Visitors to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee can enjoy a stay at The Wayback, Pigeon Forge, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, which is a former motel updated to exude a 1960s or 1970s retro theme. Located on the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway, The Wayback is just across the street from "The Island," an entertainment complex with a ferris wheel, amusement rides, shops and restaurants including Paula Deen's Family Kitchen, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and more.
Though I only stayed one night during what was my first-ever visit to Pigeon Forge, The Wayback's location served me well, and it was a comfortable place to sleep. A snafu at check-in was frustrating (described below), but I made the most of the situation and enjoyed my time in the tourist mecca of Pigeon Forge.
Room Rates & Reservations
The cost of a room at The Wayback typically ranges from $100 to $200 per night, with some seasonal variation (such as $77 per night rates in the winter months and $230 weekend rates in the spring and summer). The hotel is popular among tourists who stay to enjoy the activities and thrills in Pigeon Forge. Travelers are encouraged to book early to take advantage of the lowest rates at this wheelchair accessible hotel.
My reservation was for a room with a king bed and accessible bathtub (roll-in showers were sold out), but I arrived to find that my room had been given away to another guest. Fortunately, there was an accessible room with two queen beds available — it was cramped and lacked amenities I was looking forward to like a sofa bed and fireplace, but the bathroom did ultimately meet my accessibility needs.
Room reservations for wheelchair accessible hotel rooms can be made via The Wayback Hotel by Marriott website. I recommend that you call the hotel in advance of arrival to ensure that your accessible room type is truly being reserved for you and, if it is not, consider filing an ADA complaint with the Department of Justice.
Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room at The Wayback in Pigeon Forge
The “Standard 2 Queen” room I was assigned was a standard room type, and it certainly felt that way — it was cramped compared to the spaciousness of a room with one bed, but I was still able to maneuver my power wheelchair. The room's design was cute, with retro touches throughout.
The queen beds were comfortable and I slept fairly well in the bed closest to the air conditioning unit (I like my temperatures cold). There was space for my wheelchair to park between the beds, which measured 28 inches tall from the floor to the top of the mattress. The mattresses sat atop a 7-inch boxspring and 7.5-inch platform base, so the bed height could be lowered by removing one or both of those.
Lighting controls and power outlets were found on the nightstand between the two beds. On the wall opposite the bed was a wall-mounted television, a bench where I placed my luggage, and amenities including a mini fridge and coffeemaker.
Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom with Accessible Bathtub at The Wayback Hotel Pigeon Forge
Motels rarely do accessibility well (or at all), so I was surprised to find the bathroom offered a high level of accessibility.
The bathroom featured a roll under sink with an easy-to-operate faucet. The sink measured 34 inches high, with 27 inches of clearance below.
The toilet, measuring 18.5 inches from floor to seat, was surrounded by grab bars that measured 35 inches tall. A bonus vertical grab bar was provided. There was space to park my wheelchair directly alongside the toilet for a safe lateral transfer.
The bathtub had the required features, including parallel grab bars on the back wall, a handheld shower head and easy-to-reach water controls at the foot of the tub.
A portable shower seat was provided in the bathroom, but this was not the dangerous four-legged stool that most hotels supply. The bathtub seat was adjustable and attached fairly securely to the tub, which meant I felt safe using it. This particular shower seat product was featured in my guide, 5 Shower and Commode Chairs for Travel or Home Use. The side of the bathtub measured 14 inches from the floor and, with the addition of the shower seat, it was a height of 16 inches. That's a bit low for my liking, but I managed.
Dining at Wayback Hotel San Diego
The hotel’s small size leaves the property with just one restaurant, the Paloma Scratch Kitchen, located next to the lobby.
Paloma serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and describes itself as "a fusion of contemporary Mexican cuisine with southern comfort." I only ate breakfast there and was not very impressed — there are many other more affordable restaurants nearby, which can serve a variety of tastes. Paloma also features a full-service lobby bar, which is a great place to enjoy a drink after a day of exploration.
Final Thoughts
The Wayback is part of Marriott's Tribute Portfolio and, although it has undergone a striking renovation, it is unlike other full-service Marriott properties in that it is still very much a motel. The property's location in Pigeon Forge and competitive price point make it attractive and I would consider staying here again should I return to the city.
