124 Waldens Main Street, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States | (888) 635-3814
Convenient location off the main Parkway
Movie theater, mini-golf, and Elvis museum in walking distance
Large, modern rooms
Indoor pool, outdoor waterslide, and lazy river
Spa and fitness center
Business center and meeting room
Free Wi-Fi, free hot breakfast, and free parking
Free evening snacks
Daytime noise from motorcycle dealership
Nighttime noise from nearby bar
Small outdoor pool gets crowded
No restaurant or bar
The Clarion Inn in Pigeon Forge is ideally located for tourists to explore Pigeon Forge and the surrounding area, just a block off the main Parkway and the trolley stop. There's plenty of action for kids, including a game room and multiple pool activities, although the tiny outdoor pool is no more than a landing zone for the waterslide. The large rooms are much better than others in this range, and different rooms have different color palettes; guests can make requests when booking. Restaurants and bars next door are a plus, as the hotel has neither, but also present noise issues at night with loud music. Also of note is the Harley Davidson dealership next door, which pleases enthusiasts, but the ever-present sound of motorcycles is not a welcome sound to all. The nearby Hampton Inn & Suites Pigeon Forge has a few comparable amenities, but avoids the potential noise issues.
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Scene
Corporate chain with a little mountain-lodge flair in a tourist town
The hotel is popular with tourist families and empty-nester couples exploring Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains. It tries to blend in with the regional mountain lodge look, with rocky columns and natural wood accents, but can't quite shake its corporate veneer. The lobby is a mash of the two styles, with stonework halfway up the columns and a high ceiling shaped to mimic the look of exposed beams. A sitting area around a large stone fireplace has a piano for guests to play, an activity most popular during the daily afternoon "meet and greet," when free snacks and coffee and tea are served.
Location
Central Pigeon Forge near the Parkway
Located off the main Parkway, all of Pigeon Forge's attractions are within easy reach. The trolley stop and the only movie theater in town is one block away. Mini-golf, an Elvis Museum, and several bars and restaurants are within walking distance. A gateway town to the Great Smoky Mountains area's scenic mountain views and outdoor activities, Pigeon Forge is home to the famed Dollywood theme park (14 minutes from the hotel). The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a 25-minute drive, through nearby Gatlinburg.
Rooms
Large and modern, with red or blue color palettes and Keurig coffeemakers
Guests can choose between a harvest-red and mountain-blue scheme for their room's color palette. It's a nice touch, with significant difference between the carpets, walls, drapery, and the wood furnishings, although the amenities remain the same. All rooms are on the larger side, with microwaves, mini-fridges, and Keurig coffeemakers. Each also has a business-friendly desk with extra workspace and roller chairs. Professionals may not appreciate the motorcycle traffic from the Harley shop across the street, however, with which any street-facing room has to contend.
Features
Waterslide, evening meet-and-greet, and a free hot breakfast
The pools here cater decidedly to kids. The indoor pool has an attached basketball hoop which can easily turn the small pool into a splashy water-sport arena. The small lazy river and outdoor waterslide are also kid-friendly, with the outdoor pool doubling as the tiny landing pad for the slide. For adults, there are a fitness center and small spa, which has two treatment rooms and a range of massage and facial services. Business amenities include a small computer room with printers and fax machines, and a meeting room that can accommodate up to 65 guests. The free hot breakfast is more extensive than most, including waffles and an omelet station. In the evenings, a meet-and-greet in the lobby includes popcorn, cookies, cappuccino, coffee, and tea.
