Booking + Staying at Our Christmas Mountain Cabin in Sevierville, TN (Bear Cove Cabins Review)

Photo Note: Some images in this post have been artistically animated from real family photos to help protect our children’s privacy.

Christmas Away From Home at Coal Camp Lodge (Sevierville, TN)

Christmas away from home was a first for our family—so when we started looking at mountain cabins in Sevierville, Tennessee, I had one non-negotiable:

👉 It needed to feel like Christmas the moment we walked in.

We booked through Bear Cove Cabins, and after scrolling through their huge selection of rentals, we chose Coal Camp Lodge.

And I’m going to be honest… it checked a lot of boxes.

✔️ Christmas décor

✔️ Indoor pool

✔️ Beautiful views

✔️ A theme so committed it included a coal lamp night light

Yes. All of it. 😄

This post covers both our booking experience and our real-life stay—what we loved, what surprised us, and what I’d do differently next time.

Quick Take

Feather Rating: ⭐ 4.5 / 5 Feathers 🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶 (almost!)

A beautifully decorated Christmas cabin with an awesome indoor pool and great views—just be prepared for limited TV/electronics setup and some temperature challenges in the pool area once the door is opened.

Why We Chose Coal Camp Lodge

Coal Camp Lodge stood out for three big reasons:

• It was decorated for Christmas (a must for our first Christmas away from home)

• It had an indoor pool (this basically sealed the deal)

• The views and outdoor space looked perfect for cozy evenings

When we arrived, the décor truly delivered. Whoever decorated this cabin put real thought into the details. They leaned hard into the coal miner theme—and the kids were obsessed with the cabin’s personality.

Kids’ favorite decoration: A snowman that looked like it was about to blow up dynamite. (Of course that one won. 😂)

Booking With Bear Cove Cabins: What to Expect

Easy Browsing + Flexible Add-Ons

Bear Cove’s website made it easy to browse, compare features, and narrow things down quickly.

During checkout, there was an option to add Dollywood tickets and a TimeSaver Pass. What surprised me was that the TimeSaver Pass covered our entire stay, not just one day. When I compared pricing, it honestly looked like a great deal.

We later decided to cancel the Dollywood tickets, and it was not an issue at all. They sent a new invoice quickly and handled everything smoothly.

Email-Only Communication (With One Moment of Confusion)

Everything was handled via email—no dashboard or portal to log into. That threw me off a bit (I get anxious about missing steps).

About a week before arrival, I received an email saying we could either:

• Stop by their office to check in, or

• Call them for directions and door codes

This conflicted slightly with the contract wording, so I reached out to clarify. They responded quickly and explained that once the cabin was ready, they would call and email everything.

Check-In Day Was Excellent

• 11:20 AM: Email with cabin address + door codes

• 11:28 AM: Phone call confirming the cabin was ready

We were still about five hours away, but it was reassuring to know early check-in would’ve been possible.

They even called the next day just to check in and make sure everything was going well—customer service like that really stands out.

Bottom line: The email-only system felt a little confusing at first, but their responsiveness more than made up for it. Now that I understand their process, I’d absolutely book with them again.

First Impressions of the Cabin

Walking in felt like Christmas—which was exactly what I was hoping for. The cabin was cozy, beautifully decorated, and the views were amazing.

Real-life moment: I brought the wrong coffee filters (classic me), but the starter kit had a built-in filter—so we were set for our first morning.

The Indoor Pool (Amazing… With Two Big Wishes)

The pool was a huge highlight, and the kids loved it.

What We Loved

• Very warm on the first day

• So fun for the kids

• A major reason the cabin felt “worth it”

  
  

What We Wished It Had

• Seating inside the pool room so I could supervise comfortably

• An easier way to keep the downstairs warm once the pool door was opened

We ended up opening the garage-style door and supervising from outside, which let out a lot of warm air. After that, the pool area cooled down and I couldn’t figure out how to warm it back up—even after checking the manual.

Safety note: The pool floor got very slippery when wet. Between that and the kids hopping out to adjust lights or fountains, I probably said “be careful” about a hundred times.

Family Time Inside the Cabin

This cabin really delivered on downtime.

• Big Brother learned to play pool—and got so good he beat Papa Bird a few times

• Tons of games available

• Family game nights (Unstable Unicorns + DnD were highlights)

• Genuinely relaxing evenings together

Outdoor Space + Views (Better Than Expected)

The cabin wasn’t remote—there were houses nearby, similar to a beach house setup.

That said:

• The sunsets were incredible

• Outdoor chairs were great quality

• The gas firepit was a favorite evening hangout

Heads up: You’ll hear neighbors. One afternoon had loud music nearby, and one night I could still hear people partying.

Also… I really wished there were blinds on the upstairs side windows. No one needs to see me walking by in a nightgown. 😅

Kitchen Notes (What Was Stocked—and What Wasn’t)

• Dish soap provided, but no dishwasher detergent

• Decent knife set

• Grill was falling apart (we didn’t rely on it)

• Great-sized closets

• An impressive amount of towels (seriously, so many)

Tech & TV Setup (Our Biggest Disappointment)

This was the biggest letdown of the stay.

We couldn’t easily:

• Plug in the Nintendo Switch

• Use our Shield

• Have family Mario Kart or Smash Bros nights

The basement movie theater would’ve been amazing with an HDMI extender.

We also had remote issues—some were dead and needed charging with our own cords.

First Night Dinner Tip (Would Do Again — With One Change)

We grabbed pizza from Jersey Hustle Pizzeria, and after a long travel day, it hit the spot.

Right next door was an Amish store, where we picked up root beer, chocolate milk, and apple cider. It made for a perfect, low-effort first night.

Next time: I’d order pizza before driving up the mountain so it’s ready when we arrive—no extra trip out in the dark.

Kids’ Thoughts: Christmas Away From Home

• Big Brother: Didn’t feel too different; loved the pool table

• Sister: Liked it, but would’ve rather been home

• Little Brother: Thought it was good—but also would’ve rather been home

Final Verdict: 4.5 / 5 Feathers 🪶

Coal Camp Lodge was a lovely Christmas stay with beautiful décor, great views, and an indoor pool that made it feel special for the kids.

Why it’s not a full 5:

• Limited electronics setup

• Pool area temperature challenges after opening the door

Even with those issues, we had a relaxing, memorable trip—and I’d recommend this cabin for the Christmas touches, pool fun, and family downtime.

Would we stay again? Yes—but next time, I may also consider staying onsite at Dollywood for a different experience.

Quick Tips Before You Book

• Bring dishwasher pods

• Expect nearby neighbors

• Pool floors can be slippery—water shoes help

• Plan ahead if you want family gaming nights

• Order dinner before driving up the mountain