
Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
Best for large conferences, groups, and guests wanting a casino, wide dining options, and an on-site full-service spa.
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Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort is a large, full-service mountain resort and casino with extensive meeting space, multiple restaurants, Mandara Spa and several pools—good for groups, event planners, and travelers who want on-site entertainment. Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center is a 3-star downtown Gatlinburg hotel with meeting facilities and easy access to local attractions—best for groups or leisure travelers who want a central, walkable base in Gatlinburg.
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Best for large conferences, groups, and guests wanting a casino, wide dining options, and an on-site full-service spa.

Best for meeting groups or leisure travelers who want downtown Gatlinburg access and convenient proximity to attractions and the SkyLift.
When Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort wins: Choose Harrah's if you need very large, flexible event space, large guest-room blocks (1,833 rooms across four towers), multiple specialty and celebrity-chef restaurants, an on-site 18,000-sq-ft Mandara Spa, and casino entertainment for 21+ guests.
When Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center wins: Choose Edgewater if you want a downtown Gatlinburg location within easy walking distance of local sights (Fountain Plaza, attractions and the Gatlinburg Sky Lift) and a practical, midscale hotel with meeting facilities and both indoor and outdoor pool options.
Bottom line: Harrah's is a destination-scale resort for meetings, entertainment and spa amenities; Edgewater is a practical downtown Gatlinburg option for events or sightseeing where central location and straightforward facilities matter more than resort-scale amenities.
| Category | Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort | Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Large resort/casino with extensive entertainment and event infrastructure | Downtown midscale conference hotel, practical and centrally located |
| Location | Cherokee, NC at the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Downtown Gatlinburg (TN), near attractions like the Gatlinburg Sky Lift |
| Size (rooms) | 1,833 rooms across four towers | Not published |
| Ages / access | All-ages hotel; casino floor and some venues restricted to 21+ | All-ages property (no adults-only policy) |
| Pools | Heated indoor pool, seasonal outdoor pool, and Cherokee Terrace Pool (hotel-guest access only) | Indoor and outdoor pools listed (hotel guest access) |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple on-site restaurants including Ruth's Chris, Guy Fieri, Gordon Ramsay Food Market and casual options | Not published |
| Spa / wellness | Mandara Spa, 18,000 sq ft with treatments, sauna, hydrotherapy pool | Not published |
| Meeting & event space | Extensive: ballrooms, convention/exhibit halls, total meeting space over 100,000 sq ft (multiple large venues) | Meeting/banquet facilities on-site (conference property positioning) |
| Nearby attractions | Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Oconaluftee attractions, Mingo Falls nearby | Fountain Plaza, Mysterious Mansion, Glass Blowers of Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg Sky Lift within short walk |
| Parking & transport | Free self-parking and complimentary valet for guests; no on-site airport shuttle | On-site car park listed; downtown location suited to walkable access |
Harrah's is located in Cherokee, North Carolina, near the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Pick Harrah's for mountain access and resort activities rather than a downtown walkable setting.
Edgewater is a downtown Gatlinburg hotel on River Road, within walking distance of many local attractions.
Choose Edgewater when you want immediate access to Gatlinburg attractions and a walkable stay.
Harrah's offers 1,833 rooms across four towers with a wide range of room types and tower choices.
Harrah's is built to host large groups and varied guest needs with many room types and dedicated towers.
Edgewater is a 3-star downtown property; the supplier listing notes at least one accessible room type (King Room - Disability Access).
Edgewater provides practical, accessible rooms for downtown stays; detailed inventory is not published.
Harrah's Cherokee has a large, varied restaurant roster including celebrity-chef and upscale options.
Harrah's suits guests who want many on-site dining styles and group catering options.
Edgewater's supplier listing does not publish signature restaurants or bars.
Edgewater relies on its downtown location for dining choices; the property listing does not detail on-site signature restaurants.
Harrah's provides multiple pools and poolside services for hotel guests.
Harrah's pool options complement meetings and family stays, with indoor access year-round and seasonal outdoor options.
Edgewater lists both an indoor and an outdoor swimming pool in the supplier listing.
Edgewater offers standard indoor/outdoor pool amenities for a downtown hotel; confirm hours and access when booking.
Harrah's combines a large spa, 24-hour fitness and on-site nightlife tied to the casino environment.
Harrah's supports both daytime wellness and late-night entertainment, but casino areas remain 21+.
Edgewater lists a fitness center, hot tub and standard guest wellness features but no published full-service spa.
Edgewater offers basic wellness amenities; use its downtown location for more nightlife and dining out.

Harrah's — extensive convention, ballroom and exhibit space with multiple large-capacity venues and 1,833 hotel rooms on-site.

Edgewater — central Gatlinburg address puts you within short walks of key attractions and restaurants.

Harrah's — Mandara Spa (18,000 sq ft) with wide treatment menu and hydrotherapy facilities.

Edgewater — conference/banquet facilities in a compact downtown setting with easy local access for attendees.
Harrah's Cherokee — it has extensive exhibit halls and ballrooms plus 1,833 rooms to house large blocks of attendees.
Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center — it sits on River Road in downtown Gatlinburg within walking distance of many tourist attractions.
Harrah's hotel and many restaurants are family-friendly, but the casino floor and venues inside the gaming area are restricted to guests 21 and older.
The supplier listing for Edgewater does not publish a full-service spa; Harrah's lists Mandara Spa with detailed offerings.
Explore how Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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