Close to Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway! provides a garden, a playground and laundry facilities. Stay connected with in-room WiFi.
Reviews
1010 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire apartment
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8204 sq m
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air-conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Add dates for prices
About this property
Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway!
š» 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 donāt 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 youāll 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
Lillyās Loft, 1BR, 1BA, #1324077
Sherfey Suite, 1BR, 1BA, #1172405
Property amenities
Internet
Available in the apartment: WiFi
Parking and transport
Parking on site
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Hob
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Bedrooms
4 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
2.5 bathrooms
Bathtub
Bathtub or shower
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Living room
Entertainment
Games
TV with cable/satellite channels
Outdoor areas
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Concierge services
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In a village
In the city centre
Near a health/beauty spa
Near a hospital
Near a zoo
Near the marina
Things to do
Birdwatching nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Jet skiing nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Rock climbing nearby
Sailing nearby
Swimming nearby
Water skiing nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Rules
Inquire owner about event details and attendees
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Note from host: Infants and children are always welcome!
Events
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 14
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
About the area
Located in Chattanooga, this apartment is in the city centre. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Ruby Falls and Tennessee River, while Lookout Mountain Incline Railway and Tennessee Aquarium are popular area attractions. Travelling with kids? Don't miss Chattanooga Zoo and Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with rock climbing and mountain biking. Visit our Chattanooga travel guide
Is Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway!?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway!?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway! located?
This family-friendly apartment building is located in the city centre, within 1 mi (2 km) of Lookout Mountain Incline Railway and Tennessee River. Ruby Falls is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) away.
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Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway! Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
The owners have thought of every detail to make this a comfortable stay. We had a large group with four grandchildren, and it was a wonderful experience. Comfortable beds, nice dishes for a large group, the fanciest toaster Iāve ever seen, laundry, and a very charming home.
Wonderful spacious historic home! We had the two combined 2nd floor apartments which was plenty of room and privacy for 5 adults and 3 small children. Very relaxing to enjoy our families together. Very close to all the major attractions and restaurants.
What a relaxing weekend! Every detail was attended to - the property, inside and out, was without flaw! St.Elmo is a quiet, quaint neighborhood close to everything! We will return!!
The host warmly greeted us and gave us instructions and helpful tips to make our stay at the Bear House easy breezy. The house and the grounds were filled with character and attention to detail and ambiance were admirable. The location was walkable to restaurants, a great wine store, coffee shop, and a supermarket. Our family had nothing but great things to say about our stay and we can safely recommend the Bear House for anyone looking for a home away from home in Chattanooga.
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!!!
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!
Beautiful place and comfy. So many things we needed, candy in each room, flashlights in each room in an emergency and even a first aid kit. The place was beautiful outside as well! Lots of relaxing sitting areas and close to everything. Our family of six had plenty of space upstairs and the beds were comfy as well!! We will come back!
We stayed at The Bear House over Thanksgiving weekend and truly enjoyed our stay! We were visiting our son and his family for the holiday and we were only about a one minute drive from his house.
The check in process was very easy - I met one of the owners and she is a lovely lady that made us feel at home. The house was decorated for Christmas and was very charming! We loved the all the little extras such as the coffee bars and snacks. This house has all of the charm you could want- we would love to stay here again some time soon!
Bear House is a beautiful home in a great location. We couldnāt 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!!
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.
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 weāve 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 weād planned. The owners were so welcoming and helpful. We really couldnāt have found a more perfect place to stay. ā¤ļøā¤ļø
Host was very welcoming, quick to respond to messages and had numerous suggestions for things to do in the local area. The living area was cozy, the beds very comfortable. Kitchen was stocked with plenty of appliances and cookware for eating in, and having a washer and dryer was convenient. Comfort stations in the dining area were a welcome suprise for coffee, tea, and snacks. We will definitely be reaching out to stay again next time were in the area
We had a great time at the Bear House as the location for a family celebration. Beautiful property and the hosts think of everything you might need. Our favorite place to stay in the Chattanooga area!
This is my second time staying with Steve and Sharmane. Such a comfortable, beautiful property. Itās conveniently located to everything you need. The hosts are always so kind and welcoming.
Teri J.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Richard M.
24 Mar 2019
Amazing place and hospitality a home away from home
Great area everything we needed was less than 5 min away
We had a wonderful stay and any questions we had were answered right away. Check in/out process was simple. This property was more than enough room for our party of 8.
Incredible place! Very clean, nice and quiet, full of amenities. The hosts are wonderful, would definitely stay again and recommend for families visiting Nooga