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
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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

Reyna T

April 10, 2026

3

People frequently wander off the nearby public path, so you might want to have some people stationed to constantly tell people there's a private event going on. Otherwise, you'll be a half-naked bride, like I was, with a single mother and her two children barging into the cabin where you're getting ready. Then they have the audacity to be mad at you for "exposing" her children, when she's the one who ignored the private event signs posted and barged into a room that had the door closed.

Emma E

April 22, 2026

5

We had our wedding at Spence Cabin and it was absolutely magical. The facilities were as described, and the rangers were so helpful. We can't wait to come back and visit in the future for anniversaries or reunions!

Emma E

April 22, 2026

5

We had our wedding at Spence Cabin and it was absolutely magical. The facilities were as described, and the rangers were so helpful. We can't wait to come back and visit in the future for anniversaries or reunions!

Carson C

May 1, 2026

5

Spence Cabin is absolutely beautiful! It’s such a cool historic building and the surrounding natural areas are very serene and private. We rented the cabin for a small wedding ceremony and it couldn’t have gone smoother. FYI the cabin has no mirrors, so bring your own! The park service also made check-in and check-out so simple and gave us all the rules upfront. I really loved how private and tucked away this spot and surrounding trails are. The cabin was also sufficiently accessible for someone in our party who uses a cane. Highly recommend this event space for a secluded, wooded, accessible venue!

Carson C

May 1, 2026

5

Spence Cabin is absolutely beautiful! It’s such a cool historic building and the surrounding natural areas are very serene and private. We rented the cabin for a small wedding ceremony and it couldn’t have gone smoother. FYI the cabin has no mirrors, so bring your own! The park service also made check-in and check-out so simple and gave us all the rules upfront. I really loved how private and tucked away this spot and surrounding trails are. The cabin was also sufficiently accessible for someone in our party who uses a cane. Highly recommend this event space for a secluded, wooded, accessible venue!

Alysia L

May 25, 2026

5

What a beautiful place to hold such a special day!! I would suggest it 100 times over. So happy that we can go back and visit and remember all the special memories.

Dick I

July 11, 2026

4

Great. It was a great family outing. Will do it again.

Angela M

July 19, 2026

4

Great place to spend the day.

Ashley K

August 15, 2026

5

We love hiking around Spence Cabin, so to be able to use it for our wedding was extra special. It is really a lovely cabin. As I'm sure everyone looking to rent knows, there are no mirrors so be sure to bring one. Bathrooms and kitchen area are adequate. It met all of our needs for our special day. We did notice the cabin had gotten a facelift since our prior visit and now has new wood panels along the front.

Colleen R

October 2, 2026

5

Beautiful site for a small gathering; this was the perfect place for our wedding. The National Park Service made everything so straightforward and easy; and the location is magical.

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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