Bear Raids Aptly Named Theme Park Concession Stand
Visiting the concession stand is an essential part of any amusement park experience. But guests at Anakeesta Adventure Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee recently got much more than just popcorn and hot dogs when a black bear decided to help itself to the food.
Harrowing video shows what happened after the bear got inside the stand, aptly named the "Bear Can." It then attacked an employee as she tried to get inside.
"The bear was then exiting through that employee entrance, at which point it encountered a worker entering the concession stand, startling both the employee and animal," officials said, per WVLT. "At that point, the bear and employee made brief physical contact."
A black bear snuck into a concession stand at Anakeesta Adventure Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, startling employees. pic.twitter.com/HerJoHUaI2
— ABC News (@ABC) June 24, 2024
Even scarier, visitors were not allowed to leave the park while it was still on the loose, as the whole place was put on lockdown. One guest told TMZ the exit gates were locked and patrons were held for half an hour before being allowed to leave.
Related: Black Bear Infiltrates Walt Disney World, Triggers Shutdown
As for what happened to the bear, a representative for Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency told WVLT that it hasn't been caught yet, but it will be euthanized if they track it down. City officials, meanwhile, believe that the bear likely got to Anakeesta in the first place as a result of humans feeding it.
Anakeesta isn't your average amusement park and is, by its design, more immersed in nature than the environments of places like Disneyland and Universal Studios. There are a variety of activities available for the whole family to enjoy, from ziplining and gem mining to a treetop obstacle course. You can still get the traditional rollercoaster experience if that's what you want, though you'll be flying through trees and down mountainsides rather than a sterile concrete area.
"Bears are a big part of the magic in the Great Smoky Mountains," park communications manager Austin Martin told WVLT. "The Anakeesta team works diligently to create a safe space to co-exist with the native wildlife."