Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, TN · Sevier County
Hibachi at a Smoky Mountain Cabin:What to Know Before You Book
A cabin weekend in the Smokies tends to look the same: hiking or Dollywood by day, then everybody back up the mountain by dark with no interest in driving the Parkway again. A chef who comes up to the cabin and cooks dinner on the deck or driveway solves the one problem the hot tub cannot.
What a hibachi night looks like in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
Rental cabins are scattered across the ridges around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, from Chalet Village above downtown Gatlinburg to the hillsides off Wears Valley Road, the Cobbly Nob area toward Cosby, and newer resort-style cabins around Sevierville. Many sleep a dozen or more, with game rooms, theater rooms and decks that face the mountains. Families book them for reunions and Thanksgiving, church groups come for retreats, and couples and friend groups come for birthdays. A big cabin with a long dining table is made for one sit-down meal where all three generations actually eat at the same time.
The seasons drive the crowds. October brings the fall color and the heaviest weekend traffic. Gatlinburg's Winterfest lights run through the cold months, Dollywood's Christmas season is a big draw, and summer means Great Smoky Mountains National Park hikes and waterfall trips. Black bears are part of life here, which is why cabins have bear-resistant trash cans, and why the chef packs up food scraps instead of leaving anything outside. Heading over from north Georgia? We also cook in Blue Ridge and across Tennessee.
From the grill
Setting up in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
Mountain roads are the main thing to plan for. Many cabin driveways are steep, narrow, gravel or all three, and some are hard to climb in wet or icy weather, so send us the address early and mention anything your rental company says about four-wheel drive. A cabin deck can host the grill only with the owner's permission, a level surface and open air above; the hot tub corner is not the spot. If the deck is uneven or tight, a flat section of driveway or the parking pad works. Have a flashlight handy, since cabin lighting is dim after dark.
Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge questions
Our cabin rental says four-wheel drive is recommended. Is that a problem?
Tell us when you check the date. In good weather most cabins are reachable, but in snow or ice the chef may need to meet a plan B, such as setting up at a lower parking area, and we would rather sort that out ahead of time.
Can the grill go on the cabin deck next to the hot tub?
Only if the owner allows a propane grill on the deck, and even then we look for a level, open section away from the hot tub cover and railings. Many groups end up using the parking pad instead.
What do you do with leftovers and scraps in bear country?
The chef bags up food scraps and packaging, and your leftovers go into the fridge. Nothing is left on the deck or in an open can overnight.