Imagine a ski resort that’s open all year round. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well take a trip to Gatlinburg and you’ll find one nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains!
Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort is not only just a ski resort but also an amusement park. Located right on Ski Mountain Rd. this unique resort overlooks the city of Gatlinburg. Whether you’re a skier or non skier, visitors will find plenty of activities to keep them busy.
For all you ski-enthusiasts, Ober has terrain for all ages. With 9 trails to chose from, skiers will find a slope to suit any skill level. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, Ober provides the perfect trail. Beginners will enjoy the Ski School Slope and Club Way to start out on. While intermediate skiers should head towards Ober Chute, Bear Run, Castle Run and Alpine Run Trails. Lastly, Grizzly Trail and Mogul Ridge will challenge the more advanced skiers.
The resort has two quad lifts, one double lift, and one surface lift to allow skiers to spend more time having fun rather than having to wait in those long lines. All the trails are lit so once the sun goes down, the lights come on and the fun continues.
If skiing isn’t really your thing, Ober has plenty of activities that will keep you busy. Thrill seekers should try the Tennesee Flyer that sits high atop of Mt. Harrison. It’s a new attraction (just opened in August 2015!) that calmly takes riders uphill and through the woods to the top. Once reaching the top, riders speed down (gaining speed up to more than 25 mph!) through all of the twists, turns, dips and corkscrews. They also have a scenic chairlift where you can relax and just take in the beauty of the mountains.
Animal lovers will enjoy the Wildlife Encounter that give visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal to animals native to the Great Smoky Mountains such as bears, river otters, opossums, raccoons and so much more. The resort also holds various shops, eateries, a restaurant and lounge area, arcade room, a carousel and a huge indoor ice skating rink.
However the most popular attraction at Ober is the Aerial Tramway. From downtown Gatlinburg visitors can take a 2.1 mile ride up to the amusement park and ski resort. This unique way of transportation provides visitors a bird’s eye view of the mountains and of downtown Gatlinburg. It’s definitely recommended to just skip the drive and take the tram up.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and can be used all day. So if you find yourself loving the tram and just want to spend all day riding it up and down, you can actually do that! The aerial tram is open daily from 7:30 am – 10:40 p.m. except on Thursdays where there hours are from 9:30 a.m. – 6:20 p.m. You can catch the tram departing every 20 minutes.
Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort has something for everybody and is truly one of Gatlinburg’s many “must-see” places. It’s a great place to spend the day with family and enjoy a day of excitement. Not to mention that it’s the only ski resort in the whole state of Tennessee!
Mountain Laurel Chalets is located right on Ski Mountain and all of our properties are within 5 miles or less from the the ski resort. So bring the family, bring your skis and head for slopes!
