We just stayed at the Sidney James Mountain Lodge and it was just wonderful. It is an older hotel, but everything was clean and well kept. The front desk staff was very friendly and very helpful.
The owners of the on-site restraunt were also very friendly and the food was pretty good.
We stayed in a King room, creek side. Our balcony was RIGHT OVER the creek. Inside the room was a very good size. There was a little sitting area with a table, which was very nice. The bathroom was a bit on the small size, but that was just a minor detail to us. We did need extra pillows for the bed and they were in our room when we came back from shopping.
Speaking of shopping, the Sidney James has a great location. We could walk down to the strip from the hotel, but it is far enough to be quiet. We do recomend taking the trolly back to the hotel, however, because it is on a bit of a hill.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Sidney James and plan on returning there in the summer.

Stay at Sidney James March 22-25, 2008
Worth the money, worth the stay, worth the trip
Staff very friendly and accomedating, just what you expect from Southern hospitality.
It is just off the main strip but well in walking distance.
Quiet place, nice atmosphere
Very Nice Rooms, especially the ones with the balcony's
It offers a lot that most don't at the price
Highly recommend

When I called to make the reservation the lady was very nice on the phone. When we got there it was hard to park there was not enough parking. The young man at the desk was very nice. The room was very old and outdated, paint peeling of the walls, the carpet was blue and old and the tlle when you came into the room was broken. There was not a lock on the the door other then the dead bolt. The bacalony was ok the air conditioner cover had fallen off, but the heat worked very well as it was cold, you had look straight down to see what they said would be a wonderful creekside view. The only good thing that I can say about the hotel was that the people were ok and that food at the cafe was pretty good. The hotel would be nice if they made some up dates to there rooms. I would not recommend this hotel, there are much better hotels in Gatlinburg that are closer to the parkway.

I've stayed at this hotel twice. The first time, I was with a buddy and we were drunk the whole time (Spring Break), so it wasn't so bad. The only thing I remembered on my first stay was that I walked in with my friend behind me and saw only one bed. I quickly backed out of the room and got a new room with two beds. I like my friend, but not that much.

The pool was fun, because it has a fake tunnel/mountain motif. Big deal. I did notice it was possible to jump from the second balcony into the pool, I just never got the guts or drunk enough to do it.

I think because of the great weather and the good times I had, I decided to stay there again with my girlfriend...sober.

I didn't really have too much of a complaint about the room. I don't expect much from rooms, just a place to rest between activities. It was dingy. Our "stream" was a ditch, but I already knew this.

My brother and I went to the pool and had a decent time in the murky pool. That is until my brother pointed at my chest and said, "What is that!?!" Looking down, I saw what could have been a mop string or a tampon. I'll go with a mop string so I won't be traumatized. The water was so murky you couldn't see the bottom. I probably could've spotted the object if the water were clearer. So for all the people excited about the pool, don't be!

The management was my next complaint. I realize these guys are getting a plethora of different people and have built up a bad attitude. The only thing I want is a key and a place to voice my concerns if I have any. It was because of the Sidney James that I realized that most hotels in the "tourist trap" portion of Gatlinburg realize that even if you didn't like your stay, there will be another unsuspecting guest tomorrow. They got your money tonight.

My situation involved a group of twenty year olds outside the room with what I thought were paint guns. It turned out to be those yellow nurf pellet guns they sell in town at every other store, however I thought these guys were playing Commando with paint guns and shooting at the rooms. I called management and told them they might want to ask these people to stop shooting around the hotel.

The reply I received was, "Frankly sir, I don't care." This statement carried a sarcastic-laced tone that made me look like the bad guy for trying to save the walls and windows of the hotel.

That's the whole point. They don't care. They know people will still come.