Tucked into the side of a Smoky Mountain hillside, Birch Lodge is a three-story cabin (plus a fourth-story loft) that trades the usual rustic clichés for something a little more elevated. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the surrounding forest from nearly every angle, and the main living area opens up beneath vaulted ceilings — leather couches gathered around a grand stone fireplace, an antler chandelier overhead, and a single tree trunk stretching up through the third floor and into the loft like the cabin grew around it.⠀ Five bedrooms spread across the levels give the group of up to 11 room to settle in and slow down. Mornings are easy here: coffee on one of three furnished decks, the air doing what mountain air does. Afternoons can go in any direction. Sink into a hanging egg chair with a book, claim the bench swing, or head inside for something a little more spirited.⠀ That's where Birch Lodge really sets itself apart. A dedicated game room with a pool table and arcade games invites a friendly rivalry or three. The theater room — flat-screen, proper movie-theater seats — is built for a rainy-day double feature. And then there's the headliner: a private indoor pool and hot tub, the kind of amenity that turns a long weekend into the trip everyone talks about for years. A sauna rounds out the wellness side, ready when the group's ready to unwind.⠀ Location-wise, you're just minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, which means the Parkway, Ober Mountain, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, and the entryway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park are all within easy reach. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Clingmans Dome, and the trailheads at Chimney Tops and Alum Cave are short drives in. Pigeon Forge — Dollywood, The Island, dinner shows, mini golf for days — sits about 15 minutes north.⠀ Whether the agenda calls for hiking boots, hot tub time, or a full day of nothing in particular, Birch Lodge gives a group the rare combination of room to roam and reasons to stay in. AvantStay provides a personalized hospitality experience to elevate your stay. With our Concierge Service, guests have access to our tech-enabled services like fridge stocking, private chefs, massages, transportation, special occasion celebrations, baby gear rentals, ski gear, beach gear, and more. For anything you need, we’re at your fingertips! If you love spending time in nature, staying active, and celebrating wildlife like us, a trip to Gatlinburg in the Smoky Mountains is a special treat. Located along the Tennessee/North Carolina border and home to the country's most visited national park, the Smokies provide over 800 miles of hiking trails, rivers, waterfalls, and a good chance at a black bear sighting. Over 200 million years old, the ancient mountains allow visitors the unique opportunity to connect with one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world and walk among century-old trees. Talk about a step back in time! Nearby Attractions: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee Jed’s (American), Mountain Moonshine Tastings, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Sugarlands Distilling Company, Ole Smoky Distilleries, Bent Creek Golf Course, Pancake Pantry, Hofbrauhaus Restaurant, Cade’s Cove (75 min drive). Home Truths: - Home is less than a half mile off East Parkway in Gatlinburg, but it’s a steep and narrow road to the home. - Home has a narrow, winding staircase down to the pool and theater room. - Pool heat is a paid feature and needs to be requested 24 hours in advance before the day of check-in. Spa heat is always complimentary. - This home allows up to 2 dogs for a fee; undisclosed pets brought without AvantStay’s approval may result in a $500 fine per pet. - Gas fireplaces are turned off from April 15 to October 15 for the summer season. Parking Details: - 3 cars can be parked on the driveway. - No garage. --- The room configuration is as follows: Primary Bedroom / King bed w/ ensuite Bedroom 2 / King bed Bedroom 3 / King bed Bedroom 4 / King bed Bedroom 5 / Twin over king bunk bed --- This is a smoke-free property. Violation of the no-smoking policy will result in forfeiture of the security deposit, a $300 smoking fee, and liability for any fire or property damage costs. As part of our commitment to being good neighbors, occupancy limits and quiet hours (9pm-8am) are strictly enforced. No speakers or sound systems will be provided for use in our properties. Violation of any noise ordinances will be subject to fines that can reach up to $10,000 per violation. Events or parties are not allowed without prior written approval and an additional fee. Any unauthorized parties or events will be shut down and a fine will be assessed. Please inquire for more information about our event policies and fees. There is nothing more important to us at AvantStay than the health, safety, and experience of our guests & staff. We've enhanced our cleaning and sanitation protocols and are taking extra care to disinfect all surfaces between reservations with hospital-grade disinfecting solutions. As a reminder, we do work with 3rd party vendors to maintain the property, and although we adhere to the strictest CDC guidelines and advise all contractors to wear PPE equipment, we can not always enforce. We strongly advise guests to please deny access if any vendors fail to meet and adhere to these standards. IDs will be requested for verification after booking. All bookings over 30 days require a security deposit. We report and prosecute all Credit Card Fraud.