When planning out our 2024 Tennessee trip I was trying to fit in time for us to experience every single coaster in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville, Tenn. There are so many to do within these three towns and we wouldn’t be able to do them all. It feels like it should be easy since they’re all so close, but several factors may or may not fit in with your plans. One of the spots that we debated, but ultimately decided to visit is Anakeesta.
Anakeesta, located in Gatlinburg, is home to two mountain coasters – one of which is the only single-railed mountain coaster currently in the United States. It was our biggest reason for wanting to visit, although the Astra Lumina show also tickled our fancy. More on that in a bit. Where Anakeesta caused the biggest potential problem with our trip was time and cost. I read multiple testimonials and watched several YouTube videos suggesting the best course of action when visiting Anakeesta. This wouldn’t be one of the numerous roadside mountain coasters. This would take longer and cost more.
Before You Go Up or Come Back Down
The biggest time sink when visiting Anakeesta will most likely be getting up and down the mountain when arriving and/or leaving. I’m sure there are strategies to help out here, such as showing up between certain times or leaving before the park closes. We, however, could only make a visit to Anakeesta work if we visited Friday evening.
Things got off to a bad start trying to find parking. Eventually we did, but that was when the real struggle would begin. We were met with two options – a 60-minute wait for the Chondola chair lift to the top, or a 20-minute wait for the Ridge Rambler trucks that drive guests up the mountain. We opted for the 20-minute wait. We waited just over 60.
The queue lines to go up the mountain are one of the most convoluted and disorganized messes I’ve seen at any park or tourist attraction. Guests were constantly complaining to staff that they were instructed to wait in wrong lines. I’m sure some guests were lying and decided they wanted to switch to the other method of traversal, but I don’t think all of them were. We were confused trying to figure out what lines we needed to be in having already bought tickets and there being VIP lines that looked to be just as long as the others too. Who knows? I do know that I felt so bad for the staff. There has to be a better way to organize the methods of getting up the mountain.
Hours later, after doing all of our events on the mountain top, we waited about 45 minutes to take the Chondola back down the mountain. We passed the line for the Ridge Rambler on the way to the Chondola and it looked to be just as long, if not longer of a wait. Keep all of this in mind if you decide to visit.
Good & Bad News Upon Arrival
In the weeks prior to our visit two hurricanes did major damage throughout several states – Tennessee included. Prior to buying our tickets online, Anakeesta’s site listed the Hellbender Mountain Coaster as closed due to storm damage. That would leave only the Rail Runner Mountain Coaster. Although we wished to ride both, we understood.
In the weeks leading up to our trip I was busy online trying to price out all the costs we would face with where we wanted to visit. Anakeesta, in addition to the $37 admission and $18 Astra Lumina add-on, sold a coaster pass add-on price listed as $17. With the coaster pass you could either ride both coasters once, or ride one of them twice. With Hellbender’s listed closure in the days leading up to our trip, the coaster pass option was removed with a note saying they’d have to be purchased at the park.
Fast forward to our ride on the Ridge Rambler. As we drove up the mountain we saw Hellbender up and running. We were in luck. Both coasters would be open. Or so we thought. When we found our way over to Rail Runner to buy our coaster pass ticket, we were met with an attraction closed sign. We asked if it would be up at any point that day and were told no. Talk about a major bummer, but at least both coasters would not be closed. That would have really been a downer.
Once we finally made our way over to Hellbender we bought our $17 coaster pass, which we figured would be for two rides on Hellbender since it was now the only coaster running. But nope! A ride op was collecting tickets and when asked if it was good for two rides, he said no. How does this make sense? It was the same price as what was advertised online before Hellbender’s listed closure and claimed to be good for any two-ride combo on the coasters. I wonder if the staff member was misinformed, but I didn’t feel like pursuing it after the ride.
Hellbender
When it comes to riding Hellbender itself, the ride is certainly different than any other mountain coaster I have experienced before or after. Most mountain coasters see you spend several minutes ascending a mountain side before letting you push your handlebars down and speeding down to the bottom. Or with some coasters such as the nearby Rocky Top Mountain Coaster, doing several smaller lifts throughout the course with descents found in between. Hellbender, however, starts with the descent right out of the station. It isn’t until the end of the ride where you ascend the mountain, returning to the station. It doesn’t sound like it would be much different, but it is.
Many people would probably think the slow ascent at the start of a mountain coaster would help build up anticipation for the ride. While I do find that to be true, having it at the end on Hellbender, let me sit and reflect on the great ride I just had. It was a nice moment of reflection before jumping off the ride inside the busy station.
Treetop Skywalk
Kudos to Sam here. Strangely, Sam is not fond of heights. Yes, she rides roller coasters over 200, 300, and even 400 feet tall. And yes, I know that sounds weird. Her mindset is that the climb and/or drop is usually quick and over with before she can let it sink in. That isn’t the case with walking on say, a swinging bridge over a forest, though.
I can’t say I expected Sam to give the Treetop Skywalk a try, but she did. We didn’t realize how long the journey would be, however, so it got to be a nerve-wracking experience for her. Jen’s mom mode kicked in, however, and she made sure Sam felt comfortable before and after each bridge.
While I can say that I doubt Sam will do something like this again, it wouldn’t be the last time she’d try something outside her comfort level during this trip. You’ll have to wait for the Dollywood, Day 2 trip report for that.
Astra Lumina
Next to the mountain coasters the biggest draw for us wanting to visit Anakeesta was Astra Lumina. So many lights, sounds, and scenes play out along the darkened pathways at the back of Anakeesta all with a cosmic overtone. I can’t say I have ever experienced anything quite like it. If you visit, this is a must do and was one of the highlights of our trip.
You can view some of the photos I took of Astra Lumina in the gallery below, but they don’t do the entire walk-through justice. You have to see it for yourself, especially with all the motion and sound that goes along with the visuals.
Final Ride/Attraction Counts
Astra Lumina (1)
Chondola (1)
Hellbender (1)
Ridge Rambler (1)
Treetop Skywalk (1)
Tough Call on Going Back
As much as I’d like to return to Anakeesta again to ride Rail Runner, doing so will be a hard sell. There are other attractions we weren’t able to do this visit that I’d like to include in future visits. With the cost of admission and the coaster pass, I’d have to pay over $50 just to experience the coaster. There isn’t anything else I’d be interested in seeing/experience again at Anakeesta to bring me back at this point either. That’s not even considering the long wait times to get up and down the mountain. One thing I do know, if I do decide to go back for Rail Runner, or some future expansion, I’m going to try a weekday instead. Hopefully the crowds won’t be as crazy. I have no desire to experience the lines for the Chondola or Ridge Rambler again.
With all that said, Anakeesta was still a nice experience and one I’m glad we did. It was a nice break from all of the rides and other tourist traps we found ourselves visiting. Just consider the price and time commitment you have to make when visiting.
Anakeesta Photo Gallery - October 18, 2024
If you would like to use any of the images in the gallery above for your commercial and/or non-commercial projects, feel free to do so. I ask that you credit We Were Inverted whenever they’re used. I also ask that you do not alter the image or remove the watermarks. If you need any images/video resized or without the watermarks, please contact me directly.
CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): Hellbender
Sam
Admiral
New Credit(s): Hellbender
Jen
Lieutenant
New Credit(s): Hellbender
