Story
A More Epic Adventure
With 14 new elements, a second entry deck and a brand-new pinecone treehouse, Blackberry Mountain’s Arbor Adventure treetop course has reopened with even more fun above the forest floor!
Spinning logs, moving swings and a hanging trolley platform were added to the original course that opened in 2020, as well as two new Tyrolean traverses. One of these Tyrolean traverses zips across a creek, and the other connects to nine additional elements that create an entirely new expansion of the course.
Elements like high-low beams, a wobbly bridge and suspended whiskey barrels appeal to adventure seekers looking for a fresh challenge. For balance, elements such as the bonsai bridge offer a more relaxing, low-intensity experience with an unbeatable view of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The expanded course also houses Arbor Adventure’s new treehouse. As a nod to the native tree it was built into – a shortleaf pine – the treehouse was designed to resemble a short leaf pinecone. Similar to the new treehouse, there are other Arbor Adventure elements inspired by the Mountain’s setting.
On the original course, holey boards feature cutouts of four native tree species: tulip poplar, southern white oak, sourwood and striped maple. New holey boards also make up one of the nine elements in the expanded course. These feature custom cutouts of native animal tracks, including the coyote, bobcat, turkey, deer, raccoon and bear. Additionally, a spinning bridge within the expansion is made of steppingstones shaped like dogwood flowers.
To access the expansion of Arbor Adventure, guests can begin from the newly constructed entry deck. Whether beginning from here or zipping over from the original course, the new additions and updates to Arbor Adventure give guests the option to travel the entire course without ever touching the ground.