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Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park

From Trevor Macomber, for About.com

Wild Bear Falls' mountain themes, streams, and mezzanines set it apart from other indoor parks of its size.

Wild Bear Falls. Used with permission.
Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park Phone:
(865) 430-4800
Location:
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Indoor Water Park Square Footage:
60,000
Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park Admission Policy:
Guests that stay on property at either the River Terrace Resort or the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort can purchase packages that include admission to the water park. Day passes are available for the general public also.
Hotel Info:
Search for Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort rates at About.com's booking partner, Kayak.

Search for River Terrace Resort rates at About.com's booking partner, Kayak.

Directions to Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort:

From Nashville or Knoxville: Take I-40 E to Exit 407 toward Gatlinburg/Sevierville/Pigeon Forge. Turn right on TN-66 S, which will then become TN-441 S/TN-71. Resort will be on the left.

From Chattanooga: Take I-24 E to I-75 N (via exit 185B), then merge on to I-40 E and follow directions above.

From Charlotte, NC: Take I-85 S to I-26 W to I-40 W. Take exit 440 off I-40 and turn onto TN-73, which will take you all the way to the resort.

Indoor Water Park Features:

Body slide, tube slide, lazy river, zero entry pool, interactive play structure, retractable roof.
Pictures of the Park:
Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park Photo Gallery
Official Web Site:
Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park
Wild Bear Falls Indoor Water Park :
Although faithfully providing all the standard water park attractions such as Cades Cove Lazy River (900 ft.), Clingman's Dome body slide (360 ft.), and Laurel Falls tube slide (300 ft.), Wild Bear Falls does offer a few unique features as well. Perhaps the most impressive feature is its state-of-the-art retractable roof, which allows the facility to transform from an indoor to a (more or less) outdoor park with (more or less) the touch of a button.

Another novelty worth mentioning is the 15,000 sq. ft. wraparound mezzanine, which houses a restaurant, retail shop, and electronic game room, all while giving guests a 360-degree view of the aquatic activities below. For families with young children, the park features Little Pigeon River, a zero entry pool and toddler play area. A tree house spray-ground with a giant dump bucket completes the liquid ensemble.

The property is part of the Westgate chain and provides both timeshare and nightly rental opportunities at its two hotels, the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort and the River Terrace Resort. The "rustic luxury villas" provide guests with immediate access to the adjacent Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as the popular Dollywood theme park located only a few minutes down the road.

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