Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway!
5.0
Outstanding(105 Reviews)Apartment in Chattanooga, TN
8 guests ¡ 4 bedrooms ¡ 3 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Air conditioner and more
About this apartment rental
đť Welcome to the Historic Bear House Circa 1890! The best of everything!! Refined luxury, detailed amenities, large beautiful property. Walk to local restaurants, shops, grocery stores, hiking and biking trails, tourist attractions. Less than 4 miles from Aquarium, all downtown, mountain and waterfront activities.
Beautifully restored 120-year-old house and additional Carriage house with beautiful grounds. A rare opportunity to stay in a special historic property that adds to your trip experience; much more than simply a place to spend the night! Centrally located in Chattanooga in the trendy St Elmo Historic District, at the foot of Lookout Mountain.
The spacious and bright Johnson Retreat includes the entire private 2nd story of The Bear House (Wheland Wing and Workman Wing combined into one large space, 2200 square feet):
⢠Front and back private entrance.
⢠High quality, fully equipped kitchen for your cooking and dining needs with gas stove/oven, dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator and washer and dryer. Small appliances include toaster, mixer, crock-pot and electric tea kettle. The basics are kept stocked for your convenience: paper towels, garbage bags, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, foils and plastic wrap, salt and pepper, spices, olive oil, canola oil, sugar.
⢠Living room with ample seating, game table, games, smart HDTV with Cable, Amazon Prime and Netflix.
⢠Resource center with writing desk, office supplies and reading corner.
⢠2 Hospitality Centers with microwave, small refrigerator, Keurig with well stocked variety of coffee, teas and hot chocolate and related condiments, fresh fruit, chocolates, some breakfast items and snacks.
⢠2 Dining areas for 4. Additional seating areas.
⢠2 King bedroom, smart HDTV with Cable, Amazon Prime and Netflix, WiFi, ceiling fan with remote, luxury bedding and linens, full length mirror, luggage racks, water bottles, bedside radio/clock with 2 outlets and 2 ports for charging your devices.
⢠2 Queen bedrooms, each with smart HDTV with Cable, Amazon Prime and Netflix, high speed WiFi, ceiling fan with remote, luxury bedding and linens, full length mirror, luggage rack, water bottles, bedside radio/clock with 2 outlets and 2 ports for charging your devices.
⢠2 Full size bathrooms with large original soaking tubs, custom tile work, luxury towels and amenities, hair dryer.
⢠1 Original shower room and dressing room, beautifully renovated with custom tile work, luxury towels and amenities.
Our spacious property offers many opportunities for gathering spaces outdoors. The large old-fashioned front porch, courtyard garden and gazebo are wonderful spots for morning coffee, a special evening meal, or a place to relax in a comfortable chair with a good book. The special garden areas and larger outdoor seating areas provide additional space for your enjoyment. Be sure to explore the carved bears placed around the property and hear their story! In the spring and summer, help yourself to the blackberries and small vegetable garden bounty. And donât miss the scavenger hunt; over 40 sculptured animals roam the property for you to find.
Our beautiful large property sits on an entire block, front to back, in the charming St Elmo Historic District. There is the majestic main house called Historic Bear House 1890 (6500sqft) that consists of 3 other private apartments. My husband and I reside on the private first floor in the main house. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the main house, through the luscious courtyard, is the Carriage House (1600sqft) with 2 private apartments. With over 25 years experience in the rental property business, we specialize in a broad spectrum of lodging needs, from quick getaways, to out of town family and friends, to corporate rentals and short term rentals. With pampered on-site attention youâll feel taken care of from your first inquiry until the end of your stay, whether it is a short trip or a few months.
Be sure to check out our other private apartments located here at the Historic Bear House 1890 property:
Workman Wing, 2 BR, 1BA, #1021491
Wheland Wing, 2 BR, 1BA, #1021450
Johnson Retreat, 4BR, 2BA, #1021232 (Workman & Wheland Wings combined)
Stinson Suite, 2BR, 1BA, #1076824
Lillyâs Loft, 1BR, 1BA, #1324077
Sherfey Suite, 1BR, 1BA, #1172405
Amenities
Air conditioner
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Chattanooga, TN
Reviews
5.0
Outstanding(105 Reviews)5.0
The Bear House was a delight to stay in. Too many extras to name. We would highly recommend to anyone.
5.0
The Bear House is a delightful place to stay. We had the full upstairs and it was like two small apartments that were joined together. Yes it is a little eclectic, but so many personal touches and each room is decorated individually. Everyone loved it. Plenty of little sitting areas and very quiet and sound proof. Lots of little extras and niceties, with candy dishes and Keurig coffee makers. One note, not a negative, but more of a heads up, you do access the space via a small set of stairs. No elevators, so if you are ADA challenged, this might not be the best place for your stay.
5.0
Everything was great. My husband and two kids stayed with our friends and their two kids. The accommodations were clean and the decor was really cute. The Christmas decor was so well done. We would love to stay here again!
5.0
We loved our stay the rental had so much character. All kinds of extras that was so nice. Beds Uber comfortable and the place was so quiet no noise at all.. we visited Rock City Lights and had a blast! Thanks so much for helping make our Thanksgiving special!!!
5.0
The character of this house is beyond your imagination! Located close to the Lookout Mountain Incline, it is also conveniently close to downtown Chattanooga. With plenty of outside areas to enjoy conversation, in peaceful and pleasant surroundings... this place is good for a vacation, and great for the soul!
5.0
The Bear House is an absolutely perfect home to secure for your travels to Chattanooga. I needed a place to take three friends, with two of these friends being elderly. The Bear House was absolutely perfect for us. The owners provided everything a traveler could need and more! The rooms are beautifully decorated and outfitted. The toiletries are amazing and smell so good. The snacks and assortments of coffee and tea were better than any place weâve ever stayed at before. Linens were clean and seemed new. The gardens outside were beautiful, and the decorations for fall were lovely. The location was great for everything weâd planned. The owners were so welcoming and helpful. We really couldnât have found a more perfect place to stay. â¤ď¸â¤ď¸
5.0
Bear House is a beautiful home in a great location. We couldnât believe how the owners have thought of everything to make your stay comfortable. Lots of snacks, breakfast bars, pop corn and Moon Pies!! Water and candy in every room. The gardens are so pretty with many sitting areas to sit and relax. Steve and Sharman where really nice and quick to answer any questions. We would highly recommend Bear House to anyone as we really enjoyed our stay!!
5.0
The Bear House was the perfect location and property for our family vacation! It is central to Chattanooga and its various activities and St. Elmo is a wonderful neighborhood to be in with young kids. The property was exceptional - rooms, living, kitchen area, outdoor spaces, and all the special extras! We would recommend to everyone.
5.0
We stayed at Steve and Sharmanâs property and it was such a wonderful stay! When we arrived we were greeted with the warmest welcome and tour of the property. Steve showed us around the home and spent time explaining the history of the property and the local area. It was such a nice touch to the stay!!
The rooms, kitchens, and and restrooms were spotless. There were refreshments and snacks waiting. Each rom had a delicious jar of candy to choose from (amazing touch for the kids and anyone with a sweet tooth!) and there were many to select from.
The house also has a beautiful garden and a few patio areas with rocking swings and chairs. From the moment we arrived we felt right at home.
We were going to go to Ruby Falls (down the road) but the tickets sold out by the time we went to book a slot. Sharman and Steve saved the day by sharing some Childrenâs museum tickets with us and the kids had a blast!
I canât say enough great things about our stay. Highly recommended!! We will be back!
5.0
We love the coziness and special touches of the Bear House. We have stayed here 3 times now for triathlon racing and training in Chattanooga. Itâs an ideal location to get to downtown, as well as local grocery, restaurants, ice cream, and coffee shops. We will be back again, Iâm sure. Steve and Sharman are wonderful hosts and provide all the comforts of home and then some! Thank you again! We appreciate how much work you must put into being reliable and gracious hosts.
5.0
A historic property in the historic district of St. Elmo, the Bear House is a delight for history lovers. The characterful apartments occupy the second floor of a large house -- we rented both as a four-bedroom option for three lady friends. We appreciated the space, which offered room for visiting as well as privacy. The property is close walking distance to a charming commercial center with restaurants and grocery stores, as well as close to historic sites on Lookout Mountain and downtown. The hosts are welcoming and live on site, affording an extra sense of security. Accessed by a steep staircase and with step in tubs without grab-bars, the Bear House may not be appropriate for those with mobility issues.
5.0
The house was extremely clean and very well stocked with all we needed for our 6 days/5 nights there. Everyone was very friendly; and very accommodating when the refrigerator went out on day 2. We would stay there again.
5.0
We visited Chattanooga for my Mom's birthday and we had a great stay at this lovely home. We stayed in the top floor of the home and the stairs were a little steep with moving the luggage up and down, but once we got settled it was very cozy. The beds and pillows were very comfy and everything was super clean. There was a TV with cable in every room, and each room had a little bowl of snacks and water bottles. The home had plenty of everything - toilet paper, trash bags, towels. They made sure everything was clean and fully stocked. We had such a pleasant stay!
5.0
We were a a party of 8 - two families with adult children. We so enjoyed our stay at The Bear House. There were simply no details missed and we appreciated all of the attention to detail. The beds were very comfortable and everything was so clean and well maintained. We will definitely stay here again if in the area.
5.0
Our experience here was absolutely perfect. Exactly as advertised. Actually maybe even better.
5.0
This is a charming historic home with very nice upgrades. Your host has taken the time to think of all the little things that will make your stay comfortable and secure. The beds were sooo comfortable. The location is perfect. You are just mins to Rock City and the incline railway. Downtown shopping and eating establishments are also just mins away. The accommodation are upstairs so if any of your group has trouble with stairs take this into consideration. Itâs definitely worth the effort.
5.0
The Johnson suite for our group of 8 adults and 4 children under 4 was wonderful. The stairs were steep but sturdy. We were worried we would be too loud on the second floor, but our wonderful hosts ensured that wasnât the case. Beautiful home with great and not overdone furnishings. Very clean. Perfect for our two night stay. Small kitchen, but it had what we needed. The two living room/den areas came in clutch for having a kids hangout room. Hospitality was top notch - coffee/breakfast/snacks were well supplied. Highly recommend!
5.0
We could not have asked for a better place to get away for time to spend with family at Christmas. The most comfortable beds, perfect layout for a family of 5. Thank you for making our Christmas merry!
5.0
The Bear House was the perfect place for my husband and three adult children and spouses to stay. The Christmas decorations inside and out added to the charm The snack/coffee stations and candy were an added bonus that we enjoyed. I highly recommend this lovely home!
5.0
The property was a perfect fit for us. The unique layout afforded privacy with opportunity to meet together as well. Everything about it was A+ in terms of bedding, linens, cookware. Conveniently located within walking distance of shopping, restaurants and groceries as well. The owners and staff were welcoming and quick to respond with assistance. Would love to stay again!
5.0
We had a family of 8 stay at this beautiful home! They left nothing for us to need over the 5 days we were there! Communication was flawless. Check-in and out was seemless. The rooms were awesome with large beds, comfy pillows, TVs in every room, a fully stocked kitchen, laundry capabilities, and snacks enough for all for the week. The kids loved the hot chocolate!
The home was at the base of Lookout Mountain with easy access to all the downtown sites. I would not change a thing here and if I could give higher ratings, I would. Thanks for such a great family vacation for us!
5.0
Very nice for 6 adults. Plenty of room.
5.0
We had a comfy, relaxing visit. We were pleasantly surprised about the St. Elmo neighborhood.
If your group is really into cooking, I'd recommend one of their rentals with a bigger, more well equipped kitchen.
Overall, great place.
5.0
What a beautiful place to stay and so convenient for my family. The Sherfeyâs were wonderful the house felt so like home and we got to the city in just a few minutes! We will be back next time we come to Chattanooga. Thank you for taking such great care of us.
5.0
Couldnât be better!
What a beautiful place to stay and so convenient for my family. The Sherfeyâs were wonderful the house felt so like home and we got to the city in just a few minutes! We will be back next time we come to Chattanooga. Thank you for taking such great care of us.
5.0
We stayed at this property for a weekend. We were in town for the Chattanooga half Ironman. This place is absolutely beautiful. Nice coffee bar and snacks provided. Property owners were great.
5.0
All seven adults were easily accommodated. The location was great for all the things we were doing (Ruby Falls, Rock City, Aquarium, Chatt Choo Choo, Pinball Museum, Restaurants etc.) The owners were very accessible. Relaxing outdoor areas. Would stay again!!!
5.0
There are no words to describe how perfect this home was for our family. Beautifully decorated, extremely well equipped, comfortable beds and lovely grounds. We enjoyed walking to nearby 1883 Grill for dinner, sitting on the porches and the convenient location. Home spotless and loved the coffee, snacks and chocolates.
5.0
Beautiful home
We stayed at this property for a weekend. We were in town for the Chattanooga half Ironman. This place is absolutely beautiful. Nice coffee bar and snacks provided. Property owners were great.
5.0
Perfect location
All seven adults were easily accommodated. The location was great for all the things we were doing (Ruby Falls, Rock City, Aquarium, Chatt Choo Choo, Pinball Museum, Restaurants etc.) The owners were very accessible. Relaxing outdoor areas. Would stay again!!!
5.0
Perfect stay
There are no words to describe how perfect this home was for our family. Beautifully decorated, extremely well equipped, comfortable beds and lovely grounds. We enjoyed walking to nearby 1883 Grill for dinner, sitting on the porches and the convenient location. Home spotless and loved the coffee, snacks and chocolates.
5.0
Great stay with easy access to St Elmo
We were 2 families of 3. The two sides of the Bear House gave each family their own space with ample shared space as well. Our kiddos loved the garden areas outside and the grown-ups loved the walk-ability to restaurants, grocery, and more. The beds were very comfortable and the house was filled with character and nice homey touches.
We cooked a few meals here and had all the pots/pans we needed, though the kitchen is cozy.
Thanks for a lovely stay. We would gladly return in the future.
5.0
This home is over the top. Its large and beautiful. Decorated for the holidays with such a charm. The owners are so delightful and helpful. The beds were to die for and you woke up each morning feeling refreshed. I wanted to move in and stay forever. Hope to go back again soon.
5.0
Wonderful Getaway
This home is over the top. Its large and beautiful. Decorated for the holidays with such a charm. The owners are so delightful and helpful. The beds were to die for and you woke up each morning feeling refreshed. I wanted to move in and stay forever. Hope to go back again soon.
5.0
Chattanooga getaway
The property is amazing - comfortable, clean and spacious with sitting areas where you can hang out with family and friends. Very thoughtful touches like candies and snacks throughout the home, and bottles of water in each of the bedrooms. A really, really great property and experience
5.0
In town for a wedding. We had 4 families that were able to stay here together. It was centrally located to downtown and all our activities. Highly recommend this property and would definitely stay here in the future.
5.0
Great place for large group and centrally located to downtown.
In town for a wedding. We had 4 families that were able to stay here together. It was centrally located to downtown and all our activities. Highly recommend this property and would definitely stay here in the future.
5.0
5 star
Great place to stay! Owners very quick to respond. Close to all activities. Would definately stay here again when visiting Chattanooga!
5.0
Wonderful stay! Hope to come back!
My friend and I stayed at this property earlier in the year in the basement apartment when we came to preview ride and run the Ironman course. Great little cozy place. I had rented the entire house out for our group for the race in late September and wanted to see how it would be for all of us. Our second visit was as lovely as the first! We were able to cook meals and enjoy them family style on the front porch!
Steve and Sharman are wonderful hosts with everything you need right there! My in-laws even got to walk a couple blocks and hang out to cheer my son and I on when each of us passed by on the course coming in at the end of the bike leg.
The location is great for visiting local site-seeing attractions, as well as a close 10 min drive to downtown Chattanooga! Great city with so much to do! We canât wait to come back to visit when we have more time to explore the city and hike!
5.0
Very nice and enjoyable place to stay!
FAQs
How much does this apartment cost compared to others in Chattanooga?
The average price for a rental in Chattanooga is $225 per night. This rental is $134 above the average.
Is parking included with this apartment?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway!. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this apartment?
We didnât find pool listed as an amenity for this apartment. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway! pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this apartment is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway!?
We found 10 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, and laundry.
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