Ripley’s Guinness Book of World Records in Gatlinburg, TN

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Disclosure: I was provided with tickets for this review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

A few weeks ago I shared my Gatlinburg experience with you.  After we visited the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, we walked a couple of blocks over to the Guinness Book of World Records museum.  Although it had been pouring rain all day, it was only sprinkling a bit by the time we ventured out.  It was a nice stroll to the museum.  We walked through the back alley to get to the entrance. If you are passing through on the main street, you’ll notice the giant rubberband ball in front of the museum.

Savings in Seconds goes to the Ripley's Guinness Book of World Records Museum. savingsinseconds.com

The museum is owned by Ripley’s attractions, so we were definitely expecting a high-quality experience.  As soon as we walked in, my kids were fascinated by the world’s tallest man statue sitting in the entrance.  Since neither of them is even five feet tall yet, they couldn’t believe that he was so tall!!

Savings in Seconds goes to the Ripley's Guinness Book of World Records Museum. savingsinseconds.com The first few exhibits in the museum were somewhat outdated.  While the records may still be held, it seemed that the museum hadn’t been updated in a while.  Thankfully this wasn’t true for the rest of the museum.  This was a bit of a difficult attraction for my son, who doesn’t yet read.  He was quite dependent upon his sister to read the information to him.  I’d like to see some speakers with short dialogue installed so that children (and perhaps the vision impaired) can fully enjoy this museum.  So many of the world records that were displayed were really interesting and surprising!

Savings in Seconds goes to the Ripley's Guinness Book of World Records Museum. savingsinseconds.com

 

As we ventured into the innermost exhibits, we found that there were several interactive stations.  That was fun for the kids and for the adults, too!  My kids enjoyed the “stretchiest man” simulation.  In this activity, you can take a picture of your face and virtually stretch it.  So entertaining!!   We also tried to beat the record for fastest typing (it was over 160 words per minute!)   My kids loved the simulation pictured below.  Several computerized boards were placed on a platform and my daughter had to hit them.  The computer calculated how many boards were “broken” and displayed it on the screen.  My daughter was so excited that she broke 7 boards!

Savings in Seconds goes to the Ripley's Guinness Book of World Records Museum. savingsinseconds.com We also headed into a space-shuttle type chamber that had such cool information about space travel.  Again, this information is hard to appreciate if you can’t read, so my son just breezed right by it.  The rest of us tried to get him back to the area so he could enjoy it a little more.

Savings in Seconds goes to the Ripley's Guinness Book of World Records Museum. savingsinseconds.com

 

There were perhaps five other hallways and specialty rooms that we walked through in this area.   One really cool artifact that I saw was Elvis Presley’s boat.  Apparently, it was obtained by the museum after Presley’s death.  It is aptly named “Hound dog.”  More celebrity paraphernalia was in this section as well.  We saw tributes to Michael Jackson, Madonna, and more.

Savings in Seconds goes to the Ripley's Guinness Book of World Records Museum. savingsinseconds.com Our favorite part of the museum was the record break center.  This was the brightest room of all. In this area, museum visitors have the chance to break a world record. There is even a judge present to officially preside over the event.   Several activities were available to try.  In this center, individuals could attempt to build a lego tower with one hand kept behind their back.

Savings in Seconds goes to the Ripley's Guinness Book of World Records Museum. savingsinseconds.com After visitors practiced their skills, they could attempt to break the official record in front of the judge and everyone else.  While we were there, one couple did try to break two different records.  While they were not successful, it was quite exciting to watch.  The husband was attempting to string pasta on a necklace and his wife attempted the block tower record.  The judges and staff did a great job of making the procedure fun and official.  We loved watching this event!   On the wall, we could see the results of others who have broken records at the museum in the past.  When you visit, be sure to leave enough time at the end of your trip to spend several minutes in this area.  My children didn’t want to leave.  We had so much fun trying the activities ourselves.

Savings in Seconds goes to the Ripley's Guinness Book of World Records Museum. savingsinseconds.com

 

The Guinness World Record museum was unlike any other museum I’ve visited.  I’d love to see more interactive features built in throughout the exhibits.  Since my kids are very interested in “the world’s biggest….” or “the world’s longest….” stats, this was a fun place to visit.

If you were going to break a world record, what would it be?   

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Comments

  1. Katrina A. says

    What a fun place for the whole family! I never knew they had those kinds of museums. If I was to break a record I’d want it to be something silly like spitting a watermelon seed the farthest! lol

  2. Sherry Compton says

    I bet they had some really cool facts and exhibits! Too bad about it not being updated but still a fun and wonderful family experience. I like that they have hands on and ways to get the kids involved in learning.

  3. natalie parvis says

    This would be so much fun!! Great photos.

  4. natalie parvis says

    This would be so much fun!! Great photos.

  5. amanda whitley says

    i cant think of any records i am interested in beating nor would i be able to. i love ripleys museum. i went to one in new york and san antonio texas

  6. Mackenzie says

    how fun!!!

  7. Melissa S says

    Sounds like you had a great time. I would love to go see the museum. I have always been fascinated with Guinness World records and what would posses people to go for some of them.

  8. My nephew would love visiting here. He’d try for the tower record.

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