The Ripken Experience

The Challenge

The Ripken Experience features dramatic views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the City of Pigeon Forge. However, the ridgetop site was a challenge from a design perspective. Site grading required as much as 103-foot cuts and 54-foot fills, with a total of 1.8 million cubic yards of excavation, 600,000 cubic yards of which was rock. Stormwater management included the use of an underground detention facility.

The Solution

From the early stages of the project, Barge Design Solutions focused on how to use natural topography to the park's advantage, creating an experience that visitors would enjoy. Working closely with Ripken Baseball, Barge decreased the initial cost estimates by 33% to meet the project's budget, while maintaining the integrity of the design and vision for the park.

The Result

The Barge team's successful development of the Ripken Experience park demonstrates their ability to overcome complex site challenges, create visually appealing and functional designs, and deliver projects within budget constraints. Their commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the site and providing a high-quality visitor experience is evident in the success of this project.