Hollywood Star Cars Museum
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
The 1966 Batmobile, the Ecto-1, the DeLorean, the General Lee, and fifty-odd more — displayed in recreated settings on the Parkway. One of the few stops in town where the teenagers and the grandparents are equally impressed.
Hollywood Star Cars Museum
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
More than fifty vehicles from film, television, and entertainment history, displayed in recreated settings with sound and lighting in the heart of the Parkway.
Open since 1996 and one of Gatlinburg's most popular attractions. These aren't showroom pieces behind velvet ropes — they're presented in context, with props and memorabilia that put you inside the stories rather than looking at them from a distance. Good for car people, pop culture people, and families who want something they haven't done before.
Staying nearby? Browse our Gatlinburg cabin rentals, minutes from the Parkway.
The collection
The collection breaks into three sections, and the depth of each is genuinely impressive.
Fast & Furious
The museum's most popular section by guest count. Multiple cars from across the franchise are on display, including the 1967 Dodge Charger from F9, the Nissan Skyline GT-R, and the Mitsubishi Eclipse. Panoramic full-motion racing simulators using cars from the collection are also available.
Television and movie cars
The broadest and most nostalgic part of the collection. Many of these were the work of George Barris, known worldwide as the King of Kustomizers, whose custom builds produced some of the most recognizable vehicles in entertainment history.
- 1966 TV Batmobile — the Barris-built car from the classic series, and one of the most recognizable vehicles in television history
- 1992 Batmobile — from Batman Returns
- Ghostbusters Ecto-1 — the 1959 Cadillac ambulance conversion
- The Munsters Drag-u-la — Barris's coffin-based dragster
- James Dean Porsche 550 Spyder recreation — a Barris-built recreation of the car Dean drove
- The Beverly Hillbillies truck — the vintage jalopy from the series
- Mayberry police car — from The Andy Griffith Show, instantly recognizable to generations
- Eleanor — the 1967 Shelby GT500 from Gone in 60 Seconds
- DeLorean time machine — from Back to the Future
- General Lee — the 1969 Dodge Charger from The Dukes of Hazzard
- Gran Turismo race cars — from the film adaptation
Celebrity cars
Personal vehicles owned and driven by entertainment figures — a good counterpart to the movie and TV section. The lineup includes cars connected to Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Bob Hope, Dolly Parton, and Michael Jackson.
Current collection at starcarstn.com.
The racing simulators
Beyond the cars themselves, panoramic full-motion simulators featuring vehicles from the collection give you a version of the experience from the driver's seat rather than the other side of the rope. Check current availability and whether it's included with admission before you go.
Hours and location
Open daily, morning until evening. Hours vary seasonally and for special events — confirm at starcarstn.com before visiting.
Online pricing isn't available at the box office, so buying ahead at starcarstn.com is the only way to get the lower rate. It also saves the line.
Good to know
- Photography is encouraged — bring a charged phone. This is a place people photograph more than they expect to
- Self-guided — no timed tours or group restrictions, so you move at your own pace
- Budget one to two hours — car and movie enthusiasts who read every placard tend to stay longer
- It works across generations — the Barris TV cars land with grandparents, Fast & Furious with teenagers, and Back to the Future with everyone in between
Nearby
914 Parkway puts the museum in the middle of downtown, steps from the rest of the strip. See our things to do guide for more.
- Ripley's Haunted Adventure — a year-round haunted house a few doors down
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! — three floors of unbelievable artifacts
- The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar — dessert, a short walk up
- Anakeesta — mountaintop gondola and adventure park, with Astra Lumina after dark
- Gatlinburg SkyPark — North America's longest pedestrian cable bridge
- Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria and Alibi Speakeasy — dinner and drinks, both in Elk's Plaza
- Moonshine and wine tastings — right next door on the Parkway
Frequently asked questions
How long has the museum been open?
Since 1996 — one of the longer-running attractions in Gatlinburg.
How many vehicles are there?
More than fifty, spanning film, television, and celebrity ownership, with exhibits updated as new acquisitions arrive. Current collection at starcarstn.com.
Who was George Barris?
A custom car builder known as the King of Kustomizers, responsible for some of the most recognizable vehicles in entertainment history — the 1966 Batmobile, the Ecto-1, and the Munsters Drag-u-la among them. Several of his builds are on display.
Is photography allowed?
Yes, and encouraged throughout.
Should I buy tickets in advance?
Yes — online pricing is lower than walk-up and isn't available at the box office. Buy at starcarstn.com before you go.
Are the racing simulators included with admission?
Check current availability and any additional cost at starcarstn.com or by calling ahead.
How long does it take?
One to two hours for most guests. Enthusiasts who read everything take longer.
Is it good for kids?
Yes, and it's one of the better multi-generational stops on the Parkway — the cars kids recognize and the ones their grandparents recognize are in the same building.
The museum pairs naturally with a full afternoon and evening on the Parkway. Stay close with a Gatlinburg cabin rental, or keep the movie theme going at a cabin with a home theater. Traveling with family? See our family cabins and large cabins. Check the current specials, or use the vacation planner to map out the rest.