Highland Koselig Lodge

This cabin was perfect for our 3 family getaway! Everyone was torn between staying up in the clouds at the cabin every day and taking the short trip down the mountain to explore the national park and the fun of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge! We Chose to do all 3 three and could not have had a better time. We spent several days in the National Park exploring and hiking and spent almost the rest of the time in this beautiful cabin. Everyone raced to the hot tub each night to watch the fireworks from Dollywood! The views from the balcony were breathtaking and we enjoyed eating breakfast every morning on the deck. The large kitchen allowed us to cook most of our meals in the cabin and helped keep our expenses down. We had 8 kids and each of them had a great time each night in the game room ( which bonus... is downstairs and noise proof to the upper levels) Smart tv's in every room kept you plugged in if you wanted to be, along with DVD players and a fun added bonus, most of the kids in the group got to learn what a VCR was and watched a classic movie left by the owners each night : ) The adults winded down each night on the deck and then inside by the center piece of the place.. The living room and fireplace were just awesome, we cant wait to come back during the Winter months and use this beautiful wood burning fire place ( those are hard to find) 14 of us stayed here for 8 nights and were not ready to leave. The owners have got us hooked with a great location ( close to everything and yet still isolated with an amazing view) We will all be back, our same group already booked again for next summer!

Manager's Response

The cabin was indeed a great cabin. My family enjoyed the beautiful views and how spacious it was. The king beds were wonderful however the sleeper sofa and futons actually had my adult children sleeping on the floor with the mattresses more comfortable . There were plenty of towels for everyone especially with the washer available. The kitchen was well stocked with dishes and pans. The big issue in the kitchen was the lack of serving/prep bowls. Large bowl's would have been nice as we ended up using the large pots as bowls. The utensils were a bit flimsy.

We did get a chance to see several bears in action. All way too close for my liking. One was at the basement window, one greeted one of the adults in the parking area as she went to the locked car. While very beautiful to watch it was a bit intimidating. They did indeed try to get in to the cars.

The roads up... oh my they were not fun! We did not go out after dark due to the fear of coming back up them. We also did not utilize the pool or playground for the kids due to the distance of having to drive all the way down to use them. Very unfortunate as this was a real draw for me to the property.

Don’t get me wrong, the cabin overall was very nice. The views wonderful. I am torn to recommend due to the roads and missing the night activities for the fear of the return trip in the dark. The bears could be looked at as an added bonus or uncomfortable visitors. The cabin would be perfect if you didn’t want to leave and just be content there.

Overall we enjoyed our stay and were comforable. There were a few things that we were not expecting that kept it from being a 5 star stay for us (roads and bears, see details below), based on our goals for the trip. If you want a cabin with amazing views, plenty of room (and hot water) for the family, and are more interested in staying in then going out, this cabin is definitely for you.

The great- the views, the size of the cabin, the kitchen, it was clean, Cathy's directions and helpfulness, the elevator.

Things to consider: 1. remote location means remote- Cathy's directions are essential, but expect "sharp turn" to mean a switchback with very steep grade. We read the reviews but were still a bit shocked. It did discourage us from as much site seeing as we expected, and definitely no dinner shows since we were not comfortable driving it at night 2. The pool and playground will need to be driven to. 3. Bears- when they say keep doors locked and clean out your car- they mean it. The bears are active and unfortunately have been fed too many times by people. There was a sow and 2 cubs in the area that made rounds every day. While we loved watching them, there were some close calls. We could not take a walk outside without seeing them (so we decided we could not take walks safely), one night we had finished grilling on the deck when momma bear came through and climbed up the to the deck. Thankfully we were able to get everyone inside safe and once she realized no food was to be had she left. The next day she tried ALL of our car doors (all 3 vehicles), leaving minor scratches. We were thankful that we had been diligent about keeping food out of the cars.

The best! Cathy and her husband are so wonderful. The cabin is beautiful and the views amazing! The cabin is more than the description and pictures do not do it justice. We even got to see a bear and her cub

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Highland Koselig Lodge! The views from the deck were beyond stunning. Kitchen is well-equipped, although you will need to bring most everything if you plan to cook. Fortunately, there is a Kroger about 30-40 minutes away.
Everyone from adults to kids enjoyed our time at the cabin There were 11 of us, and there was plenty of room for everyone. I would stay there again without hesitation.
Word of warning: all-wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended, and when Cathy emails you directions to the cabin, follow them exactly. It is very steep and curvy. I would also recommend getting in before sunset if at all possible.

Stayed here for the week read the reviews before booking about the driveway LOL it is all true ! But glad I didnt pass it up because of it . We all had a great time and the cabin was spectacular with all the bells and whistles .We will be back just with a 4 wheel drive LOL

We stayed during the week/weekend of Thanksgiving! It’s the cleanest cabin I’ve ever visited and the amenities are too many to mention! The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” 5is absolutely true with this cabin!

The cabin was just amazing... views breathtaking...
We enjoyed the stay thoroughly
Cathy was amazing throughout the process from booking thru the stay... she came over to answer some questions too
I would highly recommend booking this cabin and it’s perfect for large groups. Rustic wonderland... we saw a bear everyday of our stay around the cabin... a great experience overall...

Great home, terrible roads to get to the home.

The entire stay was a delight,