Ripley's Aquarium presents Lethal Weapons Exhibit

Lethal Weapons is a new exhibit at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies that features dozens of the most shocking and deadly creatures of the sea, along with a variety of interactive displays. The Lethal Weapons exhibit gives guests the opportunity to witness the deadly environment that exists in the seas. It explores the struggle between the sea’s peaceful population and the lethal animals that share the same waters.

As the name Lethal Weapons implies, the exhibit is loaded with examples of those survivors. Everything from a Portuguese Man of War who stings everything it touches to crowns of thorns starfish the most lethal coral predator on the planet are on display.

• Tangle with a golf ball sized warrior that packs enough poison to kill 26 humans!
• Match skills with an insect assassin that shoots down tree-bound bugs!
• Challenge a boxing shrimp that lands a punch with the force of a bullet!
• Marvel at a lethal snail that catches and devours fish!
• Experience an electric eel that generates a 500-volt jolt!

The aquarium is located at traffic light #5 on the Parkway in Gatlinburg and is open 365 days a year.

The exhibit, which is on display through 2009, is free with regular admission to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies tickets are on sale now.

Ripley's Aquarium hosts Thrill the World Event

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies will host “Thrill the World,” a worldwide attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous dance with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on October 24 at 8:30pm.

Actress Ola Ray, who is best known for portraying Jackson’s girlfriend in the “Thriller” video, will be on hand to lead the dancers in the “Thrill the World” dance at the aquarium.

Last year, on Oct. 25, 2008, 4,179 people from 10 nations (Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America, and Wales) simultaneously performed The Thriller Dance as part of the Thrill The World event.

Join the dance party and be apart of a world record event at Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg.

Make the Most of Summer with a Trip to Gatlinburg

As summer starts to fade to fall the Smoky Mountains offer some last minute summer fun in the sun. Gatlinburg, the gateway to the Smoky Mountains, is brilliant in the fall, with its magnificent colors and cool weather, but summer is still a great time to visit as the weather is temperate and outdoor activities are abundant, with everything from Dollywood to White Water Rafting to NASCAR Speedpark racing available. Plus, with the Smoky Mountains so close, visitors can explore the beauty of America’s most visited national park, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

For guests who would like to go to Dollywood, there are great Dollywood Vacation Packages available, including ones that combine Dollywood with Dixie Stampede and Dollywood’s Splash Country.

If the outdoors are what you’d like to explore, then perhaps Rafting with Smoky Mountain Outdoors or Rafting with Big Creek Expeditions are attractions that would float your boat. These outfitters provide guests with guides, rafts and a whole days worth of fun on the Pigeon River.

The Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, while not outdoors, features an array of nature’s sea creatures, giving guests an up close and personal look and life under the sea.

Places to stay in Gatlinburg offer guests a wide variety of options. Hotels, condominiums and cabins are all available, many with guaranteed lowest rates. Traveler’s Choice Top 5 lodging for the month of July included Bear Run Falls Resort, Holiday Inn Pigeon Forge, Bearskin Lodge on the River, RiverStone Resort and Douglas Lake Resort. A few of the top cabin facilities include Hickory Mist Luxury Cabins, Diamond Mountain Rentals and Cramer’s Creekside Cabins.

For all of your Gatlinburg Vacation needs, rely on ReserveGatlinburg.com. It’s the easiest place to create your own unique vacation package, custom tailored to fit your family’s budget and sense of fun. Plus, there are always great deals to be found on ReserveGatlinburg.com.

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies to Receive Top US Aquarium Award

TripAdvisor's Senior Vice President, Robin Ingle, will be visiting Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies on Monday, January 26 to officially present the aquarium with a trophy that declares it the Number One Aquarium in the United States. Ingle will be joined at the media luncheon by Susan Whitaker, commissioner of tourism for the state of Tennessee.

The aquarium's top ranking was determined based on traveler popularity, consumer ratings and TripAdvisor editors.

"This is such a great honor to be named as the top aquarium in the U.S. We are very proud especially since the results are based upon the reports from our guests," said Steve File, general manager. "It's good to know that so many of our visitors are willing to share their feelings and recommend us as a high quality family entertainment experience."

Since opening its doors in 2000, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, nestled at the gateway of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has hosted more than 10 million visitors. Billed as 'America's Most Fun Aquarium,' the aquarium is home to more than 10,000 exotic sea creatures including 12-foot sharks in a world-class 1.4 million gallon aquarium. The majesty of the sea world is revealed through, what has called 'the world's best shark exhibit in a 345 foot long underwater aquarium tunnel' plus thrilling interactive exhibits offering visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal in recreated habitats. Regarded as an exceptional educational facility, the aquarium also provides various education programs for children of all ages.

"These aquariums offer wonderful learning experiences about animals and their habitats, and truly let travelers take a walk on the wild side," said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. "Ripley's offers great family-friendly underwater attractions that are extremely popular among TripAdvisor.com travelers."

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, the second most attended attraction in Tennessee, was Voted The Number One Aquarium in America by TripAdvisor.com and Forbes Traveler has named it one of America's best aquariums. More than 100,000 exotic sea creatures live in its 1.4 million gallons of water. The aquarium is known for its shark exhibit that features 12-foot sharks and one of the longest underwater tunnels in the world. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. family of worldwide entertainment facilities that includes another world class aquarium - Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, S.C. More than 13 million people visit Ripley's 70-plus attractions in 13 countries each year. Ripley Entertainment Inc. is a division of the Jim Pattison Group, the third largest privately held company in Canada.

Information courtesy of Ripley's Entertainment

Two Eagle Rays Born at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Holiday visitors to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies were afforded a rare view of two young male spotted eagle ray pups swimming among hundreds of Indo-Pacific reef fish in the aquariums Coral Reef exhibit.

The two youngsters are believed to be among less than 10 to be captive bred or born anywhere in the world. Spotted eagle rays are not as common as other ray species in public aquariums and there are reportedly less than 15 aquariums in the world that exhibit the species which is found worldwide in tropical and temperate seas.

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies has five spotted eagle rays and its sister facility, Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach (S.C.), has three. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the spotted eagle ray as near threatened, meaning that the species is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future

The two male pups were born in the Ray Bay exhibit on Sept. 27, 2008. Upon their birth they were immediately moved from the exhibit to the marine science building at the aquarium and were cared for under the watchful eyes of marine biologists who made sure they stayed healthy and were eating well. The rays were trained to eat from the hand of the biologists to ensure they were eating enough and that they would be prepared for their new environment, where they need to compete for food with hundreds of coral reef fishes.

The pups were introduced into the Coral Reef exhibit on December 9 and have become popular with aquarium guests since. When born, each weighed less than three pounds and was less than 16 inches across. Adult spotted eagle rays (Aetobatis narinari) can grow to a size of 10 feet disc width and weigh up to 500 pounds.

The two rare little guys can be seen in the Coral Reef exhibit where visitors can watch them interact with divers as they are fed several times daily. The aquarium is located at traffic light #5 on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, Tenn. and is open 365 days a year.

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, the second most attended attraction in Tennessee, was Voted The Number One Aquarium in America by TripAdvisor.com and Forbes Traveler has named it one of America's best aquariums. More than 100,000 exotic sea creatures live in its 1.4 million gallons of water. The aquarium is known for its shark exhibit that features 11-foot sharks and one of the longest underwater tunnels in the world. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. family of worldwide entertainment facilities that includes another world class aquarium - Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, S.C. More than 13 million people visit Ripley's 70-plus attractions in 13 countries each year. Ripley Entertainment Inc. is a division of the Jim Pattison Group, the third largest privately held company in Canada.

Information courtesy of Ripley Entertainment

Gatlinburg Offers Smoky Mountain Fun for Visitors

When the widow Martha Jane Huskey Ogle and her extended family arrived at the foot of east Tennessee's Smoky Mountains in the early days of the 19th century, things looked a little different. The majestic, verdant mountains, cut by numerous clearwater, boulder-strewn streams, and the host of wildlife living there were still the same, but the town of Gatlinburg was nonexistent.

Life was harsh but they persevered, eking out a living by farming and hunting. Daylight hours were spent clearing land for farming and felling trees for their Cherokee Indian-inspired log cabins. Evenings were spent resting on front porches serenaded by tree frogs and whippoorwills.


These days, Gatlinburg has become a hustling, bustling town full of souvenir shops, Appalachian arts and crafts, hotels, restaurants, museums and a plethora of flashy amusements. Attractions suitable for any age group can be found in any direction you look. So many couples get married here — second only to Las Vegas — that it's often called the Wedding Capital of the South. It's worth the trip here just to watch the never-ending stream of wide-eyed tourists wandering the city's sidewalks. If you tire of the countrified glitz and glamour of downtown, Mother Nature's wonders are mere minutes away in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, America's most popular national park.

Here is a sampling of attractions:

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies: This 1.4 million-gallon aquarium of huge sharks, rays, moray eels, angelfish, snappers, jacks, giant sea turtles and thousands of other exotic sea creatures is a must-see for all ages. It boasts the world's longest underwater tunnel that allows you to experience the sensation of being underwater with these amazing creatures while staying dry (and without worrying about being eaten by one of the 12-foot sharks).

Aerial Tram: This 20-passenger tramway transports visitors from downtown Gatlinburg to Ober Gatlinburg, an amusement park and ski resort 1,300 feet up the mountain. After a scenic 10-minute ride, visitors easily can spend a day enjoying Ober's indoor ice skating rink, game arcade, mini-golf, alpine water slide, and much more. If you haven't seen one of the area's ubiquitous bears yet, there are several here in the Black Bear Habitat Zoo. During winter months, there are eight ski slopes to choose from at the ski resort.

Arts and crafts community: Established in 1937 by a handful of local artisans, this 8-mile loop, 3 miles from downtown, is now home to the largest group of independent artists and craftsmen in the country. Its dozens of shops, studios, and galleries offer everything from oil paintings and wood carvings to pottery and dulcimers.

Hollywood Star Cars Museum: More than 30 cars featured in movies and TV shows are on display in re-created settings featuring sound and light systems. Found here are the General Lee, from "The Dukes of Hazzard," "The Beverly Hillbillies" jalopy and "The Munsters" Drag-u-la.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: This immense, 800-square-mile park straddling the Tennessee/North Carolina border has more than 1,200 campsites, 800 miles of hiking trails, 700 miles of trout-filled streams and 11 picnic grounds. There are at least 1,600 black bears roaming the park and thousands of white-tailed deer, along with reintroduced beavers, elk, peregrine falcons and river otters.

If you're not into hiking, biking or horseback riding, you still can enjoy some of the park's most scenic views, historic buildings, and wildlife, by car. Newfound Gap Road is 26 miles of spectacular views. Stretching from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, N.C., it rises to more than 5,000 feet at Newfound Gap, and a 7-mile side road continues upward to 6,643-foot Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the Smokies. Along the way are numerous places to park and look out over the Smokies, with many trailheads as well. The trails vary greatly in degree of difficulty, from very easy strolls through the woods to very difficult trails suitable only for the most fit hikers.

Perhaps the most beautiful drive of all is Roaring Fork Auto Trail, a 6-mile auto loop. The narrow, hilly road runs closely beside Roaring Fork Creek as it tumbles down from the mountains above. Moss-covered boulders decorate the stream, and its constant gurgling as it passes over numerous riffles and small falls blends with the birdsong falling from the trees. Chestnut oak, white oak, magnolia, maple, hemlock and tulip trees provide sun-dappled shade. Several 19th-century houses and tub mills have been preserved along the stream.

Also in the area, Dollywood, a family oriented theme park in Pigeon Forge, 5 miles north of Gatlinburg. If you're a fan of owner Dolly Parton, you'll love Dollywood, and even if you're not you'll find enough thrill rides to keep you and the kids happily occupied. Bluegrass and country music performers are scattered throughout the park, and you can thrill your taste buds with homemade candies, barbecue, beans, greens and ice cream.

If you go . . .

Gatlinburg is just outside the north entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, about 90 minutes from Knoxville, Tenn., or four hours from Atlanta. It is a year-round travel destination. In the early spring, wildflowers decorate the roadsides and trails with their vivid colors. Mountain laurel blooms in May, and red rhododendron blooms practically cover the hillsides in June and July. In summer, things shift into high gear as families converge on the area for their annual vacations. Autumn brings another rush of tourists who come for the spectacular colors of fall foliage, and the cooler weather makes hiking and other outdoor activities even more enjoyable. In winter, things slow down and hotel prices plummet, although there is still a lot to do. If you're lucky enough to be here during a big snowfall, you'll be amazed at the winter-wonderland transformation that takes place. Even if there is no snow, you'll find plenty of man-made snow on Ober Gatlinburg's ski slopes.




Information courtesy of The Austin American Statesman

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies Voted Most Popular Aquarium

In its first listing of the nation's aquariums, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is being recognized as the most popular aquarium in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.com's travelers and editors.

"This is great validation for us! In 2001, the year we opened, we were the most attended aquarium in the U.S. with more than two million visitors and we have remained very popular year after year," said Steve File, General Manager of Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, noting that since opening, more than 10 million visitors have enjoyed his attraction. "We're located in this small southern tourist town but now we're top of mind across America, thanks to this listing!"

The Gatlinburg aquarium's sister attraction, Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, ranked #4 on the same TripAdvisor.com's list.

TripAdvisor's Popularity Index is the first index of its kind to dynamically rank hotels and attractions worldwide based on the customer satisfaction rating of the given hotel or attraction. TripAdvisor has a proprietary algorithm for determining popularity that takes into account quantity and quality of TripAdvisor reviews, guidebook ratings and comments from all over the Web. In addition to being shaped by TripAdvisor's Popularity Index, the top 10 aquariums list was also influenced by TripAdvisor editors. '

"Ripley's offers great family-friendly underwater attractions that are extremely popular among TripAdvisor.com travelers," said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor.

Ripley's Aquariums are part of the Ripley Entertainment family of worldwide entertainment facilities. Ripley Entertainment Inc. is a division of the Jim Pattison Group, the third largest privately held company in Canada.

Information courtesy of PR-Inside.com

Image courtesy of Ripley's Entertainment

The Arts and Outdoor Fun Reign Supreme in Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg was originally settled in the early 1800's by the Ogle family. Descendants of the Ogles are still very involved in the city. The following link provides a history of the town. It is interesting reading, especially when you see how Gatlinburg has evolved.

Gatlinburg is considered a mountain resort town, a tourist town. Compared to its sister city Pigeon Forge, which offers a steady diet of shows, restaurants, outlet malls, miniature golf, pancake houses and junk shops, Gatlinburg looks downright quaint. Walking up and down main street Gatlinburg can occupy hours of time. People watching is fascinating and countless trinket shops provide much entertainment. While walking, you will find a number of booths with people offering free tickets for shows or other sights. Personally, I would avoid stopping. These people are trying to sell timeshares and the freebies are in exchange for listening to a sales pitch. The hawkers, once allowed loose on the streets, have been restricted to booths and are reduced to yelling "Hey sir, Hey madam, free tickets" in effort to grab your attention. Below are a few quality places you may want to visit while in Gatlinburg.

1. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts Arrowmont is located at near the beginning of the Gatlinburg Parkway. Fronting the Parkway is a shop filled with beautiful artisan work from an artist community deeply seated in the Tennessee-North Carolina mountains. Artist from all over the world come to this area (NC and TN) to hone their skills in the inspiring mountain environment. You will find beautiful works in wood, clay, metal and fiber, along with spectacular jewelry. The shop is only a small part of the complex. A marvelous school (not really visible from the street) is attached. You can check with the shop if you are interesting in wandering around
the school grounds.

2. Gatlinburg Artist Loop (8-miles) These days I usually head to the area for a hike or backpack and forget that hours spent visiting artist galleries can be fun and very interesting. The Artist Loop is an 8-mile drive showcasing galleries and studios for local artists. As with Arrowmont, you will find all types of art. If a gallery catches your eye, you can stop, browse and chat with the artist. This is a fascinating drive worth the time spent. Your hotel can provide directions and a map. The Loop is located a few miles outside the city.

3. Ripley's Gatlinburg Aquarium If you enjoy aquariums, this one is very nice. If you have limited time, visit the the sites above and spend time in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Finally, Gatlinburg is a city filled with restaurants. Since we spend most of our time in the mountains and very little time in Gatlinburg, my recommendations are limited.

Front Porch Mexican Restaurant, Cosby, TN: The Front Porch is an old Mexican Restaurant in Cosby, TN, a few miles outside of Gatlinburg. The Front Porch is best known for bluegrass music. The food is cheap and only okay, the service might be slow but the music is great. If you want booze, "bring your own bottle." The restaurant is open from 5:00-10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday night, 5:00-9:30 PM on Sunday night; closed all other days of the week. Music begins at 7:00 PM.

Pancake Pantry: Open from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM (4:00 PM June-October), lines form early outside for breakfast. This is an experience not to be missed.

The Brass Lantern: We often travel through Gatlinburg after a long day of hiking or a weekend backpack. Our destination is always The Brass Lantern for a very specific meal, a tureen of vegetable soup and a "skillet" of cornbread. Although we may add a salad to our order (depending on how hard we hiked), we rarely order anything else. The ambiance is average, the dress is very casual and the restaurant is located on the main strip.

Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen: While technically not a restaurant, I consider salt water taffy one of the major food groups, especially vanilla and chocolate. Gatlinburg has a number of candy kitchens, this one happens to be our favorite and a few steps away from The Brass Lantern. The Candy Kitchen offers a large selection of candies and salt water taffy. You can buy by the piece or full box. Once made by hand, salt water taffy is now pulled and packaged by machine. The taffy machine is located in front of a large window. Stop for a few moments and watch the process, it is fascinating. An equally fine candy store is located next to the Pancake Pantry.
Check with your hotel for other eating establishments. Gatlinburg hosts a number of fine restaurants including Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que, Calhouns and others.

Getting around Gatlinburg is easy. The city operates trolley cars with stops throughout Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Maps are available at most establishments. Utilizing the trolley prevents parking headaches and reduces car emissions, which are destroying plants in the park.
Save at least one day to explore the most visited park in the national park system. It is a true treasure "tucked" away behind Gatlinburg.

Information courtesy of The Travelzine Group

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies opens new Exhibit

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies is really trying to baby its visitors with its newly-opened exhibit. A display titled, "Living Babies in Incubators" has now filled an area of the facility that once took guests to sea with pirates and all the way to Mars.

Aquarium General Manager Steve File says the exhibit harkens back to the oddity and carnival roots of Ripley Entertainment."The idea of putting babies in incubators started out as a sideshow feature and these doctors would tour around with these premature babies," File said. "It's a great story. I think people will really enjoy it."

In addition to tracing the history of incubating human infants, the exhibit also explains incubators used in the natural world, from bubble nests to brood pouches. To illustrate those, the display includes 16 aquariums filled with eggs, embryos and babies of various aquatic species.

Installing the exhibit cost $750,000, money File thinks is well-spent."We think this will be a great addition for our visitors," he saide. "Each time we change this exhibit, we try to do something that will keep people coming back. Everybody loves little babies. We're all about entertainment and if you learn something along the way, that's great."

Guests who have already toured the exhibit seem impressed."I really liked it," Alex Littlejohn, 10, of Petal, Miss., said. "It's cool to see all the babies."

Visitors to the exhibit can see embryonic sharks in egg pods, pollywogs on their way to becoming full-grown frogs, 65-million-year-old dinosaur eggs and baby seahorses so small they almost have to be viewed with a magnifying glass.

In introducing the exhibit Thursday, Bob George, a doctor of veterinary medicine, said the aquarium is the perfect host for the display."When you think about it, Ripley's aquarium itself is an incubator," George said. "This is what we're about - raising animals."The exhibit is expected to be open throughout 2008.

Ring in the New Year at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies will ring in the New Year with its 7th Annual Dance with the Sharks New Year's Eve Party. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the undersea world of Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies while they party the night away with 10,000 exotic ocean creatures, including 12-foot sharks.

The New Year's Eve Party features two separate dance areas, one with an 8-piece dance band and another with a DJ, an unlimited feast of over the top hors d'oeuvres plus a champagne toast at midnight.

"Our party is both unique and fun. You can dance, eat, and party throughout the aquarium until 1 a.m., plus just prior to midnight we can all go out to the aquarium's plaza and watch the city of Gatlinburg's fireworks display and ball drop. It's always an incredible event," said Steve File, general manager of Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies.

The party is great for the entire family. Those wishing to bring children can take advantage of the aquarium's Educational Childcare program, which is offered to children ages 3 to 12. Advance arrangements for childcare are required.

The party price is $109.99 per couple, $69.99 for singles, and $29.99 for children (3-12). Educational childcare is available for children ages 3 to 12. All prices are plus tax. Reservations are required.The aquarium is located at traffic light #5 on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, TN and is open 365 days a year. The Aquarium closes to the public at 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve and opens to party guests at 9:01 p.m.

Image and information courtesy of Ripley's Corportation