Bearskin Lodge on the River — Hotel in Gatlinburg

This post is long, but we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Bearskin Lodge, and I want to make sure I highlight things that may be important to other travelers. Hang in and bear with me! We spent spent 4 nights at Bearskin Lodge (Gatlinburg) in May 2023. We were warmly welcomed at the front desk upon arrival, and throughout our stay we were greeted with smiles and kind words by every staff member we encountered. The lobby was small, but it had a lot to offer -- a cozy fireplace, a little gift shop area, a mini "store" stocked with necessities (including swim diapers for toddlers), complimentary lemonade and cookies in the afternoon, and a table set up with everything needed to make a quick (and complimentary) cup of coffee or tea. Our room was spacious, clean, and comfortable, and I feel like we got a lot of bang for our buck. It had a balcony with a river view, and there was also a gas fireplace in one corner. Although the weather was too warm to need the fireplace, we appreciated the coziness it added to the room. We wouldn't normally be able to afford a room with a balcony and fireplace, but we got a great deal by booking online directly with the hotel. The room had all the basics of a standard hotel room. It also included a mini fridge with enough freezer space for a few cold packs (in case you are traveling with a cooler like we did), a microwave, a coffee maker, and an iron and ironing board. There was no overhead lighting, but there were plenty of lamps around the room. The decor was simple and charmingly rustic, which matched the theme of the hotel. It also had a hardwood floor...unexpected for a hotel room, but we liked it much better than hotel carpeting. The bed had plenty of pillows and it was so comfortable that I slept better than I do in my bed at home. Wish I had that mattress! My daughter especially loved the large, walk-in shower and the large amount of counter space at the sink. The housekeeping staff kept our room neat and stocked with fresh bath towels daily, even when we got a late start a couple of mornings and they couldn't get into the room right away. The hotel provides a complimentary grab-and-go breakfast, which was perfect for our needs. They had pre-packaged breakfast sandwiches that we loved -- convenient and tasty! They also had hard-boiled eggs, several kinds of cereal, yogurt (I think), and a variety of breads and pastries. They had milk, juice, coffee, and everything you would need to make a cup of tea. The staff kept everything well-stocked, and although the dining area was small, there was a decent amount of table space and it was clean and comfortable. If you're looking for a semi-quick bite to eat before exploring the area, you will be satisfied. The hotel has a small exercise room (allowing only 2 people at a time), a guest laundry, and a small outdoor pool. We didn't use any of these things, but we did take a look at the exercise room and pool. Both looked fine for a quick dip or a light workout. There is also a fire pit in front of the pool, and there are rocking chairs at the entrance of the hotel. Most of the parking spaces (free for hotel guests) are outside, but they did have some spaces in a small parking garage on the property. Finally, the hotel is conveniently located in a quiet area. There is a Cici's Pizza restaurant directly across the street, and it's a short and easy walk to the parkway where many of Gatlinburg's shops, restaurants, and attractions are located. We loved our stay and would definitely stay...

Very cozy hotel! My new husband and I stayed for 4 nights here for our honeymoon in September. This was our first trip to the Smokies, and this hotel in our opinion is the best place to stay if you want to be close to the downtown shopping area. It's within walking distance of all the shops, as are a few other hotels, but this one seemed to be the cleanest. We had a King room with a stream view; the balcony is small, but there are 2 chairs and a small table to sit at and watch the water. There is a hotel right across the way on the other side of the stream, but didn't seem to have anyone staying there. The sound of the stream was very relaxing. The room had a Jacuzzi in it as well; we really liked it, though it looked a little worn...one of the jets were clogged. The bed had white sheets and a white blanket under the comforter which I liked; it appeared to be very clean. The bathroom shower had marks in the tub from wear and tear, but also appeared very clean. When you walk into the hotel, it all smells freshly cleaned. The décor is very fitting, it all looks rustic/woodsy. The continental breakfast is the usual waffles/donuts/bagels/fruit/muffins...also good since it was free. Check-in time is 3, but we were able to check in earlier. Check-out is 12 which is very nice, gives you plenty of time to pack and leave. They have a heated pool and small "lazy river" which was clean. The best time to get in is probably in the evening (unless you have kids) because they light 2 small bonfires by the pool that you can sit around (very romantic). They do allow alcohol around the pool, though. There were also some rocking chairs around the front door which my husband and I liked to sit at after a long afternoon of walking and shopping. We ultimately give the hotel a 4.5 out of 5 because of the service. The cleaning staff did an excellent job keeping the room clean, but the front desk and most of the other employees all seem very unhappy. They don't greet you, but rather just stare at you until you greet them. We found most of the locals to be this way. They all seem very miserable in their jobs. I don't know if most tourist towns are like this? Other than that, if we come back to Gatlinburg, would definitely...

My husband and I came down for a very quick stay on a Friday and Saturday. I booked online on the drive down and I called and asked if we got there earlier than check in if we would be able to park and walk around on the strip until check in time. The guy said that it was fine and to come in first to see if a room was already available. We got there and there was a room available, the girl at the desk had no personality, didn't act like she knew very much and didn't want to be there. I sort of regret not waiting. The room was huge & beautiful and the last room at the end of the building so we had a window in the bathroom and a balcony off the bedroom. But they put us in the end that is right next to the road that runs back up into the mountain, it was quite noisy and can be heard at night. This also affected hearing the stream. We both felt that if we had waited and gotten a room in the middle or on the other end this would've improved those areas. It was really hot when we were there and took advantage of the pool and lazy river. The lazy river was the temperature of bath water and the pool was maybe 10 degrees less, not exactly refreshing on a hot day. The bed was really noisy, but I liked the memory foam my husband was not as impressed but not uncomfortable either. We both agreed though that some nicer pillows would make an improvement as the ones on the bed were flimsy. Our room had a two person jacuzzi that we both fit into comfortably, but there were foamy looking bubbles that came out of the jets when we turned them on, like they don't blow out the soapy water sitting in the lines as part of their cleaning. The arm chair and ottoman was very comfortable. The same fridge in the room wasn't on at all. Breakfast was good for the most part (bacon was lacking). Overall not a bad place by any means, but after staying there I would definitely make sure to not get a room on the end by the road to greatly improve the stay. If they could adjust a few of those other small things it would make a vast...