Two New Hotels Have Opened in the Smokies

The Drury Plaza Hotel in Pigeon Forge and Hotel Indigo in Gatlinburg offer visitors new hotel options

A long time ago, when the world and I were young, I visited the Smokies in a very different way than I do now. Back then, I was still a young Hoosier. And a Smoky Mountain vacation is a Hoosier rite of passage. As the residents of the mountains vacation in Myrtle Beach, the residents of Indiana come to the mountains. That’s just the way it works.

I visited the Smokies for the first time with my aunt and uncle in the middle 80s. I was 11, maybe 12. And we stayed in the Grand Resort Hotel & Convention Center. At the time, it was still new and gleaming, at least in my memory. The resort opened a couple of years earlier, just ahead of the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville.

A couple of years after the vacation, my step-dad got a job in Maryville. So, we made our way to East Tennessee. That was 35 years ago, life comes at you fast it seems.

And it came after the Grand Resort quickly as well. In 2011, the Grand Resort was named the “filthiest hotel in America.” Despite pledges to clean up, the resort closed and was torn down. This is important to note because the Grand Smokies Resort Lodge is not the same facility. We certainly do not want any confusion on that count.

The resort business in the Smokies

The point is, keeping up in the resort business game in the Smokies is a challenge. Guests can be hard on hotels in the Smokies. A hotel that was resplendent a decade ago may be showing signs of wear and tear now. And facilities whose hey day was in the early 2000s or worse, the 90s may have dropped by a star or two since the last time you visited.

The best way to get up-to-date, clean facilities that haven’t been abused like a rental car? Seek out the newest, best and brightest.

In recent days, two new hotels have opened in the Smokies. One is in Pigeon Forge and the other is in Gatlinburg. They may be just be the right fit for your next Smokies vacation.

Tourism in Tennessee

No less and a potentate than Tennessee Governor Bill Lee helped celebrate the opening of the Drury Inn located next to the LeConte Center. Lee was promoting Tennessee tourism which netted $27.5 billion across the state last year. That may seem excessive. But it’s important to remember that in addition to the Smokies, Nashville, Memphis and to a lesser extent Chattanooga, all have thriving tourism infrastructure.

Sure, when you think about Tennessee business you might think of Jack Daniels and or growing automobile industry. However, a big part of what we have going on is y’all coming to visit. So, thanks for that.

Welcome to the Drury Plaza Hotel in Pigeon Forge

The Drury is located on 140 Jay Thomas Road. It offers 252 guests rooms that are described as spacious as well as views of the Smokies and the Little Pigeon River. It has indoor pool, splashpad and outdoor whirlpool and fire pits. There’s a Kitchen + Bar and complimentary breakfast as well as something called an evening 5:30 kickback. It has all the expected amenities and is well situated if you’re planning on basing your vacation out of Pigeon Forge.

Most importantly, it’s located just off of Teaster Lane – Pigeon Forge traffic cheat code. This means you can get to things like the Ripken Experience, Dollywood, The Island and a lot more without having to get up on the Parkway and deal with the traffic.

We searched for rooms on a random date next spring for two adults and two children. The rate started at $160. They do offer several discount options for seniors, military and more. The website is located here.

Welcome to the Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg

The Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg opened in September 2025. The dog-friendly hotel has 136 rooms, rooftop dining with “panoramic alpine views.” And because we are dedicated to the truth, I Googled the definition of alpine – a term not commonly used with the Smokies. I found that it means “relating to high mountains.” Are the Smokies considered alpine? Consider me like a lenient judge on “Law and Order” – I’ll allow it. That said, I’m keeping the Hotel Indigo PR people on a tight leash for the rest of the cross examination.

Uh oh, too late.

“Hotel Indigo Gatlinburg Downtown is a love letter to this incredible destination,” says Victor Patel, Owner of Viral 24 LLC. “Every aspect of the hotel from the design to the dining invites our guests to experience the spirit of the Smokies. We’ve taken the wonderment of our surroundings and paired it with a level of service and comfort that makes every guest feel both at home and inspired, whether they are seeking adventure, relaxation, or both.”

Guys, I’m going to have to sustain the objection at this point. Let’s tone down the rhetoric. The amenities include a 55″ TV, mini fridge, coffee maker and teas, security safe, ZENOLOGY bath products, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and more. The more presumably includes things like toilet paper and breathable air.

The Indigo is located at 229 East Parkway and the website is located here.

Hotel Indigo’s Altitude Restaurant and Rooftop Bar

Seriously though, the shining star of the hotel, is the Altitude Restaurant and Rooftop Bar. It is described as “an indoor-outdoor rooftop culinary destination perfect for energizing sunrise breakfasts and relaxing sunset dinners complemented by breathtaking views of the Great Smokies. The hotel delivers exceptional, locally-sourced new American cuisine, regionally-inspired craft cocktails, curated flights, and a selection of top-notch local beer brews. It is open every day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.”

The hotel also offers a poolside lounge and an “infinity-edge pool and swim-up pool bar” which overlooks the mountain landscape. Cabanas are available for $85 per day, based on availability.

Based on the same perimeters as The Drury, prices at the Indigo started at $204 for a random stay next spring. I did see that other nights may have lower price range.

Which hotel should I choose?

It depends very much on the kind of vacation you wish to have. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are not every far apart. But to me a Gatlinburg vacation and a Pigeon Forge vacation are very different things. Sure you can do Gatlinburg while staying in Pigeon Forge and vice versa. But I consider a Gatlinburg vacation more about relaxing and spending at least some time in the hotel – which the indigo is perfect for. A Pigeon Forge vacation is much more about getting out and going to dinner shows and Dollywood and go-kart tracks and the like, which the Drury is perfect for.

Ultimately, I think you can’t go wrong with either. I’d base my decision on whether I want to spend more time in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. Which hotel would you choose? Let us know in the comments and on the socials.