3 Fun Things to Spot When Walking the Gatlinburg Strip

The Gatlinburg Strip is filled with fun things to do at every corner! As you walk The Parkway also called The Strip, you will notice everything from specialty shops to themed attractions. It is filled with the sounds of laughter and people having fun. There is a little bit of everything for any age group! Here are 3 fun things to spot when walking the Gatlinburg Strip:

1. Ripley’s Revolving Ball

As you are walking the Gatlinburg Strip, you will pass some eye-catching attractions such as Ripley’s Believe It or Not. This unique building looks like a tornado picked up a campground and threw it on a building! Once you get closer to the main entrance, notice the large brown granite ball that appears to be floating on water. You may even see some tourists trying to push the ball and change the rolling direction. The ball is solid granite and weighs more than 10,000 lbs and floats on 1/264 of an inch of water! There is some science behind how the ball works and it all deals with water pressure. Make sure to keep your eyes open for Ripley’s Revolving Ball and then give it a push in a different direction. This is a perfect photo opportunity as well!

2. Ripley’s 5D Moving Theater Dinosaur

Another Ripley’s attraction on the Gatlinburg Strip is the Ripley’s 5D Moving Theater! This attraction is incredibly easy to spot because of the large T-Rex animatronic seamlessly reaching out from the building! This theater features Real-D movie experiences as you are strapped into a seat and feel like you are in the movie. They do feature films about dinosaurs from time to time which makes sense since their mascot on the outside of the theater is a dinosaur. Sit back and wait a few minutes to experience the dinosaur come alive! The dinosaur will make a presence and give off a loud roar sure to entertain the kids. You are sure to spot it on the Gatlinburg Strip!

3. Byrd’s Famous Cookies Mascot

As you walk further down the Gatlinburg Strip, keep an eye out for Byrd’s Famous Cookies! This shop has famous gourmet cookies and offers free tasty cookie samples sure to keep you hooked. There is so much variety you’ll want to take back a dozen to your family and friends! They are known for their top customer service and have a mascot outside to bring even more fun. Right outside the doors you will find a statue of a very large cookie jar wearing sunglasses with outstretched arms. Take a memorable selfie with this gentleman. Hugs are encouraged!

You just discovered 3 fun things to spot when walking the Gatlinburg Strip! You will need a place to stay after spotting these fun places. Check out our Gatlinburg condos and stay close to all the fun! They are equipped with everything you need for a perfect Smoky Mountains vacation. We look forward to seeing you in Gatlinburg!