Call 1-800-808-3903
Posted by Jon Hoffman in Pigeon Forge
Remember the rush of the wind in your face as a kid? Coasting downhill on a bike or sledding like lightning in the snow? That adrenaline surge from being just a little out of control? Your whole family can enjoy downhill thrills without fearing a crash at the bottom at these attractions in Pigeon Forge. Some are new; some are classic. Find your six favorite rides here, from simple to extreme.
Rowdy Bear is a recent addition to Pigeon Forge's array of thrill attractions. Two ways are offered for riding fun. Rowdy Ridge is a year-round tubing hill ride. Choose your tube, and stand on a conveyor to the top. You can dry slide individually or up to a 3-person train downhill, over 500 feet and up to 35 miles per hour! The Alpine Flyer moves downhill above the ground, a suspended 2-seat coaster to smoothly sway and soar your way down the ridge, while using laser guns to shoot targets along the way. Choose one or both exciting activities with a combination pass. Want a do over? It's a completely different ride between daytime and lighted nighttime-which should you do? Both!
What about tubing another way, only found in Pigeon Forge? What about inside snow tubing in a pair of shorts? Open all year, you don't have to wait for outdoor temperatures to drop to take this cool downhill snow slope, and it's 60-some degrees indoors. Ride the belt to the top of the slide, and keep going as many times as you can squeeze into an hour session. All without having to drag a sled uphill! This is super friendly for all ages, and you can even add another 30 minutes of playing in a real snow play area, even if it is raining or broiling outside.
With a tube or without, water slides should always be a part of satisfying your need for thrills. Open from May to September, this 35-acre water park adjacent to the larger Dollywood Theme Park. Regularly ranked as one of the best in the world, there is no better way for your entire family to slide and water play, with rides from mild to completely wild. This is an all-day commitment, because you will want to ride everything at least once, and then hit the lazy river and wave pools, or just work on your tan as home base while the littles play.
Riding inside a OGO sphere downhill is definitely the most one-of-a-kind experience on this list, and my first choice as a local writer and rider. Picture yourself inside a giant, 11-foot inflated double-wall ball, rolling straight downhill for speed, zigzag for hurl factor, or upon a track designed to mix speed and zigzag. Depending on on your choice, up to three people can ride together. From November to March, you can ride "Drygo" without water inside, which can be a bit of a body tumbler and not for faint of heart. H2OGo the rest of the year makes it more of an interior slip and slide. You can even race another friend downhill. There really is nothing else quite like it here! Never met a teen that didn't love this place.
Smoothly sledding on twisting metal rails downhill is quite a slick way to travel. A handbrake controlled by the rider makes the ride leisurely or extreme, depending on speed preference. Nighttime offers a colorful, lighted ride experience that adds to the pleasure. Strap in and the cars are mechanically towed to the top of the ridge and released for your overall 7-minute journey, reaching almost 30 miles per hour at top speed. Riders can ride solo or in 2-person tandem. At this location, there is an additional kitschy, fun souvenir gift store--with, uh, goats on the roof--to make this pit stop even more memorable. Finish with an ice cream, perhaps?
Certainly not the least! Overcome your fear of hanging suspended in mid-air while zipping down a high wire above the ground. Truly, there is nothing to fear on these downhill zip lines with this most professional outfitter, the longest term provider in our area. This group truly has your safety as first priority, and then to ensure your absolute enjoyment of the experience. There are many who thought they just couldn't do this, who now zip every trip to the Smokies! Unlike some other rides, all of the hooking, unhooking, and braking is handled for you, nothing left to chance. Everything is clearly explained, even with a few jokes here and there to calm a nervous one in the group. There is even a vertical rappelling feature included in this 2-hour adventure. No hiking required either: you are carried to and from the lines on off-road military trucks from base camp. Go with the pros at SMZ for an experience that is literally breathtaking....and unforgettable. Every time. Every season!
The variety of attraction options available to visitors to the Smokies is sometimes overwhelming. Unlike some others offering information, we guarantee that recommendations discussed here are based in fact, written by Sevier County locals, providing assistance from those who actually experience them before you. Don't hesitate to contact the staff at Volunteer Cabin Rentals regarding any questions you may have regarding our area. We want your stay to be everything it should be!
Other blog categories:
Featured Cabin Gatlinburg National Park Pigeon Forge Places to Eat Sevierville Shopping Smoky Mountain Attractions Smoky Mountains Things To Do Volunteer Cabin Rentals Ways to Save Money Wears Valley