Ripley's Haunted Adventure

Ripley's Haunted Adventure

A year-round, multi-story scare attraction on the Gatlinburg Parkway, built inside a building with a genuinely unsettling backstory.

The property was once home to the Grimsby & Streaper Casket Company — an abandoned coffin factory whose owners mysteriously disappeared. Ripley's acquired it and has been filling it with hauntings ever since. The result is a state-of-the-art attraction with live actors, elaborate themed rooms, pitch-black corridors, animatronics, and effects that don't let up from the first room to the last. Open every day of the year, so it doesn't take Halloween to get scared here.

Looking for a base nearby? Our Gatlinburg cabin rentals are minutes from the Parkway.

What's inside

Unlike seasonal haunted houses, this one runs year-round as a permanent, high-production experience across multiple floors. The storyline is rooted in the building's casket factory history: guests navigate themed rooms and dark corridors, each with its own scare scenario, while live actors stay in character throughout and deliver jump scares at every turn.

Expect pitch-black hallways, asylum sequences, push-through body bags, animatronic figures, heavy special effects, and actors genuinely committed to making sure nobody gets out without screaming at least once.

LaserStrike is also available during daytime hours — a laser tag-style experience set inside the attraction, for anyone who wants the adrenaline without the full haunted house.

How long it takes

Most groups walk through in twenty to thirty minutes depending on pace. LaserStrike is a separate daytime experience.

Tickets and discounts

Buy tickets in advance at ripleys.com. Nothing needs printing — tickets are retrieved from your phone via email confirmation.

Discounts are counter-only. Military, first responder, AAA, senior, and county resident discounts are available at the ticket counter with valid ID, but not online. If you qualify, buy in person rather than ahead. Check ripleys.com for current terms.

Combo tickets are the better value. Ripley's operates nine attractions in Gatlinburg, and bundles combining the Haunted Adventure with the Aquarium or the Odditorium save significantly over individual purchases.

Hours and location

Open daily, typically from late morning until evening. Hours vary seasonally — confirm at ripleys.com before visiting.

Accessibility

The attraction is wheelchair accessible, with ramps, wider corridors, and accessible restrooms throughout. ADA-defined service dogs and guide dogs are permitted; emotional support animals are not.

Tips for visiting

• Go at night. It works fine during the day, but the atmosphere builds considerably after dark
• Buy online for speed, in person for discounts. Advance tickets skip the counter line, but the military, first responder, AAA, and senior discounts are counter-only
• Bundle if you're doing more than one. Combo tickets with the Aquarium or the Odditorium save real money
• LaserStrike during the day. A good option for younger guests, or anyone who wants the setting without the scares
• Use your judgment on age. Six is the minimum, but it's legitimately frightening for younger kids — and there's no shame in sending half the group to the mirror maze instead

Other Ripley's attractions in Gatlinburg

Ripley's operates nine attractions clustered along the Parkway, all within walking distance of each other:

• Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies — shark tunnel, touch tanks, and a penguin playhouse
• Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium — three floors of unbelievable artifacts and interactive exhibits
• Ripley's 5D Moving Theater — motion simulator theater with multiple film options
• Ripley's Marvelous Mirror Maze — disorienting and surprisingly fun at any age
• Ripley's Mini Golf — two themed 18-hole courses
• Ripley's Mountain Coaster — a separate coaster attraction on the Parkway

Nearby

908 Parkway puts the Haunted Adventure in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg. See our things to do guide for more.

• Anakeesta — mountaintop gondola and adventure park, with Astra Lumina after dark; a natural pairing for a full evening
• Gatlinburg SkyPark — North America's longest pedestrian cable bridge, a short walk down the Parkway
• Gatlinburg Space Needle — a 407-foot observation tower just off the Parkway
• Ober Gatlinburg — Tennessee's only ski area, reached by aerial tram from downtown
• Dinner and dessert on the Parkway — riverside dining, pizza, moonshine tastings, and milkshake bars all within a short walk
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the entrance is minutes from downtown

Frequently asked questions

Is it open year-round?

Yes — unlike most haunted houses, this one operates every day of the year.

How scary is it?

Designed for genuine scares — live actors, dark corridors, jump scares, and intense theming throughout. A step up from a family-friendly haunted attraction, though not extreme horror. First-timers and younger teens typically find it legitimately frightening.

Can I bring my young child?

The minimum age is 6, and children 6 to 11 must be with an adult. It isn't recommended for sensitive young children.

What is LaserStrike?

A laser tag-style experience available during daytime hours inside the attraction — a good option for anyone who wants the setting without the full haunted house intensity.

How long does it take?

Twenty to thirty minutes to walk through, depending on pace.

Do I need to print my tickets?

No — tickets arrive by email and are retrieved from your phone.

Are military and first responder discounts available?

Yes, with valid ID, and they extend to additional guests in your party. Counter-only, not available online. Check ripleys.com for current terms.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes — ramps, wider corridors, and accessible restrooms throughout.

Are service animals allowed?

ADA-defined service dogs and guide dogs are permitted. Emotional support animals are not. If you're traveling with a pet, our pet-friendly cabins give them somewhere comfortable to stay.

Do the actors touch you?

Standard policy at attractions like this is no contact from actors, and guests shouldn't touch them either. Confirm with staff on arrival if it's a concern for someone in your group.