STAY AT OUR HOTEL IN GATLINBURG NEAR THE AQUARIUM

Sleep well at our hotel in Gatlinburg near the aquarium and spend your day underwater at Ripley’s! Come enjoy the best aquarium in America with the whole family. Come see sharks, penguins, and marine creatures of every kind in a thrilling setting! Ripley’s Aquarium is teeming with creatures and fun attractions such as Davy Crockett Mini Golf, a gift shop, and glass bottom boat tours.

Tour the Shark Lagoon

Stay at our hotel in Gatlinburg, TN near Ripley’s Aquarium and easily explore the exhibits. Walk through tunnels in the shark lagoon to see the extraordinary predators up close! Whether below on the moving walkway or in the glass bottom boat, Shark Lagoon is full of some of the largest marine animals in the Aquarium. Come see roughtail stingrays, moray eels, and green sea turtles swimming amongst the sharks, just a few feet away from you and your family! Ripley’s has Sand Tiger Sharks that are 10 feet long, as well as Nurse Sharks here at the aquarium.

Up Close With Marine Life

Get in the water with stingrays at Touch-A-Ray Bay. Bring your own bathing suit and the Aquarium supplies the towels. Touch Jellies in the Discovery Center and meet Puffer Fish and Horseshoe Crabs. There is a coral reef to discover and the Gallery of the Seas has octopuses, cuttlefish, and lionfish for you to see up close. Ripley’s offers the opportunity to pet a penguin in their indoor/outdoor habitat! Take a souvenir photo and learn about the everyday life of a penguin from our Aquarium staff expert. Join the penguin artists in the studio and create a one-of-a-kind painting with a penguin!

Your Ripley’s aquatic adventure begins with us, at Bear Creek Inn. After a day at the aquarium, come back for a swim in our expansive indoor pool and lazy river to keep the fun in the water going! Plus, start your day with a hearty complimentary meal at our breakfast buffet. Our hotel in Gatlinburg near the aquarium is the perfect place to stay during your family vacation.