Grinning Bear Retreat

Worth knowing

• Eight bedrooms with 8 full baths and a half bath, stated for 34 guests in the Glades area of Gatlinburg.
• The level-by-level sleeping counts (6, 12 and 16) add up to 34.
• Private indoor pool and a theater with a 100-inch screen.
• Ramp entry and a main-floor king room with a roll-in shower.
• Pitched to family reunions and multi-family trips.

At full capacity that's about 4 people per bathroom. That's our math from the operator's numbers.

What the operator states

Sleeps

Sleeps 34, listed by level: lower 6 (queen-over-queen bunk room, game-room futon); main 12 (2 king rooms, one with a futon, a queen-over-queen bunk room, living-room sleeper sofa); upper 16 (3 king rooms, two with futons, a queen-over-king bunk room, sleeper sofa)

Bedrooms

8

Bathrooms

8 full, 1 half

Sleeping setup

Beds and bunks

Kitchen

Fully stocked kitchen with stainless appliances; a coffee bar on each of the three levels

Meals and dining

Spacious dining area; seat count not stated

Meeting space

No meeting room stated. Theater with a 100-inch screen and a game room with arcade games and pool table.

Outdoors

Private indoor pool (year-round), hot tub, charcoal grill; Bear Cove at the Glades resort

Accessibility

Ramp entry to the main level, which the page calls wheelchair accessible; one main-level king room has a roll-in shower

Pets

Not stated for this property. Site-wide, some cabins accept dogs ($55 up to 35 lb, $75 over 35 lb, two dogs maximum).

Minimum stay

Site-wide: 2-night minimum on most reservations, longer in some periods.

Group rules

Page names reunions, retreats and multi-family trips. Site-wide rental policy: a group leader or chaperone must be with the group at all times; no fraternity or sorority groups and no house parties; quiet hours start at 10 PM; the company may add a security patrol at $150 per night; no smoking inside.

Price

$819 to $3,339 per night (no date on the page; confirm before you rely on it)

Ask before you book

Built from what the operator's page left open when we checked.

1. Is your stated capacity the permitted occupancy, or a count of every bed and sofa?
2. Can meals be provided, or does your group cook for itself?
3. Is there one room where everyone can sit together?
4. Can a church bus or coach reach the building, and how many cars fit?
5. Are pets allowed?
6. Is alcohol allowed on the property?

Copy these questions

Also read what "sleeps 30" really means and the full question list.

Where this came from