Nestled in East Tennessee, the Smoky Mountains offer year-round fun for the family – from leaf peeping and hikes to the many shops and attractions along the Parkway. But few places in Sevier County provide as much entertainment under one roof as the Wilderness at the Smokies.
A popular stay for families, Sevierville’s Wilderness at the Smokies is a resort and adventure park rolled into one, bringing both sleep and fun under the same roof. The year-round waterpark vacation destination, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2023 with an expansion that doubled its size, features 726 rooms, suites and villas, plus a 36-hole championship golf course and plenty of dining, shopping and meeting space for those planning family reunions or other events. Its newly-renovated, indoor water park features 17 waterslides, including a three-story water coaster, nine pools, a rooftop bar and eatery, a lazy river with an immersive tunnel, 12 new vacation villas, an XD Theater and multiple other attractions ensures that everyone, no matter their age, enjoys their stay.
And the water park wasn’t the only space to get an upgrade. The property now includes 12, brand-new vacation villas, seven treehouse cabins and a whopping 17 three-bedroom, eight five-bedroom entertainment cabins.
Speaking of adventure, the indoor Cloud Coaster is sure to delight. The first of its kind in the state, it is designed to interact with Adventure’s Forest’s other attractions. With a track length at approximately 400 linear feet and two lift hills, it soars riders high into the sky. A raised platform launches at a starting height of 18 feet, with maximum heights of approximately 25 feet in the air. Only eight other versions of it exist in the entire world.
The majority of the Wilderness at the Smokies’ indoor features are open year round and, across the street, the 50-acre Soaky Mountain Waterpark is open seasonally from late-spring through early-fall. Heading on a Sevierville vacation soon? Here are the must-sees at this Smoky Mountains waterpark.
Have Fun at Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville
Wild Water Dome
After undergoing a mega two-phase renovation in 2023, Tennessee’s largest indoor waterpark is making a splash (literally). Highlights include an adrenaline pumping water coaster, 1,055-square-foot activity pool, complete with a three-sided basketball feature, a glass-edge Lookout Lagoon, a plethora of new and improved dining options, and an indoor/outdoor hot spa. And the best part? You can enjoy it all year round and even catch a tan, with a see through roof that lets the sun filter into the 84-degree oasis.
Wilderness Adventure Forest
For the ultimate dry family adventure, spend an afternoon immersed in the 25,000-square-foot indoor entertainment center, Adventure Forest. With a three-story ropes course and black-light, multi-level laser tag, Fury in the Forest, you can get your adrenaline pumping without ever needing to leave the Wilderness at the Smokies property. Fancy yourself more of a gamer? Adventure Forest’s Mega Arcade boasts reloadable action cards to use among the facility’s 100 games that are designed for all ages. There’s also Moonshine Run, a nine-hole miniature golf course illuminated by black lights and neon features.
XD Adventure Theater
The XD Adventure Theater levels-up a normal gaming experience by putting you in the middle of the action via this ultimate interactive 3-D adventure ride game. With three games to choose from – zombies, ninjas and robot bandits ¬– you’ll use your laser blaster to combat the enemy as your seats move, dip and dive right along with the action.
The Candy Cabin
It’s no trip to the Smokies without indulging in homemade fudge, and the resort’s on-site candy makers whip it up by the batch, as well as caramels, toffee, truffles and other novelties like chocolate-covered bacon, dipped pretzels, caramel popcorn and chocolate-covered gummy bears. The Candy Cabin also sells rock candy and plenty of old-fashioned varieties that are sold by the scoop. Remember: Calories don’t count on vacation!
Get Soaked at Sevierville’s Soaky Mountain Waterpark
If you’re visiting the Smokies during warmer months, spending the afternoon snaking down the many slides at Soaky Mountain Waterpark is a must. With more than a dozen thrill rides and family slides spread across 50 acres, Soaky Mountain Waterpark’s outdoor park offers a full day of fun – and you can purchase Soaky Mountain Waterpark daily admission tickets as part of your Wilderness at the Smokies’ resort package. Race your family down the four-lane Splash & the Furious, pile on a five-person raft to splash down the Rainbow Revenge, float the Black Bear Rapids adventure river, ride the six-foot waves generated in the 35,000-square-foot wave pool or try out the double FlowRider surf feature, Hang 10essee.
New to the park is The Edge, a dueling water coaster that spans the length of two football fields and the second water coaster in one park! Soaky Mountain has spaces for any size group, from cozy two-person cabanas to multilevel cabanas that can accommodate up to 20 people for park-goers looking to chill, as well as food and beverage options galore, from a taco truck to a shake shop and a bar featuring craft beer and cocktails. There are also designated play zones and tube slides for the smallest park-goers.
So, no matter the time of year, the ages of your kids or what kind of rides you prefer, you’ll find it all at Wilderness at the Smokies and Soaky Mountain Waterpark!
