Big Splash Ahead: Sports Illustrated Resort

A major new waterpark resort is taking shape just off Interstate 40 at Exit 407, right in the heart of the growing Gateway to Adventure district in Sevierville. Plans for a 74,000-square-foot waterpark paired with a hotel and timeshare complex received site-plan approval from the Sevierville Planning Commission on August 6, 2026. Officials noted only minor comments related to utilities; developers can now move forward with state permitting.

What’s Planned

The project will sit on Gateway Boulevard directly east of the Courtyard by Marriott and a short stroll from the massive Buc-ee’s Travel Center. It includes:

• A 74,000-square-foot waterpark with both indoor and outdoor attractions, including tall outdoor slides and features perfect for summer thrills
• A 175-unit hotel with 297 bedrooms
• A 150-unit timeshare development with 228 bedrooms

Together the lodging components will offer more than 300 units and a combined total of 525 bedrooms. The site plan also calls for 819 parking spaces. Project documents list the development as the “Exit 407 – Sports Illustrated Resort,” and the property is owned by Kituwah Projects LLC.

The waterpark is designed as a mix of indoor and outdoor experiences, giving families the chance to splash and play rain or shine, year-round.

The Sports Illustrated Brand and Why It Matters

The Sports Illustrated name carries decades of cultural weight as one of the most recognized brands in sports media. Sports Illustrated Resorts translates that heritage into immersive hospitality experiences built around athletic energy, fan culture, and iconic moments from nearly 70 years of SI storytelling.

Signature elements at existing properties often include spaces such as a Hall of Champions, sports-inspired fitness areas, themed pools, and event programming that keeps the “game-day” atmosphere alive beyond the stadium.

As of 2026 the brand already operates resorts in the United States, including locations in Nashville and Chicago, with additional properties in development. These destinations emphasize elevating everyday vacation stays with sports-centric design, exclusive events, and a sense of belonging for fans. Attaching the Sports Illustrated brand to a major new waterpark resort at Exit 407 brings national-level recognition and a distinctive identity to the Smokies gateway.

It differentiates the project from the region’s many traditional mountain lodges and family waterparks by appealing directly to sports enthusiasts, multi-generational families who follow teams, and travelers looking for themed entertainment that feels both familiar and fresh.

In a market already rich with outdoor adventure and family attractions, the SI affiliation signals higher production values, potential for branded events or sports-themed programming, and a lifestyle experience that extends the excitement of competition and camaraderie into the lodging and waterpark setting.

Part of a Bigger Picture

Gateway 407 has been marketed for years as the true gateway to the Smoky Mountains. So far the district has delivered the always-busy Buc-ee’s and a Courtyard Marriott that opened in 2024. The new waterpark resort marks the first large-scale entertainment and lodging addition beyond those anchors. Future plans for the overall area still include a proposed Exit 408, with construction targeted to begin in 2030 to help manage traffic growth.

Why It Matters for Visitors

Families heading to the Smokies already have several strong waterpark options in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. This new resort will add another large-scale choice right at the interstate exit most travelers use when arriving from the west or north. Its location next to Buc-ee’s and the Courtyard makes it an easy first or last stop on a mountain vacation.

The combination of substantial hotel and timeshare inventory with a sizable waterpark expands lodging choices in a high-demand corridor that already welcomes tens of millions of annual visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding attractions. For sports fans in particular, the Sports Illustrated branding offers the prospect of a more immersive, themed stay that goes beyond standard resort amenities.

Approval of the site plan is an important early step. Construction timelines have not yet been released, so the project remains in the planning-and-permitting phase.

For now, the news confirms that Gateway 407 continues to evolve from a promising idea into a real destination. A big waterpark, hundreds of new lodging units, and the Sports Illustrated name attached to the resort signal that more adventure, and a distinct sports-lifestyle experience, is on the way for travelers entering the Smokies.