Dancing Bear Lodge Townsend - Townsend, Tennessee

Dustin F. P.

Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend, TN is truly one of my favorite venues to photograph, and Jeffrey and Lindsey’s wedding this March was another incredible experience at this stunning location.

I've had the joy of shooting here several times, and every visit reminds me why I love it so much. Tucked away in the quiet beauty of the Smoky Mountain foothills, the lodge offers a peaceful, intimate setting that’s perfect for celebrating life’s most meaningful moments. The natural surroundings are breathtaking year-round and offer endless opportunities for gorgeous photos.

The staff at Dancing Bear is consistently professional, attentive, and welcoming—not just to the couple and guests, but to vendors as well. And I have to mention the food! As a photographer, I’m often on the go during wedding days, and the vendor meals here are hands-down some of the best I’ve ever had anywhere. Thoughtfully prepared and absolutely delicious.

Whether I’m working a wedding or just stopping by for brunch, Dancing Bear Lodge never disappoints. I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

Nenita M.

Hubby and I stayed two nights in a one bedroom King Villa. Although not a true cabin, it was very clean, the bed was comfortable and the bathroom was spacious compared to a tiny home. The staff at check in were professional and helpful. The grounds are peaceful and dinner at the onsite bistro was SO GOOD! Loved the convenience of walking to dinner. Plus free breakfast with great coffee in the morning. We will be back.

JillsTravels615

Perfect pre-Christmas getaway! Our cabin was just right for my husband and me along with our 2 dogs. After hiking on the property and exploring nearby walking areas we loved relaxing on the private back porch in the hot tub. Dinner at the Bistro was delicious and our server Jack was terrific and so patient with my husband’s picky palate.

K631ZBsusanp

This little community of log cabins is wonderful! Exactly what you would expect in Tennessee. We stayed in the Rocky Top cabin and could not have been happier. It is a well appointed, very large 2 bedroom cabin. There were several balconies & decks that allowed you to enjoy the outdoors. I highly recommend!

Vivian W.

Update: someone from Dancing Bear reached out to me very quickly to make this right. I really appreciate their service and consideration, and I’ve updated my rating to reflect that. I can’t wait to return next year!

I really enjoyed my first stay here (with one large exception), so much that I booked another one for next year before I left. The location is PERFECT, the cabin was comfortable and pleasant, the property is beautiful and a delight to wander around, and the price of the room was very reasonable. My only major problem is with the “curated bistro experience.” Before you arrive, they send you a questionnaire to let them know about any dietary restrictions, which I filled out. We were then served THREE of the ingredients I had asked to avoid. The first was something my friend is allergic to, which we let our server know, and she replaced it with something else—I would have had no issue if that had been all, as mistakes happen and it was promptly fixed. However, the dish that replaced it included another ingredient I had specified was not acceptable (pork belly). This one wasn’t an allergy but just something I strongly dislike, and we felt bad for the server and didn’t want to make a whole production, so we didn’t say anything about it. Then the entree included a THIRD ingredient I’d asked to avoid for preference reasons (sweet peppers). The service was otherwise impeccable, and the non-alcoholic beverage pairings were excellent, and all the food was otherwise extremely delicious. But considering the price of the experience—which I found out after checkout had increased by quite a bit in the months since I booked it, which I’m sure they weren’t required to tell me about but feels kind of slimy nonetheless—I really feel that ignoring the guests’ needs and preferences in what’s supposed to be a tailored, special experience is unacceptable. I still recommend Dancing Bear Lodge and hope to become a regular, but when I recommend it I will be discouraging people from purchasing this add-on.

(As a small additional note, the picnic lunches I’d ordered when booking and had confirmed by email a day before arriving weren’t ready at pickup time, and apparently the restaurant hasn’t been told about it at all. This would only be a problem if you were in a hurry, though, as they were happy to make some for us in just 15 minutes.)

(Also be aware that the robe provided will not fit anyone above a size 14, but to be honest I expect that from most places, even higher end ones than this. The women’s clothes and gear available at the SMOC store also only goes up to I would estimate an 18 (most items top out around 14-16 but I found a raincoat that JUST barely fit me, and a men’s hoodie that fit comfortably). If you’re plus size, make sure you bring everything you need, as you likely can’t buy it here. Again, this is hardly unique to Dancing Bear, but it was unpleasant.)

Cheri P. F.

We spent our anniversary weekend here and had a wonderful time. The location is incredibly peaceful, and the charming town is a perfect escape. It's within a short drive to Cades Cove, Maryville, and if you’re up for it, Gatlinburg with its scenic routes.

From the moment we reserved our stay to check-out, the staff was friendly and attentive, making every interaction a pleasure.

The Bistro was exceptional! We loved it so much we dined there two nights in a row.

Our villa was spotless, well-stocked, and the private jacuzzi with a breathtaking view was the cherry on top.

We highly recommend this place for a romantic couples’ getaway!

Jan H.

The Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend is a wonderful place to stay with great amenities, restaurants, delicious coffee, mountain air and nice people. You will feel welcomed from the very first moment when you arrive and meet the super kind staff. Our favorite breakfast place was the Dancing Bean Coffee House. The cabins are fantastic, specially the newly built ones, I think there’s two of them, one called Spence Field and Ace Gap. We stayed at the Spence Field.

We will be back!

Laura G.

I can’t explain just how incredible the Dancing Bear is! Everyone treated us SO well. Kristy, wedding coordinator, ensured that our day (and the days leading up to it) were perfect! She organized all decor, food, and details so that I didn’t have to stress about a thing. She also made recommendations for local activities and cake vendor. She’s fabulous! The candied bacon on the charcuterie board in the Bistro is TO DIE FOR! We also had the filet mignon for dinner and it was absolutely divine. Zoe, our waitress, made the evening so enjoyable! She made great drink recommendations - a chocolate martini with Disaronno and cherry juice - and anticipated our every need! Monahan gave us a good laugh out by the bonfire with some trivia questions. Our cabin was adorable! Dog friendly so we brought our pup. The bed was super comfortable and the hot tub was a perfect way to end a long and fun day outdoors! This place is a hidden gem. We’ll definitely be back to celebrate anniversaries!