Eagles Nest: Gorgeous Views of the Great Smoky Mountains and Minutes Away From the National Park

Cabin was substitute for the one ordered. We settled for tri-level though stairs are problem with some physical limitations. We arrived Monday, Aug 8 at the 4 p.m. Check in. From outside looked great. First day was brief and produced little problem. Tuesday, we saw the spiderwebs all over the house- lamps, ceiling, corners, windows. Windows were grimy. Bathroom dirty with webs and dead bugs. Before week was over we would see the live ones crawling in bathroom (roaches!). Bed sheets were dirty. We swept dead bugs off the edge when we pulled back the sheets - think may have been termite. But the whole sheet was spotted with little black dots. We laid on the top of bed- avoiding the dirty sheets, but freezing with air that was necessary to avoid the heat. The dishes were dirty. The dishwasher didn’t work. The dryer didn’t work. The washer had to be “babied” to get the right water level. We had to unclog the bathroom sink (downstairs) with plunger. We at least had plunger. No brooms or mops. No way to clean. The oven was dirty and could not be used. We wound up eating out really more than intended but were limited as to how to prepare meals. We did manage to grill outside one night and fix sandwiches another day. Improvisation at best. Looking be be sure nothing was being left, we saw dust puff balls and filth right under the head board of our bed. There is a closet in the downstairs bedroom with unblocked view of the outside all way to roof.

Great view, great location-No online reviews when we booked and when questioned, was told the cabin has been on the program for three years, but price was right so we took a chance. Property could use some care...Squirrels were living in bathroom wall and clearly, someone knew about it because there were drywall repairs on the inside, but no one bothered to block the hole that they were getting in from the outside. Watched the squirrels go in and out all week. Hot tub leaked (could hear dripping underneath deck) to the point that we couldn't even use it by the end of the week. Half of the outlets didn't work. Kitchen amenities were extremely limited. I'm assuming this property was managed by Parkside Cabins, who we checked in with, but they did not respond to my two attempts to have someone contact me after our stay. We're used to Michigan cottages, so these issues were not a deal breaker, but a little disappointing. However, I can imagine the next customer would think otherwise.

Average at best. Cabin looked like bathroom was being patched up with dry wall, flying bugs laying on the floor. Neither jet tub worked, outlets did not work in bathroom, shades did not work, no lights on bedroom night stands.