GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — State regulators traveled to Gatlinburg on Friday to assist in an investigation into the death of a woman at the Anakeesta attraction.
The Chief Elevator Inspector from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Elevator Unit is taking a closer look at the Chondola Chair Lift after a female passenger died Thursday, according to Chris Cannon with the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“While on-site, the Chief Elevator Inspector will conduct a mechanical inspection of the aerial lift and review multiple aspects of the lift’s operations,” Cannon said.
Because the aerial lift is considered a conveyance device, it is under the jurisdiction of the state’s Elevator Unit. Aerial lifts are inspected by the state every six months.
In reports obtained by WATE 6 On Your Side, the latest Anakeesta aerial lift inspection shows everything was found in working order. See the last four inspection reports.
- The lift was last inspected on April 21, 2022.
- Operating permit expires on Aug. 4, 2022, and a new permit is already approved.
The scrutiny comes after the body of an as-yet unidentified female passenger was found Thursday on the ground underneath the aerial lift.
Cannon said it could take up to eight weeks for the Unit to complete its investigation of the chair lift. The agency does not release preliminary information during the investigative process.
Once the investigation is closed, the report will be open for review by citizens of the state of Tennessee.
Anakeesta is a popular attraction located in Gatlinburg on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
