Gatlinburg Falls Resort, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

No matter what the season it is always a good time to visit a cabin in the mountains. I’ve visited Gatlinburg in all four seasons and there are a plethora of activities available any time of year. Of course, having a relaxing place to stay, like one of the cabins at Gatlinburg Falls Resort, makes the entire vacation better. Secluded enough to afford privacy, but only two minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, it’s no wonder Gatlinburg Falls Resort was rated the #1 Best Family Resort in the Smokies by Southern Living Magazine.  Opened in 2003,  Gatlinburg Falls Resort lives up to its promise that “this is not your grandfather’s cabin,” but instead provides a luxury vacation for the entire family.

We were provided a complimentary stay by Gatlinburg Falls Resort. However, all opinions are our own.
We were provided a complimentary stay by Gatlinburg Falls Resort. All opinions are our own.

About Gatlinburg Falls Resort

Gatlinburg Falls Resort has several cabins managed and operated by Venture Resorts.   As the largest cabin rental company in the Smokey Mountains, they and their sister sites, Cabins of The Smokey Mountains and Cabins of Pigeon Forge,  manage over 500 cabins in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville area.  The resorts offer cabins with options from one to nine bedrooms and room to sleep up to 38 people.

The Crown Jewel Cabin
The Crown Jewel Cabin

Located on Parkway Vista, the resort is an easy drive from downtown Gatlinburg, and depending on traffic, is a fifteen-minute drive to Pigeon Forge or The Smokey Mountains. During the warmer months, the resort offers a seasonal outdoor swimming pool. A conference center, fitness center, and playground are available year round.
Fitness Center

About The Crown Jewel 5 Bedroom Cabin

This was the first time in years almost all of the family was able to vacation together in December. The cabin was designed to sleep eighteen, so the eight of us-six adults and two toddlers-had plenty of room. Divided into three floors, this spacious cabin included three bedrooms and bathrooms on the upper floor, a huge living room, complete with electric fireplace, kitchen, master bedroom and bath on the main floor, and a large game room, home theater, bedroom and bathroom on the lower level. Decks were included on each floor with sitting areas for relaxation. The main deck included a hot tub. The lower deck featured a path that led to an attached gazebo.

This was only part of the spacious game room.
This was only part of the spacious game room.

We were impressed with the number of amenities included with the cabin. We planned to celebrate two birthdays and decided we would bake a cake for the occasion. We brought our own cake pans, but other than that the kitchen offered everything we needed; from measuring spoons to mixing bowls, to a mixer, and spatulas for applying the frosting.  Because we have some food allergies and special diets in the family, we had to cook all of our own meals. We found the kitchen was stocked with all the basic supplies we needed to prepare our meals, along with plenty of dishes, bowls, cups, and glasses.  Note: You do have to provide your own food, but a grocery store is located approximately a mile away.  The cabin even included extra supplies of dishwashing liquid, dish detergent and garbage bags, something I thought I would have to purchase myself.

The living room provided ample seating and comfy furniture.
The living room provided ample seating and comfy furniture.

One of the kids’ favorite rooms was the game room. The room was large, but cozy, with a pool table, air hockey table, pinball machine, golf game, and a video game machine with classics like Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Frogger. French doors led onto the deck and provided a panoramic view of the mountains.  One of my favorite features was how the cabin furnishings were designed to be toddler and child-friendly.  Have you ever stayed at a location where you spent time moving things out of the child’s reach and then trying to remember where they were placed before you left?  All the furniture was sturdy and child-friendly.  There were no breakable knick-knacks lying around. The only things we moved out of reach were tv remotes.  Tip:  This cabin does have lots of stairs leading to each floor, along with approximately ten stairs to reach the entrance to the cabin. There are no child gates for the stairs.
Bedroom Gatlinburg Falls Resort
One of the five bedrooms in the Crown Jewel. All bedrooms included a bathroom.

Another feature we enjoyed was thermostats located on all three levels. While it was cold during our stay, we have varying levels of comfort. Some of us wanted it to be warmer, while others did not like the heat. This feature allowed everyone to coexist on our own comfort level.  And, if you have toddlers or kids who have accidents, there’s a washer and dryer available too. Note: You will have to bring your own laundry detergent.

Our cabin had a private gazebo.
Our cabin had a private gazebo.

The first night we did have problems connecting to the wifi. We talked with the front desk and they contacted maintenance. While we did have to wait a couple of hours, when our maintenance person arrived he was very professional. He fixed the wifi, asked if we needed anything else repaired, and told us to call the office if we had any other issues during our stay.

Amenities Offered in All Cabins :

  • An outdoor hot tub
  • Indoor jetted bath
  • Vertical Spa Shower
  • Pool Table
  • Video Games
  • A Game Table with either air hockey, table tennis or foosball
  • Free wifi
  • Premium Cable including local channel 7 and HBO
  • Wide Screen TV
  • A Dvd/VCR
  • A large kitchen
  • A fireplace
Movie Night in the Home Theater
Movie Night in the Home Theater

While we explored downtown Gatlinburg and the surrounding area, most of the time no one wanted to leave the cabin! It’s rare when we have a vacation where everyone comes to me separately and tells me they are having so much fun they don’t want to leave, but that happened during our stay at Gatlinburg Falls.
dining area

Want to plan a vacation with Gatlinburg Falls Resort? Be sure to check out their Year Round Special. If you stay five nights in any cabin, you will receive the sixth night Free. Romantic Packages, Wedding Packages, and Family Vacation Packages are also available. You can also check out their sister site Cabins of Pigeon Forge.

Have you visited Gatlinburg or stayed at Gatlinburg Falls Resort?

31 Comments

  1. I used to live in Chattanooga, Tennessee several years ago. I never made it to Gatlinburg, but that area was so pretty!

  2. Gatlinburg sounds like a fun vacation spot! I have been through there several times and would love to stop and stay soon!

  3. Wow. This is the perfect place to stay to de-stress. I have always loved the rustic charm of log cabins! I want to own one myself, but I would settle for renting one out for a month or two. Seriously, I have to book a stay in one of those cabins if I get the chance to visit Gatlinburg TN.

  4. This seems like a lot of fun! We rented a cabin two summers ago for a family vacation and having your own little place with a kitchen is so nice! I live in Wisconsin and Tennessee is not too far of a drive, but has so many amazing cities and nature places to visit. It is the perfect long weekend trip for us.

  5. It would be nice to rent a cabin just like this, it has everything! We have never been to Tennessee yet, hopefully we can visit someday.

  6. Now that is an awesome place to check out! Maybe I will plan a trip to Tennessee this year!

  7. Tennessee has such pretty landscapes. I would love to stay in Gatling.

  8. I miss Tennessee. I go there anytime I can!

  9. Gatlinburg Falls Resort seems so cozy! Tennessee is high on my travel bucket list. I almost made it to Nashville last year but something came up. Hoping to visiting soon.

  10. Looks like my kind of vacation. So many great amenities and things for all ages.

  11. I love the movie area, that is way cool. We did something like this with 16 family members for Christmas a few years back. Now I need to plan another trip for us. I need to see how far Gatlnburg is from us.

  12. What a great place! That cabin looks awesome! I’ve never been to Gatlinburg, but it sounds like a great place to take a family road trip. Added to my list!

  13. I think it’s a great place for families to spend time together especially during the Holidays! It’s really nice that it has everything you need!

  14. The Gatlinburg Falls Resort is the perfect place for a family getaway. I love all the amenities they provide each cabin. This is going to be a dream vacation for me and my family.

  15. We have talked about taking a family trip with the entire extended family to Gatlinburg, so it’s nice to see that there are cabins that could accommodate our whole brood. Staying in the heart of the beautiful scenery instead of a hotel is exactly how I want to experience our next trip to the area.

  16. natalielovesbeauty

    Wow this place is amazing! How neat that there are so many amenities included with the cabin!

  17. What a neat place! That cabin looks pretty cool, with lots of great amenities. I’ve never been to Gatlinburg, but it sounds like a nice place to take a family road trip.

  18. Oh my goodness what a beautiful looking place to stay, there is something about wooden lodges that makes me feel all warm and cosy and one with nature.

  19. This looks like such a wonderful place to get away from it all for the weekend. I love the home theatre, and that it’s right in the cabin! What a perfect way to enjoy a movie night.

  20. There’s something about staying in a cabin in the woods, away from the busyness of city life. Great therapy. Gatlinburg would be a great place to visit!

  21. I love staying in cabins. Being away from life in a city, surrounded by nature really appeals to me. Gatlinburg would be an awesome experience!

  22. I’ve only been to Gatlinburg once, and I was a kid. I totally want to go during the winter one year! This place looks like it was a great place to stay.

  23. We’ve been to Gatlinburg a few times and it really is one of my favorite places ever. Those amenities would keep us in the cabin for sure. I will have to check out Gatlinburg Falls Resort next time we visit.

  24. We’ve been having Thanksgiving in the Smokies for years, now, and I am pretty sure we stayed there at one point. We love the feel of the woods surrounding a cozy cabin.

  25. That seems like a great place to visit and those cabins are equipped with everything. It is great to be in the mountains but you might never want to leave the cabin

  26. This is such a gorgeous resort. I wouldn’t mind staying here. I’d be happy with that hot tub, that’s for sure.

  27. Gatlinburg looks amazing in the Fall. Would love to go back and visit during the fall. Was there in the summer.

  28. I always enjoy staying at a different cabin whenever I’m visiting Gatlinburg. The game room is always a favorite with my family as well. Such a great place to relax and unwind!

  29. Gatlinburg is HIGH up on my bucket list of places to visit. I totally want to stay here when I do make it down there!!

  30. Something about staying in a cabin surrounded by tall trees with a stream running close by that makes all the stress go away. Anytime of year would work for us.