Ober Mountain sits on the ridgeline above Gatlinburg and is reached by aerial tramway from a station just off the main strip — a genuine gondola ride through the trees that is itself worth doing regardless of what's at the top. In winter the mountain operates as a small ski area, with a handful of runs and a terrain park suited to beginners and families rather than serious skiers. The snow is often supplemented by snowmaking, and the skiing is modest by any mountain standard, but on a cold December day with the Smokies stretching out below, it has its own appeal.
Year-round the park offers ice skating, an alpine coaster, a wildlife encounter with native Appalachian animals, and various other attractions that keep it busy well outside ski season. It's a genuine mountain destination rather than just a summer afterthought, and the combination of activities means you can easily spend half a day up here without planning to. The tram ride alone — departing from the middle of town and climbing steeply into the forest — is one of the more unusual things you can do in Gatlinburg.