I’m Kayla, and I spent three nights at Arrowhead Log Cabin Resort in Pigeon Forge with my husband and our two kids. We went in October, when the leaves were all flame and gold. I booked a two-bedroom cabin with a hot tub and a small game loft. It felt like a good fit on paper. And you know what? Most of it worked great. Some things didn’t. Let me explain.
If you're still in the planning phase, give Log Cabin Resort & RV Park a quick look for side-by-side cabin comparisons and updated rates in the Smokies.
Getting There Felt Easy, Mostly
The cabin sat on a hill, about 10 minutes from the Parkway. GPS found it fine. The driveway? Steep. I could do it in our SUV, but I held my breath on the first try. If it rains or snows, I’d want four-wheel drive. We checked in with a door code by text. It came right at 4:02 PM. So not early, but on time. I like clear rules, so I didn’t mind.
First Steps Inside
The place smelled like fresh pine. Knotty wood walls. Big windows. A gas fireplace with a timer switch. The kids ran to the loft and called dibs on the pool table. I checked the kitchen. It had the basics: pans, baking sheet, drip coffee maker, toaster, and salt-and-pepper packets. Two dishwasher pods. One trash bag roll. Bring more if you cook a lot. We did spaghetti the first night. Worked fine.
We had a small mountain view through the trees. Not a grand, open view, but pretty during sunset. Crickets sang. Later, fireflies. I forgot how much I love that buzz at dusk.
The Stuff We Loved
- The hot tub on the back deck felt clean and hot. Privacy screen helped. Stars were bright.
- The king bed downstairs ran firm and didn’t sag. I slept well.
- The loft had a pool table and a little arcade game. The kids kept score like it was the world finals.
- HVAC held steady. 70 felt like 70. No weird smells.
- Drive time to fun stuff was short. We hit Dollywood in about 15 minutes and grabbed cinnamon bread for breakfast on the deck. Sticky fingers, zero regrets. (Read more about Dollywood’s world-famous cinnamon bread here.)
Real-Life Moments That Stood Out
On night two, the hot tub temp got stuck at 90. Not cold, not hot enough. I called the office, and they sent a tech. He reset the breaker and checked the chemicals. It took about 45 minutes. He wore boot covers and kept it tidy. That mattered to me.
Another little thing: the ceiling fan had dust on the top blades. I noticed when I looked up from the couch. Sheets and towels were very clean, though. The bathroom baseboards were clean too. So, mixed bag, but overall tidy.
The Stuff That Bugged Me
- The driveway again. I keep saying it, I know. But it’s steep, and there’s tight space for turning. One car is easy. Two cars will dance.
- Wi-Fi was fine for Netflix, until a storm rolled in. Then it lagged and kicked us off twice. We downloaded a movie on a phone as backup.
- The loft bed squeaked when my son rolled over. Not loud, but you notice at 2 AM.
- The cookware had scratches. It worked, but bring nonstick spray. I wish I had.
- Morning sun blasted through the loft windows. Not full blackout. Pretty, but whoa bright.
Sleep, Sound, and Smells
The resort area felt quiet. We heard owls and a far-off truck now and then. No heavy traffic sounds. No smoke smell inside, which I’m picky about. The gas fireplace clicked a little when heating up. Normal.
Food Runs and Little Errands
We grabbed groceries at Food City on the Parkway. Close and easy. Coffee filters were basket-style. They gave a starter pack, but we drink a lot of coffee, so we needed more. We brought our own spices, oil, and extra paper towels. That saved us late runs.
How It Fit Our Family
For a family of four, it worked well. Lots of hangout space. Stairs to the loft are a bit steep, so watch small kids or knees that act up. Our cabin wasn’t pet-friendly, so our dog stayed with my sister.
Price-wise, we paid a mid-range rate for fall. Then taxes and a cleaning fee. That part always stings a little, but it’s normal here. The place felt like a fair value for what we got: space, a hot tub, and quick rides to Pigeon Forge stuff.
Tips You’ll Actually Use
- Bring coffee filters, cooking oil, and extra trash bags.
- Pack swimsuits, flip-flops for the deck, and bug spray.
- If you love breakfast, grab cinnamon bread from Dollywood the day before—or even try making it at home with this official recipe.
- Download movies or playlists, just in case the Wi-Fi dips.
- If it’s winter or wet, plan for that driveway. Take it slow.
Who Should Book
- Families who want space and a hot tub.
- Couples who want a cozy cabin with a view through trees.
- Folks who plan to hit Dollywood, The Island, and short hikes, not long backcountry stuff.
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My Bottom Line
I’d book Arrowhead Log Cabin Resort again. I liked the pine smell, the deck nights, and the quick drive to our favorite spots. The team handled our hot tub issue fast. The Wi-Fi and the driveway made me grumble, sure. But when the sun dropped and the crickets started, I kind of forgot all that. That’s the truth.
Score from me: 4.3 out of 5. I’d tweak a few things, then I’d go right back.