Apartment

Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway!

Photo gallery for Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway!

Front steps of the Bear House. Johnson Retreat is located on 2nd level.
The Bear House, main house. As seen on HGTV's House Hunter's show.
Luxurious king bedroom 2
Comfy light-filled living room w/Smart HDTV and games.
Comfy light-filled living room w/Smart HDTV and games.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 8204.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Chattanooga, TN
  • Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Ruby Falls
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Chattanooga Choo Choo
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Chattanooga, TN (CHA-Chattanooga Metropolitan)
    ‪27 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway!


🐻 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 don’t 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 you’ll 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

Lilly’s Loft, 1BR, 1BA, #1324077

Sherfey Suite, 1BR, 1BA, #1172405

Property manager

Sharman Sherfey
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Mountain view

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Infants and children are always welcome!
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Inquire owner about event details and attendees

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

About the area

Chattanooga

Located in Chattanooga, this apartment is in the city centre. Lookout Mountain Incline Railway and Chattanooga Choo Choo are notable landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Ruby Falls and Rock City. Travelling with kids? Don't miss Tennessee Aquarium and Chattanooga Zoo. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and mountain biking.
Map
Chattanooga, TN

What's nearby

  • Lookout Mountain Incline Railway - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Ruby Falls - 4 min drive - 3.6 km
  • Chattanooga Convention Center - 5 min drive - 4.9 km
  • Chattanooga Choo Choo - 5 min drive - 4.8 km
  • Tennessee Aquarium - 6 min drive - 7.0 km

Getting around

  • Chattanooga, TN (CHA-Chattanooga Metropolitan) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Tap House & Empyreal Brewing Co. - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Common Table - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Mr T's Pizza St Elmo - ‬6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Bear House 1890, Johnson Retreat, Mins from Downtown, Perfect Luxurious Getaway! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this 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?

Located in the centre of Chattanooga, this family-friendly apartment building is within a 10-minute walk of Moccasin Bend Brewing Company and Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. Ruby Falls is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 107 out of 109 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 109 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 109 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 109 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 109 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Debra P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful in every way!

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!!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Property

Everything was great...location was convenient.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Historic Home!

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!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Keith P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming and Cozy

Our stay at this charming old house was truly a unique and memorable experience! While the house has a lovely vintage feel, it is full of character and history, which made our time there feel special and nostalgic. Every room was filled with beautiful antiques, and the creaky floors and quaint details gave the house a warm, inviting atmosphere.Though the house may be older, it was very well maintained, clean, and comfortable. The kitchen had all the necessary appliances, and we loved the cozy living areas where we could relax together. The vintage furniture and décor added such personality to the space, and it was clear that the owners have taken great care to preserve the charm of the home.What also made our stay unforgettable, was spending time with the owner, Steve. Steve is extremely knowledgeable about the area and is a pleasure to sit and visit with. His hospitality went above and beyond and he made us feel welcomed and ensured that every detail was taken care of. I would encourage anyone to stay at the Bear House
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard M., South Portland

Amazing place and hospitality a home away from home

Great area everything we needed was less than 5 min away
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jessica F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfy stay

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!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend stop over

The Bear House was a delight to stay in. Too many extras to name. We would highly recommend to anyone.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dannelle W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Property

The property was extremely clean and just as advertised. We had an excellent visit and would not hesitate to stay here again when in Chattanooga.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Tessa S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend stay

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!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Regina D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Stay so convenient to everything

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!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay!

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.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Moreno/Silva reunion

The seven of us, friends and family had a great time in Chattanooga. Staying at the Bear House made the trip such a success.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Natalie K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location and property

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.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

William B., CAPE CORAL

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Super Location / Tremendous Character

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!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dauna S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our experience

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.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brandon A., Alpharetta, GA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing House

Beautiful house full of history. We had a great time at this charming house outside of Chattanooga. Only regret is that we didn't stay longer. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

cindy m., Frisco

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Delightful

Our experience here was absolutely perfect. Exactly as advertised. Actually maybe even better.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Damon N., Chicago

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful property and owners.

We stayed at the Bear house for Ironman Chattanooga and absolutely loved it. The owners were so friendly and accommodating. The owners really care for this property and it shows. Great architectural details throughout (home was built in 1890). Although the home is older it’s completely updated and beautiful. I highly recommend the Bear house.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Patricia S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful time

Had a wonderful time staying in the 🐻 house. Very charming. Great neighborhood. The only down side, was the stairs. Would recommend to anybody. Thank you
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lisa S., Fayetteville, GA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

11th Birthday Joy

We have stayed here before and loved it. This trip was no different. My daughter turned 11 and wanted a girls trip to celebrate in Chattanooga. A part of our enjoyment was this wonderful home and host😊 Perfect space for our group of 8. Close proximity to all of the popular spots to tour. In a quiet neighborhood and felt completely safe. Thank you to the Sherfey’s for another wonderful stay!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Denise F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful and beautiful

Bear House is a beautiful home in a great location. We couldn’t 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!!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Diana P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property, close to everything

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!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melissa P., Indiana

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Third times still a charm! 💕

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. It’s an ideal location to get to downtown, as well as local grocery, restaurants, ice cream, and coffee shops. We will be back again, I’m 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.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kim tatum T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

So cozy and convenient

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. It’s definitely worth the effort.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anna M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely wonderful

The Bear house was fabulous. We had such a wonderful visit. The Place was warm and welcoming. It was clean and nicely decorated. It was full of extras like the coffee center with Keurig for coffee tea and hot chocolate Bathrooms with lovely soaps and fluffy towels. Plenty of space for tv watching board game playing and extra quiet places for a morning cup of coffee They had a kitchen with everything you need. All nice and looked new! They even had snacks and candy. We would definitely recommend it !!!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2020

About the host

Hosted by Sharman Sherfey

Host profile image
The Bear House is a beautifully restored 6,900 square foot house built in 1890. We have lived here for 25 years, raising our four children and enjoying this small community (St Elmo) within the city. Our long-term plan has been to share this special property as a B&B/Short Term Rental when we retired.

We opened as The Bear House in March of 2017. It has been a truly special year and brought great joy sharing The Bear House and meeting so many wonderful guests.

Steve and I live on the 1st floor of the house, which is completely separate from the 2nd story listings as well as the basement/lower level listing. In addition, we have the Carriage House with 2 listings. We are proud of The Bear House and think you will have a wonderful stay!

What makes this property unique

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! One of the best locations for a trip to Chattanooga.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests