Choose_Adventure_24
Aug 2021
I don’t usually write reviews, but after our experience with this place I feel like it is important for everyone to understand how this company treats guests and how they don’t care about the safety or experience of the guest.
With all the nearby options in Gatlinburg and towns nearby, this should be your last option. We showed up right as they opened and we were the first to go on the ride. We have been to many mountain coasters all over including others in Gatlinburg and this was the worst experience we have ever had.
If you’ve never been on a mountain coaster before, they are generally the same concept. Get in a coaster, either individually or pairs if it includes a smaller child, you then go up a small roller coaster track up the mountain, and then you go down the mountain using a hand brake system to determine your own speed. It is generally a fun experience where you are in control of your speed to go as fast as you want to.
GMC, just like all other places has general safety rules such as giving the coaster in front of you space by staying back about 80 ft. and no stopping on the track. It makes sense to avoid crashes on the track.
Now to our experience with GMC…Doug (if that’s his real name) is a grown man that works at GMC. Apparently he felt the need to get on a coaster himself and follow an 11 year old girl in our party down the mountain. In front of the 11 year old girl was another coaster with a 6 year old child and adult. Both coasters in our party were going at speeds that they were comfortable with, neither stopping on the track. Again, this isn’t our first time on a coaster so we completely understood the concept and rules (go at a speed you are comfortable with while staying back 80 feet and not stopping on the track).
Apparently Doug wanted the 11 year old to fully disengage the brakes to go full speed. He yelled, harassed, and berated her the entire way down the coaster. Keep in mind, this is a full grown adult male yelling at an 11 year old girl to go faster. Also, we are the first and ONLY group on the track at this time. After being yelled at and harassed, the 11 year old went faster and faster against her own desire because of this GMC employee (Doug was behind her, breaking their own 80 ft rule) and she ended up crashing into the coaster with the adult and 6 year (I guess safety isn’t a priority with Doug and GMC).
Once we got off the track, we attempted to speak to a manager only to be told none was there. Angel, the lady at the desk decided she was not interested in hearing our complaints. Doug remained to be empowered by the fact that he berated an 11 year old girl causing a crash and when confronted by us explaining that he caused a crash between an 11 year old and 6 year old…his only response was “Yup”. After this, it seems like everyone decided it was smoke break time (15 min after opening) and disappeared.
We have disputed the charges and provided our credit card company with GoPro footage of the incident. We are now waiting for a response from GMC. So if you are in the mood to experience this, then go visit Angel, Doug, and the rest of the incompetent staff at GMC. Just understand that they don’t follow there own safety guidelines and will yell at you over an intercom and behind you if you aren’t going as fast as they think you should go.
Again, there are plenty of other options that are cleaner, nicer, better organized, and that understand that the guest experience and safety are a priority. This place is the worst In Gatlinburg area and the worst I have ever been to. Avoid this place.
If anybody from GMC want to respond to this review, please feel free. You certainly had your chance when it happened at didn’t think it mattered.