The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel

What to expect

The wheel stands 200 feet tall in the middle of The Island in Pigeon Forge. The gondolas are enclosed and climate controlled, so it works in the heat of summer and on cold winter nights. From the top you can see the mountains and all of Pigeon Forge spread out below.

Ride it twice if you can. In daylight you get the mountain views, and at night you look down on the lit-up show fountain. The wheel itself runs light shows after dark, with themed shows for seasons like fall and Halloween.

Tips

• Parking at The Island is free. The main lot is between The Island and the LeConte Center, with free city trams to the front.
• Time your night ride with the fountain show, which starts at the top of the hour and runs about every 30 minutes.

Tickets and hours are on the Island website.

Nearby

Everything else at The Island in Pigeon Forge is a short walk from the wheel, including the ropes course and the SkyFly flying theater.

Tickets and passes

You can buy a single wheel ticket, or get The Island’s Unlimited Rides Pass. It is good for 48 hours and covers the wheel and every outdoor ride, which makes it easy to ride once in daylight and again after dark.

Other rides close by

Near the wheel are the Tree Fall Drop Tower, which lifts you up and drops you 65 feet, and High Score, a balloon ride that spins you more than 60 feet in the air. Little kids can ride the Flying Horse Carousel and the Spinning Parrots Coaster, and Sky Tykes is a ropes course sized for toddlers.

Contact

The Island is at 131 The Island Drive in Pigeon Forge. Call (865) 286-0119 or email info@islandinpigeonforge.com with questions about the wheel.

Photo at top: the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel lit up at night at The Island by Sarah Stierch, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized).