This house on Marian Lake is in an absolutely stunning setting. There are some great features, like the wrap around porch, panoramic views of the lake, and a nice open living area. The proximity to the National Park is a huge plus. Wears Valley is the perfect place to enjoy the natural setting of the GSM as opposed to the tourist traps of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The neighborhood is gated and the houses are spread out, so you can bask in the natural setting without intrusive noises.
There are a few details about the property we felt misled about. Technically, this is only a one bedroom house. The bed on the main floor is in a room with walls and a door. The two other beds are above in a completely open loft. The loft banister is not to safe building code, which requires 4” or less between the balusters on all residential banisters and handrails. The balusters on this house’s loft exceed 6”-7” in most places, which is large enough for a child’s head to get stuck or potentially fall through. The banister is wobbly in a few places on the loft, attached only by a single wood screw into drywall. The two bunkbeds are in the separate game room below, and there is no interior access between the game room and the main living area above. You have to exit the house and walk around to access. For older children or adults this is fine, perhaps even desirable, but for younger children it is not workable, especially given the copious bear warnings and sightings around the property.
The service from Volunteer Cabin Rentals was fine, and the two workers at the front desk were both friendly and helpful. The systems used are outdated, and they require you to visit the office to check in and check out, despite there being no physical keys and only one document needing a signature, which could easily be done online.
VRBO will not allow me to disclose the cost of the canoe/kayak rental. I asked about that upon booking but got no reply. Given the price, we opted against it. Nonetheless, the boats appeared to be nice, and the lake is a serene place for a paddle or casting a line.
Lastly, while we did not use it, we noticed the hot tub was leaking. The dishwasher was full of dishes upon our arrival, which is probably the result of how busy the cleaning staff is this time of year.
Overall, we had a nice experience in an incredible part of our world. We plan to visit this area again.