A new Jellystone Park is set to open in Loudon County, adding to the growing list of Yogi Bear-themed campgrounds across North America. The Watts Bar Lake Jellystone Park, located at 10250 Corporate Park Drive, will span 73 acres and feature 208 RV sites and 55 cabins, with several designed for ADA accessibility.
Guests will be able to enjoy a wide range of activities, including gem mining, swimming, fishing, pickleball, and basketball, alongside water slides, and gaga ball pits. Additional amenities include bathhouses, laundry facilities, a fitness center, a cafe with homemade ice cream, and rental spaces for private events.
Jellystone Park locations, themed around the beloved Yogi Bear character, have been a family destination since the first park opened in 1969 in Wisconsin. Today, there are around 75 locations across North America, with this latest one in Loudon County aiming to attract families from nearby areas like Pigeon Forge, Nashville, and Memphis.
According to an article published by News-Herald, Johanna Mason, general manager, and Rachael Stine, assistant general manager, are overseeing the development of the park. Both bring years of experience in the camping industry, with Mason having previously worked at the Williamsport Maryland Jellystone for five years and Stine with nearly two decades of industry experience. They expressed excitement about building the park from the ground up and look forward to contributing to family memories.
“If you’re at a park long enough, you’re going to see these families come back. And you’re going to see the kids grow up. It’s just really fun to be part of somebody’s, you know, little bit of time that they have with their families, hopefully getting the kids off their screens and outside playing,” Stine explained.
In addition to enhancing Loudon County’s tourism appeal, local businesses are also expected to benefit from the influx of visitors. Blair Patterson Sitzlar, director of tourism and marketing for the Loudon County Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the economic impact that the new park will bring to the community.
The park is expected to offer day passes daily, with prices ranging from $15 to $25, depending on age and day of the week. The new Jellystone Park is slated for a soft opening in the fall, with reservations already generating significant interest.