The Crystal Express at the Anakeesta adventure park offers glass walls and floors for panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains
Credit: Anakeesta
NEED TO KNOW
- The Crystal Express gondola at the Anakeesta amusement park in Tennessee offers glass walls and floors for panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains
- The ride is part of a $100 million park investment, which includes new attractions like the Nighttime Firefly Experience
- General park admission starts at $39.99 and includes unlimited gondola rides and access to other park activities
The world’s only all-glass gondola system has opened in Tennessee, providing guests with unobstructed views via glass walls and floors.
The Crystal Express at Anakeesta, a mountaintop adventure park in Tennessee, offers visitors a 4-minute ride on the gondola, which ascends 2,000 feet up the Great Smoky Mountains, according to Travel + Leisure.
“From the moment visitors leave the Parkway, we want them to feel the magic of this mountain. This new lift enhances that experience with incredible views, greater comfort, and the efficiency needed to welcome even more families to the Smokies,” Bob Bentz, a founding partner of Anakeesta, said in a statement to the outlet.
Credit: Anakeesta
The attraction will have 56 cabins that offer “luxurious panoramic” views.
“Guests are fully immersed as they glide above mountains, forests, and valleys—transforming every ride into a floating overlook where comfort and awe-inspiring vistas come together for an unforgettable experience,” Anakeesta added. “The Crystal Express offers gentle yet exhilarating ascent through the forest canopy and above the Gatlinburg skyline.”
Per the outlet, the update is part of a $100 million investment into Anakeesta. There will also be a new year-round attraction called the Nighttime Firefly Experience joining the park.
"At the heart of Anakeesta is a promise — to create an authentic, high-quality outdoor experience that connects people with the spirit of the mountains. Through thoughtfully designed attractions, natural beauty, and meaningful moments of adventure, Anakeesta seeks to inspire a lasting sense of wonder and appreciation for the Magic That's in the Mountains," the park’s website reads.
General admission to Anakeesta starts at $39.99 for adults. It includes unlimited Crystal Express rides and access to other attractions like the Treetop Skywalk and the TreeVenture Challenge Course.
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For those who might not want to do the gondola, but still see the views, the park also offers the AnaVista Observation Tower. Once climbing 86 steps to the top, the website notes it's the highest point in downtown Gatlinburg and provides a 360-degree view of the mountains.
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