begins April 21, Splash Country waterpark open May 13 and the Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration starts June 17.
The 2023 calendar can be found at dollywood.com/calendar.
Location: 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd., Pigeon Forge
Tickets: $89+
Sanctuary Treehouse Resort
This unique treehouse resort with mountain views in Sevierville offers luxe accommodations outfitted with slides, drawbridges and scavenger hunts.
The first seven treehouses, including a double tree fort, are open for reservations, but there is limited availability until around July. More treehouses will be built and available for reservations throughout the year.
Location: 107 Pheasant Ridge Road, Sevierville,
Single treehouse price: $275 to $796 per night; Double treehouse: $651-$1,522 per night.
Wilderness at the Smokies
The Lake Wilderness outdoor waterpark and the yearlong Wild WaterDome, Tennessee’s largest indoor waterpark, are both open.
Only the slides are currently open at Lake Wilderness. Full access to the outdoor waterpark begins May 27.
Visitors also can enjoy the dry indoors family entertainment center, Adventure Forest. Admission for those who aren't resort guests is based on availability.
Check wildernessatthesmokies.com for pricing options and passes.
Location: 1424 Old Knoxville Highway, Sevierville
"Sanctuary Treehouse Resort in Sevierville," "Dollywood," "Anakeesta in Gatlinburg"
What’s opening soon in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
Soaky Mountain
The waterpark’s 2023 season begins the weekend of May 13-14. It will be open daily starting May 20. Regular day admission is $47.99.
Location: 175 Gists Creek Road, Sevierville
Salamander Springs outdoor waterpark
Visitors enjoy at Soaky Mountain waterpark, Buc-ee's' billboard, Dolly Parton during an event at the resort's construction site of HeartSong Lodge and Resort
Salamander Springs at Stone Hill Lodge is the second Wilderness at the Smokies outdoor waterpark, and is scheduled to open May 27.
Check wildernessatthesmokies.com for pricing options and passes.
Location: 190 Gists Creek Road, Sevierville
Dollywood’s Big Bear Mountain
Dollywood’s longest roller coaster, Big Bear Mountain, is set to open in May.
The two-minute roller coaster ride in the Wildwood Grove section of the Pigeon Forge theme park will travel through hills, turns, tunnels and even waterfalls at speeds up to 48 miles per hour and maximum elevation of 66 feet.
Location: 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd., Pigeon Forge
Buc-ee’s
The popular travel center is opening its Great Smoky Mountains location in Sevierville. A grand opening had been set for early June but has since been delayed to a yet-to-be-announced date, a spokesperson told Knox News.
It will be open 24 hours a day and will feature 120 fueling stations, a 250-foot-long car wash, and, of course, the famous Buc-ee’s snacks and beaver mascot merchandise.
The 74,000-square-foot location is set to be the world’s largest Buc-ee's, until a slightly larger one opens in Texas later.
Buc-ee's will be the first business to open as part of upcoming 407 attraction in Sevier County.
Location: 170 Foretravel Drive, Kodak
Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge and Resort
The massive 302-room resort inspired by Parton’s love for the Great Smoky Mountains is scheduled to open in November. Many of the rooms will have balconies with a view of the Smokies.
Located in Pigeon Forge, the resort will feature family suites, bunk rooms, a large pool, balconies on half the suites and even a Dolly suite that will be available when she’s not using it.
Reservations for the resort will open in June. Visit dollywood.com/heartsong for more information.
Location: 2525 Dollywood Resorts Blvd., Pigeon Forge
New Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg attractions opening later in 2023 and beyond
Dig ‘n Zone
This construction-themed park for adults and kids is scheduled to open in Sevierville this spring.
The park will have more than 25 attractions allowing families to ride, drive and operate different construction equipment like forklifts on a go-kart track and excavators with modified buckets to swing around.
An opening date has not been announced yet, but tickets are available. Tickets are $50-$55; it’s free for children age 4 and younger. More information is available at dignzone.com.
Location: 1707 Veterans Blvd., Sevierville
BirdVenture and Hellbender Mountain Coaster
A $34 million expansion is still underway at Anakeesta and is expected to open in 2023.
BirdVenture: This interactive attraction will feature three large birdhouses, a dozen adventure zones and seven giant slides.
HellBender: Named after the salamander species native to the Smoky Mountains, this roller coaster will navigate a steep mountain incline, sway through tunnels, slither through twists and turns and offer 360-degree views of the Smokies.
Location: 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg
Wilderness at the Smokies expansion
The Sevierville waterpark and resort is celebrating its 15th season with a $40 million and 40,000-square-foot expansion set to open in fall 2023.
The expansion includes a three-story water coaster with a 22-foot drop at 29 mils per hour, a lazy river with an immersive tunnel experience, rooftop pool with glass edges and a new XD adventure theatre.
Location: 1424 Old Knoxville Highway, Sevierville
407: Gateway to Adventure
Development of Smoky Gap, the planned entertainment district at the 407: Gateway to Adventure attraction off Interstate 40, began April 11. The entertainment hub is set to open in 2025.
Smoky Gap, an immersive entertainment experience, will have an Americana theme with restaurants and retail stores. The area will also be home to a Marriott Courtyard hotel and a still-to-be-announced attraction that will anchor the Smoky Gap district.
Phase two of the massive 407 project will feature a resort, which might be sports-themed.
Location: Exit 407 off Interstate 40
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. Twitter @dturner1208.
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