All About Ripley’s Mountain Coaster in Gatlinburg

You may have heard that Ripley’s recently acquired a new attraction: a mountain coaster! These thrilling rides have popped up all over the Smoky Mountains, but this one is especially exciting. We know you can’t wait to hop on the cart and enjoy the ride, so keep reading to learn more about Ripley’s mountain coaster in Gatlinburg:

What to Expect

When you first pull up to the attraction, you’ll see a huge building with a sloped roof. This is where the loading station for the coaster is located. You’ll purchase tickets and sign a waiver, then hop in line to wait your turn. Once it’s your turn, you’ll be directed into one of the carts. You’ll put on the over-the-shoulder seat belt if you’re in the back, but if you’re in the front, you’ll have a lap belt.

As you go along the track, you’ll have gorgeous wooded views of the forest. You may spot some small wildlife, like birds and squirrels, but you’ll probably be focused on the need for speed. The track curves and dips, creating a fun ride you won’t forget! Before you know it, you’ll be back in the loading station.

How It Works

Ripley’s mountain coaster is actually a gravity propelled ride. This means that instead of mechanics pulling the cart along the track, gravity pushes the cart along the track.

A pretty cool feature on this ride is that the rider gets to control the speed! So you can fly around every curve at maximum speed, or you can take it easy and enjoy the ride! To control the cart, you have two levers on either side of the seat. To go fast, you’ll push them down towards the ground. To slow down, you’ll pull them up towards the sky.

Need to Know

Before you hop on Ripley’s mountain coaster, you must check in at the ticket booth. You will receive a wristband, and everyone must sign a waiver before you are allowed to ride.

To ride alone, guests must be at least 10 years old and at least 54 inches tall. Guests who are 3 to 9 years old may ride tandem with an adult who is at least 16 years old. The child must be at least 38 inches tall, and the adult must be at least 54 inches tall.

Location and Hours

This thrilling coaster is located at 386 Parkway, Gatlinburg TN, 37738. They are open daily from 10 am to 11 pm. This ride is operational, weather permitting. If you have any questions or want to make sure they are open, call 865-430-7800.

Other Gatlinburg Mountain Coasters

Want to try all the mountain coasters in Gatlinburg? Here are some of the other places with these types of rides:

Moonshine Mountain Coaster

Moonshine Mountain Coaster is an action-packed ride reaching up to 30 miles per hour! Enjoy a slow ride to the top of the mountain, then fly through the rest of the track as you make your way back down the mountainside.

Anakeesta Rail Runner

If you happen to be visiting Anakeesta, you can try their Rail Runner mountain coaster! It’s the first single-rail coaster in the country, and this design allows riders to be lower to the ground, making the ride even faster! Thrill seekers will love the downhill ride with a 400-foot elevation change.

Ski Mountain Coaster

The other mountain coaster in Gatlinburg is the Ski Mountain Coaster at Ober Mountain. It starts out with a 1,000-foot ride to the top of the mountain, so you can really take in the views. Once you’re at the top, you can fly around the twists and turns of the track for an adrenaline-inducing experience!

We know you’ll have a blast trying Ripley’s mountain coaster on your next trip. Wondering what else you should try when you’re in town? Check out these other fun things to do in Gatlinburg!