I stayed at Margaritaville's latest RV resort hotel in a popular tourist town and now I understand why the Camp Margaritaville destination is almost always booked out

Brittany Chang/Insider

• In September, Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Lodge Pigeon Forge celebrated its grand opening.
• When I visited the property, I was shocked by how peaceful yet fun the Lodge and RV park were.

For better or for worse, there are very few places in the US like Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

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The eastern Tennessee tourist town offers a slice of Las Vegas at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Grist Mill at Dollywood.      Talia Lakritz/Insider

From the bright lights to the rows of kitschy attractions, Pigeon Forge's main strip is a visual feast for travelers stuck in the inevitable traffic.

The Dollywood DreamMore Resort.      Talia Lakritz/Insider

Driving down the main parkway, you're bound to hit Dolly Parton's Dollywood to your right, a Titanic Museum to your left, an indoor snow park behind you, and endless shows and theaters all around you.

The Dollywood Express.      Talia Lakritz/Insider

No matter where you look, you're guaranteed a seemingly random assortment of entertainment, food, and shopping.

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If you're easily overwhelmed, it may be difficult to find a reprieve from Pigeon Forge's charisma.

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But shockingly, that's exactly what Margaritaville's latest property in the Tennessee town has to offer.

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In late September, I spent a night at Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Lodge Pigeon Forge and was pleasantly surprised by the property's peaceful yet fun family friendly environment.

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When I think of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, I don't picture a quiet mountainside retreat. I think of Jimmy Buffet, booze, and a tropical "Parrothead" getaway.

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But somehow, the Buffett-branded hospitality giant has managed to bring a warm, relaxing, and quiet flair to the Tennessee mountainside.

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Margaritaville's tropical branding is a cornerstone of its properties, whether it be at its restaurants, hotels, or resorts.

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I've visited several Margaritaville properties, including its hotel in New York City, cruise ship, restaurant in the Cancun Airport, and RV park in Auburndale, Florida.

Margaritaville Resort Times Square.      Brittany Chang/Insider

And compared to these other concepts, Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge felt more like a peaceful getaway than a boozy party-like Margaritaville outpost.

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The speakers still blast country music …

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… but the idyllic Adirondack chairs facing the mountains, slow lazy river, and pickleball court all made the property feel more like a slower paced tranquil resort.

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But if you prefer a traditional — maybe rowdier — Margaritaville, don't fret. There are still two bars to fulfill any of your margarita cravings.

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"Pigeon Forge can be stressful," Andy Hime, the property's general manager, told Insider. "We try to create an inviting and calm atmosphere … so if you don't ever really want to leave the property, you don't have to."

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The RV site began welcoming guests in June 2021 and the Lodge opened its doors much later in February.

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Final additional amenities like the lazy river and downstairs entertainment center were completed in the summer of 2022.

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The RV resort and its adjacent Lodge hotel just celebrated a grand opening in September …

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… but the property and Margaritaville's presence in the Tennessee town is far from new.

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The Jimmy Buffett brand already has a stronghold in town.

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There are four other Margaritaville properties nearby, including a restaurant.

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Hime believes the area has the highest concentration of Margaritaville properties in the country.

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And the brand recognition is "nice," but according to Hime, the properties don't compete.

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"We have our own little niche and we coexist very well," he said.

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If it wasn't evident yet, Camp Margaritaville's "niche" is right in its name.

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Over the last year, Margaritaville has been looking to expand its RV resorts arm, fittingly named "Camp Margaritaville."

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But I didn't need to rent or buy an RV just to visit this outpost.

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Because the property has a "Lodge" hotel next to the RV park, I was still able to enjoy all of Camp Margaritaville's amenities while spending the night in a comfortable traditional hotel room.

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And after one night in the Lodge, I can confidently say the 128,000-square-foot property could put any one of Pigeon Forge's motels to shame.

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Margaritaville's signature branding was noticeable throughout the entire hotel …

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… and I was surprised by how much the blue walls and tropical decor — whether it be the art on the walls or the woven rattan lights — made the Lodge feel like a slice of seaside paradise in the landlocked state.

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A pool with a water slide was located just off the hotel's restaurant, making this indoor-outdoor space feel more like a beachside resort.

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And downstairs, the hotel hid a treasure trove of activities that could satisfy any child.

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I've never seen a hotel with an arcade, duck pin bowling alley, or video game lounge.

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But here, these spaces were just a short elevator ride from my room.

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There were enough activities to keep a whole family entertained for an afternoon, and I wouldn't be surprised if parents have had to drag their children away from this entertainment complex.

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Upstairs, my deluxe hotel room was unlike any I've ever stayed in and felt just as fun as the entertainment center.

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I traveled alone, but the spacious room could've easily accommodated six people with the help of the extra nook designed to look like a "glamping" tent.

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Thick flaps akin to a canvas tent separated this additional sleeping space from the rest of the hotel room ...

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… which made the small room — complete with sleeping bag-like beds — feel more like a children's "glamping" tent than a hotel.

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There's something to be said for Margaritaville's ability to evoke a sense of its local environment while still sticking to its kitschy yet strong branding.

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The Lodge was a perfect mix between a distinctly Margaritaville getaway and a mountainside lodge.

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The Jimmy Buffett lyrics above my bed …

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… Fins Bar and Chill Restaurant (a dining concept available across many Margaritaville properties) …

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… relaxing lazy river, and pool all made the Lodge feel like a buzzing tropical hotel.

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But the Lodge's cabin-like exterior, peaceful outdoor Adirondack chairs, fire pit, and tent-like rooms were still strong visual reminders of the nearby Great Smoky Mountains.

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Despite the surrounding mountains, the hotel still felt like a true beachside Margaritaville outpost.

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I may have spent most of my time wandering around the Lodge, but I still had access to the RV resort portion of the property.

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And when I drove around the RV park, I was surprised by its tranquility.

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Pigeon Forge is known for its easy access to both the outdoors and fun attractions, and Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge's RV resort felt no different.

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Here, there were no loud sounds from the arcade, no echoes from the pool table, and no sounds of giddy children going down the waterslide.

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Instead, it felt more peaceful and idyllic with views of the surrounding mountains and RVs bordering the tall trees.

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The hotel and all of its activities were just a quick walk away from the RV park ...

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… but the outdoor children's playground, pickleball court, and picnic tables provided RVing families with enough outdoor activities.

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Besides the outdoor recreational activities, there were still plenty of amenities for RVers, including a laundry room, bathhouse, and even a dog park.

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After a full day of wandering around Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Lodge Pigeon Forge, I realized the property held its own as a destination worth driving miles for.

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Like Margaritaville's Auburndale, Florida location, Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge had enough on-site amenities to keep children entertained and parents happy at the bar (it is Margaritaville after all).

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And despite its proximity to Dollywood, the nearby national park, and all Pigeon Forge has to offer, the property was shockingly peaceful and relaxing.

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It's a hidden gem — a getaway from the lively tourist town while still serving as a fun property if you choose to stay close to your hotel room or RV.

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While I enjoyed my time at the Camp Margaritaville outpost as a solo traveler, I do think the property is better suited for families visiting Pigeon Forge, Tennessee by RV or car.

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If you're looking for a quiet retreat into the woods while still being in the heart of Pigeon Forge, I'd suggest bringing a RV.

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But if you'd rather stay in a fun hotel with enough on-site recreational activities to rival Pigeon Forge's other tourist attractions, opt for the Lodge, which feels more like a traditional Margaritaville property.

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Just be sure to book ahead.

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During peak season, the Tennessee Camp Margaritaville destination is booked out almost every day of the week, Hime said.

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Winter may be slower, but the property still hits an over 50% occupancy rate during the weekday.

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And on winter weekends, Hime says it gets close to being fully booked, although the hotel wasn't open until this past February.

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These booking rates may already sound like a success for a resort in a tourist destination, but Hime believes this popularity will just continue to increase as Camp Margaritaville continues to establish itself in this mountainside destination.

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And it's this popularity that has pushed Margaritaville to continue expanding its RV arm.

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The Jimmy Buffett brand is targeting over 30 more locations through the next five years, Jim Wiseman, the president of development at Camp Margaritaville, told Insider in 2021.

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And if its future Camp Margaritaville locations continue to meld this familiar sense of branding and family friendly fun with the local environment, I have little doubt its upcoming destinations will be a hit with both RVers and traditional travelers.

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