Soaky Mountain Waterpark

Why go: Soaky Mountain Waterpark is a modern, 50-acre outdoor water park built in 2020, and it leans into thrill rides without losing the family-friendly footing that keeps younger kids busy all day.

About Soaky Mountain Waterpark

Soaky Mountain Waterpark opened in 2020 on a 50-acre site just off Winfield Dunn Parkway, and the scale shows up in everything from the slide count to the wave-pool footprint. The park is owned by Wilderness Resorts & Waterparks, the same group behind Wilderness at the Smokies, and it was purpose-built rather than bolted onto an older resort, which gives the property a cleaner layout and more recent ride technology than most of the older parks in the region.

The headliner is the Avalaunch Watercoaster, a first-of-its-kind two-person tube ride with hills, valleys, and a wall climb that drops into a whitewater finish. The second watercoaster, The Edge, runs as a dueling racer with a three-story mega drop and boomerang loops. Beyond the coasters, the park stacks more than 1.5 miles of waterslides, a 35,000 square foot wave pool capable of six-foot waves, an adventure river, a double FlowRider, and a Wibit floating obstacle course.

For younger guests there are two dedicated zones. Boomer’s Bay offers pint-size versions of the adult thrill rides, and The Hive is a zero-depth interactive play structure for the smallest kids. Pools throughout the park are heated, which extends the swim window on cooler May and September days when air temperatures swing.

Getting to Soaky Mountain Waterpark

Soaky Mountain Waterpark sits on Gists Creek Road, a short turn off Winfield Dunn Parkway in northeast Sevierville. The park is easy to spot from the main road thanks to a Hollywood-style hillside sign on the property, and parking is located right off Gists Creek Road. Plan for the parking pass to be a separate purchase from your daily admission. The location puts you roughly fifteen minutes from downtown Sevierville and within an easy drive of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

Why Choose Soaky Mountain Waterpark

There is no shortage of water options in the Smokies, but Soaky Mountain has carved out a specific niche as the area’s modern, ride-forward outdoor park. A few things separate it from older indoor resorts and the regional alternatives:

• One-of-a-kind watercoaster. The Avalaunch is the first of its model anywhere, pairing uphill blasts with a wall-climb finish that you genuinely cannot ride at most other parks.
• Big wave pool, big waves. Soaky Surge spans 35,000 square feet and is engineered to produce waves up to six feet tall, which is a meaningful step up from the gentler wave pools at most regional competitors.
• Newer construction means newer ride tech. Because the park opened in 2020, the slides, queues, and lifeguard systems reflect current industry standards.
• Heated pools throughout. Every pool in the park is heated, which makes early-season and late-season visits more comfortable when air temperatures are still climbing or starting to drop.
• Two genuine kids’ zones. Boomer’s Bay and The Hive are real, well-developed children’s areas, not just a splash pad, so families with very young kids can spend a full day without the parents having to ride solo.
• 50 acres of room. The footprint helps the park breathe even on busy weekends, and visitors frequently note that lines feel more manageable than at older, denser water parks in the region.

Must Do

These are the signature attractions on property and the ones worth prioritizing if you only have one day to spend at the park:

• Avalaunch Watercoaster. The park’s signature ride and one of the few coasters of its kind anywhere, with a two-person tube, gravity hills, and a final wall climb that drops into whitewater.
• The Edge. A dueling watercoaster that pits two tubes against each other through a three-story mega drop, visual enhancements, and boomerang-style loops.
• Soaky Surge wave pool. The 35,000 square foot centerpiece, capable of generating waves up to six feet tall, with plenty of shallow space for kids when the waves are off.
• Black Bear Rapids. An adventure river that swaps the lazy float for a faster, more active current and a small set of in-river features.
• Double FlowRider. A side-by-side standing wave for bodyboarding and flowboarding, with two lanes so the queue moves and friends can ride at the same time.
• Boomer’s Bay and The Hive. The kid-specific zones, with smaller-scale thrill rides in Boomer’s Bay and a zero-depth interactive structure in The Hive for the youngest visitors.

What to Expect

A few logistical notes that will shape how the day actually goes:

• Height and age requirements. Guests under 48 inches tall are required to wear a USCG-approved life jacket on certain attractions, and individual slides may have additional height minimums. Children three and up need a ticket, and guests 12 and under must have direct adult supervision.
• Life jackets are free. Free USCG-approved life jackets in multiple sizes are stationed throughout the park on a first-come basis, and you may also bring your own as long as it is USCG-approved.
• Seasonal operation. The park runs roughly mid-May through September, with daily hours that shift across the season. Check the current monthly calendar on the official site before you commit to a date.
• Outside food and drink. Outside food and beverage are not allowed in the park, with two exceptions: one factory-sealed bottled water per guest, and empty refillable plastic or metal water bottles. Food and drink inside the park lean expensive, so guests with families often factor that into the day’s budget.
• Parking is separate. Parking is a separate purchase from your admission ticket. Build it into your budget when you compare day-pass prices.
• Lockers are available. Daily locker rentals come in three sizes and range from roughly $13 to $21 for all-day, unlimited access.
• Accessibility. The park follows ADA guidelines. The wave pool, Boomer’s Bay, and The Hive all have zero-depth entries, and Coyote Springs pool is equipped with a pool lift.
• No fast passes, no GoPros. There is no front-of-line system, and personal cameras including GoPros are not permitted on rides for safety reasons.
• Re-entry is allowed. Day-pass holders can leave and return on the same operating day with a hand stamp, which gives you flexibility for a midday break.

Nearby in Sevierville

• Forbidden Caverns. A guided underground tour through a Sevierville cavern system known for its lighting, natural chambers, and underground stream.
• Smoky Mountain Deer Farm. A combination petting zoo and trail-ride operation where families can hand-feed deer and book guided horseback rides.
• Wahoo Ziplines. A canopy zipline course through wooded ridges with multiple lines and a guide-led format suited to first-time riders and families.

Explore More

My Smoky Mountain Guide Sevierville is a great resource for finding things to do and places to eat.

• Sevierville Food & Beverage Guide. Where to eat before, after, or instead of a day at the water park, from quick bites to sit-down meals.
• Sevierville Outdoor Adventure. Ziplines, riding stables, caverns, and other outdoor experiences within easy reach of the park.
• Sevierville Attractions. The full lineup of theme parks, museums, and family attractions across Sevierville.
• Sevierville Things to Do. The top-level guide to everything happening across the city.