Anakeesta

Reviews

• NT

  Nikita Tiwari

  Sep 8, 2025
  5.0
  Anakeesta is such a beautiful place and definitely worth visiting! You can reach the top either by ropeway (which is amazing) or by their bus service if you prefer. Once you get up there, the mountain views are absolutely stunning—perfect for relaxing and taking pictures. There are food courts where you can grab something to eat or drink, and plenty of gift shops to explore. Sometimes you’ll even hear live music, which makes the atmosphere even better. The place is quite big, so you can easily spend the whole day enjoying the views, food, and peaceful vibes. Watching the mountains from the top is truly a wonderful experience!.
• MZ

  Muhammad T Zia

  Sep 7, 2025
  1.0
  Beautiful setting overshadowed by disappointing management practices. While the natural beauty of Anakeesta is undeniable, our experience was deeply affected by the way staff and management interacted with guests—particularly those who appear to be from different racial or cultural backgrounds. There was a noticeable lack of respect, empathy, and professionalism in how certain individuals were treated, and it left us feeling unwelcome and undervalued. Policies seemed rigid and selectively enforced, and instead of offering support, staff often responded with dismissiveness or indifference. It’s disheartening to see such a stunning destination fall short in basic human decency and inclusivity. We came hoping for a peaceful and memorable experience, but instead left with the impression that not all guests are treated equally. Until Anakeesta addresses these issues and trains its staff to uphold respectful and inclusive standards, we won’t be returning.
• LF

  Luna Rosie Finn

  Sep 4, 2025
  5.0
  One of the reasons I decided to stay in Gatlinburg instead of Pigeon Forge was purely to go to Anakeesta and see Astra Lumina. Folks, it was worth it. Astra Lumina is more than just a light show through the woods. It is an immersive, sensory walking art experience of pure magic and wonder. It is the closest you may ever feel to witness the magic we have read about in fairytale, and being in a Harry Potter movie. There, of course, is more to do than walking through a magical trail through the woods. There are playgrounds, a talking path through treetops, a,mountain coaster, and really just a lot of neat things to explore. Plus, the sky chair lifts are an adventure in themselves!
• JO

  Justin O'Brien

  Sep 1, 2025
  4.0
  I spent Labor Day weekend at Anakeesta and quickly realized the name must mean “waiting in lines”—we clocked well over an hour for a five-minute Rail Runner ride (cameras were mysteriously “out of service,” so no souvenirs of our suffering), while every beer sip felt like a reward for queue endurance. The Beaevarian brews were fantastic, but the so-called “beer pass” barely saved you the cost of a pretzel, so skip the gimmick and order by the pint. Staff across the park were friendly and efficient, especially the zip-lining crew, who somehow made my terror feel exhilarating. If you’re afraid of heights—or concerned when you see toddlers hurtling through the treetops—you might want to sit this one out. All told, Anakeesta is worth a visit, just aim for a weekday outing with a partner or older kids to avoid turning your adventure into a patience marathon.
• TG

  Tina Galloway

  Sep 1, 2025
  5.0
  I wasnt expecting a lot from this place but was pleasantly surprised. Ride up the mountain in either chairs that seat up to 4 OR cabins [especially good for families with strollers or little kids because chairs dont have seat belts] OR go up on the bus called the Ridge Rambler. Buy tickets ahead of time! If not you stand in ticket line forever, then move to the end of the entrance line forever. We waited an hour with tickets purchased the day before. If the Astra Lumina is going on [light show] def do it, its an extra 17.99 ticket. It is worth it. We did the 9pm show - make sure its dark when you do this show. Many lookout points. Eats, coffee, ice cream. We crossed 13 small swinging bridges in one area - dont wear flip flops if doing the bridges. There is another area for kids- jumping, climbing, etc. There is a lookout tower with lots of stairs - we didnt go up because you could see plenty of beautiful views from the ground. We went up to Anakeesta at 5pm and came down at 10pm. Had a blast! Party of 2 in our early and mid 50's. Tips: wear tennis shoes, not sandals or flip flops (the bridges can be slippery and the trails wet) and bring a poncho. It rains alot up there.