One of the coolest things about a Smoky Mountain vacation is that there are many “first of its kind” attractions that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States! Whether you want to ride the country’s first single-rail mountain coaster or stroll across the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America, you can do it all right here in the Smokies! Here are 4 innovative Smoky Mountain attractions that you need to experience:
1. Mountain Monster
The Mountain Monster is a breathtaking 3-in-1 tower attraction that has been designed with thrillseekers in mind! The first option is the Monster Drop, a 200-foot-tall drop ride that features only a lap belt and nothing to hold onto! If you can handle that, try the Monster Launch where you’ll launch 170 feet straight up with an incredible blast of compressed air! Finally, the Monster Swing is available for the bravest souls of all! After taking a two-seat elevator to the top of the main tower structure, a platform opens and releases you into a swinging freefall face-down!
2. Rail Runner Mountain Coaster
Another one of the innovative Smoky Mountain attractions that you need to experience is the Rail Runner Mountain Coaster at Anakeesta! This is the only single-rail mountain coaster in the United States and features 1,600 feet of downhill twists and turns up to speeds of 25 miles per hour! While that speed might not sound very impressive, it feels much faster when you’re racing through the trees at mere inches above the ground! Another cool twist is that you start with the downhill portion, returning back with a scenic uphill ride to the top of Anakeesta Mountain!
3. Pigeon Forge Snow
Pigeon Forge Snow is America’s first indoor snowpark and features an entire hillside of snow tubing action that can be enjoyed all year round, even in the hottest months of summer! The attraction uses a unique patented process to make snow just as nature makes it, all inside a climate-controlled indoor environment where the temperature is always between 60 and 70 degrees! Choose from multiple snow tubing lanes to race your family and friends to the bottom, then take the Magic Carpet conveyor belt for a smooth ride back to the top!
4. Gatlinburg SkyBridge
When it comes to innovative Smoky Mountain attractions, you definitely don’t want to miss the SkyBridge at Gatlinburg SkyPark! As the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America, the SkyBridge rises 500 feet above Gatlinburg and stretches nearly 700 feet across the valley in a single span! In addition, the halfway point features 30 feet of glass where you can look straight down! As you stroll across the bridge, soak in the stunning panoramic views and be sure to look into the valley - you might spot a black bear in its natural environment!
Check out all of our Pigeon Forge condo rentals today to stay just minutes away from these innovative Smoky Mountain attractions! We look forward to welcoming you to the Smokies!
