You know that Ober Gatlinburg offers dozens of options for family fun in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. In the winter, the East Tennessee ski resort offers skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. But the fun doesn’t stop in the summer! Ober Gatlinburg offers year-round ice skating, a wildlife exhibit, an indoor mall, and restaurants. Recently, Gatlinburg’s ski resort has unveiled plans to open a brand new and exciting mountain coaster!
Set to open in November of 2014, the new mountain coaster will be called ADG Mountain Coaster. This mountain coaster will be a year-round attraction, suitable for every member of your family. Ober Gatlinburg offers the perfect setting for this new mountain coaster, featuring fantastic mountain views and sweeping valleys to take in on your descent!
The new mountain coaster in Gatlinburg will be located up the famous Ski Mountain Road. The ride is expected to last about 5 ½ minutes in length and cover almost 4,000 feet! The first riders will have the perfect opportunity to enjoy the sights of the breathtaking fall scenery that the mountains of the Smokies have to offer.
How will the coaster work? The ride will depart near Ober Gatlinburg’s tubing park and will take you on a soothing uphill ride through the lush forests of the Smoky Mountains. Once you arrive at the top of the mountain, you will be set off on an adrenaline-pumping downhill ride! You will experience turns, dips, zags, swirls, and speeds that will reach up to 25 miles per hour.
Don’t consider yourself a thrill seeker? The ride will accommodate all levels of coaster enthusiasts by allowing riders to choose their own speed down the mountain. That means you can choose to fly through the turns or apply the brakes and take it easy all the way down. This makes the ride great for everyone in your family – everyone from grandma to the grand kids will appreciate this fun experience!
The mountain coaster has been designed with your comfort in mind and will seat two riders at a time. High back rests and short break levers will make the ride easy to handle and control. In addition to these features, there will also be a seat belt monitoring system, ensuring everyone stays buckled up and safe on the ride.
What else is exciting about the new mountain coaster at Ober Gatlinburg? It will be the highest mountain coaster in the state of Tennessee! You are sure to enjoy breathtaking mountain views on both the ascent and descent of this year-round attraction.
Ober Gatlinburg has recently announced another new addition to their expansive Smoky Mountain Wildlife Encounter – bobcat kittens! Construction is currently being completed on a large bobcat exhibit that will be home to two Southern bobcats. These elusive creatures are rarely seen in the wild and tend to stay out of sight, making it a treat to see them on your Gatlinburg vacation.
While the kittens are just babies now, they will rapidly grow to their full adult size – about 25 to 30 pounds. You will recognize the animals by their large paws, ears full of tufts of hair, and of course, their “bobbed” tail! Ober Gatlinburg has worked hard to ensure that the bobcats will have a safe and comfortable environment to enjoy their days.
The Smoky Mountain Wildlife Encounter at Ober Gatlinburg also features two black bear cubs, which were born in late January. There is also a river otter habitat where you can learn about these incredible aquatic hunters. The nocturnal house is home to animals that come out at night, such as skunks, flying squirrels, and raccoons. The birds of prey exhibit is also a great one to check out, featuring an owl, falcon, and eagle. The Wildlife Encounter here aims to educate guests about the incredible animals that reside in the Great Smoky Mountains.