Sevierville, Tenn. – The holidays are all about traditions and Wilderness is at the
Smokies is happy to provide plenty of opportunities for them. The resort’s real ice
skating rink will be returning for its fifth season from November 8, 2024 -January
13, 2025.
The ice rink will occupy a 3,200 square foot portion of the resort’s outdoor wave
pool, where hotel guests and the public can have fun together. Music, holiday
lights and a Winter Wilderland snack area will add to the fun atmosphere.
“This holiday tradition has been growing in popularity since started it six years
ago,” said Pete Tennis, managing director of Wilderness at the Smokies. “There is
nothing more memorable than going ice skating during the holidays and
enjoying a cup of hot cocoa or roasting marshmallows over one of our firepits in
our Winter Wilderland and then going to see Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland
Light Display across the street at Soaky Mountain.”
The rink will be open from 10 am to 10:30 pm Saturday – Sunday, Thanksgiving
week (November 23-December 1) and Christmas break (December 21-January
1); and 4 pm to 9 pm Monday- Friday. In addition, a DJ will be onsite Fridays and
Saturdays beginning November 8, from 7 to 10 pm, including New Year’s Eve
until 12:30 am. On Friday, December 13 from 7-10 pm the rink will host a Taylor
Swift Night with a DJ playing all of Taylor’s greatest hits. Guests are encouraged
to wear their favorite Taylor Swift outfit and “Skate It Off!” Santa will also be
onsite and rink side for select afternoons. For a detailed calendar of hours visit
https://www.wildernessatthesmokies.com/waterpark-hours/ and click on the ice
rink hours tab.
Unlimited ice skating packages are available for $24.99 when guests make their
advance room reservation. Public admission at the rink $18.99 plus tax, which
includes skate rental. Soaky Mountain Waterpark season pass holders can skate
for the discounted rate of $10.99 if they show their wristbands.
Other fun things happening on the ice rink include Skate for a Cause on
November 16 from 10 am to 10:30 pm where 100 percent of the public ice
skating admission will go to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee; and
Cool Sports will be hosting youth hockey games featuring local areas skaters
from 7 am to 1 pm on Saturday, December 7.
Tennis adds for those younger, unexperienced skaters who are unsure of skating
a special Monty’s Youth Skate will be offered every Saturday (except December
7) between 9 -10 am (before the rink opens) for younger, unexperienced skaters
to get time on the ice without bigger and faster people speeding around them.
The resort will provide skating aids, a surprise Christmas gift, and an opportunity
for a photo with the resort’s mascots, Monty and/or Molly. The cost is $9.99 per
child and includes skates as well as the day’s admission to the rink.
Other Holiday Activities Planned
Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland at Smoky Mountain
Across the street from Wilderness at the Smokies, Soaky Mountain Waterpark will
also be celebrating Christmas with Shadrack’s original Christmas Wonderland
Light Display, November 15-January 5, from 6-10 pm in its parking lot. Afterwards
your family can visit Snowy Mountain Village (Open Nov 15 – 17 and then Nov 22
– Dec 30) Located inside Soaky Mountain Waterpark. It will feature holiday
inflatables, seasonal lights, Christmas trees and fire pits. Plus, there will be loads
of fun for all ages including holiday crafts for kids, a train and teacup rides for
people to enjoy, an Elfie photo op experience, great food, delicious desserts,
and visits with Santa or Boomer on some nights! For details
visit: https://soakymountainwaterpark.com/shadracks-light-display-is-returning-
to-soaky-mountain-2024/
Santa’s Workshop
Back at Wilderness at the Smokies resort guests will again be able to enjoy
Santa’s workshop in the Resort’s River Lodge Conference Room as well as
outside in the Winter Wonderland by our ice skating rink. Kids will be able to
participate in cookie decorating and even have the opportunity to write and
mail a letter to Santa. will be open: November 29, 3-7 pm; December 6, 13, and
20, from 3 -8 pm; November 30, December 7, 14, 21, 22 and 23, from 11 am-8
pm; and December 1, 8, and 15 from 10-2 pm
Santa Appearances
The jolly ol’ man will also be returning to Wilderness at the Smokies and will be
visiting with guests November 29, from 3-7 pm; November 30, December 6, 7, 13,
14, 20, 21, 22, and 23 4-7 pm. He will be in the outdoor Winter Wonderland by the
resort’s ice rink the first hour of each scheduled appearance and then in Santa’s
Workshop during the last two hours.
Story Time with Mrs. Claus
Join Mrs. Claus on Saturdays and Sunday (Nov. 30th, Dec. 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th,
21st, 22nd) from 10-11 am as she hosts 30-minute Christmas themed story times in
Camp Social. Advance reservations can be made at
https://www.wildernessatthesmokies.com/
Christmas Day Buffet
The resort will be hosting a Christmas Buffet in Camp Social from 1-7 on Christmas
Day. Details about it can be found on the resort’s blog at
https://www.wildernessatthesmokies.com/holiday-happenings-2024/
Reservations are required. Please call 865.868.4483 extension 10106 to make
one.
The Wilderness at the Smokies features 234 Stone Hill guest rooms; 472 River
Lodge suites; 20 Villas; 6 treehouse cabins; 8 five-bedroom cabins;14 four-
bedroom cabins; an 84-degree, year-round indoor waterpark; two seasonal
outdoor waterparks; an indoor family entertainment center; a variety of dining
and shopping options; a 36-hole championship golf course adjacent to the
resort; and more than 200,000 square feet of meeting and convention space
adjacent to Stone Hill Lodge.
It is owned by Wilderness Resort and Waterparks, a Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin-
based hotel and hospitality development and management company which
also operates Soaky Mountain Waterpark across the street from the resort as well
Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Lodge, Wilderness on the Lake and Sundara
Spa all in Wisconsin Dells.
Wilderness at the Smokies has created hundreds of jobs in the greater Sevierville
community, attracting year-round tourism, and having a major impact on sales
tax and room tax generated for the City of Sevierville since opening its doors in
- For more information visit WildernessattheSmokies.com or call 877.325.9453.
