Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
5 Great Lesser-Known Attractions In The Smokies, Part One: Sevierville.
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on December 5, 2017
Now that we're winding down our season here at Smoky Mountain Ziplines, we thought this would be a good time to steer you toward some other attractions that you might consider while on a winter visit to our area. (We'll be open weekends only through the end of the year, and then we'll re-open in the spring.)
So for the next few weeks, we're going to give you the 4-1-1 on a number of area attractions that you might not have heard of. Places like Dollywood, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and the Titanic Museum and Attraction do a lot of advertising, so naturally, they get a lot of attention. But we're going to take you, city by city, on a tour of some other destinations that may not be as high-profile as the places I just mentioned but are still definitely worth a visit if you get a chance.
So buckle up as we start out this week in Sevierville. While you only have a few opportunities left to join us here in Pigeon Forge for some ziplining, Sevierville, Tennessee, has several neat attractions that will tide you over through the winter.
Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland
We're mentioning this one first, because it's not a year-round attraction. But during the holiday season, it's a must visit. Located in the parking areas surrounding the Tennessee Smokies baseball stadium, just off Interstate 40, this drive-through light show features larger-than-life animated displays synchronized with a music track you pipe in through your vehicle's radio. The show runs through January 7, 2018.
Smoky Mountain Deer Farm and Exotic Petting Zoo
Whether your party consists of just adults or you have kids traveling with you, everyone will enjoy this Sevierville petting zoo, which features exotic animals, pony rides, horseback riding and more. Guests can not only pet the resident critters – including camels, kangaroos, zebras, goats, reindeer, Rocky Mountain elk, emu, fallow and sika deer, miniature horses and donkeys – but they can feed many of them by hand. It's open year 'round, but most of what you do is outdoors, so dress appropriately.
Tennessee Museum of Aviation
Here's another year-round attraction that's mostly IN-doors, so you can enjoy the tour in a climate-controlled setting. Located adjacent to the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge airport (yes, it's in Sevierville), this museum offers a self-guided walk-through that details the history of Tennessee aviation, featuring memorabilia, interactive displays and a hall of fame celebrating Tennesseans who made significant contributions to the field. One of the highlights is the 35,000-square-foot hangar housing more than a dozen vintage warbirds, including a Douglas A-1H Skyraider and a Boeing F/A-18 Hornet.
Forbidden Caverns
Despite its ominous name, everyone is welcome to this underground cavern, which is located several miles outside Sevierville. Interestingly, the temperature in the caverns remains at 59 degrees all year, so dress appropriately. Moonshiners used to hide out in these caves once upon a time, and the Eastern Woodland Indians used it as shelter long before that. The hour-long tour is fun, fascinating and educational for all ages.
Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo
This animal attraction is home to more than 600 live animals representing some 130 species from rainforests all over the world. You'll see exotic reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds and more, including rare species like golden-headed lion tamarins from Brazil. Word of caution: If you have a fear of snakes, you may want to prepare yourself, because they have lots of them here, and every now and then, you'll catch zoo employees carrying some of the larger ones around for guests to see up close.
