Tennessee: Mountain Coasters

Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville

1 and 2 June

Unfortunately due to so many rollercoaster closures throughout this trip, I was yet to reach my 300th coaster. I had a backup plan however in the form of mountain coasters which were scattered throughout Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in Tennessee. 

Needing a break from waiting in lines at Dollywood, I bought my trolley ticket ($3US for day pass or $1US per ride) and got the first trolley to the Gatlinburg Welcome Centre. From this location, trolleys were free but there was a catch: they were insanely busy. I was destined for a day of more lines, waiting for just over an hour as the first trolley that arrived was already full. I was the last person accepted on the trolley which came about 30 minutes later. I spoke to people who said they tried driving to Gatlinburg but couldn’t find a park, so had to come back to the Welcome Centre to use the park and ride service. One trolley driver told me they had plenty of trolleys sitting around, but could not find any staff to drive them. Every driver I met was retired, doing the job as a favour for the town. They also enjoyed the driving and meeting tourists. RJ was my favourite driver. We had a good chat about dreams and purpose, then he gave me a silver coin from Dreammore at Dollywood. That made me quite emotional!

My second trolley (purple) took me to the Gatlinburg transit station which was at the Aquarium. From there I boarded a third (red) trolley to take me to Ober. All up it took me about 2 hours for a journey that would take about 20 minutes by car.

1. Ski Mountain Coaster, Ober Gatlinburg

To get to my first coaster, I had to catch a gondola (or sky tram) up the mountain. I paid $82.20 AUD which included the lifts up and down the mountain, plus an unlimited daily wristband for the activities. I knew the mountain coasters were not cheap and had budgeted accordingly.

The ride up the mountain was awesome. We saw a black bear rummaging through some trash, and a couple sleeping near the front decks of the cabins and mansions dotted throughout the hills.

Upon arriving at Ober, I visited the Wildlife park first. There wasn’t much action as the bobcats and nocturnal animals were all sleeping. A few bears were roaming around their enclosures. Even though I knew these beautiful animals would die if released, it will always make me sad to see them in unnatural enclosures. 

I then walked up to the Ski Mountain Coaster, right into a 30-minute wait. As the cars only seat 1-2 people, it was predictably slow loading. The car was simple to operate – push lever forward to go, pull lever back to brake. You don’t need to do anything at first, as the lift hill carries you up. I loved that the cars had tall seats, as you could just lie back and soak up the mountain atmosphere (unlike Australian toboggans where you strain your back trying not to fall out). 

Once up the top you push the lever forward, and gravity takes over. You pick up some good speed going round the corners in particular, and gradually build trust that you will remain in the car. I enjoyed this coaster much more than a traditional toboggan/bobsled. You go faster, and as you are sitting up on a track as opposed to inside a half tube, you can see more of your surroundings. 

With so much time spent on the trolleys, I didn’t have time (or the desire to wait in line again) for another turn. Instead I went on the ski tube which is basically sliding down a hill in an inflatable ring. I found this one quite slow with a very minor gradient.

Next, I caught a chairlift up to the alpine slide, which was a traditional toboggan run. The track wasn’t metal like the ones at home, so I guess you don’t have to worry about burning yourself when it gets hot. However, the fiberglass track wasn’t as fast as the metal ones, and it kind of felt like sledding down a bumpy water slide.

I caught the same chair lift, this time continuing past the alpine slide all the way to the top of Mt Harrison. I felt like a cheater since I didn’t walk up the hill but did enjoy just observing the wild turkeys and other bird life without breaking a sweat. The views from the top were a little obscured, but I loved that a bluegrass band greeted you with some tunes.

I suppose the unlimited wristband would be great value if you could spend half a day at Ober. As I had ticked everything off though, it was time for the next mountain coaster.

2. Rail runner, Anakeesta Gatlinburg

Anakeesta means “place of high ground” in the Cherokee language, which seemed very appropriate. Anakeesta was like mixing Canberra’s Floriade with an adventure playground and a few pubs, then plonking them all on top of a hill.

I had intended to get the chairlift up, have a quick turn on the coaster and head back down, but my plans were foiled by the ticketing system. Before you could even buy the mountain coaster ticket, you had to buy a chairlift ticket AND a park pass. So I spent roughly $67 AUD getting into the park, and then another $25 AUD to ride the coaster. Like Ober, you could make a day of it to get value for money, but I only had a couple of hours. These were becoming very expensive rides…

Catching the chairlift up (called a Chondola), I appreciated the map on the lap bar to work out my plan of attack. It was around 630pm, and although Anakeesta closed late, the Rail Runner Mountain coaster closed at 7pm. So, I went straight there and was pleased to see no queue. The views were truly spectacular from the top, surrounded by green rolling hills on all sides.

Rail Runner is apparently North America’s only single rail mountain coaster, so I was looking forward to seeing how this differed from the other coasters. It felt like you got a bit more speed, but this may also have been due to the fact that Rail Runner was the only mountain coaster to start at the top of the mountain straight into the downhill sections, before ending with a lift hill. The single rail also meant the turns were quite forceful, so it really did feel like you would fly out sideways. Needless to say the seatbelts/strapping were more intense than any of the other mountain coasters.

 It was quite a short but enjoyable track, plus there were a few gorgeous brown/white spotted chipmunks along the way – like straight out of Bambi! I couldn’t help but wonder what I would do if a bear crossed the track in front of me (I googled it and yep, there was an incident just like this!)

I then spent the next hour thoroughly enjoying a stroll around the park. I could see that a second mountain coaster was being built but was turned back by staff when I got close as a bear was nearby. I appreciated water mists in a floral archway, which gave some reprieve from the heat and humidity. While the first two weeks of the trip had been in quite low temperatures, they shot right up in Carolina and Tennessee.

There was a fun floral inspired staircase at the top of the hill, which provided even greater views from the top. There were a few kids’ playgrounds, and lots of thoughtful flower arrangements.

The treetops bridge walk was a fun way to get back to the front of the park, although it was frustrating when you got stuck behind families who were going very slowly. I wish I had been able to stay at Anakeesta past sunset. You could pay extra to view a light show, but I would have been happy just to see the sunset over such a stunning vista. With tickets for both Anakeesta and Ober, if you buy then after 6pm, they are also valid the next day. If I had known this beforehand I probably would have planned my days a little differently.

I still had a little more daylight left (gotta love them long summer hours) and was eyeing off three more mountain coasters.

3. Ripley’s Mountain Coaster, Gatlinburg

From Anakeesta it was just a short walk to Ripley’s Mountain Coaster. This one felt a little out of place, as it seemed to be constructed to imitate the curves of a mountain, but was mostly situated in a car park. I was getting used to the Mountain Coaster operators finding ways to make things as expensive as possible, and Ripley’s was no exception. The minimum number of rides was two even though I only wanted to go once. They also had a fun looking glider ride, which was a bit like zip lining from a roller coaster track. So $67 Australian dollars later, I had a ticket for three rides. 

I felt the mountain coaster was quite jerky, and missed the natural beauty of my first two experiences. Like all coasters, my opinions are likely skewed once I have experienced similar rides, because I become complacent and desensitised. 

I then popped on a harness and helmet before getting a safety briefing for the glider. The instructor told me I must hang on to the bar above my head at all times. I questioned what would happen if I let go, because my shoulders and hands can be a little dodgy after numerous injuries. He said I would likely start swinging and twisting dangerously and may end up upside down. So I hoped that I could hold myself up for about 90 seconds, and off I went. There were no big thrills for me, but it was quite fun swinging around the track while the coaster riders were flying past underneath.

4. Moonshine Mountain coaster, Gatlinburg

My last mountain coaster in  the Gatlinburg area was a five minute walk away, right on the edge of town. My plan was to have a turn on the coaster, and then grab a drink of moonshine to  finish off my Gatlinburg adventures. I felt jibbed when I realised the operators didn’t sell alcohol at all.

Moonshine Mountain had a very similar vibe to Ripley’s, where the coaster seemed less integrated into the natural environment than other coasters. Both tracks shared lots of similarities in their layouts, but I did find that Moonshine was a bit smoother. I was also pleased that I could buy a single ride ticket, but less pleased that it was $26 Australian dollars. Even our carnival rides at the local shows max out at around $16.

As night fell, I walked back to the transit station at the Aquarium, as this seemed like the better choice than waiting for a trolley to come that may not have room for you anyway. The night time vibe was really picking up as I walked past Blake Sheldon’s Ole Red restaurant, a shop growing various varieties of weed in the window, and many moonshine bars. The only demographic that was giving the drunken young men a run for their money, were the drunken older ladies. It seemed that many retired women were in town for holidays with girlfriends, and it made me so happy that they were seizing the day. I want to be like that when I grow up…

5. Rocky Top Mountain Coaster, Pigeon Forge

I was exhausted by the time I got back to the Old Mill mass transit station in Pigeon Forge at around 10pm. Ubers were pretty hard to find in the area, so I sucked it up and walked 15 minutes along a highway in the darkness to get to Rocky Top Mountain Coaster for one last hoorah. I felt relatively safe in these high tourist areas and was more concerned about being hit by a car than by dodgy humans.

When I arrived, Rocky Top had a party atmosphere. Karaoke tunes were playing for people in the queue, and it looked like lots of families were having a turn after a day at Dollywood (this coaster is on the way to/from the park). The loud noise probably annoyed the neighbours, but I guess you don’t live in high attraction areas if you want peace and quiet.

After using a $2 off couple, I paid $22.68 AUD for a single turn. Unlike some of the other coasters, I felt that the cost was worth it. Rocky Top was my favourite coaster of the day! I loved the experience at night, where parts of the track were lit up and other parts were pitch black. It made the corners unnerving, and although you could feel the ups and downs, you couldn’t really get a sense of the terrain you were in. I figured I must have been up rather high though, as there were four very long lift hill sections, meaning great downhill time! This mountain coaster is the longest in Tennessee.

This was the only mountain coaster of the day that had attempted any kind of theming, loosely based around the premise of escaping from bears. There were some fun little cut outs along the way, including European (You’re peeing) bears in a toilet. I enjoyed the tunnels and appreciated the longer length of the track. At the end of the ride, staff were actively encouraging all patrons to jump online and vote for them as the number 1 mountain coaster in the area. I was happy to oblige.

The best part? Rocky Top Mountain Coaster was my 300th roller coaster! Finally made the 300 club despite many coaster closures along the way.

Friday 2 June

I had planned on spending  the day at Dollywood, but was done by early afternoon. I therefore decided I would try and visit the remaining mountain coasters in Pigeon Forge.

6. Goats on the roof, Pigeon Forge

I walked to the mass transit station at the Old Mill again and took the yellow Wears Valley trolley. I was amazed that the centre of Pigeon Forge was ten times more touristy than Gatlinburg. Attractions, gimmicky museums, haunted houses, and sensory experiences everywhere you looked. The driver suggested I stay on until the end of the trip, adding an extra 15 minutes. This way I could exit the trolley on the return journey to avoid crossing a very busy highway where there were no lights or pedestrian crossings. I obliged and was dropped off right out the front of Goats on the Roof.

How do I describe this place? It felt like I was in an episode of Black Mirror, but I wasn’t sure what the moral of the story was. I was greeted with anti-Biden shirts (saying Biggest Idiot Democrats Ever Nominated) and so it was confirmed I was in Trump territory. This is a side of America I will never understand. There were odd knick knacks for sale, and gardens full of pots, sculptures and recycled bits and pieces. There were also goats, unsurprisingly on the roof. A lady was in the middle of feeding them by riding a bicycle, which would send a can of pellets up to the roof. Although many goats appeared hungry, there was one that seemed to be taking all the food. It was a disgustingly hot and humid day, and I just hoped the goats had some shelter to get out of the elements.

The place was also constructing a new mini golf course, featuring huge dinosaurs (one of which had a goat on its back). I wondered just how many mini golf places a small town could possibly need! For $20.91AUD I jumped on board the Goats Coaster. Like Ripley’s I found this one a little jerky. I was also very unimpressed that the automatic braking engaged a lot. This generally occurs when you get too close to someone else, but there was nobody in front of me. With another coaster ticked off, I sweated out another litre by walking 30 minutes to the Smoky Mountain  Alpine Coaster.

7. Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, Pigeon Forge

Smoky Mountain was apparently the first mountain coaster built in the area, with quite a long track. I really loved this ride, quite possibly because it took me right up into the shaded trees over rolling green hills, where the temperature dropped significantly. The scenery was beautiful, and I felt that the speed and smoothness was better than some of the other coasters. 

I really liked how the design of the track made use of the natural landscape.

The price was comparable at $24 AUD.

8. The Wild Stallion Mountain Coaster, Sevierville

My plan was to wait for the trolley to come back, then jump off half way to reduce my walking distance to the next town over, Sevierville. However the yellow trolley did not appear to run as frequently as the others, and I was having trouble downloading the Pigeon Forge app to see the live updates of arrival times (apparently the app was not available in my region, even though I was using a US sim.)

With my patience and hydration decreasing, I forked out for an Uber to drive me to up to The Wild Stallion. I still had to wait around 30 minutes, due to Uber shortages which I have already mentioned. I am still unsure how to pronounce Sevierville, but know that it is the place where Dolly Parton grew up. Apparently there are various tributes to her in the little town, but sadly I did not have time to explore the area further.

The Wild Stallion was situated at a park called Skyland Ranch. This farm had various animals, including horses which guests could pay to ride. You could also experience a chairlift, enjoy the shopping and food outlets, or watch seasonal shows. After my experiences at Ober and Anakeesta, I was thrilled that I could just pay to ride the mountain coaster, instead of being forced to pay a park pass for things I wasn’t really interested in. The coaster was one of the more expensive ones at $32.94AUD for one ride.

The park was very quiet, and so I didn’t need to wait at all for a turn. I enjoyed the track which seemed to take you up to the high point, down to ground level, then up and down again. I like the longer stretches and wider turns that contributed to a very smooth and fun ride. It was different flying around farmland as opposed to the mountains, but I did feel that the park needed to invest in some additional landscaping. It seemed like a work in progress.

Wild Stallion, Smoky Mountain and Rocky Top mountain  coasters all claim to be the longest coasters in Tennessee. I have no idea if they are judging this based on track length or time taken to complete the ride. If the latter, then this can be deceiving as longer generally just means more lift hill time.

I could see the Nascar SpeedPark across the road,  and was tempted to visit for another rollercoaster credit, the Speedway coaster. However the track looked tiny, and the only option was to pay for a wrist band to the entire park. I decided to skip this one, not having enough of a drawcard to lure me in.

9. Avalanche Snow Coaster, Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark, Pigeon Forge

Being unfamiliar with the Sevierville trolleys, I walked the 25 minutes back to Pigeon Forge for Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark (try saying that quickly five times!) This park was tan unexpected highlight for me, and I had a lot of fun on the three main attractions. I bought a one-hour unlimited pass for $47.04 Australian. I imagine this would be problematic in peak season, but there were only about 10 people at the park so it was perfect.

I rode the Avalanche Snow Coaster twice. This was quite unique compared to the other mountain coasters, known as a CoasterKart. The ride had a low lying track without any hills. The seats were also like little cars, where you could sit side by side with another person instead of sitting in front/behind each other. Another difference was that you didn’t use a level to break and accelerate, but simply rotated the handlebars. For a ground dwelling mountain coaster, this was a lot more fun than I expected.

I scored a bonus coaster credit with the Ski Lift Shootout coaster. This was described as a suspended coaster but felt more like a glider/zipline system with the amount of swinging taking place. The seats also come with laser guns, so you can shoot targets along the way. Only in America is it perceived as “more fun” to add guns…

I was not surprised that my first attempt was woeful with a score of about 300. I improved greatly with my second turn, shooting my way into the thousands. I thought the ride was a good addition to the park, but the guns were gimmicky and unnecessary. 

The third attraction I went on was the snow tubing, which was really grass tubing featuring sprinklers in the warmer weather. Just like at Ober, you stepped on a little conveyor belt to drag your tube up to the top of the hill. Unlike Ober, this one was really steep and hilarious! I thoroughly enjoyed watching other adults lose their minds on it. To get you moving, the  top section of the slide mechanically lifted up to help gravity along. The artificial turf was also watered to increase the speed. I appreciated the sprinklers given the day had been so hot! You pick up a cracking amount of speed on these things, and I was not convinced that being flung out was out of the question. I had to concentrate hard to keep my feet up though. I dread to think what might happen if you tried to slow yourselves down by dragging your feet along the edges. Like a kid in a candy shop, I went back up the hill several more times.

I felt I got a lot out of my one hour wristband, and so it was time for the final destination: The Island…

The Island, Pigeon Forge.

After another 30 minute walk (yeah, I was still averaging between 20,000-30,000 steps every day), I arrived to the overwhelming neon lights of the Island in the heart of Pigeon Forge. I was planning on chasing another coaster credit with the Spinning Parrots Coaster.

The Island seemed more like a carnival set up, with numerous rides that you could pay $5.99US each for, or buy an unlimited ride ticket. Attractions included mini trampolines, a high ropes course, ferris wheel, and some standard carnival ride offerings. It looked like a fun place to hang out in the evenings, with a fountain show, and plenty of bars and restaurants with live music.

One look at the Spinning Parrots and I knew it wasn’t for me. The track was probably the smallest figure 8 set up I had seen in my life, and not even the prospect of fun little spinning carriages could convince me to line up. I must admit I was already in a cranky mood by that point, after walking past two cockatoos in a tiny cage used to advertise a parrot attraction in the area.

The other consideration was that if I went on the coaster, I would likely miss the next trolley home meaning another 45-minute walk. I walked across the road, treated to an obnoxiously loud but fun parade of motorbikes that seemed to last for about 15 minutes. This area was also known for numerous car and bike shows, and the street parades are apparently a common occurrence. After one day in Pigeon Forge, I really did feel the need to hide in a dark and quiet space for 24 hours to recover!

So what was my take on the mountain coasters? They were a novel attraction that could be enjoyed by all family members. I would not consider them thrilling (top speeds around 40km/hr), but they were a fun way to view some of the countryside and more enjoyable than old fashioned toboggan rides. I am glad I was able to ride them all, but wouldn’t do it again due to the expense. I recommend just sticking with one of the parks like Ober, Anakeesta or Rowdy Bear, and spending a half day there instead.

Most of the coaster tracks were fairly similar, running for around 6-9 minutes each (much of which is the lift hill time). All but Rail Runner at Anakeesta and the coaster at Ober were made by the American arm of a German company called Wiegand, so naturally they had a similar feel. Apparently Wiegand have over 270 installations worldwide.

Here are my rankings based on personal preference, which I am sure differ for every rider. I suspect if I rode them all at night or in wet conditions, the order would probably change.

1. Rocky Top Mountain Coaster
2. Rail Runner, Anakeesta
3. Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
4. Ski Mountain Coaster, Ober
5. The Wild Stallion, Skyland Ranch
6. Avalanche Snow Coaster, Rowdy Bear’s 
7. Moonshine Mountain Coaster
8. Ripley’s Mountain Coaster
9. Goats on the Roof