The Charms Of Buckhorn Inn
By Leif Palmer
Posted on January 5, 2023
If you're looking for unique accommodations when visiting Gatlinburg and the rest of the Great Smoky Mountains, consider booking a stay at Buckhorn Inn. It's located on Tudor Mountain Rd., just off Buckhorn Rd., which is one of the main routes through the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. The inn has been serving visitors to the Smokies since 1938, and during that time, it's earned a reputation for its blend of elegance and unparalleled hospitality.
The original inn structure houses traditional bed-and-breakfast rooms on the upper floor as well as a few premier B&B rooms. Several guest cottages and guest houses are located on the property as well, most of them near the main building. Inside the rooms, the aesthetics are rooted in country luxury, and the innkeepers have seen to it that guests lack for nothing, from comfortable beds and guest robes to amenities like TVs, hair dryers and more.
One of Buckhorn Inn's most valuable assets is its proximity to the mountains. Guest rooms on the south side of the upper floor, as well as the dining room on the first floor, are all treated to spectacular views of Mt. LeConte. It looms large in the window, almost appearing to be close enough to access by foot (although one would actually have to drive well into the national park to get to a trailhead). On a clear day, the vista is breathtaking.
A lot of the inn's charms can be discovered while exploring the property both inside and out. The first floor of the building has quiet libraries and reading areas where a guest can browse the shelves and curl up with a good book for a few hours. There's even a library of DVDs for in-room viewing. Board games and puzzles round out the options for ways to spend a peaceful and relaxing morning, afternoon or evening.
Guests touring the grounds may choose to walk a one-mile nature trail that runs along the perimeter of the property. Features along the way include native wildflowers and trees, a pond with live swans, and a meditation labyrinth.
And be sure to make time for the complimentary breakfast in the morning and to make a reservation for dinner on at least one night (dinners are charged separately). The culinary team is amazing, serving up delicious and satisfying meals that range from eggs Benedict and Belgian waffles for breakfast to a prix fixe evening menu that features entrees like rack of pork, grilled swordfish, London broil and cheese ravioli with gulf shrimp and smoked salmon cream.
You could easily feel so at home at Buckhorn Inn that you would want to spend your entire stay on the property. But if you do decide to get out and explore, you'll find yourself within just a mile or two of most of the arts and craft shops. And if you head into downtown, there are plenty of parking garages in Gatlinburg, TN, for your convenience.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in Gatlinburg. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.