OberGatlinburg is one of my favorite places to visit when in Pigeon Forge. If you have never been, I encourage you to devote one day of your next vacation to going.
You can visit their website at www.obergatlinburg.com for pricing, directions and hours.
We have always ridden the tram up, but you can save some $$ and time and drive directly there.
Some tips for riding the tram. If you are bringing a stroller, it will need to be folded up for your ride. It is usually crowded in the tram and there will be someone in there who is terrified of heights or the ride in general. You will enter the tram on one side, when you reach the top, you exit out the opposite side. You do swing a little when you go over the poles, this is normal and you will be okay! :)
Once you reach the top you will find that OberGatlinburg is like its own little town. There are shops, an arcade, carousel and some eateries inside. There is also an ice skating rink. Be sure to have a sample of fudge while you are there as well.
As you exit the main building this is where you will find all of the outdoor activities.
On the website you can read about the ticket and arm band options that are available to you. I purchased the full deal for my boys the last time we were there.
They all tried their hand at ice skating....
When you go outside, there are many activities to keep your kids busy. If you don't have the budget to buy an armband, you need to be aware of all of the fun things that are going to catch the eyes of your little ones. The first time that we visited OberGatlinburg, I had no idea what to expect. We had just left the aquarium and planned to ride up to the top to see the view. I was not aware of all of the other things (that cost money) that I would find. Our kids were very disappointed because we didn't have time for ice skating, nor the money to send them all (4 of them) to ride the water flumes etc. So, part of the purpose of this post is to help you avoid that!!
There is a maze for the kids, as well as the swing ride that you find at your local fair.
There is also a fun water ride. The kids walk up these stairs:
And ride down an enclosed spiral slide on an inflatable raft. You can hear the laughing and squealing as they come down.
Sometimes they get soaked and other times not as much. There are height minimums to this ride and I think there is some sort of weight requirement.
With the arm band they were able to ride it over and over and over.
There is an area for smaller children that have this ride:
and this FREE playground:
There is another water slide over in this area as well. The slides are straight and one is enclosed most of the way down and the other is completely open. The heavier the weight of the slide the farther (and probably faster) you go.
There is a ski lift that takes you to the top of the mountain. The view from up there is absolutely amazing. I did not go up on this trip, although I did purchase tickets to do so. :(
On a smoky (cloudy) day, your view will be compromised, so try to choose a clear day for this adventure. There are places to sit down at the top, and usually there is some sort of live music being played. By now you have worked up a thirst, and lucky you-- they have drink machines up here. Keep your dollar bills handy!!
The fun part about the ski lift to the top is the chicken out area. Not quite halfway up you have the opportunity to bail on your trip and ride a slide back down to the bottom. My kids were really excited to try this. Yes, I sent these two on their own to ride the slides. I was a nervous wreck, but I didn't have a lot of choices. Either send them together, or I ride with one of them and let the other ride alone.
Don't worry, I came home with both of them.
This is how they come back down...
and you can see the covered straight slide to the right.
With the arm bands they can ride these over and over.
There is also a wildlife encounter that I have yet to visit. There are several different animals there, but the ones I want to see are the otters and the bears. If you go and get pictures, be sure and send me some!!!
I hope this helps give you an idea of what to expect if you decide to give OberGatlinburg a try.
