We rented a cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains for the first time last June.
After researching several different cabins online, we opted to rent through Cosby Creek Cabins in Cosby, Tennessee.
They offered the best view, the most amenities, and the lowest price -- AND they were just a hop, skip & a jump from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
Here are the details of our Gatlinburg cabin rental experience...
Our primary goal was to rent a Jeep Wrangler for the weekend, come and go as we liked, explore the long & winding backroads in and around Gatlinburg, and always have a refreshing jacuzzi and a room-with-a-view to return to.
--- > We stayed at the Sparrow's Nest Cabin in Cosby, TN.
What It's Like To Rent A Cabin
We were THRILLED with our entire experience with Cosby Creek Cabins -- from the phone registration process to the check-out procedure. It's obvious that Alan and Tedra Strickland go above and beyond to make sure your stay is an enjoyable one.
In fact, Alan was extremely helpful over the phone, and we didn't even need to go through the "official check-in" procedure at their office in Cosby. Instead, he just mailed us all of the paperwork days ahead of time (including the pass-code for the cabin door, in lieu of a "key"), and we were free to arrive at our convenience.
What's The Cabin Like?
First impressions are EVERYTHING... and we were certainly amazed the first time we saw the cabin up close! Pictures online just don't do it justice. You need to take in the whole "experience" -- the view, the "quiet", the clean fresh air, the "simplified" lifestyle out in the country.
...At the Sparrow's Nest on this weekend, we were certain that we'd found paradise!
Most memorable:
- full-size refrigerator & freezer
- brand-new hardwood floors throughout
- satellite TV
- telephone
- wood-burning fireplace
- all linens & dishes, etc. provided
- dishwasher, microwave, stove, etc.
- charcoal grill outdoors
- covered porch with rocking chairs & swing
- outdoor hot tub
- a view to die for
- wildlife, including black bears and deer
- extremely clean and well-maintained cabin
- heat & air conditioning
- 1 bedroom & 1 hide-a-bed to sleep 4
- secluded privacy
...all for $110/night. They always run specials at Cosby Creek Cabins too, like "stay 5 nights, get the 6th free", and "children under 18 are free".
Notes About This Cabin
- No pets allowed.
- $15/night "cleaning fee" -- well worth it!
- There's a tiny store a couple miles from the cabin.
- Approximately 15 miles to Gatlinburg.
We HIGHLY recommend renting a cabin through Cosby Creek Cabins, specifically the Sparrow's Next. In fact, we've tried to rent through them two other times, but they've been sold out... so just remember to call for reservations EARLY!
In fact, here's what I wrote in the Guest Book the day we checked out:
--- > More FUN photos with our weekend rentals: a Cabin and a Jeep.
Other Cabins We Considered
- Cuddler's View Cabin through Gatlinburg Cabins (the view; 5 miles to Gatlinburg)
- Southern Nights Cabin through Volunteeer Cabin Rentals (tiny; honeymoon suites)
- The Treehouse through Volunteeer Cabin Rentals (pet friendly)
- Brent-A Duplex Cabin through Nestle Inn (cheap; on a creek)
- Honeysuckle Home through Country Charm Cabin Rentals (screened-in porch with hot tub; pool access)
- Mountain Falls Cabins through Bluff Mountain Realty (special pricing on ATV rentals)
- Kozy Korner through Diamond Mountain Rentals (hot tub on covered deck, pool access)
- Little Log Lodge through Lakefront Cabin Rentals (on the lake; fishing)
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We've stayed at alot of cabins in the area (we come 3 or 4 times a year) & have always had great experiences at the cabins in the area. Aside from that, we want to plug the cutest bookstore/coffee shop that is in the area called "Our Place". It's right on 321 in Cosby (just down the road from the post office towards Gatlinburg). Whenever we stay, we set aside at least an hour to visit & do some unique shopping. They have EVERYTHING, from new & used books (they always carry a huge selection of books on the local area, & my husband gets lost in the Civil War & history section). Their prices are great, they have the best coffees anywhere (we always get some to take home), & the last time we were there they were carrying all kinds of different organic & healthy snacks....you never know what they're going to have, & I've met both of the owner's, & they are some of the nicest people you'll find anywhere. We usually go later in the evening, & we delight in a fresh cup of coffee, a wonderful selection of books, & great conversation. And we usually bring back a little something for the grandkids, a toy or game or t-shirt or something. DON'T miss this quaint little shop...it doesn't look like much from the road, but they have the place PACKED with neat stuff you won't find anywhere else!
Two years a ago my husband and I stayed at the Cosby Creek Cabin- "By the Brook" and was very disappointed. We have rented cabins in the area for years and felt it would be nice to get to get a cabin "By the Brook". All we expected was a clean moderate set up. Being we have been campers all our lives and had to go to a cabin, due to my husband handicap condition forbidened us to continue camping. We placed the reservation and a deposit of
$100.00 as requested in case of damages and was promised it back if we did not damage anything. We were informed of the condition of the cabin and assured the information was accurate.
First, we were told he could handle the steps leading up to the bedroom, but they forgot to mention that the last step at the top was half way under the flooring and he was not able to get up to the bedroom. Feeling it was not on purpose , but they just forgot the step was like that. We compromised and bought a blow up tall
mattress for the living room for him and I to sleep at night.
Secondly, we were told the place had been cleaned and well kept. We discovered all the dishes all needed washing, since food had been left from previous renters. All right, I convinced my husband, that could be an overlook by the cleaning people. Seemed they had forgot many other things as well to clean.
Thirdly, we were told the place was cleaned , I expected of webs and nests as well. The bugs and creatures spray I bought to kill ranged from ant spray to wasp, spider and anything similar. I killed less number of creatures in a tent in the wild forests areas that did not have exterminators. I believed I'd see something, but nothing like this. A hugh spider sprawled itself across the bed, another across the sink drain and yet another in the kitchen sink, while ants trekker back and forth in army form across the kitchen sink area all in the same day. We had ant problems, spider problems and a mildew smell from wet unattended wood that had been wet around the floor basin.
We were also told the place was secluded and had a creek running behind it. The place also had a hot tub for our pleasure.
The hot tub was on the porch outside covered, but the porch it sat on was adjacent a storage area of campers and things and not too secluded from customers eyes of a local yocol grill/restaurant that sits right behind the cabin across this very small creek. It was hard to call it a creek since it trickled water you could step across.
Each time we tried to say this or that is what you should expect in a cabin we believed it less and less as our stay went on, because other cabins we rented in the same town we had not encountered any of these experiences. The eyes on the renters (us) from the restaurant/ grill were too much. We decided to end our vacation a bit early.
We decided we had enough surprises and experiences and complaining would not bring any joy from our vacation. All in all we believed the $100.00 deposit would be returned by the end of our stay as promised during the reservation or after we arrived home. We waited in good faith that maybe they had to check the place out first before they could return the funds. We did nothing but take care of each uncomfortable experience and did not complain about the situation. We did leave a day earlier than we wanted to because we could not stand it anymore, but still did not complain. It is two years later and we still have not seen our $100 deposit money for damage, no damage was left. We gave that money in good faith that it was to be for damages should they have occurred. Absolutely no damages were left, only improvements were done such as leaving clean dishes (even those we did not use), spotless furniture, cleaned rugs, vacuumed floors (borrowed a vacuum cleaner to do it) and completely cleaned tub and sinks. I cleaned the upstairs bedroom, even though we did not get to use it. I expected the money back and not receiving it only disappointed me in recommending it to all the others we know that travel to Tennessee. We do share the place (Cosby) has great people and a treasured history of Moonshine and mountain scenery. Cabin rentals are many and they should visit and enjoy it as we have, careful not to mention Cosby Creek Cabins as choice to rent. We do not mention Cosby Creek Cabins as not to rent either just that we found other places.
We hope to purchase some land in Cosby because it is a beautiful area. Every summer we come back and visit. I hope that I and Deena were the only two to be so disappointed in Cosby Creek Cabins. Not ever seeing someone from Gosby Creek Cabins in person for a personal greeting seem odd, since that is not how any other of the cabin renters do. They greet you when you come or later on in your visit to see if there is anything they can do for you. They all offer the opportunity to make reservations on line and you can get in without a key in one fashion or another whenever you choose to arrive. I want too say the town of Cosby and its people are fine people. I have gotten to know several of the very long time residences and renting in this quaint town is a pleasure. I just believe contradicting someone's opinion of a renter's place should be non defensive but rather expressed as unfortunate and an offer to promise a better experience on their return. I realize I probably will be told I was not promised the money back, but I was promised. This review of our experience is accurate and not exaggerated and not in response to not receiving the money. When I addressed the request by phone upon arriving home I was given nothing more than we'll see. No returned phone call, no rejection no $100.00, I had no intention of having to badger for it because I felt little respect for the people's worthless promises, but business is to make money not bond relationships with customers. Return customers though bring business, I know you can do without my
business. Responding will only confirm justification for not returning the money and less respect toward each other. I hope
things have gotten better and the sale sign posted outside the property finds a buyer. The property is very pretty and with well maintained clean cabins should bring a lot of joy to the owners and renters alike. The money is over and hope of getting is no more, but the conditions I described are correct and with Deena's response things have not changed much.
I have rented a cabin from Cosby Creek Cabins and have been very pleased with cleaning, supplies, layout, view, and the incredibly friendly staff and owners. I agree with the first posting completely and now being a cabin owner realize that some renters exagerate, have unreasonable expectations, as it is a cabin not a five star resort in Palm Springs, and others are fabulous and treat our cabin as if it their own.
We stayed at Cosby Creek Cabins the first week in June 2008 and it was not worth the money. We where supposed to have a pond and it was a run off, Our cabin was a house that was very outdated, supposed to have 2 full baths and had 1 full bath. The jacuzzi tub that was supposed to be the 2nd bath did not have any hot water. The patio had bird poop all over it not a little more like mounds of poop. We had to spray the patio 3 times to clean it up. Our view was a highway with a nasty convience store next door.