SPRING CITY, Tenn., Feb. 24—Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort on Watts Bar Lake welcomed its first guests Feb. 7, bringing a 74-acre, character-driven campground within roughly 45 minutes of Knoxville and marking the franchise’s lone Tennessee location, a company announcement states.
Families can book luxury glamping cabins that come stocked with full kitchens, private bathrooms, linens, climate control, Wi-Fi and flat-panel TVs, or choose spacious Recreational Vehicle (RV) sites featuring full hook-ups, the release notes.
Two resort-style pools and a multilevel splashground with slides and water cannons are on track for a Memorial Day weekend debut, according to the opening statement.
Meanwhile, management is introducing a mobile reservation engine and other digital conveniences. Parks adopting contactless check-in, mobile apps that pinpoint Yogi Bear sightings in real time, and dynamic pricing tools that adjust RV rates to demand often trim front-desk lines and raise midweek spending—an increasingly important edge as labor costs climb.
Beyond the water, guests will find a jumping pillow, basketball, pickleball and gaga ball courts, plus an outdoor movie theater expected later this year, the park’s debut notice says.
Pets are welcome throughout the property.
Daily appearances by Yogi Bear, Boo Boo and Cindy Bear anchor the entertainment lineup, which features Christmas in July, a Chocolate Bliss Bash and six Halloween-themed weekends.
A larger grand-opening celebration is slated for May, with details still forthcoming, the same statement adds.
The resort is owned by Great Escapes RV Resorts and operates under Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Experiences, joining more than 75 franchised Jellystone locations across North America, the company said.
Developers say features such as permeable walkways, dark-sky compliant lighting and EV-ready circuits can help protect Watts Bar Lake and curb energy use.
Operators planning waterfront projects can incorporate rain gardens to filter runoff, shift to electric cart fleets, and pursue eco-certifications such as Green Key, which may help lower insurance premiums and appeal to sustainability-minded campers.
By coupling a recognizable theme with automation and conservation, the new park showcases a resort model other owners can replicate to extend length of stay, smooth seasonal demand curves and meet rising guest expectations for convenience and stewardship.
For reservations or information, the resort can be reached at 865-284-9644, via email at [email protected], or online at wattsbarlakejellystonepark.com, the notice states.