Spence Cabin Front Entrance
Spence Cabin Rear Patio
SPENCE CABIN with table and chairs in side room
Spence Cabin
SPENCE CABIN main room

Featured amenities

Parking Parking

About Spence Cabin

Spence Cabin is an ideal place to hold a small family gathering or family reunion away from the hustle and bustle of nearby towns. It is also an excellent location for a meeting or training session for a small group of people, or for a small wedding or reception. The outdoor patios are great places to relax and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the Great Smoky Mountains. The cabin is situated within the Elkmont Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Apr 1 to Oct 31

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Site Setup and Access

Site Setup and Access

  • ADA Accessible
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
Cabin Outdoor Features

Cabin Outdoor Features

  • Deck or Patio
Missing information?

Reviews (91)

What Guests Are Saying

Spence Cabin is a beautiful and serene venue, perfect for intimate events like weddings, with stunning scenery and helpful staff. Guests appreciate the charming historic building, although it lacks mirrors and can be chilly inside. Overall, it meets the needs for special occasions and is highly recommended for its picturesque setting.

Review Summary

4.6
91 reviews
5
70.3%
64
4
18.7%
17
3
11.0%
10
2
0.0%
0
1
0.0%
0

Danielle S

September 8, 2022

4

Nice for the price, pictures make main room look larger than it actually is. Also you are not allowed to use the rocking chairs outside which would be nice. Fireplace keeps main room nice and cozy.

Danielle S

September 8, 2022

4

Nice for the price, pictures make main room look larger than it actually is. Also you are not allowed to use the rocking chairs outside which would be nice. Fireplace keeps main room nice and cozy.

Michaela M

August 14, 2022

5

We rented this cabin to get married. There is no service so be sure to have your gps loaded. The cabin is pink which made for interesting photos lol. We wanted to get married on the patio outside but were rained out. Getting married inside was fine because all the rooms are connected and the kitchen has a back door so we could still have a “walk down the aisle” moment. The rangers were helpful. Be prepared to have hikers walking through. We were doing our rehearsal and some hikers blindly walked through our mock ceremony. It’s a beautiful location. Keep in mind no mirrors on site, no A/C, but chairs are provided along with various rooms and 2 bathrooms.

Michaela M

August 14, 2022

5

We rented this cabin to get married. There is no service so be sure to have your gps loaded. The cabin is pink which made for interesting photos lol. We wanted to get married on the patio outside but were rained out. Getting married inside was fine because all the rooms are connected and the kitchen has a back door so we could still have a “walk down the aisle” moment. The rangers were helpful. Be prepared to have hikers walking through. We were doing our rehearsal and some hikers blindly walked through our mock ceremony. It’s a beautiful location. Keep in mind no mirrors on site, no A/C, but chairs are provided along with various rooms and 2 bathrooms.

Gregg V

August 9, 2022

3

NPS staff opened cabin 45mins. late. NPS staffer - rude and left a nasty note for all to see, when he wanted to check us out early, 3:30pm. NPS never opened the dedicated parking area for our group, some had to walk 1/4 mi to cabin. Guests had to wait outside until NPS opened cabin. This was a small milestone birthday party with about 20 guests on a Saturday. NPS had placed several Urinal screen deodorizer's (not sure if they were used or not so we did not move them) on top of the Kitchen refrigerator, when asked why hey were there their statement " to make it smell better." Cabin in most spaces was clean - however the interior of the Kitchen cabinets we found unuseable due to mice droppings. The river is located, just off the lower patio and is beautiful. Park guest do come thru = so be prepared when renting - it is not so "Private."

NPS has "Check-In" and "Check-Out" process. This is NOT made clear at time of reservation on recreation.gov site. You need to make sure when you arrive make sure you have someone prepared to walk the checklist and take the responsibility for your reservation upon arrival and at time of check-out.

Cabin is in a beautiful setting and fairly well maintained by the NPS.

Gregg V

August 9, 2022

3

NPS staff opened cabin 45mins. late. NPS staffer - rude and left a nasty note for all to see, when he wanted to check us out early, 3:30pm. NPS never opened the dedicated parking area for our group, some had to walk 1/4 mi to cabin. Guests had to wait outside until NPS opened cabin. This was a small milestone birthday party with about 20 guests on a Saturday. NPS had placed several Urinal screen deodorizer's (not sure if they were used or not so we did not move them) on top of the Kitchen refrigerator, when asked why hey were there their statement " to make it smell better." Cabin in most spaces was clean - however the interior of the Kitchen cabinets we found unuseable due to mice droppings. The river is located, just off the lower patio and is beautiful. Park guest do come thru = so be prepared when renting - it is not so "Private."

NPS has "Check-In" and "Check-Out" process. This is NOT made clear at time of reservation on recreation.gov site. You need to make sure when you arrive make sure you have someone prepared to walk the checklist and take the responsibility for your reservation upon arrival and at time of check-out.

Cabin is in a beautiful setting and fairly well maintained by the NPS.

Anthony H

July 24, 2022

5

We had a family reunion here. It was wonderful and perfect for our day trip. Everyone had a landing spot to sit and enjoy the river or go on hikes. The kitchen has a refrigerator which was very useful to keep things cold until we served sandwich platters, fruit and chips. The staff was very accommodating and helpful. We cleaned up when we were done and made sure that we had not left a mess. Our deposit was promptly returned to us in about 3-5 days. I highly recommend this experience if you have a large group. (We had 18)

Anthony H

July 24, 2022

5

We had a family reunion here. It was wonderful and perfect for our day trip. Everyone had a landing spot to sit and enjoy the river or go on hikes. The kitchen has a refrigerator which was very useful to keep things cold until we served sandwich platters, fruit and chips. The staff was very accommodating and helpful. We cleaned up when we were done and made sure that we had not left a mess. Our deposit was promptly returned to us in about 3-5 days. I highly recommend this experience if you have a large group. (We had 18)

Melanie W

May 19, 2022

5

We held our wedding ceremony at Spence Cabin on the overlook by the water. We had the most beautiful ceremony. There is so much natural beauty at this location that very little decor is needed. There is no air conditioning but we held out ceremony in mid May and the weather was perfect. Due to the number of guests we also booked the Appalachian Cabin for our reception. The cabin was slightly difficult for our guests to find as the cabin is not visible from the parking area. There was no cell service to call guests to explain where to go. I would recommend having a parking plan and directions from the parking area to the cabin prior to holding an event here. This is a perfect spot for any small event.

Melanie W

May 19, 2022

5

We held our wedding ceremony at Spence Cabin on the overlook by the water. We had the most beautiful ceremony. There is so much natural beauty at this location that very little decor is needed. There is no air conditioning but we held out ceremony in mid May and the weather was perfect. Due to the number of guests we also booked the Appalachian Cabin for our reception. The cabin was slightly difficult for our guests to find as the cabin is not visible from the parking area. There was no cell service to call guests to explain where to go. I would recommend having a parking plan and directions from the parking area to the cabin prior to holding an event here. This is a perfect spot for any small event.

Location & Directions for Spence Cabin

500 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 United States

Elevation: 668 ft

Getting There

Spence Cabin is located near Elkmont Campground. Drive south from Gatlinburg, TN on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) for 1.7 mi and turn right onto Little

River Road toward Cades Cove. Proceed 5 mi to Elkmont Campground road and turn left. Go 1.4 mi ...

Nearest town

Gatlinburg, TN - 9.8 mi

About 24 min to downtown

Highway access

Spence Cabin is accessible via Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441), which connects Gatlinburg to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This road is the primary route leading to the area.

Near Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The closest entrance is: Gatlinburg Entrance

Approximate drive: 5.6 mi · 10 min

Near Yosemite National Park

The closest entrance is: Arch Rock Entrance

Approximate drive: 18.9 mi · 32 min

Nearby Campgrounds


Last updated: October 7, 2026

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Explore Gatlinburg, TN

Population: 3,663

Nearby city: Knoxville, TN

Approx. 29 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,289 ft

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