Deer Ridge Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Deer Ridge has been receiving a LOT of very negative reviews from disgruntled guests and tourists.
Trip Advisor, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and many other travel related sites contains some very negative reviews and complaints about Deer Ridge Mountain Resort. Our goal with this article is to help get these issues resolved for the benefit of both guests and owners. I personally believe it is unethical the way that many guests are being treated by our property management company, and the way their vacations are being ruined, and hope this page will help to rectify this growing problem.
As an owner, and full time resident, at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, we can’t help but overhear dissatisfaction from many tourists who rent condos here.
Most of the rental units here are managed by Joe Thomas who is in charge of the on site property management company, Ridge Management Ltd. – otherwise known as RML. I personally believe that the reputation of Deer Ridge is being very negatively affected by RML and its management by Joe Thomas – but I invite you to read the article, watch the videos on Youtube.com and make your own decision.
We hear a lot of these complaints from tourists and guests while we are walking the property or when we go to the office for our mail. A lot of times, husbands and wife and kids are even screaming at each other in the parking lot or on the balconies that, “They are NOT going to stay here because of…” A lot of other times, the guests are yelling at the office staff.
The reasons for all of this turmoil vary – below are the executive summaries of the “Top Two Dozen Complaints” we hear – and what we believe to be the root causes of the arguments and fights. Below that is the actual cut and paste from the travel sites so you can see the full review these past guests posted. Below is a new video we just posted to our Deer Ridge Owners Channel on YouTube.com that will show you the “Top Two Dozen Complaints” we hear. Also, shown below that video is another video that shows over five dozen very recent photos of the property – so you know exactly what Deer Ridge Mountain Resort currently looks like.
Continue on past these two movies to see:
- Reviews of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort posted by past guests on various travel sites
- Information for all owners.
- A slide show of the beautiful Smoky Mountains and Deer Ridge area.
Make your own decision about staying here – but I recommend you read all the way to the bottom to see what we are trying to do in order to get this problem fixed for the benefit of all guests and owners.
The Top Two Dozen Complaints About Deer Ridge Mountain Resort
- We’re getting overcharged for what this place has to offer. The deals at hotels in Pigeon Forge are a lot cheaper than Deer Ridge – and those are much nicer places with a lot more amenities and closer to what we want to do.
- You will get a surprise $40 to $60 cleaning bill when you check out – no matter how clean you left the unit.
- You will get hit with this cleaning bill in spite of Hotels.com saying the quoted price includes all costs.
- Your cell phone and smart phone probably won’t work from inside your unit, just about irrespective of carrier. Sometimes, but not always, you might be able to get a signal by roaming around the parking lot if you know you are going to get a call.
- You won’t have dependable wi-fi for your computer.
- The Jacuzzi is lukewarm and the indoor pool is too cold.
- Most kids over 5 hate the place because “there’s nothing to do here.”
- You will hear very loud foot fall from the unit above you where you hear every sound even when folks are walking softly - but especially from kids running around and jumping off the stairs. This foot fall is especially bad when some one arrives with their luggage at 2:30 AM.
- There is zero privacy on your balcony since you can hear all the talk from all the other balconies – even if it isn’t loud.
- This is not a hotel or even a motel - but a bunch of condos, owned by different owners that have different decor packages that feebly try to act like a resort or spa.
- Since it is not a hotel, there is no free breakfast, no free coffee, no free shampoo, no free…well, anything. Be prepared to pay lots of nickels and dimes every time you turn around…except it is a whole lot more than nickels and dimes.
- There is no smoking and no pets allowed.
- Check in takes a tedious 20 minutes.
- You get charged for firewood and starters.
- The game room will take your money when the stuff doesn’t even work right.
- There is no on site management or maintenance after around 8:00 PM – and usually no way to get hold of anyone if you have a problem. All you will get is voicemail that will go unanswered.
- We are deep in the boondocks. Gatlinburg is 10 miles away from Deer Ridge, not 5 or 6 like they will probably tell you.
- The main entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a 60-90 minute round trip away from Deer Ridge depending on traffic (peak summer months, October and holidays it can be even longer.)
- The closest real grocery store is at least a 45 minute round trip (so be sure and get all your groceries you will need on your way here!) Also, know that the closest McDonald’s and Subway is a 30 minute round trip.
- All the shopping and attractions in Pigeon Forge are a 60 to 120 minute round trip from Deer Ridge depending on traffic (peak summer months, October and holidays it can be even longer.)
- The closest main airport is a 3 hour, or longer, round trip.
- The basketball court is a joke since it is so slanted. The tennis courts are in worse shape than your local park. (Also, there is no tennis pro.)
- Your GPS might not route you here which is a huge problem in the dark of night trying to even find the mountain – let alone the scary drive up the mountain.
- You will not get a refund: because the weather is bad, because you don’t like the looks of the place once you get here, because you feel that you have been oversold or because your particular unit is dirty, noisy, has bedbugs or is otherwise unacceptable.
In my personal opinion, many of these issues are the direct result of gross mismanagement by Joe Thomas, General Manager at Deer Ridge. I believe that his negative attitude and crass approach to customer service are the reasons for many of these problems that spoil the vacations of so many guests and harm the reputation of Deer Ridge. Other of these issues, like no cell phone coverage and our boondocks location, are not management issues – but unsolvable issues that probably makes Deer Ridge non-competitive with closer in hotels and cabins.
On the very positive side, Deer Ridge does have THE very best view in the entire Smokies! That is why we own here. For us, that makes up for a lot of the negatives. Also, if you are a golfer, Bear Creek Golf Course is at bottom of the mountain.
Recent Video Of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
The following short movie shows photos of the entire Deer Ridge property from a very recent walkabout. This should give both owners and prospective guests a very good indication of what the property actually looks like. Continue on past the movie to see:
- Reviews of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort posted by past guests on various travel sites
- Information for all owners.
- A slide show of the beautiful Smoky Mountains and Deer Ridge area.
Note: If you click on the symbol in the bottom right corner, you can watch the movie full screen. You can also choose hi def or to choose to watch it directly on YouTube by clicking the YouTube symbol.
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Boondocks Living – With A View
The view here is fantastic…but if you really want to be near the action, near restaurants, entertainment and activities for the kids for your family vacation, just be aware of how FAR you are from all of that when you buy or rent a condo at Deer Ridge.
The following short video shows a Hi Def Time Lapse Drive To Gatlinburg And Pigeon Forge Tennessee.
This video shows the drive time and road scenery of 321 from Deer Ridge Mountain Resort back to civilization. We have the best view in the Smokies – but get your groceries and shopping done on your way here to avoid the LONG drive back to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Kroger’s, Wal-Mart and Tanger Mall in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Note: If you click on the symbol in the bottom right corner, you can watch the movie full screen. You can also choose hi def or to choose to watch it directly on YouTube by clicking the YouTube symbol.
Several more videos are planned showing various drive abouts of the Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park – to help with your mountain vacation plans.
Stay tuned – and subscribe to our DeerRidgeOwners Channel on YouTube!
Reviews Of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort – From Pasts Guests
The following are some of the comments and reviews of Deer Ridge that have been posted on other sites like Trip Advisor, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and many other similar sites. I invite you to check out those sites and verify that these are there as of today.
Hotels.com:
Willie Chow wrote on November 13, 2010
“Our experience was marred by a surprise payment. On checking-in I was asked to pay US$45 for booking fee and cleaning fee. I was told that this was compulsory. The reception would not hand us the keys until we settle this amount. I had no choice. You can verify this with the Resort. When I booked with Hotel Club the understanding was that, except for incidentals, all charges are fully paid up when I signed up over the Internet. This US$45 is therefore not a justified charge, and I seek a refund of this amount. Please respond.
“Not recommended Trip type: Romance ”Not what I had expected – Needs work”
Reviewed by a Hotels.com guest on Oct 30, 2009
This place got great reviews and was rated #2 place to stay in Gatlinburg but we were very disappointed. The ceiling had water spots and some places where starting to droop. Doors were broken/off their tracks. No cable in the bedroom. Very hard mattress and didn’t get much sleep. It is also a drive into Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. If you plan on going into these places I would stay closer. Plus side is very nice scenery. Good view of the mountains. We will not be staying here again.
“Beware of this hotel!”
Let me begin by saying that this hotel is beautiful in regards to the surroundings. The hotel has everything it states – full kitchen, dining area, living room, beautiful mountain view. However, the office staff is off duty between 11 P.M. and 7 A.M. Our first night, the people above us were very loud from 11:30 P.M. until around 1:00 A.M. We dealt with it and enjoyed the rest of the time once they were finally quiet. The next night at 1 A.M., the people above us began having a party. After 2 attempts to handle this ourselves by speaking with the people above us, we attempted to call the office several times. They have no emergency answer line or alternate solution to problems that occur during the time that they are “closed.” We ended up checking out the next morning at 7 A.M. because we have a 2 yr old that hadn’t slept at all in 24 hours. After 2 nights of loud disturbances, we couldn’t risk another night of no sleep. The front desk manager stated at 7 A.M. that she could offer us another room however couldn’t give us a number in case of another occurrence like the previous nights. We told her that we couldn’t risk it and would be going home. She stated she understood and stated that the remaining 3 nights we had already paid for would be taken care of, however she needed to speak with her manager. I called back the next day and was told that she was working on it. Still no call back 2 days later so I left a message for the GM. He didn’t call back, so I called hotels.com and they got through to the GM immediately. (surprise, surprise!) He informed them that they would not be giving any credit for the 3 nights due to them offering us alternate accommodations. Had the alternate accommodations been offered anytime during the night, we would GLADLY taken them up on the offer. Please be aware that if you have ANY problems between 11 P.M. and 7 A.M., you will be completely on your own and that they will not refund any portion of your funds even though they were not there.
Orbitz:
“Old and Grungy”
I expected more based on reviews that I had read from several sites; including [...]but to my disappointment. I had procrastinated and needed to identify our hotel accommodations for a weekend trip that was quickly approaching. This was my second visit to Gatlinburg and I was excited to spend the weekend skiing and staying in a nice hotel, neither happened. After going back and forward between three other proprieties, I decided to go with Deer Ridge Resort based on the reviews I read. Yes, the 1 bedroom appeared clean but the furniture was dated and worn. We were hesitant to sit on the brown couch and printed chair not knowing if it was clean. The mattress should have been replaced years ago and the linen/towels also needed to be replaced. Overall, the place was just grungy looking. We were not comfortable sleeping in the bed because we just didn’t know what may have been lurking in the mattress, sheets etc. On a positive note, the kitchen was adequate.Would I recommend staying at the Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, no. Would I recommend going to Ober Gatlinburg for skiing in February, no. But I would recommend visiting Gatlinburg in the summer and not waiting to the last minute to book your hotel accommodations because you get what you pay for! Lastly, upon check-in we had to pay an additional cleaning fee.
“Disorganized to say the very least”
We arrived at 8:30pm. Our keys were taped to the window of the lobby because they closed at 7 – even though the website and their own voicemail said 10pm. The master lock was locked and we did not receive a key for it. Also, be couldn’t reach anyone about the situation. Phone calls just went to voice mails and no hotel personnel were to be found. We had to get another room for the night after traveling almost 4 hours. Not a very good experience to say the very least.
“Nothing more than a view”
Excellent location. It really is the “Best View in the Smokies” as advertised. However, that’s easily the best part of this “resort”. We had a two bedroom condo badly in need of updating. The beds were terrible. The dishwasher didn’t work properly. The coffee pot blew up and made a huge mess. The pans were down right scary. The game room is completely defective. Worse yet, the staff was indifferent about it. They didn’t even refund my 50 cents for the defective video game. Fortunately we didn’t spend very much time at the condo.
Date of review: Sep 12, 2010
The view is amazing but the condo was old, outdated and smelly! We did complain but we were not offered another room. They offered to come clean our carpets the following day. ? We were also told to fill out our comment card. We left our patio doors and windows open 24/7 so we could breathe. The floors are thin and we had a herd of elephants living above us. We finally had to go upstairs and ask the people to keep it down at midnight. I guess you take your chance with the unit you end up with. I would like to return but someone would need to guarantee me a newer updated unit. The owners of unit C203 should not be allowed to rent their unit out.
Date of review: Aug 8, 2010
so dirty and outdated and old. it was built in like the seventies and is so dirty. in the kitchen they provide plates,bowls,a strainer, etc. but the stuff is sooo OLD!! they DO NOT have daily housekeeping or any shampoo. the only good thing about this place is the views. those are AMAZING!!!the mountains look sooo nice.
Date of review: Apr 27, 2010
Dishonest. Made reservations and when we got here they added a CLEANING fee of $45.10.
Date of review: Oct 30, 2009
Cons: Outdated, very hard mattress and didn’t sleep well, doors off tracks, water spots in ceiling and some sagging in the ceilings. Too far for us from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge (10-15 min. to Gatlinburg) and (20-25 min to PG). Pros: Nice view. We will not stay here again. With all the reviews we expected more but really not much here other than a great view. Not a comfortable stay.
“Good getaway….if you want to get far, far away”
Date of review: Feb 23, 2008
We booked our condo on hotels.com due to the fact that we waited too long to book and it was Valentine’s/President’s Day weekend. The condo was nice but it is way off the beaten path. There is basically one way to Gatlinburg and we had to travel through a very busy Pigeon Forge, halfway through Galtinburg and then the hotel was another 13 miles beyond the center of Gatlinburg. Be sure and get all necessities before you hit the resort, there is no restaurant or grocery store at the site and once you get up there, you don’t want to go back down the mountain, especially at night. The staff was courteous, had lots of info. The room was clean but dated and had only bare necessities; no shampoo/conditioner, no coffee, no sugar. If you want to use the sofa bed, make sure you ask for the linens at check in as they were not in the room and we had to drive to the front desk at 9:30 pm to get them.They did have clean appliances and all the dishware, cutlery and cooking pieces you could ever need. The staff did give us info on a pizza/sandwich shop that delivered basic groceries like milk and bread. However, we ended up paying $6.00 for the gallon of milk! The indoor pool was clean as was the hot tub and sauna. They had nice outdoor facilities that included a large covered outdoor party room, playground, basketball court (although it was on quite an incline) and lighted tennis court. We did have the unfortunate experience of a “wind storm” that involved 60-70 mph winds for the entire night, very scary as we thought the windows were going to blow in, but certainly not the fault of the resort. I’d give this a solid 3/5 but wouldn’t stay there again as we like to be closer to hiking and restaurants.
“Awful-checked out after one day”
Date of review: Aug 6, 2007
We had stayed here 12 years ago and had such a terrible stay we said we’d never return. However, based on reviews here it seems it had turned around. No, it hasn’t. Check in was fine, not overly helpful but we know the area well so no biggie. We were told our condo was ready but when we got in it there was old food in the fridge, the kitchen floor was filthy and the towels were damp and smelled moldy. Someone from housekeeping happened to be outside so we thought we’d just go grab a bite to eat while they cleaned. I asked them if they could clean it while we went to eat and she went ballistic. She screamed that they were understaffed and the management sucked. She stomped off and said she was quitting! That was our cue to check out immediately! We also found out later from a local that one of the buildings burned to the ground several years ago because the fire department couldn’t get to it in time because of it’s location and basically said it was a fire trap. Stay far away from this place.
“Need to learn the word service”
Date of review: Aug 4, 2007
This was my first visit to the Gatlinburg area so I based my stay on the previous reviews of this facility. I do agree that is is in an excellent location far from the insanity that is Gatlinburg. The grounds are well kept, the condo is clean, the views are fantastic, but the staff needs a lesson in service and courtesy. Never was I greeted when I walked in the facility. Never was I thanked for spending my $$ with them. They never stopped by to see if everything is ok with us. Their whole attitude was give us your money – here is the key – now get out of here! The most courteous people to us was the housekeeping staff.
They charge for every little thing! So, plan to pay for every thing extra. For example, grills are available throughout the facility. I’ve stayed at other facilities where grills are available and they provide everything to cook on the grill. Needless to say I was surprised when I was told they not only have nothing available for the grill, but I had to pay $12 to have someone deliver the charcoals and fluid to me – after I purchase them.
Their business amenities is non-existent; there are no fax or printing services. I was lucky to connect to the wireless from my condo. but only because I was close to the office. For someone who was on a working vacation, their lack of business services made my work that much more difficult.
They advertise that they have tennis facilities. But, there is no pro on site. Their court is cracked and the net is torn. City courts are in better shape than their court.
Both of my daughters are teenagers but could not enjoy the pool because of all the horseplaying done by the small kids. Don’t plan to come here to enjoy a leisurely time in the pool.
All in all, I was turned off by their lack of services and their lousy attitude. I will not go back to deer ridge again.
Date of review: Sep 26, 2005
This is the most basic of condominiums. If you want a quiet getaway, don’t go here. The views are spectacular. My husband and I sat on our deck overlooking the Smokies and had to go inside to the living area to avoid hearing every one’s conversations. You are literally right on top of each other with no privacy. The walls and ceilings are obviously paper-thin because we could hear everything going on above us. If you are going to stay here, be sure to ask for a top floor so there is no one above you keeping you awake with every footstep. We were disappointed at the very filthy berber carpet in our unit. It doesn’t look like it has ever been cleaned and needs replacing. We were very disappointed in the lack of privacy on the balcony (you could hear everyone else’s conversations). The bathroom had someone’s old soap in it, hair on the floor but I am really dissatisfied with a dirty bathroom as a rule. I think if this were a 2 star, that would be more fitting. The extra amenities are great like the fireplace and the kitchen, but not at the expense of feeling like I can’t take off my shoes in the place! Just don’t expect a new, immaculate unit and enjoy the view if you stay here.
Date of review: Jan 21, 2005
We went to visit Deer Ridge in January 2005, as we were considering planning a family reunion there this summer. We were very encouraged by the reviews on this site. Unfortunately, after seeing it, we decided against staying there. The common areas were pretty gross, and don’t look as nice as they do in the brochure or website. We didn’t feel like we’d want to swim in the indoor pool. The 1 bedroom suites did look nice, but the 2 bedroom we saw was a little cramped. The views of the mountains are great. The drive up can be tricky, as you wind along fairly narrow steep roads. Also the distance to most restaurants and attractions in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge makes a vacation there a little cumbersome. The staff was extremely nice and so helpful — we liked them a lot, but didn’t feel like we’d want to stay there unless they renovate it.
“Great the first few times, BUT…”
Date of review: Nov 14, 2004
I had stayed there multiple times and loved it until a family weekend. We realized we had more than we had invited. We had roaches. The management did nothing about it and we have never went back. There are plenty more rooms in the area without roaches. If the management had been nicer, I would have given it a second chance.
Expedia:
“So So Condos”
The location is great, and so are the views. However, the service left us a unhappy – first – when we called the front desk for directions, we were given incorrect directions. The condo smelled musty, but opening out the windows/doors cleared it out. The phones did not work the three days we were there so had to use cell phone to call the front desk! The garbage disposer did not work and “bathroom problems” need to fix toilet had to flush five times.
“Wouldn’t go back if they gave us a week stay free”
On the first night my wife woke up at 2 am because she was being bitten by insects ( bed bugs ) we soon found out there was no way to contact management or maintenance after 8 pm. we spent the night on the floor – the next morning we did contact the front office and they did move us to another room – we were told a manager would contact us and they would take 1 night off of our bill — well we have not heard from any one nor have we seen any type of refund and it has been 2 weeks since we where there – I very much doubt we will receive any thing from these people.
“Was nice but probably won’t go back”
They didn’t have that ‘hotel’ feel. the staff were very friendly. The amenities on their website said they had infant cribs available. When we got there, we had to pay to rent a pack in play. The outdoor pool wasn’t located with the rest of the property, you had to drive to get there.
“Not bad – could be better”
The location is very good, the property itself is beautiful but it is run very much like a budget hotel. It feels very much like a hybrid hotel/condo property. The large deck near the pool was off-limits due to a family reunion (which seemed a bit odd to restrict all other guests due to a party). The 2 bedroom was decent but a bit seemed a bit small compared to the description. Overall this is a decent property if you go into it with the right expectations. This could be a much better property, however.
“Not as nice as you would think…!!”
It was worth the price we paid but definitely not near as nice as you would think. Our refrigerator needed to be turned up to the highest setting to even chill our drinks. The carpet looked great but was extremely dirty. Our socks and feet were very dirty not long after we took our shoes off, so we didn’t walk around very much without shoes. They said it was new carpet but I have not ever seen it that bad anyplace else, even at cheaper motels. The view was okay, but definitely not the best in the smokies as they would have you believe. There are mountains with cabins off of Wears Valley Road that are so much nicer and have a much better view of the mountains. We will not be staying again however it is much better than paying the same price for a hotel room that don’t have your microwave, refrigerator, dishes, view, etc… As long as you can get past the dirty carpet. That was our main problem with the place. Other than that, it was a nice place to stay. We could not get past that though…
Travelocity:
Stayed Oct 2010, 2 days
Upon checking in, after paying online to the travel agency, I was informed that I owed * more dollars for a clean up fee. I think that this is very bad business. It was late when I was checking in or I would have went somewhere else! I think that there should never be hidden charges. If there is a clean up fee, then show it on the price. As for as Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, the place is nice.
Stayed Apr 2010, 2 days
Deer Ridge Resort is tucked in the mountains of Tennessee and about 30 minutes outside of Gatlinburg. It is not an easy place to find if you are arriving for the first time late at night. The units are privately owned and managed by Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, and you need to plan on bringing your own coffee, shampoo, etc; there are no complimentary items except bath soap. Also, the resort does not provide any type of breakfast. The apartment had one queen sized bed that was OK but the hide-away bed in the couch was terrible. Several other reviewers commented on the cleaning fee, so I did expect to pay some type of cleaning fee but did not expect to pay $* for a two night stay when the apartment was left in excellent condition. The Lodge is in an ideal location with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and away from the traffic and noise of downtown Gatlinburg. We enjoyed our stay but will not be back!
I know that most unhappy customers of most any kind of business usually just vote with their feet – by simply buying another product or service without wasting time with reviews and complaints. I know that is the case with Deer Ridge Mountain Resort – where we have a lot more unhappy visitors than is reflected on the travel sites.
But if you have been a guest at Deer Ridge and have had a bad experience, I invite you to leave your comment below! As owners here, we are trying to take steps to solve the bad management of this property and your thoughts and comments would be appreciated!
There Are Lots Of Good Reviews Too – But Too Good To Be True?
The above quotes are focused on the issues we hear from guests here every month of the year. There are a LOT of other bad reviews on the travel sites. But there are also a ton of good reviews on those same sites. These good reviews probably outweigh the bad reviews five to one.
However…
Trip Advisor, the influential travel Web site, “has been quietly posting disclaimers to warn customers of hotels writing fake reviews to improve their popularity rankings or hurt competitors.” This is according to the AP and MSNBC. The article goes on to say that,
“The problem of policing online reviews is not limited to TripAdvisor…People early on were not playing games with it. Now there are lots of games. Tucker said travel industry insiders — but often not casual travelers — understand the financial incentives hotels have to artificially inflate their rankings on the site. Some offer discounts or freebies to patrons who write positive reviews or hire public relations companies who say they can improve the reviews.”
You can read the whole article by clicking Fake Reviews.
Other articles cite how marketing and ad agencies are creating whole new departments on generating bogus reviews for travel related companies like hotels and motels. The bogus review business has apparently gotten so competitive that many marketing companies are outsourcing their bogus review writing and posting to cheaper, overseas locations so they can better price match all of their competition.
Pretty interesting stuff, huh? Kind of makes you wonder what you can believe.
Bogus Or Real Reviews?
It is my personal belief that many of these “good” reviews you will find for Deer Ridge are bogus. For example, as mentioned above, Trip Advisor allows anyone to leave a review anonymously. It is my personal belief that many of these “outstanding” reviews may be done by the RML marketing and PR companies and Ridge Management personnel as a way of overwhelming the more honest and negative reviews. Again, I have no direct proof of this. But what I wanted to accomplish with this special Deer Ridge Mountain Resort Review Page was to unbury the negative that have been obscured with these “good” reviews and accurately reflect what my wife and I hear in the parking lot and office on a monthly basis for the past two years.
Judge for yourself.
Read the good reviews and the bad reviews and make your own decision as to which are real and which ones might be fake. If you decide that you want a spectacular view no matter what…then Deer Ridge may be the right vacation destination for you and your family.
Even though this review of the current management of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort is justifiably negative, individual owners do rent out their unit directly and I encourage you to rent from them and avoid a lot of the hassles in that Top Two Dozen List!
How To Find Deer Ridge Mountain Resort
How To Find Deer Ridge Mountain Resort Coming From Gatlinburg After Turning At Light #3 Onto Hwy 321 And Driving For About 10 Miles To Get To This Point Here.
Deer Ridge Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee can be hard to find since it is WAY out in the boondocks. So many tourists on vacation here get lost that we decided to do this quick video to make sure you know where to turn.
Note: If you click on the symbol in the bottom right corner, you can watch the movie full screen. You can also choose hi def or to choose to watch it directly on YouTube by clicking the YouTube symbol.
Note that a lot of GPS units continue to route folks the wrong way to Deer Ridge! Make sure that your route shows that you get to Deer Ridge by turning left onto Butler Branch Road off Highway 321. If your GPS or Internet map shows anything else, you will get lost!
Majestic Beauty Of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
So, why are we here with all the negatives. If you live here in this area, you get to experience an amazing diversity of majestic beauty. Click on the following YouTube video I did of some of my photography of the great scenery here in the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge area surrounding Deer Ridge Mountain Resort. Best seen in full screen, hi def mode! (If playback stutters, try clicking the YouTube logo and view the video in full screen, hi def mode directly from their site! It will open in a new window so you won’t lose your place here.)
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If You Are An Owner At Deer Ridge
If you are an owner at Deer Ridge like we are, you should be just as concerned about how the gross mismanagement by Joe Thomas is negatively affecting our property and it’s reputation. I spent over 15 years of my professional life running a $100 million portfolio of rental properties and managing over 45,000 rental units – so I know something about this business – and the right and wrong ways of doing things.
My personal opinion, based on all of my relevant experience, is that Joe Thomas is doing things the wrong way. The very wrong way. Those are some of the reasons why Joe Thomas, during the entire last decade, has only been able to average a deplorable 38% average annual economic occupancy on all units he has rented at Deer Ridge.
- In spite of this, the “board” just gave Joey another raise – irrespective of his bad performance as a manager and irrespective of him already being paid almost THREE times the going market rate for his job duties…and in spite of these negative reviews of him and his management practices by so many tourists.
- Joe Thomas being paid THREE times the going market rate for his job duties is one reason that the “continued viability” of the management company is in doubt, based on the words of “board member” Larry Ohm.
- Joe Thomas being paid THREE times the going market rate for his job duties is one reason that the REAL negative cash flow for RML is $118,000 each year - which is squandering HALF of every owners’ monthly HOA fee. That’s EVERY month, folks.
- This $118,000 squandered support of RML would add up to $354,000 over just three years – which happens to pretty much equal the current Asinine Assessment of $353,500 – which means if all owners did not have to pay so much money to Joe Thomas and otherwise support RML, we would have had plenty of reserves for needed repairs - without ANY need for ANY Asinine Assessment to all owners.
The long list of issues and problems that are listed above are just the tip of the iceberg, managerially speaking, and we need to take steps, as owners, to finally solve, once and for all, the Joe Thomas dilemma. In my opinion, his gross incompetence at managing RML and Deer Ridge are just some of the reasons that should be added to the already long list of reasons to fire Joe Thomas.
PS: Want To See Some More Photos of Deer Ridge, Cobbly Nob, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
In spite of the issues here at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, there are compelling reasons to live or visit here: the incredible beauty of the view and the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Here’s a slide show of some of my favorite shots. If you want to watch this full screen, just click the small icon in the lower right corner of the slide show. If you want info on each slide, just click Show Info at the top of the slideshow. You can set the speed of the show under Options.
I am constantly adding to this collection – so you are welcome to view it as often as you like! You are also welcome to leave comments about the photography below.
Enjoy!
Robert
PS: For more of my photography beyond the Smoky Mountains, just click www.Good-Photo.com.
PPS: Coming Soon – A listing of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort owners who directly lease their unit – so guests have a good alternative to the bad service of RML.
Recommended Reading
- Deer Ridge
- Deer Ridge HOA Lawsuit Finally Going to Trial – One Bedroom Owners Get Ready For Major Refunds
- Deer Ridge Owners: Do You Have The Business And Investment Expertise To Ask These Hard Questions At The Annual Meeting?
- Beware The Bears At Deer Ridge Mountain Resort
- Deer Ridge: Inappropriate Demand Letter From HOA Is Grossly Inaccurate
- Mountain Morning Coffee – Timelapse Video – Great Smoky Mountains – Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Deer Ridge Mountain Resort: Seven Years Down, Seven Years To Go?
Owner Comments