Have you ever heard anyone say they’re bored while on vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains? Yeah me neither… well ladies and gentlemen there’s a new attraction with some pretty thick roots…literally! The Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium has officially reopened after 9 months of updates and restoring. Packed with all new artifacts, galleries, and interactive exhibits, you’ll find yourself deep in the jungle, a human sized kaleidoscope, and maybe even a jail cell.
I got a grand tour through the new exhibits and I can’t wait to give you a sneak peek and share a few of my favorites with you! I traveled through 12,500 square feet, 3 floors, 16 themed galleries, and saw over 500 exhibits and artifacts!
I met up with Ripley’s representative, Mark, who explained that the revamping of the Odditorium was much needed and even pays tribute to Gatlinburg itself. The exterior of the building will showcase trees growing from the ground and holding up the building. This symbolizes the city growing and rebuilding after the 2016 wildfires. The exterior will also showcase lights which symbolize the annual synchronous fireflies! How cool!?
As you walk through the entrance you’re greeted by a few fascinating creatures including the largest preserved two trunk elephant head and a full sized preserved albino giraffe! These were actually one of my favorite artifacts to see! Ripley’s Believe It Or Not also displays several animals with some “extra” traits such as the two- headed calf, eight- legged buffalo, and much more! So, one interesting fact I learned was that each artifact is worth something different. That being said, some are pretty common, some worth millions, and most are priceless! All exhibits and sculptures are illusions that are man made, historical artifacts, and preserved life!
Another favorite exhibit that I encourage you to check out is the space gallery! I got to interact with an anti gravity simulator where I had 30 seconds to complete a few simple actions- it was surprisingly harder than I thought! This exhibit is great for whole family, too!
ATTENTION ALL SELFIE KINGS AND QUEENS! While exploring through the museum I found the ultimate selfie location where you’ll get 360 degree views under a rainbow of light! I stood in the center of over 50 mirrors and it was like a life size kaleidoscope and it didn’t disappoint!
Prepare to see a few familiar…faces, literally! The famous authentic Shrunken Heads, a piece of the historical Berlin Wall, and a few more which I won’t spoil are still apart of the Auditorium at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
For information on the newest exhibits and ways to grab your Ripley’s Believe It Or Not tickets, be sure to visit their website HERE
The museum is OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR!
January – February: 10am to 8pm
March – Memorial Day: 9am to 9pm
Memorial – Labor Day: 9am to 11pm
Labor Day – New Year’s Day: 9am to 9pm
