Emerald City Lights #203

The views from the cabin were great, and booking and finding it were both easy. But the rooms felt thrown together, and the third floor bathroom in Bedroom #1 had a leak, possibly from the shower drain, sink, or toilet. For nearly $900 for two nights, the cabin was far below what I expected.

We saw a mama bear with two cubs several times a day, and it was lovely watching them peacefully. The cabin felt secluded from the other cabins in the green season, and Uber Eats and Instacart arrived on time. Even in heavy rain, the mountain drive was manageable. The cabin didn't ruin our vacation, and we'd rent it again if a more luxurious option weren't available. The view over Pigeon Forge at night is fantastic, and the quick drive to Gatlinburg avoids traffic. We stayed the last week of July 2024. With cleaning, care, and updates, this place could be phenomenal, but it needs a lot of work. The floors and stairs are badly worn, and there appears to be a small chewed hole in the wood floor, partly hidden by the couch. Several switches do nothing, bulbs are out, cobwebs cover light fixtures including above the dining table, and the vents and returns were filthy with dust. The windows were only partly cleaned, with streaks and circles. There are gaps around all the doors, including a large one above the front door. The pool table was covered in animal hair, and the two pool cues had no tips. The downstairs bedroom's jacuzzi lights didn't work, and the fixtures looked warped and water damaged. Its deck door was installed backwards. The hot tub controls are broken, only one or two jets work, and the water level dropped from full to the jets by night, so it seems to leak. One bottom stair is split and barely attached. The grill's damaged drip pan had to be bent to stay in place, and there was no drip bucket, with a rug underneath creating a serious fire risk. Outside, some damage may be from wildlife or termites, and several deck posts are rotten and loose. The top bedroom smoke alarm went off for a few minutes overnight, then stopped, which seemed like an electrical problem. A YouTube video from 2010 shows the same furnishings with only minor changes.

The view was gorgeous, but the cabin was in poor condition and didn't look like the pictures. The game room bedroom had flooded, and they never found the source. The outdoor grill was still dirty. We left early because the 1.8-mile mountain drive through fog felt so dangerous that I feared for my life each time. Quick trips to Walgreens or Food City weren't an option. We were relieved to move to a Hampton Inn.

The mountain location made things harder too. The road has sharp curves and narrows to one lane, and we spent about an hour trying to find the cabin on our first late evening in town. If you stay here, get back before dark. Anyone wanting nightlife should avoid it. At check-in, four employees were there but didn't greet us or help other customers. It felt like we were interrupting their conversation, and they were rude. We did quickly get a code, printed directions, and a complimentary welcome package, which was helpful. The cabin's cleanliness was unacceptable. Bugs were piled in window corners and on pillows, and there were bugs in the lower suite bed. A thick centipede about four inches long came downstairs, perhaps through the gap around the main entrance. I live in the country and don't mind a few bugs, but this was too much. There was a pet cleanup rag with poop left on the outdoor trash container, and the washer was full of dirty towels. The upper shower had mold on the tile. The shower heads were too high and the water pressure too low to rinse off soap or shampoo. The beautiful windows were filmed with dirt and showed fingerprints and messages written by previous guests. The hot tub was clean but dated, with barely working bubbles. We liked the view from outside and wanted to relax, so we didn't ask for another cabin. The private owner should fix the broken railing at the entrance. The place wasn't worth the $1,200 we paid for four nights; half that would have made more sense. Honestly, the previous guests should get their cleaning and pet fees back. What are cleaning fees for if the cabin has bugs, moldy showers, poop rags, and filthy windows? This was a bad lesson. We won't return to Aunt Bugs, and I don't know why we booked outside Timber Top Cabins.