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Old 11-04-2012, 07:24 AM
 
75 posts, read 140,587 times
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I'm tossing around the idea of spending Christmas in Gatlinburg this year. I have been to Gatlinburg in the past, so I'm somewhat familiar with the town. I've never been down there during the Christmas season so I have a couple questions.

Are many businesses (restaurants, stores, attractions) open on Christmas Eve and day?

Does anyone have any reviews or personal experience with the Bearskin Lodge? It looks like a great place with good rates, just looking for opinions.

Thank you!
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Old 11-04-2012, 08:52 AM
 
Location: The Conterminous United States
22,584 posts, read 54,262,993 times
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Several years ago I read on Trip Advisor that there was not much going on in Gatlinburg or that area on Christmas Day and that almost everything was closed including most restaurants. I'd check on there to see if things have changed.
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Old 11-04-2012, 09:29 AM
 
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It's a ghost town on Christmas. Most everything is closed.
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Old 11-05-2012, 05:33 AM
 
Location: Knoxville, TN
108 posts, read 198,316 times
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I have never been to Gatlinburg for Christmas, but would imagine it would be an awesome atmosphere leading up to the actual holday. I have actually been thinking of driving over the week before.

I have stayed at the Bearskin on two occasions and enjoyed both stays. Nice clean rooms, very spacious and at a reasonable cost.

It is on the far end of town and many of the surrounding businesses have closed, but it is not a long walk and a short trolley ride to get into the midst of things.
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Old 11-05-2012, 05:53 AM
 
Location: Sevierville, TN
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While I've never "stayed" in Gatlinburg for Christmas, since I live in Sevier County, we were up there last year on Christmas Day. About half of the businesses were open; we actually went up to the top deck of Loco Burro and sat outside (there were about 20 other people there) and had a White Lightning Margarita.
We talked to several visitors, one other couple were locals, and it was a really nice time.

I would say in the early part of the Christmas day, most stores are closed, but around 1pm ish places started opening. Since Christmas is on a Tuesday this year, I would guess the same will hold true.

Like others have suggested, I would call around if you want to visit a specific place. But Christmas time in Gatlinburg is very nice! Considering the early snowfall, you may want to make sure you have supplies just in case. I know Ober will be open; they'll have snow on the hills and it opens everyday for skiing and tubing. Not sure of their Christmas Day hours, but you can check their website.
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Old 11-09-2012, 08:19 AM
 
75 posts, read 140,587 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertAlton View Post
I have stayed at the Bearskin on two occasions and enjoyed both stays. Nice clean rooms, very spacious and at a reasonable cost.

It is on the far end of town and many of the surrounding businesses have closed, but it is not a long walk and a short trolley ride to get into the midst of things.
That's actually where I was thinking of staying. It looks like a great place.
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Old 11-14-2012, 04:44 PM
 
Location: Central Indiana/Indy metro area
1,712 posts, read 3,075,685 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by josh5629 View Post
Are many businesses (restaurants, stores, attractions) open on Christmas Eve and day?
I'm not sure about most places, but I know some of the Copper Cellar restaurants are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas. If it is true that many places are closed, I would consider reservations if they take them. Websites say Cherokee Grill, Calhoun's (both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge), and Smoky Mountain Brewery (both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge) will all be open on Christmas.
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Old 11-16-2012, 06:16 PM
 
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We always go to Gatlingburg on Christmas Day and there are many places open in town mainly in the afternoon and evening. The Park Vista has a Christmas Day buffet that is nice and they take reservations. It is such a wonderful time of the year to walk around Gatlinburg and enjoy the Christmas lights and stop at the little shops. It seems like all the restaurants are open on Christmas eve but Christmas day most of them are closed.

Bearskin is a very nice hotel and is located centrally where you can walk the town of Gatlinburg.
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Old 12-05-2012, 08:39 PM
 
Location: Summit County Co
166 posts, read 321,702 times
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I have worked in the industry in Gburg for nearly three years. The holidays are amazing. 2 years ago...we had a nice amount of snow christmas day.

MOST of the restaurants will be closed at least on the 25TH.

The best advise a could give. Would be to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn. The bar and restaurant are open 365. The staff from the front desk/housekeeping and the restaurant are all top notch. Outdoor gas firepit...indoor pools...nice bar with happy hour. Check out the pics on trip advisor. NO, i do not work there....lol. Also look at the park Vista.
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Old 12-06-2012, 03:52 PM
 
Location: Central Indiana/Indy metro area
1,712 posts, read 3,075,685 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by timothyjames14 View Post
The best advise a could give. Would be to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn. The bar and restaurant are open 365. The staff from the front desk/housekeeping and the restaurant are all top notch. Outdoor gas firepit...indoor pools...nice bar with happy hour. Check out the pics on trip advisor.
This is where we stayed on our recent trip to Gatlinburg. I have to stay, the Hilton Garden Inn was really nice. We only had the breakfast buffet though. While costly, it was one of the best buffets I have had in many, many years. Eggs, pancakes, waffle (and a few other things) are all cooked to order so they are fresh and hot. The muffins and other pastry items must be cooked fresh because this place had the best blueberry muffins I had ever tasted (and big too). The price was a little on the high side for me though, $11-$12 per person with a $1-$2/tip (mostly self-serve, but a server will bring the hot items cooked to order). However, after checking out a local buffet place just outside the downtown core, which folks said was "reasonable," the price wasn't all that bad if you want a breakfast with variety (eggs, bacon, waffle/pancake, coffee, OJ). The staff was very helpful, and they even have fresh baked cookies at the front desk at night.
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