The 4 Scariest Things to Do in Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg has a genuinely strong lineup of haunted and scary experiences — a mansion that has been frightening visitors since 1980, a multi-story haunted house from Ripley's, and two different ghost tour companies covering the town's darker history on foot. Here's what each one offers.

Mysterious Mansion

Mysterious Mansion on River Road is Gatlinburg's signature haunted house attraction and one of the longest-running in Tennessee — open since 1980, over 40 years of scaring visitors. The mansion is a self-guided tour through a three-story early 20th-century building with secret passageways, dark corridors, winding staircases, and rooms staged with zombies and other surprises. The self-guided format means you set your own pace — which sounds calmer than it is, since not knowing what's behind the next door is the entire point. The mansion runs year-round, not just around Halloween, with enhanced seasonal presentations on weekends in October. It's located just beyond the Edgewater Hotel on River Road, within walking distance of the central Parkway.

Ripley's Haunted Adventure

Ripley's Haunted Adventure is the most production-intensive haunted attraction in Gatlinburg — a multi-level walk-through haunted house built and maintained by the Ripley's Entertainment group, with professional sets, actors, effects, and a scale that puts it beyond the typical tourist-strip haunted attraction. The experience changes seasonally with themed presentations, and the Halloween season adds intensity and additional programming to the standard experience. Located on the Gatlinburg Parkway, Ripley's Haunted Adventure is accessible on foot from most downtown Gatlinburg accommodations. Check current hours and ticket availability at ripleys.com/gatlinburg — the attraction has variable seasonal hours.

Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg

Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg is a nightly one-hour walking tour of Gatlinburg's most historically significant and allegedly haunted locations — a one-mile route through downtown led by a local storyteller in period costume. The tour covers local legends, historical murders, accidents, and unexplained events from the past century in Gatlinburg and the surrounding area. The format is storytelling, not jump-scares — guides describe the stories at each location, show photographs visitors have taken of unexplained phenomena over the years, and provide each guest with an EMF detector to track any unusual readings along the route. The tour departs nightly from 520 Parkway in Gatlinburg, rain or shine.

Gatlinburg GhostWalks

Gatlinburg GhostWalks (operated by Appalachian GhostWalks) takes a more historically rigorous approach to the ghost tour format — lantern-led walking tours of Gatlinburg's historic locations with an emphasis on documented historical events, Cherokee history, early settlement accounts, and Prohibition-era stories alongside the ghost and mystery narrative. The tours include the White Oak Flats Cemetery, established in 1807, which is one of the oldest marked burial grounds in the area. The experience is well-suited for visitors who want the atmosphere of a ghost tour alongside genuine local history. Tours run nightly year-round with advance reservations recommended.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg and Gatlinburg GhostWalks?

Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg (ghostwalkofgatlinburg.com) is the original walking tour, departing from 520 Parkway with a storytelling format, period-costumed guides, and EMF detectors. Gatlinburg GhostWalks / Appalachian GhostWalks (appalachianghostwalks.com) is a separate company with a more historically focused lantern-led tour that includes the White Oak Flats Cemetery. Both are legitimate operations; the right choice depends on whether you prefer storytelling entertainment or historical depth.

Are these attractions appropriate for children?

The ghost tours (Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg and Gatlinburg GhostWalks) are generally appropriate for older children who enjoy spooky history — roughly ages 8 and up, though parents should assess their own child's sensitivity to dark content. Mysterious Mansion and Ripley's Haunted Adventure are more intense haunted house experiences with actors and jump-scare formats; minimum age recommendations vary and younger children may find them genuinely frightening. Check each attraction's current age guidance before booking with children under 10.