Aerial Tramway

For an exhilarating ride from downtown Gatlinburg to the top of Mt. Harrison and the skiing and amusement park attractions of Ober Gatlinburg there is no substitute for Gatlinburg's Aerial Tramway. The tramway has transported over 18 million passengers since opening in 1973, with service from downtown Gatlinburg available approximately every 20 minutes and the ride covering a distance of 2.1 miles to the resort, at a top speed of 23 mph. Each car holds 120 passengers. Along the way, riders of all ages enjoy a magnificent panorama of Gatlinburg and the Smokies, taking in the changing seasons and splendor of the mountains.

Up until 1972, skiers wound their way slowly and precariously up and down snow-covered Mt. Harrison en route to Gatlinburg's ski resort, which opened in 1962. That winter, the idea to provide a safer, more comfortable means to reach the ski area was explored, and Gatlinburg's Aerial Tramway was born.

The original, 34-year-old cars were recently replaced by Swiss-made cars made of high grade aluminum as used in the aerospace industry. The $1 million dollar project is part of Ober Gatlinburg's continuing effort to keep the tramway system modernized. During Phase I in 2001, Ober completed a major upgrade to the tramway's electronics and computer system and installed new control panels in the cars. They also replaced the brakes and drive motor to conform to new safety standards.

The downtown tram stop is located at 1001 Parkway and is easy to find with large Ober Gatlinburg signs showing the way. Call Ober Gatlinburg for more details: (865) 436-5423.