Historic Rocky Waters Inn, A Small Luxury Hotel

This was our first stay at Rocky Waters, and it definitely won’t be our last. In fact, we booked our anniversary trip here right after checking out this morning! ||The location is perfect - directly over the river with no one on the other side making it quiet and private. The attention to detail on this renovation was phenomenal. The room was incredibly comfortable with every amenity you could need. And the private balcony was so peaceful.||The included breakfast at Heirloom Room was delicious. If we’d stayed longer, I’m sure my husband would have enjoyed the in room whiskey experience. ||Also, the people — the personal attention to guests here is a step above. Everyone was friendly and attentive. I’ve never looked so forward to returning to a hotel before!

This hotel is extremely welcoming, located in the heart of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and bursting with staff who demonstrate they care about the visitors' experience, first and foremost. The rooms are clean and cozy, the views and ambiance are incredible. You have a front row seat to nature, but also you receive the kind of amenities that make you feel equally pampered. The experience is made even better by the responsiveness of the staff who seem to provide everything you could ask for- from extra towels & lotions, to suggestions of nearby fun places to visit, even down to dining tips... You're never alone or left feeling unsure of how to enjoy your time here. I would absolutely recommend this hotel!

We had a wonderful stay at the Historic Rocky Waters Inn in Gatlinburg. If you’re looking for a boutique hotel with charm, comfort, and an unbeatable location, this is it. The rooms are beautifully done — cozy, clean, and thoughtfully designed with a modern-meets-historic feel. Everything felt intentional, from the comfortable bed to the stylish details that made the space feel special rather than generic. The location is perfection. It’s truly walkable to everything — shops, restaurants, and attractions — yet still feels tucked away enough to be peaceful and relaxing. You get the best of both worlds without needing to move your car every five minutes (a Gatlinburg win). This place has that rare combination of boutique charm, comfort, and convenience that makes you immediately say, “Yep, we’d stay here again.” Highly recommend for anyone wanting a great Gatlinburg experience without the big-hotel chaos. We’ll definitely be back.

We stayed for a couple of nights in December and were very impressed! The staff is absolutely wonderful and incredibly welcoming. The rooms were super clean with a really cool aesthetic. You can tell they are repairing some damage from the past, but it’s not very noticeable and does not affect your stay at all. Pros: •Amazing staff •Ability to text if you need anything (anytime, day or night) •Super clean •Delicious on-site restaurant •Beautiful décor •Private balcony with a river view Cons: •Parking and pulling out onto the main road •Parking is a bit tight, but they work well with the space they have (especially if you have a larger vehicle—worth checking with them ahead of time) •Getting onto the main road can be tricky until a kind driver lets you out Would we stay again? 100%—without question! Pricing was very fair, especially considering you’re right in downtown.

Overall, our stay was very nice! The views from the room are great and the room was very clean. Very cozy feel for the winter season! We did have a couple of minor things come up upon arrival, but the staff was very quick to make sure they were taken care of. Parking can also be a bit tricky, as each room has their own parking space. If you do not have a compact car, it could be difficult to get into your space if there are vehicles on both sides. Also, the hotel is right on the parkway- so getting out of the parking lot does take patience (especially during the holiday season). The restaurant that is attached was delicious; definitely not your traditional hotel breakfast. Although, the service that we received there was a bit slow. Overall, we did enjoy our stay and will be back!😊

This Inn experience was perfect. My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary and selected these accommodations because it’s right on the water. The private balcony was spectacular and we saw a bear 2 out of 3 days which was awesome. The Innkeepers are so attentive over every detail, even providing a complementary bottle of wine to celebrate our occasion. The room was clean and cozy. Breakfast (which is included in your stay) at the Heirloom was superb. We had an overall fabulous stay! Highly recommend!!

This is by no means a luxury hotel, it feels like you are in a motel. The rooms are very small. The toilet was a foot and a half from our bed if we did not slide the door shut it was a ghastly sight! The pictures are quiet deceiving! This hotel is located on the busiest street in town we were there over Thanksgiving and it took us an hour to get out and cover 1 mile with bumper to bumper traffic. I had hoped to have a relaxing time but honestly there was no place to relax in the room and there is no common area. Unfortunately, it was too cold to sit on the balcony. We are experienced travelers and found it to be totally overpriced at almost 450.00 a night we stayed in the Majestic Glen. That said the staff was amazing and very responsive, they have a nice upscale restaurant on site with good food. This was a lifesaver because all restaurants in town were packed with people and with no availability. The Heirloom Room was not overcrowded we could relax and enjoy our meals.

This place checked every box for me — clean, attractive rooms, comfy beds, and genuinely friendly, helpful staff. My husband arranged our stay and honestly, he knocked it out of the park. The rooms were spotless, stylish, and super comfortable. I was able to bring my dog, and breakfast was included. The extra bonus? An amazing view of the river from our private deck. Every staff member we interacted with was wonderful. I’m an avid hiker and had never been to this area before. One of the staff members, also a hiker, took the time to walk me through exactly where I could take my dog since options are limited. I also had to work one day during our trip and needed extra espresso pods — they were happy to bring them to the room. Breakfast was provided at the restaurant next door, which was just as clean, stylish, and delicious as the hotel itself — and dog friendly, too. I saw a few reviews complaining about loud air-conditioning, but mine was no louder than what I already have at home. If I focus, I can hear it kick on and hum in the background, but it’s barely noticeable — just a bit of white noise. Highly recommend this place. It’s a great find.

Rocky Waters The best thing about the Inn is the location. The best thing about the location is being right on the creek. Proximity to attractions is good too. The worst thing was our room which was number 218. The hotel advertised private balconies. This is true because access is limited to the rooms but in 218 there is NO privacy. The balcony sits right beside the ramp to access the second level. If you open your window or doors, people feel obliged to look into your room. If you sit on the balcony, you are sitting with people walking in front of you. We can to be in the creek so we kept ours open - all the time. The room was decorated nicely and up to date. Also very clean. I would come back but not to 218 or the next door one. Didn't try the restaurant - maybe next time.

I'm pleased with my 1-week stay. Keith and Michelle took good care of us since we arrived. The water flow by the balcony changes the game. Although they don't have an office or receptionist like the other regular hotels, they are just one phone call away. I could see how flawlessly they tried to assist us to make us comfortable. I had some mild struggles but it was all good eventually. Also, they put their information out there on their website so I'd known what to expect for my stay. The location is perfect for me. Not right at the center but still convenient to tour around the city, staying away from tourist's noise. Definitely will come back.

A quiet, cozy, and tranquil spot, perfect for couples. My guy booked a few nights here, and it was the ideal destination and hotel for us. If you love the outdoors and enjoy the sounds of nature, this place hits all the right notes. From the moment we arrived, we were well taken care of and greeted by several friendly faces. Brando, in particular, was incredibly welcoming, showing us to our room, explaining where to park, and helping with a few other things. The room itself was spacious and beautiful, nestled right alongside a creek. The soothing sounds of nature made it the perfect, relaxing getaway. The room was clean, with new, top tier appliances. The bathroom had a lovely French inspired design, complete with a large stand up shower and double sliding doors. The vanity featured a stunning Moen matte black faucet, a matching soap dish, and elegant makeup towels and water glasses: a thoughtful touch for this romantic setting. We had a king bed, which was incredibly comfortable. Outside, the patio was my favorite spot, perfect for relaxing and unwinding or sunbathing during the day. The creek's calming sound was a perfect backdrop. This was by far one of my favorite hotels I've stayed at in quite some time. It's located in the heart of a popular tourist area, so there is occasional noise from travelers and nearby activities. However, it didn't bother us at all, and we heard none of it at night. A perfect couples' getaway--we will definitely be returning!

There might be better rooms than the one we got. The A/C is old, antiquated and very loud. If you wish to hear the river from the balcony you need to turn it off. I'm writing this at 3:am. A/C keeping me awake.

Very nice and clean. Beautiful rooms and scenic balconies. Everyone was so helpful and just so nice. Southern hospitality at its best.

Definitely 6 . Loved the view on the river, clean interior and very well noise canceling. Everything is within walking distance and parking worked perfectly. Would definitely be staying here when I come back.

A fantastic place to stay with the river right there and downtown Gatlinburg a walking distance! Very friendly staff. My only complaints are the parking was a little tight (which is kinda expected considering the area it's located) and the shower drain was a bit clogged.

Not only does this hotel not have any sort of front desk or lobby to speak with staff, but they only give you a phone number to text them if you need things. We walked into the room that was very dirty. Rocks and dirt all over the floor. There were sticky stains from liquids on the floor and the nightstand/ desk. The sheets and comforter had stains that resembled dried blood. The bathroom looked like it had never been cleaned, there was hair on the toilet seat as well. I would never recommend this hotel to anyone ever. The room we were given looked absolutely NOTHING like the pictures. We immediately called the front desk to notify them we were not comfortable sleeping in such a disgusting room. Staff couldn't even provide me with a number to call for a supervisor or customer service, I had to find it myself online. We got a partial refund and stayed at a different hotel. Extremely disappointing, especially being a Diamond Member with Hilton.

If you need to sleep, forget this hotel. Beautiful spot, but no insulation. Loud traffic, people on second floor make it impossible to rest. No curtains on windows make privacy dubious. Poor quality renovation. Cute classic hotel in a great location, with polite staff, but no rest. Supposedly a Hilton, but disappointing.