Wilderness at the Smokies: Our Family Resort Review

Disclosure: Wilderness at the Smokies provided our family with a complimentary stay for our original visit in 2013. All opinions and experiences shared are my own. This post has been updated in 2026 with current resort information.

Wilderness at the Smokies has changed quite a bit since our family originally stayed there—and honestly, “quite a bit” might be an understatement.

We first visited Wilderness at the Smokies during one of our family trips to Tennessee when our kids were much younger. At the time, we stayed at the resort, spent plenty of time in the waterparks, explored the Adventure Forest family entertainment center, and came home with a whole lot of Smoky Mountain vacation memories.

Since that original visit, Wilderness has undergone some major renovations and expansions. The indoor Wild WaterDome has been expanded and renovated, Stone Hill Lodge's guest rooms have been completely updated, and the resort has added new lodging and attractions—including mountain-modern cabins, a rooftop pool, room escapes, and even a Human Crane experience.

So instead of pretending these photos were taken last week 😂, I'm keeping our original family experience and pictures while also updating this post with what's changed at Wilderness at the Smokies and what families can expect from the resort today.

Our Original Stay at Wilderness at the Smokies

When we originally visited Wilderness at the Smokies, one of the things that immediately appealed to me was that it felt like more than just a hotel. We weren't simply using the room as a place to sleep between Pigeon Forge attractions—the resort itself was part of our vacation.

With kids, that was a pretty big deal. There were waterparks to explore, activities when everyone needed a break from swimming, and enough going on that we didn't feel like we had to leave the property constantly to keep everyone entertained. 

Looking back at these pictures now, our kids were SO little compared to today, which makes this post slightly painful in that special mom way. 😂 But it also gives me a pretty good reminder of what made Wilderness work so well for us as a family in the first place. It's SO hard when you have little kids to juggle the naps, the snacks, the potty breaks, the one who is crying because they are tired of swimming, the teens that want to go to the arcade, blah blah blah. This is the reason it's just so damn convenient to have everything under one roof and not have to leave the property once you check in! 

The Waterparks Were the Main Event

Obviously, when you stay somewhere called Wilderness at the Smokies, the waterparks are a pretty big part of the experience. 😂 During our original visit, our kids could have happily spent most of the trip swimming, playing, and going from one water attraction to the next.

One of the biggest advantages for us was having an indoor waterpark available. Smoky Mountain weather doesn't always cooperate with vacation plans, especially if you're visiting outside the summer months, so having so much to do indoors made the resort feel like a destination regardless of what was happening outside.

We spent a lot of our stay in and around the waterparks, and it was one of those vacations where the kids were completely worn out by the end of the day—which, as a parent, is basically the highest possible rating for a family resort. 😂

The waterpark has changed substantially since these photos were taken, though, so farther down I'll show you some of the major additions and renovations that have happened since our original visit. And as soon as we can get back down to Tennessee, we will definitely be stopping by to check the new stuff out in person! 

When everyone needed a break from the waterpark, we also spent time in the Adventure Forest, Wilderness at the Smokies' indoor family entertainment area.

This was another thing I really liked about staying at the resort with kids. Swimming can only occupy everyone for so long, and having other activities right there meant we didn't immediately have to load everybody into the car and go searching for something else to do.

During our original visit, Adventure Forest gave us another whole part of the resort to explore and helped make Wilderness feel more like an actual family vacation destination instead of simply somewhere we happened to be staying.

And just like the waterpark, this part of Wilderness has continued to evolve since our visit. There are quite a few activities available at the resort today that weren't there when these pictures were taken.

Photo Credit: Wilderness at the Smokies

What's New at Wilderness at the Smokies

Wilderness at the Smokies looks quite a bit different today than it did during our original family stay. The resort has invested heavily in renovations and new attractions over the past few years, so if you haven't visited in a while, there's a lot that's new.

The Wild WaterDome indoor waterpark has been expanded, with newer attractions including the three-story Ridge Runner water coaster and the Kaleidoscope Kavern immersive lazy river. There's also now Lookout Lagoon, a rooftop pool with a glass edge overlooking the surrounding area.

The lodging has gotten a major update too. All 234 rooms at Stone Hill Lodge were renovated in 2025, along with the lobby and corridors. Wilderness has also added Mountainside Cabins for larger families and groups, including four-bedroom cabins, five-bedroom entertainment cabins with theater rooms, and huge treehouse cabins that can sleep up to 22 people.

There are new things to do outside the waterparks as well. In 2026, Wilderness added Beyond the Door Room Escapes at Stone Hill Lodge, and the resort currently lists several newer activities and attractions throughout the property.

Basically, if you visited Wilderness years ago like we did, I wouldn't assume you already know what the resort is like today. 😂 Our original experience is still the heart of this review, but there's enough new that I'd definitely explore the current resort before planning another stay.

Would We Stay at Wilderness at the Smokies Again?

Based on our original experience, absolutely. Wilderness at the Smokies was one of those places where the resort itself became a big part of the vacation instead of simply being somewhere we slept at night.

And after seeing how much has changed since our stay, I'd honestly be really interested in going back with our family now. Our kids aren't little anymore, so it would be a completely different trip—but between the renovated waterpark, updated rooms, new activities, and cabin options, there's a lot we haven't experienced yet. Plus, I'd really like to get some photos of the place that DO NOT look like they were taken with a potato. 

That's probably the biggest compliment I can give a family resort all these years later: we have great memories from our original stay, and I'd still put it on the list for a future Smoky Mountains trip.

If you're considering Wilderness at the Smokies, I'd recommend checking the resort's website for current room options, waterpark information, packages, and activities before booking since so much has changed since our original visit.

Planning a stay? Check out Wilderness at the Smokies for current room options, waterpark information, packages, activities, and rates.