Biography

The Historic Gatlinburg Inn has a rich and intriguing past. It boasts a long list of interesting visitors. From frequent guest Liberace to Lady Bird Johnson, the Inn is the kind of place that attracts everyone from families to celebrities, from artists to presidents. It is the kind of place that inspires filmmakers and songwriters. And it’s the kind of place that you wouldn’t give up for any price.

Hotel Details

On 2 acres in downtown Gatlinburg, this historic wood-and-stone hotel dating from 1937 is a 5-minute walk from the Gatlinburg Convention Center, 1 mile from Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a 1-minute walk from the Gatlinburg Sky Lift.

The quaint rooms feature vintage decor with rustic accents and wood furnishings, as well as flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers. Suites add sitting areas and extra bedrooms.

Free perks include hot breakfast, all-day coffee and tea, parking, and Wi-Fi throughout. There's also an outdoor pool, a porch with rocking chairs, and a cozy lobby.

Address

https://www.hospitalityonline.com/historic-gatlinburg-inn Gatlinburg Inn 755 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 865-436-5133

Accommodations

http://gatlinburginn.com/accommodations/

Our Place in History

As the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was being created in the 1930s, Rel Maples Sr. built The Historic Gatlinburg Inn on what had been a family corn patch along the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River. Built in 1937, the Inn was quickly expanded and soon became a landmark not only for visitors, but for locals. It was the first home of the chamber of commerce, the local newspaper, the town’s first bank, its first dentist, and the offices of the City of Gatlinburg.

After World War II, the Smokies became the most visited national park, and The Historic Gatlinburg Inn became a favorite “home away from home” for visitors from all over the country, including many leaders in business, government and the entertainment world, including Lady Bird Johnson, J.C. Penney, Dinah Shore, Liberace and Tennessee Ernie Ford. It co-hosted the National Governors’ Conference in 1951 and appeared in the 1970 movie, “A Walk in the Spring Rain,” starring Ingrid Bergman and Anthony Quinn. Its strongest connection to the entertainment world is through Hall of Fame songwriters Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, whose more than 1,500 published songs include “Rocky Top,” which was written in Room 388 and is the theme song of the University of Tennessee. http://gatlinburginn.com/historic-gatlinburg-inn-celebrate-50-years-songwriting-site-rocky-top/ A Walk in the Spring Rain' was released in 1970 and chronicles the tale of a young lady who finds that the real love in her life might not be her husband. Some scenes in the movie were filmed in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and featured the exterior of the Inn. When asked why the hotel room scenes from the movie were not filmed inside the Inn Mrs. Maples indicated that while she was fond of Ms. Bergman's performance in 'Casablanca' she was not very fond of the plot of this movie. She wasn't pleased with the scandalous relationship between the characters played by Ms. Bergman and fellow actor Anthony Quinn as the two weren't married in the movie. She didn't allow unwed couples to stay at the Inn at the time and she certainly did not want Hollywood portraying her as if she did.

While the historic Inn has been a favorite of the famous, it retains its family atmosphere, and five generations of some families have been our guests. The roses that Wilma Maples planted for Rel in the 1950s still adorn the grounds, which create a quiet oasis in the middle of downtown Gatlinburg. When in search of Hotels in Gatlinburg, we hope you can make your family part of our history.

Just ask the Maples and Miller families. After inheriting The Historic Gatlinburg Inn in 2011, the Maples and Millers had many choices before them, but they recognized that The Historic Gatlinburg Inn is priceless and, instead, chose to preserve its legacy. And, thanks to that honorable decision, you too can become a part of history as a guest at The Historic Gatlinburg Inn.

The Maples and Hospitality Solutions, Inc., were recently recognized for their restoration efforts by receiving the Community History Award from the East Tennessee Historical Society.

Built in 1937 by R. L. Maples, Sr. this historic inn remains in the hands of the Maples descendants and is the oldest lodging facility in Gatlinburg.

News

http://gatlinburginn.com/news/ https://www.facebook.com/gburginn/

Local Attractions

http://gatlinburginn.com/local-attractions-2/ Gatlinburg offers a wide range of activities. The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce website http://www.gatlinburg.com/ has a comprehensive listing of the area’s activities — including restaurants, arts and crafts, shopping, hiking and numerous other outdoor activities.

Sources

http://www.easttnhistory.org/people/historic-gatlinburg-inn-sevier-county