Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park

The resort and its setting

Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park sits at 915 Westgate Resorts Rd, right on the edge of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with the forested slopes of the Smokies rising around it. Google reviewers (4.1/5 from over 12,000 ratings) describe a mountainside resort with modern, relaxed villas, Wi-Fi throughout, multiple pools, a spa and a water park — a layout that suits families and groups who want resort amenities on site rather than having to drive for every activity. Villas are the standard accommodation type across Westgate's timeshare inventory, typically laid out with separate living and sleeping areas and kitchen facilities, though exact unit configurations vary by week and should be checked against the specific deed before buying.

The area and things to do

Gatlinburg is the main gateway town for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and trades heavily on that location — downtown is a short drive from the resort and is packed with restaurants, shops and attractions aimed squarely at visitors. The national park itself is the main draw for hiking, scenic drives and wildlife-watching, and the wider Sevier County area also covers nearby Pigeon Forge, home to Dollywood and a long strip of family entertainment. Because the resort has its own water park and pools on site, owners and renters who want a quieter stay can treat the outside world as optional, while those who want the full Gatlinburg experience have it on their doorstep.

Selling or renting a week here

If you own a week at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort and are thinking about selling it on, BidMyTimeshare.com works as a straightforward owner-to-owner marketplace: you list your week, set your own asking price, and buyers or renters contact you directly through the platform. There's a one-time listing fee and no commission taken on the sale or rental — unlike a broker-led resale, you keep control of the price and the conversation.

Before listing, it's worth understanding how Westgate handles transfers, since these details affect what a buyer is actually getting. According to figures reported by resale brokers and owners, a Westgate transfer typically costs around $500 and takes 12 weeks or more to complete — plan the sale timeline accordingly rather than promising a quick handover. Westgate also holds a right of first refusal on resales, meaning the brand can step in and buy back the week on the same terms before the resale completes; owners report this is used only occasionally, but it's a real possibility worth flagging to a buyer up front.

There's also a practical point resale buyers should know: owners report that resale buyers get a 60-day booking window (30 days on some deeds), against a longer window for buyers who purchased directly from Westgate, and an internal exchange fee of around $700 for resale owners compared with $169 for direct buyers. Weeks at this resort can be used with RCI and Interval International, the two exchange networks verified for Westgate, but resale owners should confirm current exchange terms before assuming parity with a direct purchase. Renters booking a week here are generally looking at dates, villa size and proximity to the water park and downtown Gatlinburg — spelling these out clearly in a listing helps attract the right enquiries.

Practical notes

Anyone buying or renting should ask the seller for the current annual maintenance fee, confirm which exact week and unit type is attached to the deed, and clarify whether the booking window and exchange fees mentioned above apply to that specific contract. Sellers should be upfront about these resale conditions in their listing — it builds trust and avoids questions later in the transfer process.