Gatlinburg is experiencing an even larger growth in 2019 than usual, and that is saying something! With each city adding some exciting and enticing new possibilities for visitors, Gatlinburg is leading the way with new additions and a complete remodeling of existing attractions. You will not want to miss out on any of the new fun, trust us. First up is a staple of family fun in the Burg with Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, who closed down for a time in 2018 to remodel inside and out, making it a completely new attraction. If you have ever been to Believe It or Not! in the past or this is your first time, you will not want to miss the largest collection of the odd and unusual from all corners of the world. New galleries, thousands of exhibits and many exciting interactives make this a MUST SEE STOP for anyone spending time in the smokies. Visitors will be able to see, explore and experience the odd, peculiar, stunning and unbelievable. Book lovers will be amazed by their Harry Potter Inspired Dragon made of recycled materials and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry made from 602,000 matchsticks. The museum also features smoky mountain specific displays, an ancient Egyptian mummy, a faraday cage that emits lightning, and countless unbelievable items from every corner of the world. Make sure to go and check out the completely new Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum, located right on the Parkway in Gatlinburg! Opening this spring is Ole Red Gatlinburg, a $9 Million, multi-level 16,000 square foot entertainment venue with a two-story bar and restaurant, retail area, performance space, dance floor and exterior terrace. It’s chef driven, Blake Shelton-inspired menu will feature a few Nashville classics like hot chicken and waffles as well as BBQ, burgers, and other southern favorites. With Blake Shelton manning the helm, you know that they will feature some of the best in entertainment and this venue is unlike anything else that Gatlinburg has ever seen before. Ole Red is located right on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, just before you get to the Aquarium, directly in front of the all new Margaritaville Hotel, you can’t miss it and don’t want to miss out on it. Also new is the completely reconstructed Skylift and their addition of a sky bridge. For years families have enjoyed a chair lift ride to amazing views and photographs that have been a staple of a Gatlinburg vacation for generations. Well, this spring those chair lifts will also take you to an architectural wonder with the Gatlinburg SkyBridge. It is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. Measuring nearly 700 feet in length, it will span the valley between ridges on Crockett Mountain, offering thrilling heights of up to 150 feet. Experience spectacular panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountains and see Gatlinburg like never before! 105 SmokyMountainNavigator.com