Wilderness at the Smokies Doubles Indoor Water Park for Spring Swim Adventures
While that Tennessee spring air may start to hint at summer, those Tennessee lakes, rivers, and creeks still feel like winter.
This can throw cold water (heh) on plans for a swim or splash, especially for little ones. But Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort and Family Adventure Center in Sevierville has the answer for a pre-summer splashdown with tons of brand new adventures.
The massive resort hosts tons of lodging options (234 Stone Hill guest rooms; 472 River Lodge suites, and 20 Villas to be exact) and was already known for its indoor family entertainment center, 36-hole golf course (not owned by the resort but adjacent to it resort), the Lake Wilderness and Salamander Springs outdoor water parks, and Wild WaterDome, Tennessee’s largest indoor water park.
But in honor of the resort’s 15th birthday, its owners doubled the size of the indoor water park and loaded it up with some brand new features you won’t see anywhere else.
Kaleidoscope Kavern Lazy River
Photos: Moment Factory
Hop a tube and float through an immersive tunnel of lights and sounds in the brand new Kaleidoscope Kavern Lazy River. Owners say it’s the first of its kind in the world. In it, “guests are surrounded by a dreamlike universe made of beautiful projections, dynamic lights, and nature sounds inspired not only by the Smoky Mountain region but also our magical planet.”
For the attraction, Wilderness at the Smokies partnered with Moment Factory, the same design firm that created Astra Lumina, the Enchanted Night Walk at Anakeesta.
Water park influencer @alexojeda visited the lazy river and the post racked up more than 2 million likes on Instagram.
Ridge Runner water coaster
The brand new three-story water coaster features three steep drops, uphill blasts, and high speeds. Ridge Runner is also the world’s first slide with Reverse AquaLucent effects with colorful, spellbinding patterns. These special tubes allow light to filter through, adding brightness to the Wild WaterDome.
Check out this IG video from @alexaojeda:
“Guests love this amazing water coaster!” said Pete Tennis, managing director for Wilderness at the Smokies. “It starts with a heart-pounding 22-foot drop at 29 mph before propelling the riders up into a right hairpin turn inside the first Reverse AquaLucent section.
“A second drop follows into an open flume, followed by an uphill blast into a sharp left turn inside another Reverse AquaLucent tube with different patterns. For thrill’s sake, the coaster repeats a third time into a final set of patterns inside another Reverse AquaLucent tube. To round out the sensations, riders loop through a dark tube before finishing in an open flume.”
Peak Rooftop Bar and Eatery with Lookout Lagoon roof top pool
Head to the top of the Wild WaterDome for a the newly expanded rooftop, a relaxation oasis with one heart-pounding twist.
From an elevator to the roof, guests will find the new Peak Rooftop Bar and Grill, three rooftop cabanas, and a stage for entertainment. The rooftop is also home now to Lookout Lagoon, a rooftop pool with a glass edge offering one-of-a-kind views for the brave.
Other updates
In addition to the new attractions, the resort completely renovated the Snapping Turtle Indoor/Outdoor Play Lagoon area to include a new indoor/outdoor hot spa that offers the same seating as the old Magnolia Grove hot spa and a 1,055 square-foot activity pool complete with a three-sided basketball feature in the outside area to “hoop it up” with friends.
The resort added 500 seats to the waterpark, six additional cabanas on the mezzanine level of the waterpark and three additional cabanas on the main level.
So, if you or your children find spring fever already turning to summer dreams, head out to Sevierville and the Wilderness of the Smokies for all new water adventures.
For more information, visit the resort’s website.
