To make your stay a little easier, we've set up Amazon Alexa in the cabin — there's an Echo on the basement level and one on the main level (in the living room by the TV). There are no smart speakers in the upstairs bedrooms, so you can rest easy up there.
Not a fan of a smart speaker? No problem at all — just unplug it. Please pull the cord from the back of the device (not from the wall outlet), and pop it back in before you check out. We won't be the least bit offended.
Just say “Alexa, …”
Wake her with her name, then ask away. A few of our favorites to get you started:
Everyday helpers
“Alexa, what time is it?”
“Alexa, set a pizza timer for 15 minutes.” (she can run several timers at once)
“Alexa, set an alarm for 6:30 AM.”
“Alexa, how many tablespoons are in a cup?”
“Alexa, what's a substitute for buttermilk?”
“Alexa, tell me a joke.”
Weather & the mountains
“Alexa, what's the weather today?”
“Alexa, is it going to rain tomorrow?”
“Alexa, is it going to snow today?”
“Alexa, what time is sunset?” (great for planning a deck happy hour)
Out & about
“Alexa, what time does the Dollar General in Wears Valley close?”
“Alexa, how far is Dollywood from here?”
“Alexa, how long does it take to drive to Gatlinburg?”
“Alexa, find a coffee shop near me.” (then cross-check our Where to eat picks!)
Around the cabin
Most of the lights — and a few other things — are connected to Alexa. A taste:
“Alexa, turn off the kitchen lights.”
“Alexa, turn off all the basement lights.”
“Alexa, turn on the Christmas lights.” (seasonal — give it a try!)
“Alexa, I'm cold — turn up the heat.”
“Alexa, what's the temperature in the sauna?”
“Alexa, how much time is left on the washing machine?”
There's a lot more she can control — lights, fans, and (soon) the heated bathroom floors. The full rundown is on the Smart Home page.
Music & winding down
“Alexa, play pop music.” / “Alexa, play some bluegrass.”
“Alexa, play a popular podcast.”
“Alexa, play rain sounds.” (perfect on a misty mountain night)
“Alexa, set a sleep timer for 30 minutes.”
A few friendly ground rules
Please don't change her settings — Wi-Fi, account, device name, or location. It keeps her working for the next guests.
Remove any alarms or reminders you set before you head out, so a 6 AM alarm doesn't surprise the next family. Just say “Alexa, cancel all my alarms.”
Keep the volume neighborly, especially during quiet hours (10 PM–8 AM) — sound carries on the ridge.
Voice purchasing is disabled, so no need to worry about accidental orders — and please don't link your personal Amazon account.
On privacy: an Echo only streams audio to Amazon after it hears the wake word, and we reset the devices between every stay. Still prefer it off? See the unplug note up top.