by VICTORIA HENLEY
CTFashionMag.com
Arguably the most iconic structure in the downtown Gatlinburg landscape and a definitive landmark by which all other structures are measured, the Gatlinburg Space Needle has hosted legions of guests since its inception in 1969, offering a panoramic and unparalleled 360-degree vantage point of the breathtaking Great Smoky Mountains as well as the city of Gatlinburg.
Ride the elevator to the top of the 407-foot observation tower for an unbelievably stunning panorama of the bustling, charming city of Gatlinburg and the area’s vast, rolling, mountainous terrain.
Featuring extremely long hours, the Gatlinburg Space Needle allows guests to enjoy the completely differing experiences of witnessing the city’s undeniably gorgeous landscape during both daylight hours (where vast flora and fauna, including even the occasional black bear sighting occurs) and nighttime (when the neon lights of Gatlinburg illuminate the pitch dark sky).
The observation deck of the Space Needle is a quintessential place to take the perfect social-media worthy vacation photos, and several benches are available so that you may relax and unwind as long as you please, while taking in all the best Smoky Mountain views from one of the highest structures in town.
Read about the intriguing history of Gatlinburg, including the tumultuous political landscape, how the town received its name, famous people who called Gatlinburg their “home away from home” and much more at numerous education stations made available at various points of the tower.
Thousands of visitors flock to the Space Needle annually for numerous wildly popular special events, including the 4th of July celebration (where the city of Gatlinburg’s fireworks can be witnessed with from a bird’s eye view), as well as the world-famous Gatlinburg Space Needle New Year’s celebration, where guests congregate to ring in the new year with their special someone.
The fun is far from over once you have made your descent back to ground level as 25,000 square feet of both classic and contemporary arcade games, a full-service pizza parlor, and of course, my personal favorite, The Impossibilities Show: Magic, Mind-reading and Mayhem awaits!
*Special thanks to the wonderful Alyssa Webb and Erik Dobell for facilitating our visit for this spotlight feature*
WEBSITE: www.gatlinburgspaceneedle.com
PHONE NUMBER: (865) 436-4629
Instagram @spaceneedletn
Facebook.com/gatlinburgspaceneedle
