Trip Advisor Review: A Truly Special Place

This is a wonderful place to stay in Gatlinburg. It is up on a hill above the town, away from all the bustle and schlock associated with Gatlinburg. You have a choice between rooms in the historic inn itself or one of seven cottages. We stayed in cottage #5, which was lovely. A bedroom with a very comfortable king bed, a nice living room with gas fireplace and cable tv with dvd player, a small kitchen with a microwave, small fridge and cooktop (and some basic dishes) and a large bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. Nice bathroom amenities, and comfy bathrobes provided. You have both a private screened porch and a small balcony off the bedroom with gorgeous views of the mountains. I would guess the rooms are nice too, but we really enjoyed having the extra space to spread out. There is a living room in the inn (for use of guests) with couches and tables, coffee and soft drinks, afternoon snacks and access to games and puzzles. There is quite a bit of property associated with the inn with a walking trail, a pond with swans, several gardens, and a games area with badminton, horsehoes etc. (We stayed in January with one warm day to enjoy the outdoors and nothing in bloom. I imagine it is spectacular when there are flowers or autumn leaves.) The inn operates as a bed & breakfast, so you get an excellent hearty breakfast in the morning. There is a choice of a couple of substantive breakfasts or lighter fare if you prefer; you also get biscuits and coffee cake and excellent coffee. They also serve dinner by reservation. You can purchase dinner separately or as part of a package deal (we did a winter special with two nights lodging, two breakfasts and two dinners for a very reasonable price). The dinner is a fixed menu each night with soup, salad, excellent bread, an entree and dessert. Non-alcoholic beverages (including a delicious spiced iced tea) are also included in the price. You can purchase wine by the glass or bottle (a limited list) or bring your own. The food is very good and the service is excellent. The dining room is comfortable with a big fireplace, windows with views of the mountains and a laid-back atmosphere (although most people did dress up a bit for dinner). Overall everyone who worked at the inn was very gracious and helpful–providing lettuce leaves to feed the swans, extra towels, coffee to go for one couple who were hitting the road early, etc. They put a suggested tip on your final bill which is 10% of your total amount (I guess distributed among the servers, housekeepers, etc.) which is well deserved. I would highly the Buckhorn Inn as a place to stay (or even just make a reservation and go have dinner.)