Wilderness at the Smokies - Stone Hill Lodge

The shuttle runs all day, so it’s pretty easy to get around the facility. Staff in the service area would answer any questions. Our beds were standard hotel beds, nothing special, and the rooms could use some improvement. Some TV channels showed no signal, which seemed to be because it runs off an antenna.

The arcade was fun, and the waterparks were okay, though not very big. They could still be enjoyable on colder days. The chlorine smell was very strong, but I understand they need to use that much with so many people there. We had a four-night stay, but the rooms were uncomfortable and not cleaned properly. We all had back pain from the first night, so we extended the trip somewhere else. Comfort didn’t seem to be a priority. Also, even though this is clearly aimed at families with young kids, the marijuana smell in every corner was ridiculous. I’d recommend staying elsewhere and maybe just visiting the waterpark once.

Last year’s vacation was so much fun that we’re coming back this year for a couple more nights. This time we booked a room with a kitchen so we can make some meals, since eating out gets expensive. The water parks are awesome, and the wristband linked to our credit card is handy. We don’t have to carry a bunch of things around, just leave the phone in the room, bring the towel cards, and wear the band. There are buses to all the locations, including the Villas and rental homes, and across the road to Soaky Mountain, so we never had to move the car or leave the premises. It’s been so much fun and relaxing!

We liked the lazy river, and the people working there were super nice. But only three or four pools and slides were open, and Stone Hill was disappointing for what we paid. The beds were really hard, with the mattresses sitting right on wood and no box springs. We tried ordering the in-room pizza special at 7, left a message, then called again at 7:30. Nobody called back, so we never got to order.