Hillside Lodge

The employee who came to fix the blinds when they jammed open was polite and helpful. The rest of the stay was a shock, especially this close to a resort area. I wasn’t expecting luxury, but the room felt gross. There were dead bugs, hair, spiders, musty smells, cracked paint on the cinder block walls, broken blinds, old furniture, and rust painted over. The concrete steps were cracked, the counter and bathtub had cigarette stains, and there was no ice bucket. The in-room coffee pot still had moldy, wet grounds from the previous guest. On site, there didn’t seem to be staff; the lobby was a room with extra chairs, an old piano, and an ice machine at the back. The lamps had bright blue-white halogen bulbs that made the room feel harsh and unsettling to me. Just my opinion. That helpful employee earns the two stars; otherwise, there wasn’t really staff on site to rate. I’d stay at the nearby EconoLodge for at least half the price and get a room that’s 500% nicer.

A tidy, quiet, basic 50s lodge stay, with modern touches like air conditioning and cable TV. It was enough for our short visit.

The buffet food could hardly have been better, and the people at Lakeside were super nice. The Smoky Mountains landscape around here is beautiful. The Lodge itself, though, is very old and badly needs renovating.

Our room was clean when we arrived, and we had a view of the lake. The AC quit, but someone fixed it within an hour. Room service also brought replacement towels quickly.