Timber Top Cabins: A Rustic Retreat in the Smoky Mountains
Timber Tops is one of the premier luxury cabin rental companies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Gatlinburg is an ideal destination for a rustic cabin rental due to the fantastic location amidst the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Another benefit of renting a cabin in the area is being able to easily visit many of The Smokie’s best attractions including: SkyBridge, Ober Gatlinburg, hikes, scenic drives, quirky museums, and your choice amongst dozens of live musical shows.
With a Gatlinburg cabin rental, you will be able to enjoy a nice combination of relaxation and entertainment. You can go out and visit the area’s popular tourist attractions and still come home to a secluded, rustic cabin. Whether you are seeking a relaxing weekend away from the city, a rustic holiday skiing retreat, or a fun filled vacation of shows, dining, and shopping, you can have it all on your Gatlinburg vacation.
Benefits of a winter stay in Gatlinburg
A December visit is perfect because you still get that wintry feeling, although there is not enough snow to make driving miserable. You are able to enjoy yourself without being too cold. There are tons of events to partake in and special seasonal shows to enjoy. Christmas decorated cabins, holiday lights lining Main Street, and a Santa themed half marathon are just a few of the special treats you will enjoy during the holiday season.
Luxury with a view!
Timber Tops offers a variety of luxury cabins, both in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Cabins range in size from 1 to 15 bedrooms. Many offer gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains, while others offer spectacular views of the city. If you luck out like we did, you may get both!
Top notch amenities
Cabin amenities vary and include luxuries such as: hot tubs, arcades, pool tables, jacuzzi tubs, indoor pools, home theater systems, and holiday decorations. In addition, several of the properties are pet friendly. When making reservations, you will be able to customize your rental according to your preferences.
When booking a cabin you will be able to choose a secluded, semi-secluded or resort setting property. I highly recommend choosing one of the secluded properties for the most rustic, relaxing escape. We chose Life’s a Bear, which is semi-secluded, however, we did not notice many other cabins near us and the views from the deck were outstanding.
I also recommend choosing a cabin with a spectacular view, which includes only those cabins with unobstructed views of the Smokies. Why rent a cabin in the Smokies if you aren’t going to take in the full beauty of the area? We were very pleased with the stunning views from Life’s a Bear.
Below I have provided a virtual tour of our Life’s a Bear Cabin Rental.
Life’s a Bear – 1 Bedroom, 2 Bath – Gatlinburg, TN
The outside of Life’s a Bear cabin features beautiful woodwork and design. A private path leads you up to the parking lot. The cabin rental is a bit tricky to get to at first. The roads are very steep and I imagine even more difficult to drive through during the later winter months. I wouldn’t visit during the winter months without four wheel drive and snow tires. Luckily the weather was unseasonably warm and we got used to the mountain roads after a few times out.
Next to the front patio, you will find an outdoor fire-pit. Unfortunately, it was pretty rainy our entire trip so we did not get a chance to test it out. This amenity would be a real treat during the cooler, drier spring and fall months.
Upon walking in, my first impression was that the cabin was very clean and organized. The grand views of the mountains, high ceilings, and loft style layout made the cabin feel much bigger than a 1 bedroom.
Walking in I was awed by the gorgeous views of the mountains. There are plenty of large windows looking out unto the gorgeous forests. We kept the blinds open our entire stay to enjoy the views. Life’s a Bear is one of the many holiday decorated cabins available during the season. We were happy to find a Christmas tree and a few holiday decorations scattered around.
Although we were pleased with the holiday decor, we were expecting a bit more (i.e. I would have put a big wreath on the fireplace and more garland around the staircases and railings).
Holiday seasonal decor
I love this festive Black Bear decoration
The kitchen was a bit smaller than I expected, but adequate for a rental. And, the fact that they kept the log cabin design consistent, even in the kitchen, was a big plus. Everything you need to cook is included: pots and pans, plates, silverware, a coffeepot, blender, oven, microwave, a full size fridge, and more. The dishwasher was an added bonus that I wasn’t expecting. Plenty of mugs, glasses, and wine glasses are provided for your convenience. The rustic design and black bear decorations add a festive mountain flair to the room.
The dining room features a full size table, which is perfect for families. It is connected to the living room which conveniently allows you to watch TV, play games, etc. while dining.
The living room includes a gas fireplace, recliner and large sofa. A large flat screen TV, Direct TV, and a DVD/Blu-Ray player are also included. The floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace was absolutely gorgeous and perfect for cozy, cool mornings and evenings. The log cabin design, vaulted ceilings, grand fireplace, and holiday decor gave the room a festive, “cabin in the wilderness” feeling.
A view of the living room looking down from the loft
The master bedroom includes a jacuzzi bath and washer and dryer. The festive red sheets and curtains added a bit of spark for the holidays. You will also find a small flat screen TV. My only complaint is no closet space. We had to leave all our clothes in our suitcase as there are no dressers and only a handful of hangers in the closet. Not a good idea for guests staying for more than a few days.
Upstairs you will find another bathroom and another bed. You will also find a full size pool table, electronic dart board and 4 in 1 arcade game, along with more great mountain views. I haven’t played Pac-Man in years! We had a great time playing pool and darts, especially when surrounded by such fantastic views.
I love the Black Bear design in the upstairs bathroom
There are 2 decks, one that can be accessed upstairs and another downstairs. Both decks feature the same fabulous views of the city and mountains. The downstairs balcony features a few wooden rocking chairs for relaxing and enjoying the views. The upstairs deck features a large, modern hot tub. We both enjoyed a relaxing soak while taking in the city views of Pigeon Forge each night. Nothing beats looking up at the stars at night from a cozy hot tub!
The wooden rocking chairs would be great for enjoying a coffee or tea during the summer months – look at that view!
Both the daytime and nighttime views from the hot tub were nothing short of amazing.
Night views of Pigeon Forge
Below, I have organized a handy list of pros and cons of the cabin
Pros of Timber Tops cabins
*beautifully designed cabin with gorgeous views
*starter toiletries and cleaning supplies included (soap, toilet paper, paper towels, dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent)
*great discounts on local attractions included with your stay
*secluded, but still located within driving distance to town
*very clean, no bugs
*outdoor hot tub with fantastic views
*Direct TV with most channels included
*charming rustic touches found throughout the property
*affordable rates
The check in process went smooth (we were even able to check in an hour early). We drove to the check in office in Pigeon Forge, although you can make arrangements to check in over the phone. Staff was friendly and available 24 hours a day by phone.
Cons of Timber Tops cabins
*slow maintenance
*no dressers in the bedroom
*limited hangers
*only 1 pack of laundry detergent included
*limited holiday decorations
*kitchen located right off the main door (fridge was located right next to the door)
We had one problem during our visit (the Blu-Ray player was broken). We were a bit disappointed as all amenities should have been tested prior to our arrival. The maintenance was a bit slow and did not bring a new one over until the next evening. However, I talked to the management and they were nice enough to apologize and credit us for the inconvenience.
Free attraction tickets with every stay
At check in you will receive various 2 for 1 deals to various local attractions. We received free tickets to the Country Tonight holiday music show, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, and Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium. You can use one pass on each day of your visit. This is a nice bonus that I have not seen offered at any other cabins.
The best place to stay in the Smokies
Overall our visit to the Smoky Mountains and our experience with Timber Tops was fantastic. I will definitely book another vacation with Timber Tops in the near future. The cabins are located just 20 minutes or so from all the restaurants, shows, and shops in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Cabin rentals are available year round. Please visit the Timber Tops website to view the many different options available.
Timber Tops Address, Reservations & Pricing Info
Note: A 2 night minimum stay is required. (3 nights for July and October visits, New Years, Easter, Labor Day, and Memorial Day. 4 nights is required for Thanksgiving and Christmas).
Nightly rates start at $250 per night.
Check in office is located at: 1440 Upper Middle Creek Road, Sevierville, TN 37876. You will receive terms and conditions, check out procedures, and address for your cabin after making your reservation.
Reserve your Life’s a Bear cabin
Recommended Winter Attractions in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
*Ober Gatlinburg Tram Ride – The scenic 2 mile journey up the mountain is the perfect activity for non- skiers.
*Ice skating at Ober Gatlinburg – This large, festive indoor rink is the perfect addition to your winter getaway. Skating is fun and it burns lots of calories too!
*Winter Magic Trolley Ride of Lights – A festive ride around the city at night to take in all the beautiful lights of Gatlinburg is sure to get you into the holiday spirit. Check out this map for a self guided tour.
*Santa Hustle half-marathon. December is a great time to run a race. The weather is cool, but not too cold, which is ideal for running. The Santa Hustle Half Marathon series is a festive, flat course, which is ideal for first timers. I figured a December race would be ideal for checking out the cabin and other area winter attractions. Therefore, a long awaited trip to the Smoky Mountains was in order! I only had 6 weeks to train, however, having previously run several other marathons, combined with the anticipation of finally checking out Timber Tops helped me stay motivated. If you have always wanted to run and marathon but didn’t know where to start, the Santa Hustle series is a festive introduction!
*Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood – Wintertime is the perfect time to visit Dollywood. During this time, the park comes alive with over 4 million lights and special live shows.
*The Christmas Place, located in Pigeon Forge, is the South’s largest Christmas store. Here you will find more ornaments and seasonal decor than you could ever imagine!
*Pigeon Forge is known for its’ many live shows, including seasonal specials. Check out the schedule at Smoky Mountain Opry, Dixie Stampede, Country Tonite to name a few. The Titanic Museum is definitely worth a visit!
