Pros
- Three huge indoor and outdoor water parks (included in rate)
- Massive adventure center includes mini-golf, bowling alley, and laser tag
- Adjacent to the Sevierville Convention Center
- Adjacent to the Sevierville Golf Club's two 18-hole courses
- Two restaurants, a deli, and four snack bars
- Rooms designed for families, some with bunk and Murphy beds
- Discounted area attraction tickets
- Fitness center
- Free Wi-Fi and free parking
- Free shuttle between buildings
Cons
- Far from other attractions
- Buildings separated by the highway
- Overpriced food and snacks
- Time-share property with sales pitches
- Fee for adventure center entry
- Resort fee
- Walls in rooms can be thin
Bottom Line
This water park resort has mountain-lodge themed rooms designed for families, with bunks and Murphy beds; even the most basic room categories have microwaves. Access to three separate, on-site water parks (two outdoor and one indoor) is included in the rate, although the activities in the large adventure center -- including mini-golf, arcade games, a bowling alley, and laser tag –- are not. There are seven different eateries on-site, although food prices can add up. The secluded resort is about 30 minutes from both Gatlinburg and Knoxville, but next to a convention center and the Sevierville Golf Club. This time-share property shares grounds with a Wyndham, so guests should expect varying room quality and a sales pitch.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Amenities
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Jacuzzi
- Pool
Scene
Family-friendly water parks in a sprawling complex
The kid-friendly Wilderness at the Smokies is the largest water park resort in Tennessee. Modeled after the huge water parks in the Wisconsin Dells, and owned by the same family company that operates many of them, the Wilderness at the Smokies Resort is a mountain-themed cousin to its fabled Midwestern predecessors. Kids run free here, and the resort is packed with activities for them, including three water parks and an adventure center. With seven eateries, there is a wide range of options that should satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, but prices can add up to more than some guests may have budgeted for.
Each building is attached to its own water park and restaurant, though all are open to all guests; the sprawling grounds can make for long walks, but the hotel offers a free shuttle. The two main buildings are across the highway from each other, but share the same mountain-lodge-cum-theme park decor. In addition to families, the hotel also attracts business travelers attending events at the neighboring Sevierville Convention Center and golfers hitting the links at the Sevierville Golf Club next door.
Location
In Sevierville, half way between Knoxville and Gatlinburg
Located far out on Old Knoxville Highway, the resort is isolated from other regional attractions, but equidistant from the popular destinations of Knoxville and Gatlinburg (about a 30-minute drive to each). Sevierville is on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, known for its outdoor activities and as the birthplace of Dolly Parton. The popular Dollywood theme park is just over 20-minutes away, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is about a 30-minute drive from the resort.
Rooms
Wide variety of large, family-oriented rooms with mountain-themed decor
There are over a dozen room types in two different buildings: the Stone Hill Lodge, attached to the Salamander Springs Outdoor Waterpark, and the River Lodge, connected to the indoor Wild WaterDome park. Stone Hill rooms have a more traditional style, with dark wood furniture, and are closest to the convention center. River Lodge rooms have full mountain-themed decor, with log furniture and a woodland color palate. Bathrooms are outfitted in stone tiles and have combination shower-tubs as well as a separate vanity and sink area. Most rooms have a wet bar or kitchenette, and all have microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemaker. Many rooms are geared towards families, with Murphy, bunk, and pull-out sofa beds. Some guests complain of tired furnishings.
Features
Water parks, adventure center, multiple restaurants, and snack bars
The two seasonal, outdoor water parks have pools, 150-foot waterslides, four-story play structures with interactive water features, inner-tube slides, wave pool, and a vertical-drop water ride. The 66,000-square-foot indoor water park is open year-round under a glass roof and has the most ambitious features, including a 450-foot-long enclosed looping waterslide, five-story-high rafting ride, huge wave pool, and surf rider. The massive adventure center (accessed with a fee) includes a large arcade, mini-golf course, bowling alley, multi-level laser tag arena, three-story ropes course, and climbing wall. There are also pottery-painting activities for fees depending on the items used (which guests keep as souvenirs).
Each building and water park has an attached snack bar and/or restaurant and bar serving American standards like pizza, pasta, nachos, and ice cream and chips, often for hefty prices. If the water parks aren't enough to burn off the excess calories from the food here, there's also a fitness center with treadmills, circuit machines, and free weights.
This Hotel Also Featured In
The Best Hotels for Family Reunions in the U.S.
Whether you have a yearly getaway with family members or the cousins are begging for a vacation outside of grandma’s house, a reunion at a family-centric hotel is an excellent option. Feature-packed resorts mean rambunctious youngsters have an outlet, and adults can retreat to a spa or pool when in need of some alone time.…
15 Indoor Pools to Cure Your Winter Blues
Indoor pools get a bad rap. Most of the time we envision them as dark and smelling of chlorine — a combination that almost guarantees claustrophobia. But with this seemingly never-ending winter weather, we were inspired to look indoors for a dip. Much to our surprise, we found 15 luxurious indoor hotel pools that have…
10 U.S. Hotels with Fun, Family-Friendly Water Parks
With much of the United States in the throes of cold temperatures and icy snow, a weekend at a water park is just what the doctor ordered for families that have been cooped up since Christmas. We scoured the country for hotels that have on-site water parks that are fun for both little splashers and…
Scene
Family-friendly water parks in a sprawling complex
The kid-friendly Wilderness at the Smokies is the largest water park resort in Tennessee. Modeled after the huge water parks in the Wisconsin Dells, and owned by the same family company that operates many of them, the Wilderness at the Smokies Resort is a mountain-themed cousin to its fabled Midwestern predecessors. Kids run free here, and the resort is packed with activities for them, including three water parks and an adventure center. With seven eateries, there is a wide range of options that should satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, but prices can add up to more than some guests may have budgeted for.
Each building is attached to its own water park and restaurant, though all are open to all guests; the sprawling grounds can make for long walks, but the hotel offers a free shuttle. The two main buildings are across the highway from each other, but share the same mountain-lodge-cum-theme park decor. In addition to families, the hotel also attracts business travelers attending events at the neighboring Sevierville Convention Center and golfers hitting the links at the Sevierville Golf Club next door.
Location
In Sevierville, half way between Knoxville and Gatlinburg
Located far out on Old Knoxville Highway, the resort is isolated from other regional attractions, but equidistant from the popular destinations of Knoxville and Gatlinburg (about a 30-minute drive to each). Sevierville is on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, known for its outdoor activities and as the birthplace of Dolly Parton. The popular Dollywood theme park is just over 20-minutes away, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is about a 30-minute drive from the resort.
Rooms
Wide variety of large, family-oriented rooms with mountain-themed decor
There are over a dozen room types in two different buildings: the Stone Hill Lodge, attached to the Salamander Springs Outdoor Waterpark, and the River Lodge, connected to the indoor Wild WaterDome park. Stone Hill rooms have a more traditional style, with dark wood furniture, and are closest to the convention center. River Lodge rooms have full mountain-themed decor, with log furniture and a woodland color palate. Bathrooms are outfitted in stone tiles and have combination shower-tubs as well as a separate vanity and sink area. Most rooms have a wet bar or kitchenette, and all have microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffeemaker. Many rooms are geared towards families, with Murphy, bunk, and pull-out sofa beds. Some guests complain of tired furnishings.
Features
Water parks, adventure center, multiple restaurants, and snack bars
The two seasonal, outdoor water parks have pools, 150-foot waterslides, four-story play structures with interactive water features, inner-tube slides, wave pool, and a vertical-drop water ride. The 66,000-square-foot indoor water park is open year-round under a glass roof and has the most ambitious features, including a 450-foot-long enclosed looping waterslide, five-story-high rafting ride, huge wave pool, and surf rider. The massive adventure center (accessed with a fee) includes a large arcade, mini-golf course, bowling alley, multi-level laser tag arena, three-story ropes course, and climbing wall. There are also pottery-painting activities for fees depending on the items used (which guests keep as souvenirs).
Each building and water park has an attached snack bar and/or restaurant and bar serving American standards like pizza, pasta, nachos, and ice cream and chips, often for hefty prices. If the water parks aren't enough to burn off the excess calories from the food here, there's also a fitness center with treadmills, circuit machines, and free weights.
Hotel & Amenities Photos
Best Rates
Amenities
-
Air Conditioner
-
Airport Transportation
-
Balcony / Terrace / Patio
-
Basic Television
-
Business Center
-
Cabanas
-
Cable
-
Children's Pool
-
Concierge
-
Fitness Center
-
Full Kitchen
-
Gameroom / Arcade
-
Golf Course
-
Internet
-
Jacuzzi
-
Kids Allowed
-
Laundry
-
Meeting / Conference Rooms
-
Pool
-
Room Service
-
Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
-
Supervised Kids Activities
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.