
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
Best for travelers who want on-site gaming, many restaurants, a large spa, and big meeting or event space.
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Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort is a large four-star casino resort at the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park with extensive dining, meeting space, pools and a full-service spa. Brookside Lodge is a traditional three-star Gatlinburg lodge-style hotel appealing to families and Smokies visitors who want a classic mountain-hotel atmosphere.
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Best for travelers who want on-site gaming, many restaurants, a large spa, and big meeting or event space.

Best for travelers seeking a traditional Gatlinburg lodge with creekside rooms, free breakfast and proximity to downtown attractions.
When Harrah's Cherokee wins: Choose Harrah's if you want one property that provides a wide range of dining options (including celebrity-chef venues), a large casino (21+ areas), a full-service spa (Mandara Spa), multiple pools and very large meeting/event facilities.
When Brookside Lodge wins: Pick Brookside Lodge if you want a smaller, traditional Gatlinburg lodge feel close to downtown Gatlinburg attractions, creekside rooms with fireplaces in some categories, complimentary buffet breakfast and direct access to outdoor activities nearby.
Bottom line: Harrah's Cherokee is a full-scale casino resort and conference destination with spa and many food-and-entertainment choices; Brookside Lodge is a simpler, family-friendly Gatlinburg lodge offering easy access to town and Smokies activities.
| Category | Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort | Brookside Lodge |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Large casino resort and conference center with resort amenities. | Traditional Gatlinburg lodge-style hotel with mountain vacation appeal. |
| Location | Cherokee, NC at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. | In the heart of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, near Ripley's Aquarium and downtown attractions. |
| Size | Very large — four towers and 1,833 rooms; extensive meeting space. | Medium — 100 rooms. |
| Ages / entry rules | All-ages hotel but casino and casino-floor venues restricted to 21+; minimum check-in age 21. | All-ages hotel; children 18 and under stay free with adults. |
| Pools | Indoor heated pool, seasonal outdoor pool, and Cherokee Terrace Pool (hotel-guest access only). | Two outdoor pools (seasonal) plus a children's pool; outdoor seasonal pool access for guests. |
| Restaurants & bars | About a dozen on-site options including Ruth's Chris, Guy Fieri and Gordon Ramsay venues; some venues 21+. | Free daily buffet breakfast; no signature on-site celebrity restaurants listed. |
| Spa & wellness | Mandara Spa — full-service 18,000 sq ft spa with sauna, hydrotherapy pool and treatments (reservations recommended). | Not published |
| Known for | Casino gaming, large-scale events/conventions and celebrity-chef restaurants. | Creekside rooms, lodge atmosphere, proximity to Gatlinburg attractions and complimentary buffet breakfast. |
| Event space | Extensive — multiple ballrooms and exhibit halls totaling tens of thousands of square feet. | Conference space about 4,004 sq ft (conference center available). |
| Parking & transport | Free self-parking and complimentary valet for guests; area shuttle (surcharge). | Self parking (surcharge); area shuttle (surcharge). |
Harrah's sits in Cherokee, North Carolina, adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park entrance.
Good if you want direct access to park gateways and on-site entertainment.
Brookside Lodge is located on E Parkway in the heart of Gatlinburg, a short drive or walk from many downtown attractions.
Ideal if you want to be close to Gatlinburg's downtown attractions and Smokies trailheads.
Harrah's offers many room types across four towers, with standard resort-room amenities.
Choose Harrah's for broad room-type variety and hotel-tower options.
Brookside Lodge has about 100 air-conditioned rooms with creekside and riverside categories and some suites.
Pick Brookside for creekside or fireplace-equipped rooms in a traditional lodge setting.
Harrah's has a large, varied food offering including celebrity-chef restaurants and casino dining.
Harrah's is a strong pick for variety and late-night dining — note casino-age restrictions for some venues.
Brookside Lodge focuses on basic, family-friendly dining inclusions rather than a large on-site restaurant roster.
Brookside keeps on-site dining simple and relies on Gatlinburg's nearby restaurant scene.
Harrah's provides multiple pool options and poolside services for hotel guests.
Harrah's offers variety for both family and adult pool experiences on-site.
Brookside Lodge offers outdoor pool options and many nearby outdoor activities.
Brookside is oriented toward outdoor Smokies activities with small hotel pool facilities.
Harrah's combines a large spa, 24-hour fitness, and on-site nightlife tied to the casino.
Harrah's supports both relaxation and late-night entertainment as part of the same property.
Brookside Lodge focuses on family- and activity-oriented services rather than big-nightlife or large spa operations.
Brookside is better for daytime outdoor activity and small events than for late-night entertainment or a full-scale spa.

Harrah's — large casino floor, nightclub, casino bars and late-night dining (21+ areas).

Brookside Lodge — downtown Gatlinburg location within minutes of major family attractions.

Harrah's — Mandara Spa with hydrotherapy, sauna and a wide treatment menu.

Brookside Lodge — creekside and riverside room categories and traditional lodge feel.
Both are family-friendly as hotels, but Harrah's limits the casino floor to guests 21 and over; families will find pools, an arcade and family-oriented restaurants at Harrah's, while Brookside offers a central Gatlinburg location with easy access to local family attractions.
Brookside Lodge includes a complimentary buffet breakfast daily. Harrah's serves breakfast at Selu Garden Café but it is typically an extra charge.
Harrah's Cherokee is the clear choice for large conventions and concerts with tens of thousands of square feet of meeting and exhibit space; Brookside has a smaller 4,004 sq ft conference facility for more modest events.
Harrah's has a full-service Mandara Spa. Brookside Lodge's supplier listing does not publish a full-service spa.
Explore how Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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