10 Shocking New Upgrades At Wilderness At The Smokies: What's Fresh For 2025
Planning a family vacation to the Smoky Mountains? As of late 2025, the renowned Wilderness at the Smokies waterpark resort in Sevierville, Tennessee, is undergoing a massive transformation, cementing its status as a premier destination. This article dives into the absolute newest and most essential updates—from a multi-million-dollar lodge renovation to a thrilling new waterpark expansion—ensuring your trip planning is based on the freshest, most current information available.
The resort is more than just a collection of water slides; it is a full-service, mountain-modern destination that seamlessly blends the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region with world-class, year-round indoor and outdoor family entertainment. The latest upgrades focus on enhancing both the lodging experience and the already expansive list of attractions, promising a fresh and unforgettable stay for every visitor.
The 2025 Renovation: A Fresh Look for Stone Hill Lodge
The most significant and newest development for the resort is the comprehensive overhaul of one of its main accommodation buildings. Wilderness at the Smokies is committed to continuous improvement, and the coming year is all about a massive refresh of the guest experience at Stone Hill Lodge.
In 2025, the Stone Hill Lodge will undergo a dramatic, floor-to-ceiling renovation project. This renovation is not merely cosmetic; it is a fundamental upgrade to the entire guest experience at this part of the resort.
- 234 Guest Rooms Upgraded: Every single guest room at Stone Hill is slated for a complete refresh.
- New Doors and Windows: The upgrades include the installation of brand-new doors and windows, enhancing both aesthetics and energy efficiency.
- Lobby and Corridor Refresh: The public spaces, including the lobby and all guest corridors, will also be fully renovated to reflect a modern, mountain-chic aesthetic.
- Enhanced Lodging Options: Stone Hill Lodge offers standard guest rooms, while the adjacent River Lodge Suites offer larger, full-suite accommodations, including two- and three-bedroom options with kitchens, perfect for extended family stays.
- Exclusive Stay Options: For those seeking unique luxury, the resort also boasts brand-new Vacation Villas and cozy Treehouse Cabins, offering a secluded, high-end experience close to the action.
This massive investment ensures that the accommodations remain as world-class and modern as the resort’s signature attractions, providing a comfortable and stylish base for exploring the area.
The Wild WaterDome Expansion: Thrills and Immersive Experiences
While the resort is famous for its three distinct waterparks—the year-round Wild WaterDome Indoor Waterpark, the seasonal Lake Wilderness Outdoor Waterpark, and the Salamander Springs Outdoor Waterpark—the newest addition has generated the most buzz. The brand-new waterpark expansion is now open, bringing two major, one-of-a-kind attractions to the Wild WaterDome.
Kaleidoscope Kavern: The Immersive Lazy River
Forget the standard lazy river. The new Kaleidoscope Kavern is an immersive dark ride experience that transforms the relaxing float into a sensory journey.
- Sensory Tunnel: Guests float through a unique immersive tunnel.
- Lighting Effects: The river is illuminated by special lighting effects that create a kaleidoscope of color, designed to surround your senses with the natural beauty of the Smoky Mountains.
- Luxury Cabanas: For a premium experience, guests can rent one of the new Kaleidoscope Cabanas, which offer a private, luxurious retreat overlooking the new lazy river.
Ridge Runner: The Three-Story Water Coaster
The second major addition to the expansion is the Ridge Runner, a high-octane, three-story water coaster. This attraction uses powerful jets to propel riders up and down hills, offering a roller coaster-like thrill while still providing the refreshing splash of a water slide. This new ride significantly boosts the resort's offering for thrill-seekers and is a major new entity for the Wild WaterDome.
Beyond the Water: Adventure Forest and Dining
A true world-class resort must offer just as many exciting dry activities as wet ones, and Wilderness at the Smokies excels with its 25,000-square-foot indoor family entertainment center, the Adventure Forest. This area is designed to give guests a chance to "dry off" while keeping the adrenaline pumping.
Dry-Play Attractions for All Ages
The Adventure Forest is a hub of family fun, featuring multiple large-scale attractions that go far beyond a typical arcade. Purchasing a FUN PASS is often the most cost-effective way to enjoy these attractions.
- Rocky Top Glider: This is a unique indoor roller coaster experience, offering a smooth but thrilling ride inside the resort.
- Copperhead: A challenging multi-level ropes course that tests balance and courage as participants navigate obstacles high above the ground.
- XD Adventure Theater: A multi-sensory 3D experience that combines motion, special effects, and a film for an immersive adventure.
- Other Activities: The resort also features the Wild Stuff Workshop for building custom stuffed animals and Polka Dot Pots, a popular paint-your-own pottery studio.
A Culinary Tour: Seven On-Site Restaurants
With seven on-site dining options, the resort offers a full culinary spectrum, ensuring you never have to leave the property for a great meal. The newest and most exciting culinary development is the addition of Camp Social, a new food hall concept.
Camp Social features two distinct new dining entities:
- The Burger Bar: A full-service bar that offers a small menu of gourmet burgers.
- Tacolicious: Serving up delicious tacos, nachos, and taco bowls.
Other popular and full-service dining entities include:
- Hidden Trail Bar and Grill: Located near the Stone Hill Lodge lobby, offering grab-and-go Starbucks coffee in the morning and a full lunch menu.
- Firefly Bar & Grill: A family-friendly option serving lunch and dinner with mouth-watering burgers and a dedicated kids menu.
- Grizzly's Grill: Conveniently located inside the Wild WaterDome, serving quick favorites like pizza, burgers, and tenders.
Whether you're looking for a quick bite by the pool, a casual family dinner, or a relaxed evening cocktail, the wide array of dining options—from quick-service to full-service—provides topical authority and convenience for all resort guests. The resort truly is a destination unto itself, with the 2025 Stone Hill renovations and the thrilling waterpark expansion making it the freshest and most exciting time to visit the Wilderness at the Smokies.
Detail Author:
- Name : Miss Katherine Sipes
- Username : charlotte.lang
- Email : alaina52@douglas.com
- Birthdate : 1986-07-09
- Address : 31008 Melvin Estates Suite 505 Aricfurt, DC 10229-1229
- Phone : 865.650.3334
- Company : Kulas-Ryan
- Job : Rail Car Repairer
- Bio : Illum qui quisquam rerum magni. Ex non odit ut accusantium odit. Ex repellat nihil ratione amet quia tempora.
Socials
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/mdoyle
- username : mdoyle
- bio : Commodi qui molestiae aut beatae. Eius ut labore animi in dolor dolores. Repellat qui ut tempore.
- followers : 2480
- following : 1645
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/doyle2020
- username : doyle2020
- bio : Praesentium hic quia sint omnis omnis facilis nostrum.
- followers : 5134
- following : 781
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/monadoyle
- username : monadoyle
- bio : Dolor eveniet cumque provident nemo ad laudantium est. Nulla voluptas odit quo quas accusamus velit. Suscipit dolorem voluptatem sit fuga et quia excepturi.
- followers : 947
- following : 2093
tiktok:
- url : https://tiktok.com/@mdoyle
- username : mdoyle
- bio : Recusandae voluptates delectus aut. A ut laudantium deleniti qui eum.
- followers : 5966
- following : 2223
