Where is the venue?

Bear Mountain Lodge and Sleeping Bear Lodge are 2 luxury cabins just minutes from downtown Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

What are the cabins and grounds like?

Bear Mountain Lodge opened its doors in the spring of 2024. It has 18 bedrooms, each with comfortable beds and modern amenities. This lodge includes an indoor pool and 4 outdoor hot tubs, a black-light indoor putt putt course, a movie theater with a 100-inch screen, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Sleeping Bear Lodge is a 6-Bedroom luxury retreat in Bear Cove at the Glades Resort. Every bedroom has its own private bath. There is a private indoor pool and hot tub, a home theater with an 80-inch screen and 9 reclining seats, and a foosball table.

This is a mountain resort experience—not a kids’ campsite—designed for comfort, privacy, and flexibility across a range of budgets. All accommodations are private rooms in a lodge, each with its own attached ensuite bathroom and comfortable, adult-sized beds.

Guests who want a more private resort stay can reserve an entire room for themselves or share it with a partner, friend, or family member at a higher price point of $400–$600. For those who are happy to share a room with a small number of other adults, there are more affordable options in the $200–$400 range—without sacrificing comfort or privacy in the bathroom.

However you choose to stay, you’ll enjoy a relaxed, adult-friendly lodge setting with the comforts you’d expect from a true mountain resort.

What should I bring with me?

All linens are provided and this lodge is a fully modern home with running water and electricity. No "roughing it" is required. Please bring whatever it is you need to have a comfortable stay for two nights away from home. We will have both indoor and outdoor activities, so plan on staying cool, warm, or dry depending on the weather.

You might also like to bring books you enjoy, books you might want to reference during any of our workshops or talks, instruments to play, or any favorite drinks or snacks. You are permitted to bring your own alcoholic beverages and smoking/vaping is permitted outside only.

Are pets allowed?

We allow service animals in the lodges and require that owners leash them and clean up after them properly. Because lodges are shared, and we can't know the temperament of every pet, we can't allow non-service animals in the lodges.

Will there be child care?

Yes, we will have CampQuest onsite for children ages 5-17 years old.

Is the venue ADA friendly?

The main cabin has elevator access to 2 of the 3 floors. Bunk beds have stair-like access to the top bunks. Both lodges have ramps from the parking area to the main floor.

What other accommodations are nearby?

The following locations are all within a 15 minute drive of the venue:

Hotels:

• Pigeon Forge Ramada

• Days Inn by Wyndam Apple Valley Pigeon Forge/Sevierville

• Rodeway Inn

• Hotel Pigeon Forge

• Comfort Inn Apple Valley

Camping:

• Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA (Cabins and tent camping available)

• Clabough’s Campground (Cabins and tent camping available)

• Pigeon Forge Jellystone (Cabins, rental RVs, and tent sites available)

• Camp Rivers Landing (Cabins, rental RVs, and tent sites available)

Is RV Camping available?

There are several excellent RV Camping parks within minutes of the venue. We recommend making reservations ahead of time to make sure you have a spot:

• Cove Creek RV Resort

• Up the Creek RV Camp

• KOA Gatlinburg

• King’s Holly Haven RV Park

• Pigeon Forge RV Resort

Can I arrive early or depart late to accommodate my flight times?

Our volunteers will be onsite one day before and one day after the event to facilitate set-up, clean-up, and planning sessions. We are happy to accommodate early arrivals and late departures within reason. Please contact us if you require an early arrival or late departure so that we can plan accordingly.

What are my choices for air travel?

The McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville is the closest major airport and about a 40 minute drive from the venue. You can request a shuttle from the airport to the venue for your arrival, and one of our volunteers will arrange a ride for you. Please request your shuttle at least 48 hours before check-in so that we can make sure to get you on our schedule. Click here to request a shuttle

I have a question that isn’t answered here.

We’re happy to answer any questions you have and thank you for reaching out. Click the button below to send us your questions. We will respond within 48 hours. Another option is to join our Discord server to ask questions and connect with other prospective attendees about ride sharing.