Buckhorn Inn, Gatlinburg

My husband surprised me the day before our trip by announcing that we were going to Buckhorn for my birthday. He knew it was my favorite. The breathtaking mountain view, the breakfasts. The quiet lovely southern hospitality. the mountain trails. that's why I love Buckhorn Inn! I forgot the afternoon homemade cookies we have with tea. Worth every penny.

Unfortunately, our trip was a spur-of-the-moment getaway, and the Buckhorn was full except for the one night we were able to stay there. It has the feel of an English countryside inn - very genteel, with comfortable antiques, crystal & china, and just the right amount of chintz without overdoing it. We stayed in Traditional Room #2, which was absolutely lovely, and oh, my, what a view to wake up to! We threw our bedroom (and bathroom!) windows open wide to the glorious view of Mt. LeConte, the 3rd highest mountain in the Smokies. The inn's atmosphere is casually elegant, especially in the lower guest living room, where we made ourselves a pot of great coffee, which we enjoyed on the roofed veranda. Later, we returned to the living room and played a game of dominoes, which we chose from an antique dresser full of games and puzzles. Breakfast was outstanding - a plate of fresh fruit awaited us before we sat down, and we chose gingerbread pancakes with orange/maple syrup and peppered bacon, cranberry scones and light-as-heaven biscuits, juice and coffee. The wait staff were very attentive without being intrusive, and we found everyone to be very friendly. The innkeepers were engaging, while still being aware that many couples just want to be left alone while they're in such a romantic setting. Our regrets are: that we were too late to get reservations for dinner, which I heard was fabulous, that we could only stay one night, which we hope to rectify soon, and that we did not have the opportunity to explore the grounds more than we did. They are beautiful, and full of nooks and crannies with surprises tucked in here and there. I brought several brochures with me to pass out to friends and family! A wonderful place to spend an anniversary, a honeymoon, or just a few days away together. We will return!

The Buckhorn Inn couldn’t be more of a contrast to the honky-tonk nature of Gatlinberg. Our stay at the Buckhorn was the perfect celebration for our 35th wedding anniversary. Located in the heart of the Arts and Crafts district, we found several quality studios and galleries within walking distance of the Inn. Although all the rooms in Cottage 1 were very comfortable, the screened porch with its view of Mt. LeConte was magnificent. Breakfasts were imaginative, dinners elegant. The nature trail was a delight, complete with nesting mute swans and pileated woodpeckers. Our hosts were gracious and we felt that when they said they hoped we’d come back, it was sincere.

The Buckhorn Inn is truly an escape from the everyday. A quiet, secluded location, the inn is a place to unwind and re-charge the batteries. The gracious owners, John and Lee Mellor, take care of each guest on a personal level. Often, you will see them serving at either breakfast or dinner. The food is fabulous. We have stayed several times at the Buckhorn and have never been disappointed in every aspect. You can't go wrong with whatever accommodation you choose -- the cottages are slightly more expensive but afford more privacy, and the rooms in the Inn are also well appointed and feel private as well. The Inn is not far from Gatlinburg, but you might be enjoying yourself so much here that you might not want to leave!

I swept my Wife away to a location unbeknownst to her for the weekend. I wanted to get out of town and really just enjoy each other. Boy were we in for a treat! We arrived very late as we hit some tornadic weather on our way. I called to notify The Buckhorn and they accomodated us perfectly. A key was left for us like we were family. We moved all of our stuff into cottage 7 and made ourselves at home. We went to bed early that evening and woke up to BEAUTIFUL mountain views, birds chirping, and just simply a romantic setting. We went for breakfast and met the owner upon entering the dining area. He sat us and introduced himself and saw to it that we had coffee and fruit right away. I had a delicious egg burrito while my Wife had Eggs Benedict and something else that has escaped me. It was delicious! After breakfast we made our way into Gatlinburg and enjoyed most of the day there. We did everything from the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum to Old Time Photos to a wonderful two hour tour of the Ripley's Aquarium. We eventually made our way back to the Buckhorn to get ready for dinner. We were able to bring our own bottle of wine to the dining room which was really nice. Our dinner was delicious and very romantic. The owner came by to check on our stay and remembered my Wife by name which made her feel wonderful. After dinner we went back to our cabin with wine glasses in tow and made use of the large jucquzzi tub that was in our cabin. We will for sure be returning to The Buckhorn Inn for a future Anniversary trip!

We were married at the Buckhorn Inn Memorial weekend 2007. The dining room terrace was the perfect setting for the wedding with the mountain backdrop. The staff was very helpful and courteous. We stayed at the Lindsey House and it was lovely. My family stayed at the lodge as well. My teenage son stayed in the Tower room and he was in heaven. They all had wonderful rooms. We also had dinner there and it was wonderful as well as the breakfast. We will hold a special place in our hearts for the Buckhorn Inn and hope to return for a romantic retreat. Thank you all so much for everything. Peter and Debbie Seely

We loved the setting and the lodge. Both were superior. The service and hospitality were majorly lacking. We are easy going and don't usually complain but the service was very poor in most areas. To spend that much for a weekend, we should have been treated as welcome guests and not an obligation. The food quality at dinner was good but a poor value. A four ounce cut of meat for $30 is a bit extreme. Breakfast was a train wreck quality-wise. Food was cold and/or overcooked. Several of the staff desperately need hospitality training!! All in all, we will not be back. There are so many nicer places to visit that offer better treatment of guests. It just goes to prove one point: reputation alone is not enough to justify a visit. Bottom line: Lovely setting, poor service.

This is such a wonderful place to spend a romantic weekend. We stayed in one of the newer cottages (Cottage 7). It was very reasonable compared to the rest of the rooms. Very private, secluded, and spacious, I'd suggest staying in cottage 5, 6, or 7 (although they don't look impressive on the outside, they are very nice on the inside) We really enjoyed spending evenings on the screened-in porch as well. The grounds are very well maintained and it is worth a quick stroll to view the gardens. The Inn itself is only about 10 minutes from the strip and is right in the middle of the Arts & Crafts Community. Great location. The breakfast was simply wonderful both mornings we were there. One morning we had a teriffic Western Omelette and the next day we had bananas foster french toast. Simply incredible. We didn't eat dinner at the Buckhorn, but I've heard great things about their meals. The owners of the Inn took great care in learning our names (even though we were there only 2 nights) and made you really feel special. They really concentrate on the little things, which made the trip so memorable. Great customer service. The only complaints that I had was that the housekeeping staff was kind of loud at 8 AM, cleaning the cottage next door and the bed was kinda stiff. All in all, the experience was really great, though. We'll be back for sure!

We love the location. It's close to Gatlinburg and all the shopping, but you feel as though you are isolated up in the mountains. The food , accomodations, and staff are top notch. The breakfast is worth the cost alone. We have stayed in the lodge, the tower room ,and the cabins - our favorite is the cabins, but each has its own special atmosphere. WE LOVE THE BUCKHORN INN!!