Ober Gatlinburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ober Gatlinburg |
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|---|---|
| Location | 1339 Ski Mountain Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States |
| Nearest city | Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35°42′32″N 83°31′18″W / 35.708969°N 83.52154°W |
| Top elevation | 3,300 feet (1,000 m) |
| Base elevation | 2,700 feet (820 m) |
| Runs | 10 |
| Longest run | 4,400 feet (1,341 m) with a 556 feet (169 m) vertical drop |
| Lift system | 2 quad, 1 double, 1 surface |
| Snowfall | 9 inches (23 cm) |
| Website | Ober Gatlinburg |
Ober Gatlinburg is a super fun amusement park and ski area located high up in the mountains. It overlooks the beautiful town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in the USA. This exciting place first opened in 1962.
Inside, you'll find a big mall with lots of cool indoor activities. There's an ice skating rink where you can glide around, and even new ice bumper cars! You can grab a bite at snack bars, relax in a lounge, or enjoy a meal at a restaurant. Don't forget to check out the gift and clothing stores for souvenirs.
Outside, the fun continues with an alpine slide and the thrilling ski mountain coaster. You can also try a chair swing, explore a maze, or play mini golf. A scenic chairlift takes you to the top of Mount Harrison for amazing views. For younger kids, there are special kiddie rides. In the summer, you can enjoy water raft rides. There's even a new rock climbing wall to test your skills!
Ober Gatlinburg also has a special area called the Wildlife Encounter. Here, you can see black bears up close. You'll also meet other animals that live in the Great Smoky Mountains. These include North American river otters, bobcats, birds of prey, opossums, raccoons, turtles, snakes, and even flying squirrels! To get to Ober Gatlinburg, you can ride an amazing aerial tram from downtown Gatlinburg.
Ski Area Fun
Ober Gatlinburg is a very popular place for winter sports. It's one of the few ski areas in the Southeast U.S. and the only one in Tennessee! The resort has ten different skiing trails, a special terrain park, and three chairlifts.
Since it's located pretty far south, Ober Gatlinburg can't always count on natural snow. But don't worry! They have special snow making machines that can cover all ten slopes with snow. They can make snow whenever the temperature is 28 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, usually in December, January, and February.
Here's a look at some of the ski slopes:
| Slopes | Length | Drop |
|---|---|---|
| Alpine Way | 2900' / 884m | 279' / 85m |
| Upper Bear Run | 3200' / 975m | 393' / 120m |
| Lower Bear Run | 1600' / 488m | 160' / 49m |
| Castle Run | 1900' / 579m | 163' / 50m |
| Cub Way | 2300' / 701m | 163' / 50m |
| Grizzly | 3800' / 1158m | 556' / 170m |
| Mogul Ridge | 300' / 90m | 235' / 72m |
| Yeti's Run | 700' / 213m | 120' / 36m |
| Ober Chute | 4400' / 1340m | 556' / 170m |
| Ski School | Teaching Area | Gentle Slope |
In 2008, a multi-lane snow tubing hill opened. Here, you can slide down snowy chutes on inflatable tubes. The lanes are about 400 feet (122 m) long and drop about 50 feet (15 m). An outdoor escalator, called "The Magic Carpet," takes you back up the hill. This means no climbing for you!
Scenic Chairlift Ride
The scenic chairlift ride costs $7 per person. It can hold up to 600 pounds (272 kg) of weight. The whole ride takes about 30 minutes. You can choose to get off halfway and ride the alpine slide down. Or, you can go all the way to the top of the mountain.
At the very top, you'll find a scenic overlook. It's a perfect spot to take pictures of the amazing views. Sometimes, you can even listen to a live band playing bluegrass music there.
Amazing Aerial Tramway
The aerial tramway starts in downtown Gatlinburg and travels west to the resort. There are two large cabins, each holding 120 passengers. These cabins were updated in 2007 by Doppelmayr. The tram ride is about 2.1 miles (3.4 km) long and travels at 17 miles per hour (27 km/h). The trip takes about 10 minutes.
During the day, you'll see incredible mountain views. At night, you can see the sparkling lights of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and other towns far away. The tramway even crosses over the Gatlinburg Bypass road. This road helps cars get around the north and west side of town. It's an alternate route to U.S. 441, which is the main street through town. This road is also part of the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Fun Amusement Park Activities
The amusement park at Ober Gatlinburg has many exciting things to do! You can enjoy the thrilling alpine slide or the ski mountain coaster. There's also the aerial tramway and the scenic chairlift for great views. Inside, you'll find a video arcade with lots of games.
Don't miss the black bear habitat where you can see these amazing animals. You can also go indoor ice skating and try the fun ice bumper cars. Outside, there's miniature golf, water raft rides (only in summer), and an outdoor maze. Test your strength on the new rock climbing wall. There's also a classic carousel and an arcade-style shooting range for more fun!
- Ober Gatlinburg Tramway
- Ober Gatlinburg Activities
