(GATLINBURG, Tenn.) SUBMITTED – Anakeesta, the award-winning mountaintop adventure park in Gatlinburg, has announced The Crystal Express—a next-generation, high-speed gondola that will transform the guest journey to the summit.
The new lift is a key part of Anakeesta’s bold five-year, $100 million expansion, the largest in the park’s history, and reflects its continued commitment to “Making More Magic” at every step of the guest experience.
Replacing the park’s current lift, The Crystal Express will depart from the same Parkway location and feature 56 panoramic cabins with glass floors and walls, offering immersive 360-degree views of the Smoky Mountains and downtown Gatlinburg during the approximately four-minute ascent.
Anakeesta is temporarily closed, as of today, January 5, 2026, for installation. Guests will return in early spring via the Ridge Rambler, with the grand opening of The Crystal Express planned for later in the spring.
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