Sidney James Mountain Lodge, a family-owned Gatlinburg landmark since 1958, is open and accepting reservations following an early morning fire that damaged one wing of the historic property on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. No guests or staff were injured, and no other building on the property was directly affected by the fire.
The fire was reported at 1:57 a.m. on April 1, 2026, and the Gatlinburg Fire Department responded immediately and contained the blaze to a single structure, one building in the original wing of the property, before extinguishing it completely. The swift, professional response from GFD, along with assistance from the Gatlinburg Police Department and the Pigeon Forge Police Department, prevented the fire from spreading to any other part of the lodge.
“Our grandfather and father built this place, and it is like a family member to us,” said Sid and Heather Maples, owners of Sidney James Mountain Lodge. “We are heartbroken by the damage to some of our most historic rooms, but we are incredibly grateful that not a single person was hurt.”
On Guest Safety and Fire Systems
The safety systems in the affected building performed as designed. Alarms were activated in the structure where the fire occurred, and guests were evacuated safely. Guests in adjacent buildings were not in danger, which is why those alarms were not triggered. The fire was successfully contained to one building. All displaced guests were assisted by staff and welcomed at the Gatlinburg Community Center, which served as a warming station during the response.
On the Cause and Investigation
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Sidney James is cooperating fully with authorities and will share findings as they become available. We want answers as much as anyone and are committed to full transparency throughout this process.
On the Affected Rooms and Future Reservations
The fire directly affected 7 rooms in one building, a portion of the property's original building. Additionally, 7 more rooms have major smoke and water damage. The fire also disrupted the primary electrical feed into the main building, leaving the hotel without phone or internet service property-wide. Phone service and internet service have both been restored to the front desk and reservation operations. Other buildings affected by the electrical feed disruption are the admin offices, the registration/front desk office, the indoor pool, and the Poolside Cafe. The registration office has been temporarily relocated to an adjacent cottage on the property.
At the time of this release, Creekside Rooms at our hotel are available, but without internet access, and Courtside Rooms are available without TV or internet access. The outdoor pool is open and being used daily.
Guests with upcoming reservations, regardless of which building they are booked in, do not need to take any action. All reservations are confirmed, and we look forward to welcoming guests! If there are any questions regarding reservations, guests can reach out through our contact form or give us a call at (865) 436-7851.
A Note to Guests and the Community
Sidney James Mountain Lodge has been part of the Gatlinburg community for nearly 70 years. Guests who stayed as children bring their own children now. That is not something a fire changes. The Sidney James family is heartbroken by what happened to those rooms; they were some of the oldest and most storied on the property, and they are committed to honoring the history of what was lost as they move forward.
To the guests, neighbors, and everyone who has ever called this place a little bit of home, the Sidney James family extends a thank you and will keep everyone updated as the investigation and restoration move forward.
Make your reservations today, or reach out to us with any reservation inquiries.
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