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Anakeesta to open new mountaintop village and mountain coaster

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anakeesta expansion

The $34 million project is the Gatlinburg theme park’s most ambitious to date.

Anakeesta, a mountaintop theme park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, has announced its largest expansion since opening in 2017.

Overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Anakeesta is creating a European-themed village with shopping, dining and an immersive plaza with an interactive waterfall.

The mountaintop village, which is launching in phases through 2024, also includes a new mountain coaster and a birdhouse-themed play area. As part of the expansion, Anakeesta is creating a magical night walk with immersive lighting and audio.

The $34 million project is the park’s most ambitious to date. Future elements include a themed restaurant and brewery, as well as an entertainment stage.

anakeesta expansion

“This historic expansion will take our park to new heights with unparalleled moments of magic and extraordinary mountain thrills that only Anakeesta and the Great Smoky Mountains can deliver,” said Bob Bentz, founder and managing partner of Anakeesta.

The first phase of the expansion, the Astra Lumina Enchanted Night Walk, will open on 1 November. This was created with Moment Factory, the multimedia entertainment studio specialising in the conception and production of immersive environments.

BirdVenture, the first part of the European-themed village, debuts in spring 2023. This will feature three larger-than-life birdhouses, 12 adventure zones and seven giant mountain slides. ‘Birdhouse Adventure’ is a slide park from Wiegand Slides, with multiple LED-lit dry slides.

Anakeesta’s largest expansion to date

Hellbender, a new double-rail mountain coaster built by Wiegand, is inspired by the hellbender salamander. It boasts “experiential tunnels, with twists and turns through the forest giving guests an exciting downhill adventure”, according to a press release.

Within the village, a new French-inspired bakery called Mimi’s Bakery will serve sweet and savoury treats. In addition, the theme park is opening the first phase of the largest themed retail area it has ever built.

Anakeesta is home to various attractions, including the longest Treetop Skywalk in the US, a multi-sensory botanical garden featuring art installations, the TreeVenture and BearVenture challenge courses, and the Rail Runner mountain coaster.

Images: Anakeesta

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Bea Mitchell

Bea is a journalist specialising in entertainment, attractions and tech with 10 years' experience. She has written and edited for publications including CNET, BuzzFeed, Digital Spy, Evening Standard and BBC. Bea graduated from King's College London and has an MA in journalism.

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