When you enter the parking lot of the Bearskin Lodge On The River, one is instantly reminded of the Great Lodges of the Old West. The warmth and charm outside created by the goldish-brown siding, dark green roof, stone chimney and the huge stained logs quickly invites you inside to spend a night or two enjoying the wonderful amenities such as an inroom jacuzzi, fireplace and a balcony overlooking the river.
Our room was large and spacious with one queen bed. The textured, cream colored wallpaper was accented with a southwestern design border in hunter green and rust colors. The furniture was rustic and I fell in love with the lampshades as they had outdoor scenes of mountains, trees & bears that were highlighted when turned on. Our room had an indoor jacuzzi and a fireplace in the corner. Since the weather was warm, we were unable to enjoy the fireplace; however we did find a few spare minutes to relax in the jacuzzi 2 out of 3 nights! The french doors opened onto a balcony overlooking the river, which had two chairs and a small table. We opened the doors and listened to the sound of the water rushing over the rocks at night. What a soothing and relaxing sound to fall asleep to!!!
Upon entering into the room, a large vanity area was immediately to the left. This area contained a small refrigerator, 4-cup coffee maker with complimentary condiments, iron and ironing board. A hair dryer WAS NOT furnished. The bathroom was adjacent and had a tub/shower combination with a safety handrail. I used this every time, as the tub seemed to slant towards the center from each side and was slightly slippery!
A continental breakfast was provided from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. each morning on the 3rd floor. The selection was fabulous! You could choose from several varieties of pastries, such as Krispy Kreme donuts and mini honey buns. There were four or five different types of muffins, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit consisting of apples, oranges and bananas; as well as hard-boiled eggs on Easter Sunday! Also available were packages of instant oatmeal & grits, pop tarts, and a variety of cereals. A toaster was provided for toasting bread or bagels and a microwave also was available. Drinks included fresh coffee, milk, orange juice and apple juice.
Bearskin Lodge On The River has a small outdoor lazy river with floating tubes and an outdoor 3-5 foot pool. Both are located in front of the hotel. Parking is provided in front and covered parking is available in back.
We were celebrating a belated anniversary and wanted a special place close to the park so we wouldn''t have to deal with the traffic normally associated with Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. We found a gem in the Bearskin Lodge!
For information on Bearskin Lodge, click here: Bearskin Lodge