Anakeesta is a mountain theme park perched on the ridge directly above Gatlinburg, reached by gondola from a base station near the center of town. The gondola ride itself gives you a solid preview of what's waiting at the top: a sweeping view of the town below and the Great Smoky Mountains spread out beyond it. The village on the ridge is built around a network of elevated walkways and platforms in the tree canopy, with the AnaVista Tower at the highest point offering unobstructed 360-degree views across the Smokies.
The complex has grown considerably since opening in 2017 and now includes multiple restaurants and bars, a mountain coaster, a gem mining sluice aimed at children, and various seasonal activities. It's undeniably commercial — the gondola ticket isn't cheap, and everything on the mountain has a price attached — but the views are the real thing, and the tree canopy walk is genuinely well-designed. Sunset from the AnaVista Tower is one of the best in the area. Come in the afternoon, stay for the light, and have a drink at the rooftop bar while the mountains go orange.