Take A Trip to the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel in Pigeon Forge

The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel is impossible to miss as it sits 200 feet tall in the heart of Pigeon Forge at The Island. Not only is she pretty to look at, but she’s also pretty to look out from! Standing at 20 stories high, it is no doubt that riding The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel is one of the most popular things to do in Pigeon Forge.

Fun Fact: Our Wears Valley, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge cabin rentals are within a 5-15 minute radius from The Island!

Book your stay at a cabin in the Smokies either by phone at 865-430-9093 or online at https://www.heartlandrentals.com/. We offer an online chat if you would like one on one assistance without having to call. If you prefer email correspondence, you may reach us at reservations@heartlandrentals.com.

The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel

The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel is accessible during both the day and the night. The daytime ride offers expanded open views of Pigeon Forge as well as the Smoky Mountains. The nighttime ride is a completely different experience altogether as you get to see the city illuminated with lights and on occasion, even the moon. The most popular time to ride is at sunset. Being 200 feet in the air watching golden hour is a spectacular sight! If you can’t seem to choose between a daytime ticket and a nighttime ticket, don’t fret! There are combo tickets available where you pay for an AM/PM combo ride so you can enjoy both without having FOMO about it. 

The lines to ride can seem pretty lengthy, although don’t let the long lines deceive you! The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel was designed to hold a 340 person capacity at a time! There are 42 glass gondolas that have room to seat up to 8 guests at a time. There are 41 white gondolas and one black gondola. There is one gondola, however, that only seats 4- this is the VIP gondola. Can you guess which? The black one! The VIP gondola (aka the black gondola) is priced fairly and offers both comfort and privacy. The VIP gondola also has all-leather bucket seats with a glass bottom to see out of. Each gondola offers a climate-controlled atmosphere, which means a warm ride in the winter and a cool ride in the summer. Each gondola offers handicap accessibility, all riders are welcome.

Fun Fact: You can see The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel all the way from the peak of Clingmans Dome!

The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel is dressed up with more than one million special LED lights that feature color-coded pattern displays that light up the night. Not only is it incredibly bright and colorful, but you can easily see this glowing beauty from the highest peak of Clingmans Dome at night! The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel just so happens to also be one of the tallest observation attractions in all of the Southeast!

The Island in Pigeon Forge

The Island in Pigeon Forge is a family-friendly environment filled with shopping, live music, fun dining experiences, interactive games, numerous attractions, and unique immersive experiences (like The Wheel). Dine, shop, eat, play, and watch the dancing fountains. We recommend making an entire day of exploring The Island in Pigeon Forge, or break it up into two visits so you can make the most out of your day, as well as your night. The night and the day are both completely different experiences at The Island! Plan a family breakfast at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, ride The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, experience SkyFly Soar America, and do some light souvenir shopping. Then, come back at night, ride The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, grab some dinner at Mellow Mushroom, play an escape game, and then wind down with dessert from The Island Creamery and kick back to some live music at Ole Smoky.

Current Ticket Pricing:

Adult Ticket (Ages 12+) – $16.99
Child Ticket (Ages 3-11) – $11.99
Military or Senior Ticket (Ages 60+) – $13.99
VIP Ticket – Per Gondola (1-4 Riders) – $74.99
Local Ticket – $11.99
Day/Night Combo – $22.99

Hey, wait a second before you go! Be sure to check our Current Cabin Specials, Deals, and Discounts to see if your stay qualifies for a special discount! Book your stay at one of our Pigeon Forge cabins for a memorable moment in the mountains.