Project Overview

A state-of-the-art shopping, entertainment, and dining attraction in downtown Gatlinburg, Anakeesta offers visitors a unique theme park experience atop Anakeesta Mountain. The park includes several restaurants, a canopy zipline experience, Rail Runner mountain coaster, and a memorial forest walk. The site is accessed by a scenic Chondola (chair lift and gondola) ride from the Parkway in Gatlinburg.

Charles Blalock and Sons and Blalock Lumber Company provided all site work, including the initial demolition, grading, and utility installations for the downtown and mountain section of the Anakeesta. Blalock also constructed retaining walls and new decorative sidewalks to realign existing city walkways along US 441 into the new development. For the Rail Runner attraction, our team excavated and stabilized the trail system for coaster railing and dragline through the wilderness sections of the property.

Working with Leitner-Poma of America, our team provided crane and rigging services to install various components of the chondola lift stations and towers, including the 58,000-pound motor house and drive unit installed at the top of Anakeesta Mountain. Additionally, Blalock Ready Mix provided all of the ready mix concrete and concrete pumping for the project, utilizing pumps as well as helicopters to install the lift tower foundations. Our team also provided hydroseeding services for temporary and permanent site stabilization. Following the Chimney 2 wildfires in November 2016, we provided debris removal and hydroseeding services to stabilize cleared areas on Anakeesta Mountain damaged by the fire.