Big Meadow Family Campground — Hotel in Pigeon Forge

This place is great. I don't know how else to describe it but this is the 2nd time that we have stayed there (both times in the spring) and we have not had one issue. The place is very clean, the spots are very nice, and the grounds are well maintained. The staff are really nice people and everyone we talked to in the park really liked the place. The one negative that I have is that it is too expensive for this part of town. If there was more to do in Townsend, then yes I can agree with it or I even agree with it during summer time but in off season Nov - May 1st, its just too much. I would stay more if there was an off season rate but with our unpredictable weather, its easier and cheaper to stay in Pigeon Forge that way you will have things to do if the weather is bad.

Big Meadow is way less than any other place in Townsend (between KOA and Tremont) so its hard to complain about the price when you take the others in to account. One place up the road is not 70.00 per night for full hookup, 50 amp service. I understand its right at the National Park but still, its too expensive in my mind.

I'm not sure what happened with the negative reviews but we have never had an issue.

Yes, they have a cancellation policy that is right there on the website and they tell you about it over the phone. Why would you write a bad review when you agreed to these terms anyway?

The gates are only open during certain hours and your told that prior to check in. You can even see the big sign on the gate that tells you the operating hours. Why complain about something that is for your safety.

Yes, the guy rides around on the golf cart and keeps an "eye" on his place. Just like most businesses have security cameras, this is their business, it's their life, I agree totally with this. Just like many other campgrounds, the hosts make rounds and checks on the property. I have stayed at other places where people will steal your firewood, chairs, basically anything that is not bolted down. I have no issues with this. I didn't go camping to hear some drunken party 20 campsites away.

I met the owners, they even stayed late so I could check in after hours. They were super nice and very accommodating. I wished more places and people were like this.

PROS: Great location (as far level ground and easy access), clean and well maintained campground, very nice staff, nice big sites, good water pressure, dog park.

CONS: Expensive for the area, NO Good Sam discount. No pool. not much to do in the area when its off season. You have to RENT a firepit (shouldn't that be standard?).

Overall it is still the best place in town for the price. I have stayed there once before and will stay there again. Would stay more if they offered good sam and off...

We stayed here for 6 nights and had a wonderfully relaxing stay. The owners and staff are genuine with their desire to ensure each guest is pleased with their experience and we were always greeted with a smile and helpful information/advice with every interaction. Our site was a pull-through, flat concrete slab with a picnic table, 2 sewer hook-ups (for those of you with more than one black tank on your rig), water and the power pedestal was 15/30/50. All of these hookups were in good working order and looked very well maintained. If you want a fire pit you can 'rent' one, they will bring it to your site, and you get your money back when you return it. I really liked this concept. The campground is right next to a river and there is a special area across the road, on the river side, that is just for campers. It has a couple of benches and walkways down to the river. You can sit on the benches or walk down to the river and sit on the large rocks and watch the people tubing down the river or just relax and soak in the nice atmosphere. There is a splash pad and playground for the kids and for your furry 4-legged kids there is a fenced in dog park at the back of the campground where you can let your dog run free and have a good time too. There is onsite propane tank fill service at a very reasonable price. The clean and well appointed laundry room has 4 washers and 4 gas dryers and a nice large table to fold your clothes on. The office has a 3 sided covered porch with plenty of small tables, chairs and benches to sit and relax. Next to the office is a space you can use for gatherings and it is also used for Sunday morning services should you wish to attend. The bathhouse has two showers, two stalls and plenty of counter space at the sinks for both the men's and women's, along with electrical outlets for hair dryers, etc. and are kept very clean. Inside the office there is your typical general basic goods and souvenirs for sale. And bonus! Nikki, the unofficial (?) camp mascot, can oftentimes be found laying on the check in counter or on the benches outside and really loves it if you take a few minutes to give her some loving. She's just as friendly as the owners and the entire staff. :-) While we spent more than we generally like to spend at a campground we feel it was money well spent and will happily stay here again should we ever find ourselves back in the Smokey...

One star for now and maybe more once we get there. We made reservations here last JULY for this year. 2 spots. Our spot and our in-laws on the next spot over. We understood the 3 night minimum. We were due to arrive today. My wife is in the Air Force Reserves and she was on her 2 week annual training and was supposed to be back and we could leave to start our vacation. Her flights were delayed and ultimately cancelled so it pushed our start back one day. Out of courtesy I called the campground to notify them that we were still coming and TO NOT give out spot away and think we were not coming. I explained the problem and that we would probably not be making it tonight, but most likely in the morning, NOTE I SAID MORNING, but that the other half of our party would be in their spot. I did this on a machine because they didn't answer the phone. They called back and kind of rudely reminded me of the 3 day minimum, which I stated in my message I understood, I just didn't want our spot gone because we meet family there for the holiday, and out of courtesy I wanted them to know what was going on. They said they wouldn't give the spot away, it would be waiting on us. So fast-forward to my wife calling her sister on one of the delays and finds out that someone is in our spot. Her sister questions the office about it, the NOON check out time, and our EARLY arrival. They snottily told her the people wanted to stay another night and since we weren't going to be there, they could. When pressed about our arrival and their check-out, they once again snottily said "they'll be gone by then.."

It will be interesting tomorrow when we get there. After my wife having been on an airplane, or in airports for 2 days, to get back from Hawaii and we show up and find someone in our spot, or it not be ready, AFTER they were snotty about the 3 day minimum, AND saying they would not give our spot away, I might be hard to deal with. My question to the office will be, "Do we get our 1 night refund or did you let them stay for free?" We will see, but recent reviews have this place coming off like a nickle and dimer.

We go to Gatlinburg at least twice a year as that is the half-way point between our house and my wife' sisters house so we meet there for family visits. We may be crossing this one of the return list, her sister...