That video, which was originally posted on TikTok, racked up more than a million views. “But it was an awesome experience, and I’m glad I was there to capture the moment!”. Recently, one visitor was in for a surprise during his ride on the coaster! If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. A representative for Anakeesta said in a statement to Fox News that this particular season has been “particularly active” for the local bear population. The bears actually hopped on the tracks in front of the mountain coaster rider as he was descending a hill. Anakeesta will take a good couple of hours minimum. Race through the trees at your own speed with a 400 ft elevation change! Tue, January 19 th CLOSED 865-325-2400 Skip to main content. In the very improbable event that a black bear attacks, do NOT play dead. The Rowdy Bear Mountain Coaster reaches speeds … Nathan was in line for the Rail Runner with his sister-in-law Madison and her friend Ciera, when all of the sudden, Ciera spotted the bear and brought it to their attention. Look out Gatlinburg, Tennessee.....there's a new family thrill park in town and it's called ANAKEESTA!!! The rider managed to slow his descent as first one of the cubs, then the mother, hopped right up on the track! That video, which was originally posted on TikTok, racked up more than a million views. Rowdy Bear is JUST a mountain coaster. Anakeesta offers an outdoor family theme park for all ages in the beauty and adventure of the Smoky Mountains. The video, submitted by Nathan and Tianna, captures two different perspectives of the event. “It was our first encounter with a bear, so it was awesome but definitely a little nerve racking at the same time,” Nathan said. Contact us at. TikTok video shows mountain coaster rider's close encounter with Anna bear & her cubs at Anakeesta The bears actually hopped on the tracks in front of the mountain coaster … You'll want to purchase your tickets early and snag a spot for this family-friendly event targeted for kids under the age of 12. Anakeesta: Great experience - See 2,362 traveler reviews, 2,325 candid photos, and great deals for Gatlinburg, TN, at Tripadvisor. Main Menu; Anakeesta Experience. Anakeesta is no stranger to black bear encounters. Anakeesta: Accident Waiting to Happen - See 2,522 traveler reviews, 2,490 candid photos, and great deals for Gatlinburg, TN, at Tripadvisor. All members rode the Rail Runner coaster & it was such fun! Opened in September 2017, Anakeesta is a self-described “outdoor family theme park” and is continuing to grow. Relax. "She is one of our favorite bears here on the property. Anakeesta is a park/village area on top of the Mountain. Credit: TikTok. At the top there are zip lines, gardens, memorial walk, canopy tree walks, restaurants, shops, food trucks, gem mining, a playground, beer garden and it has the Rail Runner Coaster. If you fight back, most black bears will give up. "She is one of our favorite bears here on the property. "Bet that person is freaking out," said another person. I guess our bears just enjoy our wide-open spaces in our fresh mountain air just like our guests here at Anakeesta do," she said. Anakeesta: Waste of Money - See 2,362 traveler reviews, 2,325 candid photos, and great deals for Gatlinburg, TN, at Tripadvisor. you are too close,” reads the NPS.gov website. Due to the nature of the attraction and its high elevations, black bears have been spotted at the park on several occasions. The staff at Anakeesta acted fairly quickly with moving us all out of the way and getting the bear out of the immediate area.”. In fact, earlier this season a family of black bears went viral after they were filmed casually crossing Anakeesta’s mountain coaster, the Rail Runner, while a guest was riding. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Check out more Smoky Mountain bear videos in our YouTube playlist: Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Recently, one visitor was in for a surprise during his ride on the coaster! In fact, earlier this season a family of black bears went viral after they were filmed casually crossing Anakeesta’s mountain coaster, the Rail Runner, while a guest was riding. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. As with every article we write about bear encounters, and every video we share, we like to remind our readers about the importance of black bear safety. The first thing we did was grab a ticket to Rail Runner, the only single rail alpine coaster in North America. Nathan Rodriguez was there to capture the moment on camera. “I got my phone out to catch a video of it for the memories. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any mentioned business, and have not been reviewed or endorsed these entities. Race through the trees at your own speed with a 400 ft elevation change! Saved tons of time missing a looong line! parking at Anakeesta=$10 Anakeesta: $22.34 parking at Splash Country=$15 Splash Country admission=$56 locker rental=$10 lunch at Splash Country=$11 souvenier photo=$17.51 dinner at Anakeesta=$19.35 Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster=$20.50 (paid last March) The video has been causing a stir for Anakeesta, which had another close encounter six weeks ago when bears crossed the Rail Runner coaster as a … Anakeesta’s Rail Runner. In fact, just a few weeks ago a video of a family of black bears went viral after they were filmed casually crossing Anakeesta’s mountain coaster, the Rail Runner, while a guest was riding. Anakeesta’s single-rail mountain coaster is the first of its kind in the United States! Luckily, the rider can control how fast the sled is going, because as he started down a hill, the bear family came out of the woods. There are 1,600 feet of twists and turns and a 400-foot elevation change, and you can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour. Decorating the ship for the Christmas season may seem downright odd. 3. We do see several families -- one is a bear with three cubs, and our staff lovingly calls her Goldilocks because of the three bears. As onlookers gasped in amazement, the mother bear actually put both front paws on the tracks in front of the rider! While garbage is enticing to bears, it is also harmful to them. “The video that appeared on TikTok of Anakeesta Rail Runner mountain coaster illustrates the outdoor nature of our 72 acre family theme park,” Michele Canney, Anakeesta’s marketing director, told Fox News. 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