Gatlinburg job seekers will have a clear shot at a mountaintop gig this winter when Anakeesta throws open its doors for a five-hour hiring marathon on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The park is staging the job fair at its human resources office at 320 East Parkway in Gatlinburg as it gears up for a $100 million expansion that will significantly boost its operations.
The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is aimed at filling dozens of seasonal and year-round roles, from food-and-beverage and retail positions to frontline park rangers and CDL shuttle drivers. Starting pay ranges from $16 to $22 an hour, and organizers say applicants will be able to complete applications on-site using iPads.
According to WATE, staff at the human resources office will be on hand to help attendees work through applications and any required paperwork during the event. The station reports that Anakeesta has a particular need for employees with commercial driver’s licenses and guest-facing frontline representatives, and an Anakeesta spokesman told the outlet that the hiring push is intended both to support growth and to help create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.
Expansion Means New Roles And Bigger Operations
Anakeesta’s "Making More Magic" campaign is a five-year, roughly $100 million plan that aims to double parts of the park’s footprint and roll out new attractions, including a next-generation glass-bottom lift and an expanded treetop skywalk, according to Anakeesta. In the expansion overview, Anakeesta President Bryce Bentz writes that "Making More Magic is not just about growth, it’s about purpose," framing the project as both a business move and a long-term investment in the experience the park can offer.
The expansion page notes that Phase 1 construction launched in late 2025. The park temporarily closed on Jan. 5 to accommodate the work, with a partial reopening planned for March and the new lift slated to debut in spring 2026. All of that construction activity translates into a need for more staff on the mountain once doors swing back open.
Tourism Keeps Pressure On Local Workforce
The Great Smoky Mountains remain one of the country’s busiest destinations, drawing more than 12 million visitors in 2024 and funneling billions of dollars into nearby communities, according to Friends of the Smokies. Those numbers help explain why attractions across the region keep expanding payrolls as fast as they expand attractions.
That steady stream of visitors keeps demand high for hospitality, retail, and transportation workers in gateway towns such as Gatlinburg, where businesses rely on quick seasonal hiring to keep pace with peak travel months. Anakeesta’s upcoming fair is part of that familiar scramble to staff up before the crowds arrive.
How To Apply
Prospective applicants are encouraged to browse current openings in advance on Anakeesta’s careers page and to bring identification and a resume to help streamline any on-the-spot interviews. The careers section outlines job descriptions, benefits, and notes that many positions include training and opportunities for advancement. For details and to review roles before heading to the fair, visit Anakeesta’s careers page.
Organizers say the Feb. 10 job fair is a key step in staffing up for expanded spring operations and the park’s new attractions, with a mix of part-time and full-time roles that could grow into leadership positions. For anyone looking for seasonal hours or a longer-term role in the Smokies, Anakeesta’s hiring push is shaping up to be one of the biggest local employment chances this spring.
