Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge both host a several interactive and immersive attractions and experiences, but the Flying Theater is the latest and greatest experience, delivering a lot of WOW!
The flying theater is a big-screen experience, with movie-goers strapped into moving seats that are perfectly synchronized with the motion portrayed on the screen, offering a sensory realism that is, um, moving, to say the least! Not only that, but wind currents, mists and even scents produced within the theater offer an even greater sense of realism.
Combine all this with some of the best drone and plane aerial photography of phenomenal landscapes, and we have a winner. You feel like you’re flying through it all.
Image courtesy of SkyFly: Soar America
Where Are the Flying Theaters?
At the time of writing, we have two flying theaters in the Gatlinburg area, both of them located next door in Pigeon Forge, just a few minutes up the road.
SkyFly
The first one to arrive in town was SkyFly: Soar America, located in its own venue at The Island This was one of America’s first such venues, and it caught on fast. This attraction welcomes guests into an airship experience, designed in steam-punk style (“retrofuturistic”), and takes the audience through some of North America’s most breathtaking scenery.
See our guide to SkyFly: Soar America for more details. SkyFly should be booked in advance and the experience takes about an hour. Since it’s located in The Island, you can easily spend a whole day there, shopping, dining and exploring the countless attractions for young and old alike.
FlyRide
The second flying theater is located inside Beyond The Lens!, a Ripley’s attraction that has to be seen (and felt) to be believed. The attraction offers a vast range of immersive and interactive games, rooms and fun themes that offer tons of fun for kids, and grown-ups too – a great family choice.
There’s a lot of virtual reality inside Beyond The Lens! including a human kaleidoscope, a plank walk 60 stories above ground, and a Jurassic Park adventure. And the jewel in the crown now is FlyRide, a flying theater ride across America, from the vantage point of the camera – you’re that immersed in the experience on the huge screen, and again with wind, scents and seat motion.
See our guide to Beyond The Lens! and note that you could spend half a day in this immensely imaginative attraction quite easily. The attraction offers several ticketing options, including a VIP Pass – and here at Cabins of the Smoky Mountains we offer this pass FREE with each cabin, so you’re halfway there already!
Check our Gatlinburg cabins, Pigeon Forge cabins and our Wears Valley cabins for your best place to stay in the Smokies.
