Anakeesta Launches Gatlinburg’s all NEW Halloween Event to Coincide with its Fall Family-Friendly Mountaintop Celebration

From kid-friendly Halloween fun to pulse-pounding scare zones, everyone will find their level of fun (or fear) at Anakeesta's NEW The Legend of Hallow Mountain appropriately beginning on Friday, Sept. 13.
Photo by: user:mohamed_hassan

Surrounded by sweeping views of autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains, Anakeesta is launching Gatlinburg’s all NEW Halloween event, The Legend of Hallow Mountain. From kid-friendly Halloween fun to pulse-pounding scare zones, everyone will find their level of fun (or fear) at Anakeesta, appropriately beginning on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019.

Enjoy Autumn at Anakeesta activities all day, and after breathtaking sunsets, stay into the night to see how Anakeesta literally takes Halloween excitement to new heights. On select nights, beginning Sept. 13 through Nov. 2, experience The Legend of Hallow Mountain at no additional charge during Anakeesta’s extended Halloween hours.

“Fall is my favorite season, and we want to celebrate with a family-friendly ‘haunt’ to welcome in the autumn festivities in the Smokies,” Anakeesta co-founder and owner Karen Bentz explained. “My vision for the Hallow Mountain at Anakeesta is to add to our relaxing and scenic mountaintop village by creating a truly fun Halloween-themed destination for families to experience together. There are numerous kid-friendly activities, and one of the scare zones is just for adults – to make their spines tingle.”

For all ages throughout the day, Autumn at Anakeesta will offer family-friendly crafts, games, activities, not-so-spooky character visits and of course fall-inspired sweet treats for all. Travel from the heart of Gatlinburg to one of its highest peaks by Chondola or Ridge Rambler, where Anakeesta’s shops and restaurants will feature seasonal food and beverage just for fall.

As the nightlife awakens, Anakeesta’s Treetop Skywalk with 16 skybridges transforms into the NEW Firefly Forest. Experience the enchantment of thousands of “fireflies” pulsating in the forest below while walking 40-60 feet in the air, suspended in darkness. Then strike it rich with NEW Glow in the Dark Gem Mining.

Movie lovers of all ages can grab a seat at the Overlook Beer Garden to enjoy the stars and the silver screen during Anakeesta’s NEW 25 Nights of Outdoor Movies with cult favorites such as Frankenstein, Ghost Busters and Casper, just to name a few.

Looking for a frightfully good time? Dare to stay after dark when the undead rise, seeking their way off of Hallow Mountain. It’s all part of the tale, “The Legend of Hallow Mountain”, that Anakeesta is weaving for one of its totally terrifying new scare zones, the Hallow Mountain Graveyard. Like the Zombies, guests will be lucky to escape. Only those ages 12 and up will be allowed in this specially-designed area for an intense and realistic scare.

“We have worked very hard to gather a team of Halloween professionals which include craftsmen, make-up artists, prop builders, actors, lighting and sound technicians and a whole host of ‘behind the scene’ staff to make our storyline come alive,” Bentz explained. “Our collective goal is to create an authentic, believable ‘haunt’ that will give you a chill, but most importantly create a shared memory for families and friends to look forward to each year.”

Fans of shows like The Walking Dead will also appreciate Anakeesta’s version of Zombie Ziplining. Zip through the black of night then rappel into the depths of darkness. A single beacon will guide guests through almost 3,000 feet of ziplining with 70-foot drops and zombies lurking in the unknown.

Autumn at Anakeesta and Hallow Mountain are included in the cost of Anakeesta general admission. Zombie Ziplining requires an additional ticket purchase as does the Haunted Rail Runner Coaster. General admission tickets may be purchased in advance and give you unlimited Chondola or Ridge Rambler access to the mountaintop all day and night, with the last ride up departing at 11 p.m.

Discover the Magic in the Mountains! 70 acres to play, eat, shop and relax. Anakeesta is located in and above the heart of downtown Gatlinburg at 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 (traffic light #5).

ABOUT ANAKEESTA
Anakeesta is a mountain playground for all ages located on 70 acres of pristine forested land nestled in and above the heart of downtown Gatlinburg at 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 (traffic light #5). Anakeesta is a Cherokee Indian word referring to high ground, chosen to capture the authentic Smokies heritage that guests will experience. Play, eat, shop and relax surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Anakeesta, voted the best attraction of the year in 2018 by the TnHTA. Visit http://www.anakeesta.com or call 865-325-2400 for tickets and more information.