Riverhouse at the Park

Pine trees surround the exposed stone wall exteriors and blue balconies of the quaint budget motel, though the interiors feel a little sterile. There's a stone wall fireplace in the lobby along with a small lounge area and a tube TV. Elevator access is available to all four floors. Most of the guests who book these old-fashioned and well-kept rooms are couples, and the hotel is similar in design to its sister property, the nearby Riverhouse Motor Lodge, which attracts travelers with kids. 

Located on Little Pigeon River, this motel is on the quieter end of downtown Gatlinburg, beside the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, home to hiking trails and the historic Ogle Cabin. It's an easy walk to popular eateries such as Crockett's Breakfast Camp and the Peddler Steakhouse. There’s also a trolley that stops outside the motel and runs along the strip, with stops near attractions such as the Old Smoky Distillery, Ripley’s Aquarium, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, the Space Needle, and the Mysterious Mansion. Dollywood and the Lumberjack Feud in Pigeon Forge are a 20-minute drive. The Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area & Amusement Park is a 10-minute drive and there's an aerial tram a block away. Knoxville is an hour away by car, Asheville is about two hours, and Nashville takes four hours.

Rooms are spacious but have colorful, dated interiors with pinewood walls or wallpaper, colorful carpeting, two-seat dining tables, comfy furniture, and paisley or floral bedspreads. Units are well-maintained and 30 of the 50 rooms have riverfront balconies. Some still have tube TVs, rather than flat-screens. Rooms come with one king or two queen beds, gas log fireplaces with stone mantels, air-conditioning, mini-fridges, microwaves, and irons/ironing boards. Beige tiled bathrooms are clean with hairdryers, jetted tubs, pedestal sinks, and exterior basins in dressing areas with portable heaters. Some rooms have street views, and ground-floor rooms are especially dark. Parkview Rooms have the best river views. One-bedroom Grand King Rooms have living rooms, wet bars, balconies, whirlpool tubs, and walk-in showers. Jacuzzi King Rooms offer two-person hot tubs beside beds. 

Amenities here aren’t fancy, but the Riverhouse offers more than the average two-pearl property. Homemade donuts, coffee, and juice, along with made-to-order options are delivered to rooms each morning. The clean outdoor pool area has lounge chairs facing a lush mountainside and there's a hot tub in a nearby gazebo. The laundry room offers coin-operated machines, with detergent at the front desk. Covered and uncovered parking spaces are available for free on a first-come, first-serve basis and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.