Amusement Park News

Wilderness of the Smokies, located in Sevierville, Tenn., recently expanded its water park, just in time for its 15th anniversary in December. The expansion of 40,000 feet cost $40 million, and practically doubles the size of the indoor Wild WaterDome. The newly expanded park is located at River Lodge. Among its features are a see-through roof that lets guests and the park's plant-life experience natural sunlight.

Wild WaterDome contains the park's Storm Chaser thrill ride, a wave pool called Great Wave, and the Snapping Turtle Activity Pool, offering 1,055-square feet of splashing fun including a three-sided basketball hoop in the center of the pool. Younger guests have their own activity-filled pool called The Flying Squirrel.

Also at Wild WaterDome are the Smokies Surf Rider for body-surfing fun; Trail Twisters Tube Slides; and Runaway Canyon, a five-story family thrill slide. The Washout Mountain play and spray structure features two slides, spraying water features, and a large-scale tipping bucket.   

The brand-new attractions in the expanded park include Ridge Runner. Manufactured by Whitewater West and towering three stories, Ridge Runner is a master-blaster coaster with uphill blasts and three major drops. It includes enclosed clear tube sections revealing lit and colorful shapes and patterns. These Reverse AquaLucent effects immerse riders in vibrant colored patterns.

Riders board rafts designed for two guests and experience an adrenaline-enhancing 22-foot- drop immediately upon launching. The ride reaches a speed of up to 29 miles per hour before its first uphill blast, which then takes the raft to a hairpin turn and into one of its three Reverse AquaLucent sections. The first features brightly colored dots, the second colored stripes, and the third a series of multi-colored patterns. Riders will also experience an open flume and a dark tube before reaching its open area finish.

For guests seeking a brilliantly colored but calmer experience, the water park offers a gentler new attraction; the Kaleidoscope Kavern Lazy River. Here, riders float through a lush immersive tunnel with video projection, special changing lighting, and custom soundtrack. The literally kaleidoscopic experience features images that are drawn from the Great Smokies themselves, including fireflies, starlight, and seasonal spring and autumnal scene changes.

Pete Tennis, the park's managing director, explains that the Lazy River journey offers nine different themes, varying from fantasy to those that contain more grounded elements of nature. Included among them are “dancing fireflies; the changing seasons; the sound of water; chromatic currents; the evolving cycle of life; and my personal favorite, Aurora + Aqua Borealis, where the worlds of water and sky collide.” The dreamy river ride was uniquely created for the resort.  



Terming the experience an “incredible odyssey,” Tennis describes the lights and patterns as “mesmerizing,” and notes that they are projected on the walls, tubes, and the riders themselves. The stunning cutting-edge visual effects are combined with an audio track that features sounds of nature, making the ride one that Tennis says he “can't wait for everyone to experience.”

Both the rich visual special effects and soundtrack were created by the Moment Factory, known for their immersive environmental designs. The company created another attraction in the area, an immersive evening walk, Astra Lumina.

For guests seeking more traditional relaxation, the water park has also added the Magnolia Grove Indoor/Outdoor Hot Spa. There are benches both inside and outside the dome for guests to relax on, with the water emanating from spray jets heated to 101F degrees.

Soon to open will be the Lookout Lagoon rooftop pool. The pool will feature a glass-edged pool with vast views of the Smokies. Located next to the pool will be the Peak Rooftop Bar and Eatery, as well as cabanas and a live performance stage. This attraction was designed and constructed by Aquatic Development Group. ADG served as the original designer and builder of Wilderness at the Smokies indoor water park, and worked with Wilderness Development Corporation on Soaky Mountain, an outdoor water park built in 2020 across the street from Wilderness at the Smokies.

ADG president Jim Dunn attests that “We were thrilled for the opportunity to once again collaborate with Wilderness Resorts for this exciting and creative water park expansion.” The company also assisted with the Snapping Turtle indoor and outdoor play lagoon and the Magnolia Grove hot spa areas of the expanded park.

There are also new seating areas throughout the park, more than 500 now available in fact. There are nine additional cabanas as well, including the three added to the Lookout Lagoon area of the park. Tennis describes the park's expansion as providing “more opportunities for guests of all ages to spread out and enjoy a diverse array of attractions.”

The new rides are upping the level in water park experiences. According to Tennis, “Guests absolutely love Kaleidoscope Kavern because they have never seen anything like it.  The water coaster is a true hit with those who like an adventure…”

Wilderness at the Smokies is owned and operated by Wilderness Development Corporation, a family-owned company which began its first developments in the Wisconsin Dells in 1995.



Wilderness at the Smokies opened in 2008. Along with Wild WaterDome, the property includes Stone Hill Lodge and River Lodge suites and 20 Villas.  There are also two outdoor waterparks which operate seasonally. Lake Wilderness Outdoor Water Park at River Lodge includes a new kid's splash and play area called Treehouse Springs, as well as a new luxurious cabana area dubbed Cabana Forest. Salamander Springs outdoor water park is located at Stone Hill Lodge.  Wilderness at the Smokies resort also offers dining, shopping, golf, and an indoor family entertainment center.