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- Three waterparks (one indoor and two outdoor) for guests only; admission included in room rate
- 18-hole miniature golf course
- Bunk beds available for kids
About Wilderness at the Smokies
With two separate lodges and three waterparks for guests only, Wilderness at the Smokies is the largest indoor/outdoor waterpark resort in the southeastern U.S. Admission to all three waterparks is automatically included in the room rate, so kids can splash and slide to their heart's content without racking up extra charges. Salamander Springs (for the preteen crowd) and Lake Wilderness outdoor parks are open seasonally, while the Wild WaterDome indoor park is open year-round. Guests are permitted to enjoy the wet stuff from the time the parks open on the day of arrival until they close on the day of departure, extending the fun (and the value) both before check in and after check out.
The five-acre Wild WaterDome is the zaniest of the three and includes (among other offerings) a wave pool, the only surf rider in the southeastern U.S., and two scream-inducing thrill rides. The Storm Chaser is the only thrill ride of its kind in the region; the climax is being dropped into a huge funnel where you'll shoot so far up the sides that you'll be convinced your four-person tube is about to tip over. Runaway Canyon is a five-story-high, 450-feet-long enclosed waterslide with twists and turns that include one complete 360-degree revolution.
Accommodations include two lodges, each with its own restaurant, snack bar(s), gift shop, fitness center, and arcade/game room. Stone Hill Lodge offers hotel rooms, while River Lodge has condos. By reserving any of several possible combinations of adjoining rooms that creatively use bunk beds, Murphy beds, and sleeper sofas, you can sleep as many as 15 guests in your accommodations. In addition to these two lodges, the resort property also encompasses two buildings with 189 timeshare condos operated by Wyndham Resorts. No matter what lodge Wilderness guests are staying in, they can use any of the resort's facilities; a free shuttle bus ferries guests throughout the resort.
When the kids get waterlogged, you'll find countless other family-oriented attractions of all types in the Smoky Mountain region, which includes not only Sevierville but also the neighboring towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the most visited national park in the U.S., and one of the very few that doesn't charge admission) is just over 15 miles away from the resort.
Written by Katy Koontz
Best Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Family Hotels
- Tots (0-2)
- Kids (3-6)
- Kids (7-9)
- Tweens (10-12)
- Teens (13+)
- Bicycling
- Golf
- Hiking
- Museum/Cultural
- Skiing
- Theme Parks
- Water Sports
- Horseback Riding
- Water Parks
- Connecting Rooms
- Cribs
- DVD Player
- Family Room 5+
- Game Room
- Kitchenettes
- Laundry Service
- Onsite Dining
- Refrigerator
- Pool
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