My wife and I have been together for 24 years. In that time we've gone horseback riding 3 times,…read moretwo of which have been here in Pigeon Forge. Our most recent excursion @ Goldrush Stables and the other @ Big Rock Dude Ranch. Naturally, I can't help making comparisons between the two. Simply put, after this experience we've come to the conclusion we really don't like riding horses, even though we love them! It's just not for us, but we are so glad for all the opportunities. . [ THE RIDE ] We arrived 15 minutes early as requested by the stables to sign waivers and prep for the ride. Our trail guides were saddling several horses as we watched from outside the fence. Once ready, we were summoned to the mounting platform, which makes it much easier for beginners like us. Because COVID-19 has given me a little extra girth, I was given one of the larger horses named Blondie, while my wife rode Fanny. It was Blondie's first ride in weeks (they tend to rest their horses for long periods), so she proved to be rather eager on the trail. Fanny, as my wife soon discovered, doesn't like to get her feet wet. Once all the riders were mounted & instructed, we walked across a wooden bridge to a field and began our ride. Normally the ride would begin by walking the horses through the creek, but rain from the night before had water levels up, so we bypassed it via the bridge. We also bypassed another creek walk further down the trail, which was disappointing since it was one of the main reasons we chose this stable over Big Rock. It was one of the best selling points. We then arrived at a smaller, more narrow creek crossing that both Blondie and Fanny decided to jump, startling both me & my wife. Immediately after the creek the terrain goes uphill, which my horse decided to run. She headed straight into some low-lying branches, almost knocking me off. Her eagerness caused her to not listen very well when pulling back on her reigns and my inexperience handling her didn't help. My wife's horse ran her knee into a tree just after jumping the small creek, so clearly we were having a few issues! LOL Our guides yelled out after my wife's accident "steer your horses", but even after 3-minutes of instruction it's hard to do that properly when the horse seems to have other plans. At this point the trail follows a path into the woods and up and down a fairly good-sized hill. On a dry day I think this would have been a very pleasant ride, but because the trail was muddy, my particular horse kept sliding... BADLY, like something you'd see in a cartoon! It was very nerve racking and made it difficult to relax and enjoy the experience. In truth, I felt sorry for my horse. She was seriously soaked in sweat by mid ride and seemed to walk under every low branch along the way! I believe she was intentionally trying to get me off her back, fo'realz... hahaha! Poor thing. My wife remained frazzled most of the ride as she wrestled with her own fears of not feeling in control. At midpoint the trail loops back into itself and we follow the same path back to the beginning. . [ THE VERDICT ] We learned something about ourselves that I suppose we've always known. Some of the experiences we've had were greatly enhanced because of the joy we felt showing our children how to live life. We did so many things in the name of giving them great memories and now we must reprogram to pursue our own like as a couple, not just as parents. We thought we would enjoy the more open fields & smaller slopes @ Goldrush versus the mountainous trail @ Big Rock, and probably would have if not for the muddy conditions. That being said, the ride time was far shorter and there is little else to do here. Overall we felt like Big Rock was the better value. So why 4 stars you ask? Well, for one I believe most of our dislikes for this ride were either OPERATOR ERROR or just conditions that couldn't be helped. It's just the luck of the draw when dealing with nature. Secondly, I think despite the shortness of the trail, it is perfect for beginners and families with children old enough to ride on their own. [ NOTE TO OWNERS ] I would like to suggest regularly trimming low lying branches along the trail, adding colorful signage reminding riders to watch their knees in at least TWO critical areas and/or add a guide rail to deter the horses from walking so close. Most of us city folk just don't know how to handle a horse!!! Also, since the trail is short and most people these days love photo opportunities, why not build a second mounting/dismounting platform at the top of the hill where riders can have a chance to pause & take pics on or beside their horses. I personally think this would go a long way in improving the experience. TIP WHEN PLANNING A VISIT: Currently they do not allow doubles, so smaller children or kids fearful of riding alone cannot ride (unlike Big Rock which allows small children to ride with parents). ENJOY 2020 / 71

This place was great! We wanted to do something different in this vacation and horse back riding…read morewas something we never have done before! It was cool to get to go up hills and see the beautiful views from riding the horses! I rode rebel and he was great! He wanted to lead the whole time but we stayed in the second spot. Highly recommend trying this place out!

We arrived after 3pm; beautiful drive from pigeon forge. All staff were so kind and knowledgeable…read more The chairlift ride was so fun, more exciting than I imagined and I felt safe. The ride up and down was comfortable and views are stunning! Peaceful with gorgeous Mountain views as you glide up a lush path through the trees Once at the top the views are panoramic we were given cold water bottles and moon pies! We played bean bag toss then sat on a swing that seemed on top of the world! I've been on other chair lifts in the area and like this one best Do yourself a favor and spend a couple hours experiencing this gem!

Came back today but heads up for everyone they are not doing horseback riding this year. They do…read morehave a sky-lift.

Extremely Frustrating Experience - Please Fix Your Address Info…read more We had a really disappointing experience with Sugarlands Riding Stables due to serious issues with their address and lack of communication. We originally mapped "Sugarlands Riding Stables" on Apple Maps -- it led us to the wrong location (see attached image). So we tried the address listed on their actual website (1409 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN -- sugarlandsstables.com), typed it into both Apple and Google Maps -- and again were taken to another incorrect location, this time to a random candle shop downtown (see image of 1409 parkway mapped). Our friends in another car finally found the correct spot only because they physically clicked the address link in Google, which took them to the right location. Turns out the stables are actually located off Newfound Gap Road, near the Two Mile Lead Concession Horse Trailhead ( see image on Google maps)-- not downtown, and nowhere near any of the addresses they list. When we arrived, we were told they couldn't take us because the second car was 20 minutes late -- even though we had booked online a month in advance and had no way of getting accurate directions. I had also tried calling multiple times over several days, and no one ever answered. When we got there, the staff even admitted that many people are getting mapped to the wrong location but offered no real solution -- just that "you have to click the link" instead of typing the address in. How are people supposed to know that? Especially when the website sugarlandsstables.com is the one giving the wrong address? The owner responded to our review saying we must have looked at the old contractor's website -- but we absolutely didn't. We looked at the correct, working website (again: sugarlandsstables.com), which clearly lists the incorrect 1409 Parkway address. The old stables aren't even in operation anymore, so not sure why that was suggested. If you know this is a repeated issue, why not: * Update the address on your actual website * Add a clear note with real directions * Mention landmarks like the cemetery or the trailhead * Add a Google Pin that clearly marks "Sugarlands Riding Stables" at the right location * Set up a working phone line or at least a live chat They claimed their phones were down from storms, but if you're running a business, there should be a backup -- like a cell phone or an auto-reply that helps people. There's clearly WiFi because they process online bookings, so the excuse doesn't cut it. They did refund us, but then said the booking company is based in Florida and they don't really have a connection with them -- and they couldn't give us a phone number or contact to follow up. Also, the confirmation email had no address at all, so there was nothing helpful to go off of if you didn't already know exactly where to go. The worst part? Their attitude. Their responses to reviews are so defensive, blaming customers rather than just being understanding or proactive. It's really unprofessional. If you know people are regularly being misdirected to downtown Gatlinburg, just fix it. Don't accuse the customer. TL;DR: We lost out on a paid booking because of mapping issues, no communication, and a lack of transparency. They gave a refund, but the way they handled it -- and how they treat customers -- left a really bad taste in our mouth. A simple website fix and better attitude could go a long way.

We had a ride scheduled for December 29 that was canceled due to weather. This was planned during…read moreour vacation and was meant to be a special experience for our daughter. Since the cancellation, I have made multiple attempts to follow up. I have spoken with three different people and even came in person on the scheduled date. Each time, I was told that a refund would be issued. Last week, I was informed that the refund was being processed and that I should have received it by the beginning of this week. It is Mid January and still no response or update. Sad. We live in a different state.

We drove out to try to ride here. There was a car in the parking lot that was just leaving... said…read morethere was a sign up that visitors should come back tomorrow. He said he's been coming every day for a week and when he calls the phone just rings and rings. I can say for myself that the horses looked skinny and the whole place looked sketchy and run down. We went elsewhere.

"The horses talk to them." After giving information around…read moremyself that is very personal including weighing me on a bathroom scale, they inform myself and my entire party we cannot ride their horses because one person in my party weighs 230. Don't waste your time or the 45 minute drive out.

I had wonderful 1st timer zipline experience! The instructors Gabe, Riley and Kyle are all…read morewonderful fellas! They thought me how to be a like web slinging maniac and flip off the platform like I was in the circus. Lol!! Thank you for showing me how to not just ride down the zip line but how to have a blast while cruising down the lines!! David G

This was a disappointing experience. Everything looks very run down. The staff that we interacted…read morewith was friendly but I wouldn't not recommend spending on this when there are so many other experiences.

The 3 mile trail ride at Ponderosa was absolutely gorgeous! We had riders from age 50-15 and all…read morehad an amazing time. The ride was about an hour long and took us through beautiful greenery. The price beats many other facilities and includes more experiences. The facility is extremely clean and put together with many activities like fishing and the petting zoo to do outside of horse riding. The horses are very well taken care of with calm temperaments and know the trails well. The employees are all very kind and helpful, our personal favorite, our guide, Dale. I was the first rider behind Dale and I loved listening to his interesting stories, as-well as his funny commentary and helpful advice for comfort on our ride. You can tell that all employees care not only for the business but the horses, customers, and wildlife. 10/10 experience!!!

Amazing experience, thank you to our guide Dale for the great and relaxing experience. The horses…read moreare full of personality and you can see how this place cares and love their horses, mine was Nebraska twin of Colorado. I would totally come back to this place for more rides.

Great easy family trail ride. Took our 2 kids (10 and 6) and the 1hr ride was perfect for them…read more Every employee was incredibly nice and seemed to really enjoy their jobs. Can't say enough good things about our guide Danni- she was so nice and took great care of our group. Other reviews have mentioned the lack of views - but this spot is so easy to access and there are some nice views!

I really wish I could give this business more stars. They so deserve it. This was my first time…read moreriding a horse. And the ladies in the office explained everything in detail, the gentleman that worked to find the right horse to fit our needs. Matt was our trail guide and he was so knowledgeable and always making sure everyone on our trail ride was safe. We will definitely be returning next year when we come back!! Thank you folks a million times over.

Had such an fun time on our horse back ridding trip! Pops was amazing and kept us entertained. The…read morehorses were so sweet and very well trained. Overall 10/10 experience! Definitely coming back for horse carriage ride next time we are here.

Super friendly staff, friendly horses! My family had a blast. We will be back when we are back in…read moretown. Recommend to everyone from small kids to teens. Even a few grandparents joined the riding fun. Thank you!!

We loved our guides, very personable and comedic. It was only my boyfriend and I, so it only took…read moreabout 50 minutes, but that just meant we were waiting on others! Not sure how some people are upset with it not taking the full two hours, but you still get all the lines in. Super fun and great views!

We had SO much fun ziplining! We felt totally safe and even the reluctant people felt comfortable…read more The real treasures were our guides Cook, and "The Flying Panamanian." (We dubbed him that.) They were attentive, caring, and SO much fun. Next time we want to try horseback riding. Just a tip: make a reservation at least a day ahead, or come early. People were walking in without reservations for both ziplines and horseback riding and they were full.

We rented Bear Mountain II at Chalet Village in March. We definitely felt the "Luck O' The Irish"…read moreafter making the drive up the winding mountain roads to a beautiful rental home on St. Patrick's Day. If you live in a flat state like I do and are not used to driving on mountain roads, you may want to ensure you arrive before dark. We needed a place for family from both Chicago and Tampa, FL to meet and this was the perfect spot. Once we arrived, it was a nice surprise to find this spacious, clean and comfortable home on the side of a cliff. From the front driveway, the home appears smaller. But once you enter, you are greeted by a beautiful vaulted ceiling, well kept hardwood floors and inviting, open spaces. The 3 bathrooms were all very nicely decorated and we love the large, updated showers. The bear decor throughout the house we stayed in is so charming and the kitchen is very well stocked. It was a treat having a hot tub to sit in after a long day of hiking. We also appreciated the pet friendly accommodations. We've rented VRBO houses before and always end up bringing our own hand soap, paper towels and toilet paper. But the host provided plenty of these items for our entire 3 night stay. We had a gracious host and he was a great communicator. Sadly, we did not see any bears during our stay but witnessed amazing views of the city lights, moon, stars and sunrise from the decks. The swing on the porch, pool table, ice maker and washer dryer are added bonuses too. We highly recommend this area, if you can drive on the challenging mountain curves, Great Gatlinburg getaway!

Bad experience with cabin rental. Maintenance and upkeep needed. Hottub and jacuzzi tub in need of…read morerepair. Dryer did not work. Grill needed cleaned or replaced. Was not what was promised.