Mysterious Mansion

Just a half-mile (less than a kilometer) from classic Gatlinburg attractions such as Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies—but on the quieter River Road—the Mysterious Mansion has been dishing out scares since 1980. Antique furniture and a semi-abandoned feel set the stage for self-guided tours, where you wander the “haunted” house for as long as you can handle. Beyond cobwebbed corners, hidden passageways, and Victorian eeriness, expect actors doing their best to scare you—it’s not recommended for very young children.

• The average visitor completes their tour in roughly 15–20 minutes.

• Don’t worry—the actors aren’t allowed to touch you (and you aren’t permitted to touch them).

• With three floors and no elevator, the mansion is not accessible for travelers using wheelchairs.

The Mysterious Mansion is set right in the heart of Gatlinburg’s kitschy action, so you can easily walk there from Ripley’s Aquarium. Otherwise, If you’re traveling east down Highway 441, simply turn left on River Road after the Gatlinburg Space Needle. If you don’t have a car and it’s too far on foot, taxis and rideshares abound.

Check the mansion’s website before visiting for open hours. The schedule varies greatly by season: Summer has the mansion open seven days a week until late at night; winter typically means just weekends; and the shoulder seasons are somewhere in between. Reservations are not necessary—simply arrive when you’re ready to be spooked.

There are a few bits to remember when it comes to touring the mansion: Stick with your group (only 6 or fewer are allowed entrance at one time); don’t run—the building is old, creaky, and dark; don’t take photos or videos, as requested by staff; if you don’t spook easily, bring a friend who does. That’s the most fun.

If you’re a fan of haunted houses, you’ll want to visit Gatlinburg’s Mystery Mansion—a 3-story Victorian mansion with spooky and scary surprises around every corner. The mansion features secret passageways, long staircases, and extra-creepy live actors that are sure to scare you when you visit.

From New Year’s Eve until spring break, the Mysterious Mansion is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12pm until 9am. Then, from spring break through fall, the mansion is open most days but it’s best to check ahead before your visit. There are also special Halloween and Christmas presentations.

It should only take 15-20 minutes to go through the Mysterious Mansion as the experience is self-guided, so you can move through it at your own pace. You’ll start by walking into a creepy parlor area, and from there, the terrifying fun begins.

The Mysterious Mansion in Gatlinburg isn’t recommended for young children. The staff who work there think it’s too spooky for young ones, and even some adults have a hard time making it through the mansion. Although it’s up to the parent, it’s not recommended to bring children under ten.

Although there isn’t any onsite parking available at the Mysterious Mansion in Gatlinburg, there is parking nearby. The mansion is right off the Gatlinburg Parkway on River Road and next to the Edgewater Hotel. There’s free street parking along parts of River Road, including in front of the hotel.

Unfortunately, no, Gatlinburg’s Mysterious Mansion isn’t wheelchair-accessible. The mansion is built on many levels with no elevators and a large staircase. Because it’s a haunted house experience, there’s dim lighting throughout that makes it difficult for visitors of limited mobility to navigate.