Anakeesta has recently completed the final phase of its $6.5 million expansion with the addition of Black Bear Village! This charming village features a new outdoor stage, splash pad, fine dining restaurant, and taproom, as well as plenty of places to sit and enjoy the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. Here are the top 5 things you need to know about Black Bear Village at Anakeesta:
1. What to Expect
Black Bear Village is part of the largest expansion ever at Anakeesta and now forms the central part of the popular mountaintop theme park! The village was designed to reflect on the beauty of the Smoky Mountains and offers an area where everyone can enjoy the spectacular views of the Smokies. While exploring Black Bear Village, you can discover several unique features such as an outdoor stage, fire pit, waterfall, and a family friendly splash pad designed to resemble a Tennessee mountain stream. When you are ready to relax around the fire pit, be sure to pick up a local craft brew from the convenient walk-up window at the Tap House!
2. Dining Experiences
If hunger strikes during your visit to Anakeesta, you can check out one of the unique new dining experiences in Black Bear Village. The Cliff Top Restaurant offers savory appetizers, entree salads, hand-cut steaks, scratch made sauces, and more! You can dine from the glass-enclosed, climate-controlled interior or the spacious outdoor patio while admiring the sweeping mountain views! If you prefer a quick bite to go, stop by the Kephart Cafe for gourmet hot dogs, flatbread pizza, and Flavor Burst frozen yogurt!
3. Shopping Options
One of the highlights of Black Bear Village is the Mercantile, a modern take on a general store that features modern farmhouse decor, kitchen items, vintage toys and all kinds of other cool stuff. This is also the perfect place to pick up some locally made jams and sauces, as well as some tasty treats to tempt your sweet tooth! The Mercantile joins the fun lineup of stores at Anakeesta, including the Great Outdoors Trading Company, Adventure Outpost, and Catching Fireflies.
4. Times, Dates, and Location
When planning your visit to Anakeesta’s Black Bear Village, be sure to check the official Anakeesta operating schedule for the latest dates and hours of operation. Anakeesta is located in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg at 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg TN 37738. There is plenty of convenient parking available near the base of the mountain, where you can catch the Chondola or Ridge Rambler to the top. The closing time reflects the time the last ticket is sold, and the last chair down from Anakeesta is one hour past the posted closing time.
5. Ticket Information
There are a variety of ticket options to Anakeesta, including general admission, annual passes, and group tickets. The general admission includes access to Black Bear Village, as well as unlimited Chondola or Ridge Rambler rides to the summit, North America’s longest Treetop Skywalk, Vista Gardens, and the AnaVista Tower.
Browse through all of our cabins in Gatlinburg TN today to stay close to Anakeesta and be one of the first guests to experience Black Bear Village! We look forward to seeing you soon at Alpine Chalet Rentals!
