Anakeesta vs. Gatlinburg SkyLift Park

Both Anakeesta and Gatlinburg SkyLift Park sit above downtown Gatlinburg with mountain panoramas and a full afternoon's worth of things to do — but they're very different experiences. Here's what distinguishes them and which to prioritize for your trip.

Anakeesta: a full mountaintop park

Anakeesta is an outdoor theme park on a Gatlinburg mountaintop, designed to fill most of a day. You reach the summit via the Crystal Express — the world's only all-glass gondola system, 56 individual cabins running a four-minute ride up the mountain — or the Ridge Rambler, a 20-minute guided vehicle tour. At the top, the attraction set includes the Treetop Skywalk (an elevated walkway through the forest canopy), the AnaVista Tower observation overlook, two mountain coasters, a zip line, gem mining, multiple dining options, and Black Bear Village, the central hub with shops, fire pits, and live entertainment.

What makes Anakeesta distinct is the combination of adventure activities, passive scenic enjoyment, and dining — all in one admission. A family can split the day between the coasters and skywalk in the morning, lunch at Cliff Top Restaurant with mountain views, and a lazy afternoon at Black Bear Village watching the entertainment and visiting the shops. The Astra Lumina after-dark experience (available as an add-on) extends the visit into evening with an illuminated night walk. The breadth of the attraction set means there's less pressure to "keep moving" — you can slow down without running out of things to do.

Gatlinburg SkyLift Park: the iconic suspension bridge

Gatlinburg SkyLift Park is a more focused experience built around two signature attractions: the SkyLift chairlift and the SkyBridge. The SkyLift is the same yellow chairlift that has operated on Crockett Mountain since 1954 — an open three-seat chairlift that climbs 500 vertical feet above downtown Gatlinburg to the summit. From there, the SkyBridge — at 680 feet, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America — spans a deep valley with 30 feet of glass floor panels at the midpoint where you can see 140 feet straight down to the forest floor.

The park has expanded considerably beyond the bridge. Clayton's Landing, added in 2025, is a mountaintop gathering space with fire pits, rocking chairs, decks, and the Smoky Mountain Smash restaurant — giving the summit a destination feel rather than just a turnaround point. The SkyTrail, a 1.5-mile trail system, winds through the summit with stops including Tulip Tower and interpretive signage on the local flora and fauna. The SkyDeck overlook and glass-floored SkyDeck platform complete the summit experience. Most visitors spend two to three hours total.

Which should you choose?

Choose Anakeesta if:

You want a full-day experience with the widest variety of activities in a single admission. Anakeesta is the better choice for families with children across different ages — the mountain coasters satisfy teenagers while the Treetop Skywalk and gem mining work for younger children, and the dining options and fire pits give adults space to decompress. If you want to combine adventure, food, and scenic relaxation without moving between locations, Anakeesta delivers more total value for the time. It also wins for couples who want a sunset dinner with mountain views and the Astra Lumina night walk as an evening option.

Choose SkyLift Park if:

The SkyBridge is specifically on your list, or you want a shorter, more focused visit. SkyLift Park is the right choice for anyone with a fear of heights who wants to push themselves — the combination of the open chairlift and the glass-panel bridge is a specific kind of thrill that Anakeesta doesn't offer. It's also better for a half-day stop that leaves time for other Gatlinburg activities: the chairlift ride, bridge crossing, and summit exploration can be done in two to three hours, making it easy to combine with dinner on the Parkway or a second attraction. The lower admission price relative to Anakeesta makes it the more practical choice when budget is a factor.

Consider doing both:

On a multi-day Gatlinburg stay, visiting both on different days is entirely reasonable — they don't overlap in what they offer, and the total admission for both is comparable to a single Dollywood day. Anakeesta works well as a full-day anchor; SkyLift Park works as a half-day complement to hiking or downtown Gatlinburg.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more expensive — Anakeesta or SkyLift Park?

Anakeesta's general admission is higher than SkyLift Park's standard ticket, reflecting its broader set of included activities. Both require separate tickets for specific add-ons (Astra Lumina at Anakeesta; the SkyTrail and some summit amenities may have separate pricing at SkyPark). Check each attraction's current pricing at anakeesta.com and gatlinburgskypark.com before your visit, as prices adjust seasonally.

Is Anakeesta or SkyLift Park better for young children?

Anakeesta is generally the better choice for families with young children — the Treetop Skywalk, Firefly Village playground, and gem mining are all accessible and engaging for younger ages without height or thrill requirements. SkyLift Park's open chairlift and the SkyBridge's height exposure can be intimidating for children who are nervous about heights, though many children enjoy both with a reassuring adult alongside.

How do you get to each attraction?

Anakeesta is accessible from its ticket office on the Gatlinburg Parkway via the Crystal Express gondola or the Ridge Rambler vehicle tour — both are included with admission. Gatlinburg SkyLift Park's base station is at 765 Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg; the SkyLift chairlift carries you to the summit. Both are walkable from the main Gatlinburg Parkway. Parking near either requires using one of the municipal parking structures or a nearby lot — neither has its own large parking area.