Because It's There

The longest pedestrian suspension bridge in USA. 7/11/23 dwm

While we were planning our trip to Gatlinburg, the Skybridge caught my eye.

 

It crosses from Crockett Mountain to the another, 680 feet away, longer than two football fields.

 

Less than a year after getting to the top of Copper Peak, I wanted to repeat the experience, knowing the feeling of accomplishment would last longer than a case of nerves.

The SkyLift, which takes people to the top, was built in 1954 with one-seat chairs.  Two-seat chairs replaced them in the 1970s. then upgraded to a larger version twenty years later.

The lift starts on main street.

 Wildfires destroyed the SkyLift and a wide swath of the forest in 2016.  New three-seat chair lifts replaced the damaged lift six months after the fires and in 2019, the bridge opened.

 

 I walked down the Parkway to the ticket booth.  After mulling over whether I really wanted to get on this ride, I paid the $36.95, got my ticket and walked to the carousel where the chair unloads passengers before circling around to take people to the top.

 

 This was my second chair lift experience.  The first one in the Upper Peninsula was more dramatic but the ride up Mount Crockett was more interesting.  From the loading point we dipped to pass over the Cliff Branch river before climbing.

 The only part of the ride I didn't like was the occasional stop to load or unload passengers who needed help loading or unloading.  At the

 top after getting off the lift is a chalet with gift shop, concessions, drinks, and incredible vistas.

 

The Gatlinburg Skybridge. All photos 7/11/23 by dwm

It was cool looking at the mountain range but the jaw-dropping view was the bridge.

The numbers complete the picture:

• 680-foot from land to land
• 140-feet above the deepest point
• 1.25 inch thick glass panels for 30-feet of the bridge over the deepest point
• 200,000 lb capacity for the bridge, more than 40 elephants or 20 passenger buses
• 21-foot height difference between the ends and deepest part of the bridge deck.

 

Looking through the glass panels to the ground 140' below.

 I crossed the bridge three times. 

 

 When you step on the bridge it feels alive.  Each step moves the bridge a little but it felt more pronounced at the ends of the bridge.

 That's also where you climb up to solid ground or step down from the bridge deck.

 It's wide enough for people to cross in either direction.  A number of people posed for group selfies on the bridge.

 Some people spent time staring through the glass panels, more glanced down then walked briskly across. 

I'm glad I took pictures through the panels walking both ways or I would have missed the photo of the bridge's shadow through one of those panels.  It may be one of the most dramatic pictures I've taken.

Looking northeast over Gatlinburg to the mountains.

The first time across I kept one hand on the top cable at all times, by the third I was looking around, peering into the city and over Gatlinburg to the Great Smoky Mountains.

From the ground below, the bridge looked tiny and mysterious.  From that height, I saw Rocky Top (yes, one of the peaks in the Smokys) Tennessee.

The area surrounding the bridge and SkyLift was scalped by wildfire in 2016 that also ruined the ski lift.  

Trees are recovering nicely. Behind the bridge, where the gorge drops from the mountaintop into the deep, a 70-foot tower commemorates the last fire-surviving tulip tree with suspension bridges connecting it to a path.

 

These bridges moved more than the Skybridge.

 The area is beautiful.  A path arches around the Tulip Tower near the trees.  Stop to look or sit on one of several benches to take in the spectacular view of a bridge in front of a mountain background and bustling tourist town.

 I spent 30 - 45 minutes around the bridge; taking pictures and taking it all in.  After seeing and doing everything, it was time for the trip back to the valley with everyone else.

 It was worth the price of admission and gave me memories that will last a lifetime.  

 

Why did I do it?  Because it's there.

 

All photos taken July 11, 2023 by David Mossner

Heading down the mountain to Gatlinburg.

The view from our hotel room.

Looking at the bridge from the top level of the Tulip Tower.

At the back of the gorge looking over Gatlinburg toward the Smokies.

Approaching Cliff Branch River and River Road.

Almost finished.  The Gatlinburg Needle stands tall over the city in the valley.