Renters share cabin nightmare stories from Pigeon Forge

A family's annual vacation to Pigeon Forge turned into a health hazard when their rental cabin experienced multiple plumbing failures, including raw sewage backing up from bathroom sinks. The group of six adults discovered the sewage overflow after settling in for their first night, forcing them to sleep sitting up on couches.

The problems began 30 minutes before the family arrived at their cabin after a 10-hour drive. They received an email stating one bathroom would be closed for repairs, but the after-hours customer service representative couldn't specify which bathroom was affected. Upon arrival, a maintenance worker was addressing what seemed like a minor issue - a slow-draining sink in a half bathroom.

Multiple system failures compound the problem

The situation escalated dramatically when someone went downstairs and discovered raw sewage had back-flowed from the sink in one of the en-suite bathrooms. The family had paid for a mountain view cabin with four master bedrooms, each with private bathrooms, making the sewage backup particularly problematic for their group size.

When they called the emergency line, staff said no one could come out that night and offered alternative accommodations without the amenities they had paid for. The family attempted to use a sleeper sofa but found the sheets appeared not to have been cleaned in years.

The rental company's customer service response left the family with few options beyond waiting for business hours to reopen while dealing with unsanitary conditions. Multiple commenters suggested the situation violated health and safety codes and recommended documenting everything for potential refund claims.

Other vacation rental guests shared similar experiences, with one noting that customer service quality in the area has declined over the past two years. The incident highlights the importance of thoroughly vetting rental companies and understanding cancellation policies before booking accommodations in popular tourist destinations like Pigeon Forge.

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Photo originally posted on r/PigeonForge.