I used to go here ALL the time as a local. I spent most of my time here, the old magic world (now a golf course), ogles water park. Most my time was here and Pigeon Forge as my Great Grandpa helped build multiple places such as the Sugarland Visitor Center and some in The Village.
Great video - thank you for showing us places we cannot visit ourselves. You have a very respectful and thoughtful way of exploring these unique places.
The electric motor was the main motor that drove the ride. The diesel motor was the back up motor, in case of power outage or maintenance work. The motor was connected to the gear box, which turned the main spindle, that worked the ride. major amount of torque to drive the spindle to move all of the chairs and cable up and down the mountain. Thank you for sharing.
came here to say just this, it wasn't diesel though, it was an old gasser Wisconsin and the lever near the belt was to engage the belt system from the output shaft so the electric motor wasn't turned the gas one when it was shut down. Like a clutch you might say.
Loved the before and after photos ....it really is sad to see it abandoned . ..looked like a really fun place at one time. You did a great job documenting it ..loved the music you chose . Another fun explore ..thank you .
Abandon Malls or theme parks are always the best and saddest to watch. So much fun was had in both types of places and its so sad to see it just sit there, alone and not used.
I visit Gatlinburg at least twice a year and really enjoyed learning about what used to be there. I see that lift every time but never knew the back story. Thanks for the before and afters and all the info you researched.
Hey JP .. North Ga dad here... ( born in ‘74) ... I rarely comment on anyone’s videos but wanted to tell you that when I view any videos produced by yourself of old/existing places of nostalgia ... YOU BRING IT 💪. What I respect is the extra time that you spend , INCLUDING all info you can gather w/ before & after pics when avail and always followed by great commentary.. Nice , bro. Very Nice.
Great video man. Really appreciate how your video is nice and steady. A lot of people who film abandoned locations film so fast that it is almost unwatchable without throwing up. I also like how you take time and explain history and back up with photos. And one last thing, I really like how when you don’t really k ow what something is, you don’t just make up something. If I see one more kid in an abandoned building call a record a “giant CD” I’ll loose it. Thanks
I went to this park several times between 1995 and 1998, it was small but it had your basic fair rides, it stayed busy in the early years but just could not compete with the larger parks like dollywood, had good memories there with my mom and dad, I still have my dad , but my mom passed away the same year they shut down in 2000, I was around 16 to 17 years old when I went , I'm now 38, I can't believe it has been that long ago! ❤
I am 37 and was born and raised and still live in Gatlinburg. I remember when this place was built I was in 6th grade . It was never really busy at all I had a couple friends that worked there . I rode the chair lift a bunch of times it just went up the hill and had another platform and you just got off on one side and got back on as the chair went around the turn . The only thing that was even worth going there was down on the lower main building down where the parking nazi booth is at . There was a lazer tag that was pretty cool my friend worked at I would go and play all I wanted for free . It was honestly a total waste of money and never really did much buisness. When it was built was when pigeon forge was taking off and most people went there to do stuff like bungee jump and ride go carts there since the ones at fun mountian were terrible .
@@JPVideos81 JP if you want to see video footage of the chairlift in operation type in on RUclips Gatlinburg TN 1999 and watch the hole video through it is only about 5 seconds long but that's the only footage on RUclips I could find
I enjoyed this video. Thank you, JP for all you do to be able to provide us with your videos!!! I've been to Gatlinburg but didn't know that was there. Stay safe!!!
Enjoyed learning the history of this place. Such a shame to see the loss. Chairs just hanging so eerie. View had to be amazing when in operation. Great video & montage Jay. Most excercise equipment I ever had was abandoned. LOL :)
Becky Moot my family was at the Mountain View hotel twice a year in the 50’s and 60’s. It was a wonderful escape and I still remember the lunches they would pack for you when you went exploring the Park!! Sad!
its always sad to see these videos of closed & abandoned amusement parks. more so the ones that were from the 1800's to present day, the 2000's. just think of all the laughter and smiles these places brought to peoples lives, let alone memories of being a kid going to one and now it's an empty lot or some housing project that sits on the site. its not depressing it's just sad. Thanks for the share Jay, maybe someone went here when they were a kid and brought back some good memories.
Loved those cars in the before pictures... This place is interesting I knew about it, but I didn't know they auctioned the rides off. You did an awesome job telling us the history.
JP: Nice video & production. I “think” I know where the rides came from to this park. In 1990 we moved to North Myrtle Beach, SC. There was a Carnival like park sitting in a lot, on the southbound side of Business 17. This wasn’t the former Sun Fun Park On Main Street that most remember. This was across all four lanes of highway, but near Main st. The park had: Eli Wheel, Chance Yo Yo, Bumper Boats, a simple carousel, some kiddie rides and an old fashioned Himalaya ride! That fall/winter they were taking rides down so I stopped in and asked what was going on. A worked told me they were relocating the park to Gatlinburg Tenn. I’m almost positive these were the same rides.
I have lived in East Tennessee most of my life and been to Gatlinburg countless times. For some reason I have no recollection of this theme park, which might explain it's demise, if someone like me never knew about it. Thanks for sharing this with us.
I'm trying to remember it also I've lived in East Tennessee most of my life born here and raised here remember going through pigeon forge Gatlinburg in the late 50s I always went to the top of the mountain then down to Cherokee. The good ole days
Such an incredible find man, thanks for taking us along. I really enjoyed the before and after photos as well. Excellent work on this one. Your editing has gotten phenomenal over the last year and a half or so. I really enjoy watching your videos
Honestly my editing is the same as its always been. I stick to my comfort zone and only do what im capable of doing. Otherwise its a pretty cut and dry video showing the remains.
@@JPVideos81 I thought it was pretty cool what do before and after photos and the spots of Music, really gave depth to the video. Made it more of an experience rather than just watching a video
I’ve lived in East Tennessee all my life, just about 30 mins from gatlinburg, and I can’t remember ever hearing about this place. Very interesting to see this!!
Awesome video!!! I love seeing & seeking abandoned places to explore (safely!), document through photos & research!! It’s possible the house where the chimney is was destroyed in the Gatlinburg fires...I couldn’t quite hear everything you were saying during that particular shot of the video.
Yes! I did go to this when i was a little kid. I remember, i went once or twice, i think. From what i remember. It was really expensive then you would just get bored being there after a little while. I was born in 92. Thanks for uploading.
Sounds like Anakeesta... we just went this past week and i was not impressed. Stood in line for like 2hours to get on the gondola. Rode up on their janky lift which seemed much more unstable than the Skybridge lift. Bunch of little shops selling water for $4 and the same reclaimed barnwood junk availiable everywhere else. Every path was packed asshole to elbow so you couldn't even take your time to enjoy anything. There was like a rope/wood castle for the kids which took like 2 minutes to complete. The ziplines weren't being used. The 'treetop rope bridge' sucked, on top of like 9000 people trying to do it at the same time and rushing, It's on the developed side of the mountain so all you see is nasty Gatlinburg strip. Over half the trees were standing dead from the fire, and the floor was littered with brush and logs. The one good thing was the view from the tower. That was probably the best view from anywhere in the area and we went to several locations all around gatlinburg, the park, and pigeon forge. But that took all of 5 minutes. Really didn't feel like it was worth the price of admission, and seriously not worth the hours long wait. We saw everything it had to offer in 10minutes and I was ready to go 5 minutes later.
@@maxdecphoenix true that! If you got little kids and on a slow day I would give it an 8 otherwise me and the wife give it a 5 and we just trying to be nice about it.
I Really Enjoyed your Video. I have been to Gatlinburg Many times over the years but did not know this was there. Thanks for your great tour and for sharing it with us.
I really enjoyed this video. We've been going to Gatlinburg for many years and I didn't even know this park existed. The next time we're there, I'm going to check it out (without the parking lot nazi, hopefully). I am looking at some of your other videos. It looks like I'll be "binge watching" you. Thanks for sharing this with us! :)
I was in Gatlinburg the same time you were there videoing. I remember this amusement park, never went though. Trying to park off the main drag was difficult though we often walked through a parking lot. There was another amusement park in Pigeon Forge that has long gone by the wayside and torn down. I don't remember the name of it but it was on the right coming out of Sevierville maybe close to where the Grand use to be.
I have been here many times. The hotel that used to stand there was so impressive! Then, it sat empty for so long to be followed with being empty and finally they cleared the land to put in Fun Mountain. The property tax in Gatlinburg is unbelievably cheap. It is so cheap that the owners can actually let these properties sit vacant for years and then when they finally do rent them, it probably takes only a month or two to make up any property taxes they paid in the past years. I suspect what happened here is the people that rented it couldn't make enough to profit after trying to pay rent, as rent in Gatlinburg is CRAZY expensive. The property tax is so cheap to the owners that them just renting out the land for parking, even the minimal amount this lot gets, would be enough to pay a nice hefty sum annually to the owners and cover their property taxes and overhead with no issues. So, there is no real incentive to renovate it until some request in the millions and millions come in.
@@annieoneill4437 I am trying to remember exactly, I want to say in the early 90s. I could wait to take my son who was a toddler at the time. It was fun watching things go up, especially the sky lift. They had a little like hill that said FUN MOUNTAIN in flowers that was beautiful.
@@jamesjamm that hill your talking about it is filled with trees I hope they cut it down soon because I really want to walk on it and see the remains of the old elavator.
My wife grew up there ..she said she used to go there all the time when she was younger her family worked there as well... she likes ur video .so insane how quickly that place has grown over ...great video
Great historical research. Thanks for the perspective on the before and after, it really helped tie it all together. I've never been there but still appreciate the history of it. Why don't the new owners sell off the chairs on the lift? People would pay for them. Great porch swing or garden bench..... recycle with history.... epic. The bear.... how many local businesses would want that in front of their place? Just wish they would recycle whats left and let someone get some joy out of it rather than let it rot. The lift chairs would be great in a local restaurant too..... Just me. Thanks for the hard work and perspective. Great vid.
Thank god I found this! I live an hour away from here and I recently found this place while having to park up on the hill. I was so intrigued how they left a chairlift to rot and I really began to wonder what everything was! I almost did some research till I saw this video!
Hi Jay, I thought it hilarious you dodging the parking lady lol, great research though so top marks for that 😉. With so much competition there in Gatlinburg it would be hard for any company to survive for any great length of time. Cool photo montage 👌🏻. Thank you for sharing, I wish you and your family a happy and safe new year. 🙏🏻🥂😊💞x
I live about 3 hours from Gatlinburg and have been going there since I was a kid.I'm now 53 and have seen lots of changes over the years.I do remeber Fun Mtn.but never went there.
Like I always do before I go somewhere on vacation, I look to see if there is anything abandoned (or just really neat to photograph) nearby. I found several mentions of Fun Mountain but couldn't really get a location. I did see what looked like an old city park-type location that was abandoned but didn't get over to it. Our second from last day I went on Google Earth to give it a look one more time. I knew there was a figure 8 go-cart track so I started searching and there it was. RIGHT BEHIND OUR HOTEL!! I grabbed my camera and headed out the door. I found the track, old bumper pool, ski lift, tunnel and old maintenance building too. I wish I had known about the putt putt gold course. Thanks for some history on the location.
The picture you have that says Fun Mountain must have been taken near to the end of its run. As it used to be all flowers that were within that outline. Otherwise, this was just like an expensive little fair, there was a ferris wheel, tilt-a-whirl, scrambler, bumper boats, carousel, etc. It was just too expensive for what it was for people to go. The sky lift was fun, but you only went up and turned around...so people would rather ride the one right downtown where you can go up and stop. The buildings housed some games and food. I think Little Caesar's went in near the end to try to help them, but it wasn't enough. The mini-golf part was part of Fun Mountain, you were walking on part of it while you were uptop and that works it's way down to where you saw at the bottom lot. It was nice, running water and kind of like a tree fort to golf through. It was hard to see the hotel leave....then to have this come in and leave so soon (for Gatlinburg). However, other places that were as big or bigger, like Gatlinburg Place only stayed one season...so this technically had a long run for Gatlinburg time. ;-)
The one thing I remember about this park is that when it first opened it was expensive. You paid for each ride and it was anywhere from 8.00 to 12.00 each from what I can remember. I think this changed in the later years of the park but I believe their days were numbered by then because people stopped going up there.
Great job showing us this abandoned site. Sad, yet fascinating! You always manage to uncover really cool things!! Loved seeing the chair lift and how it must have operated, the water boats, and cart track! Thank you JP!
when we went it was if I remember right 28 for my parents 18 for me and 11 for my sister and free for my brother and we seen and did it all in 6 hrs 2 hrs plus of that was stuck in the chair lift while they figured out how to fix it and get us all down and mind u it was hot that day
I'm an old sensitive-hearted gal and abandoned amusement parks always make me so sad. A place once filled with visitors and smiling children.....now quiet and just a skeleton of its previous self. :( Strangely, though, I enjoy seeing them so the memories can live on.
I remember it but never had a chance to go to it. You could see the Ferris wheel from the parkway. The old hotel was beautiful. I’ve been coming to Gatlinburg from the Tampa Bay Area before the Space Needle ever existed in Gatlinburg.
I visited the park with my family. It was almost empty on a Saturday morning. We got to ride everything. I still display the pic we took on the skylift today.
This was great to see. I don't know what my fave to see whether the Go Cart area, the bumper cart pond or the chair lifts. I think the pond. And actually that building of where the boxes are stored and the house that was burned down. I had a similar exercise bike back in the 80s/90s. lol Thank you for taking the time out of your vacation to research and explore this place.
Gatlinburg, PA ..... lol nice video. I was just up there last week and rode the chair lift up to the new suspension bridge. Will check this place out next time.
Thanks JP, Nice Look at the Old Fun Mountain Site. Also I Loved the Disappearing Act in the Tunnel at the 19:20 Mark of the Video.....Glad you did Not Attempt to Enter that Building that had Power Running to it, with the Horse and Fallen Bear outside. The Parking Lot Lady may have Arrested you for B/E....Bearing and Entering. Lol. Take Care and Be Safe.
Very informative video! So sad places close like that, I’m sure a lot of families had a lot of fun there! Another park bites the dust! Thanks for the video! Happy New Year!
We've visited G'Burg since Oct. 1979, usually at least twice a year and sometimes more. I remember this place very well, especially how expensive it was for the short time it was in business. I used to rent a moped and ride everywhere that had blacktop, every road and street in the whole area.. Many moped rides up to Ober Gatlinburg and back to town. This brings back a flood of memories...There used to be a short train ride in that area also (way expensive)...
Great video, thanks! My hubby & I went to this park & rode the chairlift there in Summer 1999 when we were dating... I have some pictures of us on the chairlift & near the parking lot! :) I remember it being busy & lots of people riding the chairlift... Sad it’s all abandoned now. We still visit Gatlinburg several times a year..
@@annieoneill4437 Sorry, just seeing this comment.. I only remember going in a little ice cream shop that was there then and riding the chairlift.. I can't really remember much about the buildings. The chairlift was a scenic ride though I remember.. Sad its closed now..
Hi Jason .. wow an amazing video its such a shame how these properties get in years to come .. and i love how you research them first .. i think the original photos do make you feel sad as now its a car park .. Here in my home town they make the land into a car park then after a certain length of time they start to build on the land and you call those blocks cinder blocks but we call them breeze blocks .. thank you for sharing with us all and i love your t shirt wink wink .. just to let you know i'm feeling so much better now. I think it is your videos helping me to heal .. it will be a long time before my cellulitis heals totally but you are helping me to feel better .. thank you dear Jason .. oh and sod the parking attendant shes probably only on minimum wage any way lol .. bless her xx
I enjoy your research of place, and the the way you explain what we are looking at. I have not been on lately, I have been ill. It looks like you and your family had a great vacation. I hope your Christmas was great too.
I went here many times in middle and high school but never had any pictures of videos since it was obviously before the time of cell phones. Glad to see some images from before when the rides were removed.
Nice job; good history lesson and great background music. Nice of you to give shoutouts to the Carpetbagger and Adam the Woo too. I think Adam explored that Teddy Bear Golf a few years ago. You got a new subscriber here!
I used to go here ALL the time as a local. I spent most of my time here, the old magic world (now a golf course), ogles water park. Most my time was here and Pigeon Forge as my Great Grandpa helped build multiple places such as the Sugarland Visitor Center and some in The Village.
What did the chairlift path look like before trees grew in it
When did they start building fun mountain
Does anyone remember mountain ocean in pigeon forge?
Man ,I've been there when I was little with my grandparents. I'm 42 now and I still can't hardly recognize it.what a throwback. Thanks
When you were at fun mountain back then what do you remember
Great piece of nostalgia, I worked there from 1993-1995...Memories...
I know it's sad but I love seeing mother nature take things back. Always great to see "before" pictures!
Before the park closed it was not over grown and you could see a clear path of of the chairlift up the mountain I got this from a picture on google
Great video - thank you for showing us places we cannot visit ourselves. You have a very respectful and thoughtful way of exploring these unique places.
Thanks so much
The electric motor was the main motor that drove the ride. The diesel motor was the back up motor, in case of power outage or maintenance work. The motor was connected to the gear box, which turned the main spindle, that worked the ride. major amount of torque to drive the spindle to move all of the chairs and cable up and down the mountain. Thank you for sharing.
came here to say just this, it wasn't diesel though, it was an old gasser Wisconsin and the lever near the belt was to engage the belt system from the output shaft so the electric motor wasn't turned the gas one when it was shut down. Like a clutch you might say.
I love seeing the side by side before and after pics. Finding the old ones can indeed be a challenge. Grateful to you for the effort in the research.
Loved the before and after photos ....it really is sad to see it abandoned . ..looked like a really fun place at one time. You did a great job documenting it ..loved the music you chose . Another fun explore ..thank you .
Thanks so much barb
It was fun when it was open
May check those out. Thanks for sharing!
My grandparents took me there every year for about the entire time it was open. Now I live up here and miss it dearly. Thank you for sharing
Years after the park closed did you ever go back to see what was left
@@annieoneill4437 I sure did. I live near it and I get very sad anytime I look that way because it's gone 😭😓😥🥺
Abandon Malls or theme parks are always the best and saddest to watch. So much fun was had in both types of places and its so sad to see it just sit there, alone and not used.
Agreed melissa
If you like abandoned malls, check out Dan Bell (if you haven't already). His are really good!
I visit Gatlinburg at least twice a year and really enjoyed learning about what used to be there. I see that lift every time but never knew the back story. Thanks for the before and afters and all the info you researched.
Thanks for watching
Hey JP .. North Ga dad here... ( born in ‘74) ... I rarely comment on anyone’s videos but wanted to tell you that when I view any videos produced by yourself of old/existing places of nostalgia ...
YOU BRING IT 💪. What I respect is the extra time that you spend , INCLUDING all info you can gather w/ before & after pics when avail and always followed by great commentary.. Nice , bro. Very Nice.
Thank you very much
That was interesting, been to Gatlinburg a lot and never knew that was there.
I was thinking the same thing! I just went to Gatlinburg the week after Christmas and never noticed it!!
I was thinking the same thing! Ive been to Gatlinburg MANY MANY times & never knew of this place. Never heard anyone ever mention it. ODD!
Same thing I said I been there 4 times never seen this
Dont feel bad ive lived in knoxville my whole life and never heard of this place.
same
Great video man. Really appreciate how your video is nice and steady. A lot of people who film abandoned locations film so fast that it is almost unwatchable without throwing up. I also like how you take time and explain history and back up with photos. And one last thing, I really like how when you don’t really k ow what something is, you don’t just make up something. If I see one more kid in an abandoned building call a record a “giant CD” I’ll loose it. Thanks
Haha, thanks man
I LOVE the before and after photo's in the same spot!
👍💙
I went to this park several times between 1995 and 1998, it was small but it had your basic fair rides, it stayed busy in the early years but just could not compete with the larger parks like dollywood, had good memories there with my mom and dad, I still have my dad , but my mom passed away the same year they shut down in 2000, I was around 16 to 17 years old when I went , I'm now 38, I can't believe it has been that long ago! ❤
Thanks for sharing
Great video. I like the before and after photos, that’s really cool to see what it’s become.
I am 37 and was born and raised and still live in Gatlinburg. I remember when this place was built I was in 6th grade . It was never really busy at all I had a couple friends that worked there . I rode the chair lift a bunch of times it just went up the hill and had another platform and you just got off on one side and got back on as the chair went around the turn . The only thing that was even worth going there was down on the lower main building down where the parking nazi booth is at . There was a lazer tag that was pretty cool my friend worked at I would go and play all I wanted for free . It was honestly a total waste of money and never really did much buisness. When it was built was when pigeon forge was taking off and most people went there to do stuff like bungee jump and ride go carts there since the ones at fun mountian were terrible .
Thanks for sharing!
Phillip Mccarter rennet ultrazone? It’s big daddy’s pizza now . I loved that place
I wish they never razed down those buildings. the first time i went to fun mountain was 2014 i was 7 or 8 yrs old it was abandoned.
@@JPVideos81 JP if you want to see video footage of the chairlift in operation type in on RUclips Gatlinburg TN 1999 and watch the hole video through it is only about 5 seconds long but that's the only footage on RUclips I could find
When did they start buidling fun mountain what year
I enjoyed this video. Thank you, JP for all you do to be able to provide us with your videos!!! I've been to Gatlinburg but didn't know that was there. Stay safe!!!
Enjoyed learning the history of this place. Such a shame to see the loss. Chairs just hanging so eerie. View had to be amazing when in operation. Great video & montage Jay. Most excercise equipment I ever had was abandoned. LOL :)
Haha
I live here and the worst thing they did was tear down the historic Mountain View Hotel.
Becky Moot my family was at the Mountain View hotel twice a year in the 50’s and 60’s. It was a wonderful escape and I still remember the lunches they would pack for you when you went exploring the Park!! Sad!
I so agree! When I heard they razed the hotel I almost cried.
i love the history before and after photos.really gives you the big picture along with the current info. ty jp for your content.
My pleasure
Thank you for the before and after photos!! Gives one a better perspective!
Ty carolyn
Great video as usual, thanks for taking us with you on your exploring.
Appreciate the video and comments from people who had visited the park when it was opened
its always sad to see these videos of closed & abandoned amusement parks. more so the ones that were from the 1800's to present day, the 2000's. just think of all the laughter and smiles these places brought to peoples lives, let alone memories of being a kid going to one and now it's an empty lot or some housing project that sits on the site. its not depressing it's just sad. Thanks for the share Jay, maybe someone went here when they were a kid and brought back some good memories.
Thanks Bobby
Loved those cars in the before pictures... This place is interesting I knew about it, but I didn't know they auctioned the rides off. You did an awesome job telling us the history.
Thanks for checking it out. Wish the rides were still there.
Enjoy your videos, have to rely on adventure videos due to me being in a wheelchair. Limited on accessible the area is. Thanks for sharing!
You're welcome
JP: Nice video & production. I “think” I know where the rides came from to this park. In 1990 we moved to North Myrtle Beach, SC. There was a Carnival like park sitting in a lot, on the southbound side of Business 17. This wasn’t the former Sun Fun Park On Main Street that most remember. This was across all four lanes of highway, but near Main st. The park had: Eli Wheel, Chance Yo Yo, Bumper Boats, a simple carousel, some kiddie rides and an old fashioned Himalaya ride! That fall/winter they were taking rides down so I stopped in and asked what was going on. A worked told me they were relocating the park to Gatlinburg Tenn. I’m almost positive these were the same rides.
Oh wow. Thanks for sharing
Wow! this is awesome! I didn't know this existed! Really cool explore! Love the old photos!
Ahhh I remember going to this as a kid. It was on its last leg during those times, I still have photos of us there. Great video!
Ty
what was in that building with the green roof before fun mountain closed were people now park cars.
do you know who the original and only owner of fun mountain.
I have lived in East Tennessee most of my life and been to Gatlinburg countless times. For some reason I have no recollection of this theme park, which might explain it's demise, if someone like me never knew about it. Thanks for sharing this with us.
I'm trying to remember it also I've lived in East Tennessee most of my life born here and raised here remember going through pigeon forge Gatlinburg in the late 50s I always went to the top of the mountain then down to Cherokee. The good ole days
Such an incredible find man, thanks for taking us along.
I really enjoyed the before and after photos as well.
Excellent work on this one. Your editing has gotten phenomenal over the last year and a half or so.
I really enjoy watching your videos
Honestly my editing is the same as its always been. I stick to my comfort zone and only do what im capable of doing. Otherwise its a pretty cut and dry video showing the remains.
@@JPVideos81 I thought it was pretty cool what do before and after photos and the spots of Music, really gave depth to the video. Made it more of an experience rather than just watching a video
I’ve lived in East Tennessee all my life, just about 30 mins from gatlinburg, and I can’t remember ever hearing about this place. Very interesting to see this!!
Its almost hidden in plain site.
Very interesting to see the vast contrast between then and now, such a shame. keep up the good work JP, greetings from the UK.
Thanks
Awesome video!!! I love seeing & seeking abandoned places to explore (safely!), document through photos & research!!
It’s possible the house where the chimney is was destroyed in the Gatlinburg fires...I couldn’t quite hear everything you were saying during that particular shot of the video.
JP you do a exceptional job making your videos it is always greatly appreciated thank you. 🙂👍🌷⛄
Thank you so much
Yes! I did go to this when i was a little kid. I remember, i went once or twice, i think. From what i remember. It was really expensive then you would just get bored being there after a little while. I was born in 92. Thanks for uploading.
Sounds like Anakeesta... we just went this past week and i was not impressed. Stood in line for like 2hours to get on the gondola. Rode up on their janky lift which seemed much more unstable than the Skybridge lift. Bunch of little shops selling water for $4 and the same reclaimed barnwood junk availiable everywhere else. Every path was packed asshole to elbow so you couldn't even take your time to enjoy anything. There was like a rope/wood castle for the kids which took like 2 minutes to complete. The ziplines weren't being used. The 'treetop rope bridge' sucked, on top of like 9000 people trying to do it at the same time and rushing, It's on the developed side of the mountain so all you see is nasty Gatlinburg strip. Over half the trees were standing dead from the fire, and the floor was littered with brush and logs. The one good thing was the view from the tower. That was probably the best view from anywhere in the area and we went to several locations all around gatlinburg, the park, and pigeon forge. But that took all of 5 minutes. Really didn't feel like it was worth the price of admission, and seriously not worth the hours long wait. We saw everything it had to offer in 10minutes and I was ready to go 5 minutes later.
@@maxdecphoenix true that! If you got little kids and on a slow day I would give it an 8 otherwise me and the wife give it a 5 and we just trying to be nice about it.
I Really Enjoyed your Video. I have been to Gatlinburg Many times over the years but did not know this was there. Thanks for your great tour and for sharing it with us.
Thanks for watching
@@JPVideos81 Thank You my Friend. It was a True Pleasure. Keep up the Great work... God bless & Godspeed...
JP, really enjoyed your awesome video! I love videos like these and they're really interesting.
I have been going to the smokey mnts every fall , I had never known about all these time capsules. Thank you.
Now you do 😉
I really enjoyed this video. We've been going to Gatlinburg for many years and I didn't even know this park existed. The next time we're there, I'm going to check it out (without the parking lot nazi, hopefully). I am looking at some of your other videos. It looks like I'll be "binge watching" you. Thanks for sharing this with us! :)
Lol
I was in Gatlinburg the same time you were there videoing. I remember this amusement park, never went though. Trying to park off the main drag was difficult though we often walked through a parking lot. There was another amusement park in Pigeon Forge that has long gone by the wayside and torn down. I don't remember the name of it but it was on the right coming out of Sevierville maybe close to where the Grand use to be.
Great video as always Jay!! Appreciate the time you put into research. 😀💞
Thanks kendra
I have been here many times. The hotel that used to stand there was so impressive! Then, it sat empty for so long to be followed with being empty and finally they cleared the land to put in Fun Mountain. The property tax in Gatlinburg is unbelievably cheap. It is so cheap that the owners can actually let these properties sit vacant for years and then when they finally do rent them, it probably takes only a month or two to make up any property taxes they paid in the past years. I suspect what happened here is the people that rented it couldn't make enough to profit after trying to pay rent, as rent in Gatlinburg is CRAZY expensive. The property tax is so cheap to the owners that them just renting out the land for parking, even the minimal amount this lot gets, would be enough to pay a nice hefty sum annually to the owners and cover their property taxes and overhead with no issues. So, there is no real incentive to renovate it until some request in the millions and millions come in.
What did it look like when they were building fun mountain and when did the construction start.
@@annieoneill4437 I am trying to remember exactly, I want to say in the early 90s. I could wait to take my son who was a toddler at the time. It was fun watching things go up, especially the sky lift. They had a little like hill that said FUN MOUNTAIN in flowers that was beautiful.
@@jamesjamm that hill your talking about it is filled with trees I hope they cut it down soon because I really want to walk on it and see the remains of the old elavator.
I love seeing old abandoned places. Great video JP.
Ty
My wife grew up there ..she said she used to go there all the time when she was younger her family worked there as well... she likes ur video .so insane how quickly that place has grown over ...great video
Thanks for checking it out
Thanks for the video. Great job. I love going to Gatlinburg. Never went to that park. Remember seeing the chair lift.
Great historical research. Thanks for the perspective on the before and after, it really helped tie it all together. I've never been there but still appreciate the history of it. Why don't the new owners sell off the chairs on the lift? People would pay for them.
Great porch swing or garden bench..... recycle with history.... epic. The bear.... how many local businesses would want that in front of their place? Just wish they would recycle whats left and let someone get some joy out of it rather than let it rot. The lift chairs would be great in a local restaurant too..... Just me. Thanks for the hard work and perspective. Great vid.
Good question
Awesome idea about recycling the items left.
Thank god I found this! I live an hour away from here and I recently found this place while having to park up on the hill. I was so intrigued how they left a chairlift to rot and I really began to wonder what everything was! I almost did some research till I saw this video!
Worked there for 2 years and operated every ride. Good memories.
Enjoyed the video!! Really liked the before shots added in!
Just found your Channel. I subscribed! I am loving the 3 videos I found so far am I will keep watching!!
Thanks for watching and subscribing
Hi Jay, I thought it hilarious you dodging the parking lady lol, great research though so top marks for that 😉. With so much competition there in Gatlinburg it would be hard for any company to survive for any great length of time. Cool photo montage 👌🏻. Thank you for sharing, I wish you and your family a happy and safe new year. 🙏🏻🥂😊💞x
😁💙
That parking lot lady probably had you set in her view on being on the watch list 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 love this
😲😁
That lady needs to take a major chill pill
I live about 3 hours from Gatlinburg and have been going there since I was a kid.I'm now 53 and have seen lots of changes over the years.I do remeber Fun Mtn.but never went there.
Like I always do before I go somewhere on vacation, I look to see if there is anything abandoned (or just really neat to photograph) nearby. I found several mentions of Fun Mountain but couldn't really get a location. I did see what looked like an old city park-type location that was abandoned but didn't get over to it. Our second from last day I went on Google Earth to give it a look one more time. I knew there was a figure 8 go-cart track so I started searching and there it was. RIGHT BEHIND OUR HOTEL!! I grabbed my camera and headed out the door. I found the track, old bumper pool, ski lift, tunnel and old maintenance building too. I wish I had known about the putt putt gold course.
Thanks for some history on the location.
I'm pleased I caught you this time. Nice little tour. Found it interesting. Goodnight JP. 💚🌹💖🌹
Thanks Anne. Btw, im hungry and bored haha
@@JPVideos81 Hahahahaha. I'm starving 😆😆😆💖🌹💖
Thank u sooo much for taking time out of your Vacation to Share👍👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤🇺🇸
My pleasure
The picture you have that says Fun Mountain must have been taken near to the end of its run. As it used to be all flowers that were within that outline. Otherwise, this was just like an expensive little fair, there was a ferris wheel, tilt-a-whirl, scrambler, bumper boats, carousel, etc. It was just too expensive for what it was for people to go. The sky lift was fun, but you only went up and turned around...so people would rather ride the one right downtown where you can go up and stop. The buildings housed some games and food. I think Little Caesar's went in near the end to try to help them, but it wasn't enough. The mini-golf part was part of Fun Mountain, you were walking on part of it while you were uptop and that works it's way down to where you saw at the bottom lot. It was nice, running water and kind of like a tree fort to golf through. It was hard to see the hotel leave....then to have this come in and leave so soon (for Gatlinburg). However, other places that were as big or bigger, like Gatlinburg Place only stayed one season...so this technically had a long run for Gatlinburg time. ;-)
Thank you so much
Nice job! I have that on my list of things to film whenever I can get up there next time.
this was awesome, please do more abandoned gatlinburg/ pigeon forge attractions!
More on the way
A friend and I visited Gatlinburg we enjoyed it the sky bridge also the Smokey’s
The one thing I remember about this park is that when it first opened it was expensive. You paid for each ride and it was anywhere from 8.00 to 12.00 each from what I can remember. I think this changed in the later years of the park but I believe their days were numbered by then because people stopped going up there.
Thats way too expensive for carnival rides.
Great job showing us this abandoned site. Sad, yet fascinating! You always manage to uncover really cool things!! Loved seeing the chair lift and how it must have operated, the water boats, and cart track! Thank you JP!
when we went it was if I remember right 28 for my parents 18 for me and 11 for my sister and free for my brother and we seen and did it all in 6 hrs 2 hrs plus of that was stuck in the chair lift while they figured out how to fix it and get us all down and mind u it was hot that day
the pool was it a bring your swimsuit and just take a dip in the pool or it was for riding tubes only.
@@beverlyoneill6287 I believe you may be seeing the pool for the bumper boats. Those were actually pretty fun....
Thank you once again for another touch of history.
🙂
Really awesome video before and after pics too. Alot of beautiful scenery. Parking lady must be bored!!!
I was probably the most excitement she had all day.
I'm an old sensitive-hearted gal and abandoned amusement parks always make me so sad. A place once filled with visitors and smiling children.....now quiet and just a skeleton of its previous self. :( Strangely, though, I enjoy seeing them so the memories can live on.
Hey great video !! Cool explore, neat history about the park ( love history like this ) thank you for taking me along ! Great video as always !! 👍👍
I remember this place as a small child. My brothers were in Boy Scouts and they had an overnight there.
I remember it but never had a chance to go to it. You could see the Ferris wheel from the parkway. The old hotel was beautiful. I’ve been coming to Gatlinburg from the Tampa Bay Area before the Space Needle ever existed in Gatlinburg.
I visited the park with my family. It was almost empty on a Saturday morning. We got to ride everything. I still display the pic we took on the skylift today.
So eerie to see those abandoned chairlift chairs above that service road. Excellent job filming this video.
Thank you
Great video!😎 Love the before and after pics. Thank you...
This was great to see. I don't know what my fave to see whether the Go Cart area, the bumper cart pond or the chair lifts. I think the pond. And actually that building of where the boxes are stored and the house that was burned down. I had a similar exercise bike back in the 80s/90s. lol Thank you for taking the time out of your vacation to research and explore this place.
Abandoned exercise bike lol
Another great video. Thank you JP.
This was a great video, they always are. Enjoyed it a lot. Love the before and after pictures.
Thank you soo much for the documentary. I still think its so sad😭😭😫😫😭😭😭 to see these abandoned parks
My pleasure
I wish I knew about this place when I went to Gatlinburg ten years ago. Very cool video. Thank you for sharing!!!
More reason to go back
@@JPVideos81 I think I will soon. If I see the Parking Lot Lady, I'll tell her you said HI!!!😂😂😂
And tell her to smash that "LIKE BUTTON"!!!
Great abandoned explore! So much overgrowth. Appreciate the comparison photos.👍
That is just too sad I grew up in that area went on the chairlift many times I didn't even know it was closed thank you for sharing
Another great video. I thoroughly enjoy everything you present.
I enjoyed your review of this. We were in Gatlinburg in Feb 2019, didn't know this was here. Thanks for reviewing this. I'm too old to do this myself.
You're welcome
Another excellent video JP ! no more fun on 'Fun Mountain'
Just visited Gatlinburg in May 2021 and did ride up one sky lift to the sky bridge! Road a mountain coaster too! Can’t wait to go back!
Gatlinburg, PA ..... lol nice video. I was just up there last week and rode the chair lift up to the new suspension bridge. Will check this place out next time.
Thanks JP, Nice Look at the Old Fun Mountain Site. Also I Loved the Disappearing Act in the Tunnel at the 19:20 Mark of the Video.....Glad you did Not Attempt to Enter that Building that had Power Running to it, with the Horse and Fallen Bear outside. The Parking Lot Lady may have Arrested you for B/E....Bearing and Entering. Lol. Take Care and Be Safe.
Haha. Thanks
Love the video....nice to see before and after
Loved learning the history behind this place. Sad the rides are gone. But there are some cool things about it. Loved the video.
Thanks jake
I enjoyed how you did the before and after photos. It looks like it was a small amusement park.
Mostly carnival rides
Very informative video! So sad places close like that, I’m sure a lot of families had a lot of fun there! Another park bites the dust! Thanks for the video! Happy New Year!
Great video as always. I remember the Hotel from family visits in the early 70’s.
We've visited G'Burg since Oct. 1979, usually at least twice a year and sometimes more. I remember this place very well, especially how expensive it was for the short time it was in business. I used to rent a moped and ride everywhere that had blacktop, every road and street in the whole area.. Many moped rides up to Ober Gatlinburg and back to town. This brings back a flood of memories...There used to be a short train ride in that area also (way expensive)...
Thanks for checking it out
Very cool video. Made me want to check it out in person, but you did a great job taking us all along with you in case I don’t get the chance.
Stay clear of the parking lady
Great video, thanks! My hubby & I went to this park & rode the chairlift there in Summer 1999 when we were dating... I have some pictures of us on the chairlift & near the parking lot! :) I remember it being busy & lots of people riding the chairlift... Sad it’s all abandoned now. We still visit Gatlinburg several times a year..
Thanks for sharing
What did it look like inside those buildings since I was not born when those building were there so all I get to see is foundations
@@annieoneill4437 Sorry, just seeing this comment.. I only remember going in a little ice cream shop that was there then and riding the chairlift.. I can't really remember much about the buildings. The chairlift was a scenic ride though I remember.. Sad its closed now..
Hi Jason .. wow an amazing video its such a shame how these properties get in years to come .. and i love how you research them first .. i think the original photos do make you feel sad as now its a car park .. Here in my home town they make the land into a car park then after a certain length of time they start to build on the land and you call those blocks cinder blocks but we call them breeze blocks .. thank you for sharing with us all and i love your t shirt wink wink .. just to let you know i'm feeling so much better now. I think it is your videos helping me to heal .. it will be a long time before my cellulitis heals totally but you are helping me to feel better .. thank you dear Jason .. oh and sod the parking attendant shes probably only on minimum wage any way lol .. bless her xx
So glad to hear the good news. Keep on watching and ill keep putting out content. I like the shirt too,lol.
I enjoy your research of place, and the the way you explain what we are looking at. I have not been on lately, I have been ill. It looks like you and your family had a great vacation. I hope your Christmas was great too.
Feel better darlene
Nice before & after shots..ty
I went here many times in middle and high school but never had any pictures of videos since it was obviously before the time of cell phones. Glad to see some images from before when the rides were removed.
Thanks for checking out the video
Wow, jay the bumper boat pond was amazing. I can't believe how it's just being taking over by nature. Which I think is wonderful thing. Very cool jay.
Still easily recognizable, but little by little its being reclaimed by nature.
Nice job; good history lesson and great background music. Nice of you to give shoutouts to the Carpetbagger and Adam the Woo too. I think Adam explored that Teddy Bear Golf a few years ago. You got a new subscriber here!
Thanks for stopping by