Larry Vaught Photo
If you are looking for a different experience when you stay in the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg area when you visit the Great Smoky Mountains, let me recommend The Wayback, a tribute portfolio hotel on the main parkway in Pigeon Forge.
I knew it was a retro/throwback to the 1960’s but this surpassed every expectation we had for our stay.
You have a variety of room choices but they all come with great amenities, including bath robes and an extra blanket on each bed. The robe was great to use when I headed to the huge outdoor hot tub and having an extra blanket is great if you need a quick nap or maybe just need to stay a little warmer.
The decor in the room was bright and festive and just gave you a feel-good impression. The bathroom amenities were great and unique. And it was terrific having a large TV.
There is a go-kart track next door and we wondered what the noise factor might be like, especially with the busy parkway so close, too. However, our room did not allow any outside sound to bother us and I had a great night of sleep that only ended because I set an alarm that woke me up.
The staff? Incredible. Everyone was so courteous and helpful whether it was making a future reservation, asking for area recommendations or general questions about the property. I loved the hot tub but was told that normally the entire outdoor pool was heated year-round even if it was not during our stay because of an equipment problem that was scheduled to be repaired soon.
Location? The Wayback is directly across the street from The Island, one of Pigeon Forge’s most popular spots. However, with immediate access to the parkway it’s centrally located for almost anything you might want to do and that is important, especially at peak tourist periods where traffic can be a huge issue.
While there are plenty of food options close, the Paloma Scratch Kitchen on site is amazing. Everything is made from scratch daily, including maybe the best chips and salsa I’ve ever had. We had the salsa sampler with mango serrano pikliz, guacamole and aji verde. It was so good we stopped by again the next day to have it again for lunch and again had it with fried plantains — something I never had tried if the staff had not encouraged us to do so.
For my main course, I had mahi mahi that was cooked perfectly with slightly spiced corn that was delicious. My wife had the barbacoa birrea — brisket tacos. Again, they were cooked perfectly.
Paloma’s motto is “fresh and modern Latin cuisine with southern comfort” and I cannot think of a better way to describe it. Where else can you have freshly made green apple cotton candy delivered to your table to finish off the meal?
Plus, I guarantee you if it does not have the most peaceful atmosphere on the parkway, it has to be close. Having a conversation at a normal voice level during dinner is a rarity in Pigeon Forge but you can do that here.
Paloma also has a unique breakfast menu and the corn cakes reminded me perfectly of the sweet cornbread my father used to make many years ago. I had not had anything exactly like that since his passing and it brought back so many special memories.
If you are a Marriott member at one of the higher levels, breakfast is complimentary for two. If not, you can add a breakfast option to your room charge.
During the warmer weather, The Swim Club has a vintage airstream for fresco — a meal eaten outside in the fresh air — and drinks of all kinds. The pool is “adult only” after 6 p.m. and you can sit around the fire pits and order s’mores. You can even rent a heated igloo at the pool to make the cooler weather more bearable.
The hotel bar has a variety of crafted cocktails with unique beverages and when you check in, you get a voucher for a free welcoming drink — Spicy Pomegranate Paloma (tequila, pomegranate, grapefruit, lime, jalapeño agave, splash of soda) — that we certainly enjoyed with our dinner.
It’s just a fun, festive and different.
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For reservations or more information, call 865-428-7500 or email hello@waybackhotel.com.
