Entire apartment

Bear House 1890, Wheland Wing, Upgraded Detailed Amenities, Walk to Cafes, Shops

Photo gallery for Bear House 1890, Wheland Wing, Upgraded Detailed Amenities, Walk to Cafes, Shops

Exterior detail
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, WiFi, bed sheets
Interior
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire apartment

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4102 sq m

Popular amenities

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

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire apartment to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Bear House 1890, Wheland Wing, Upgraded Detailed Amenities, Walk to Cafes, Shops


🐻 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 store, 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.

Wheland Wing is one of 2 wings/apts located on the 2nd floor of the main house at The Bear House. Private Wheland Wing, with its own entrance, offers historic charm with modern-day amenities. Wonderful, private apartment including 2 bedrooms, full bath, original shower room to house, dining, living room, and hospitality center including Keurig, mini fridge, and microwave. It also includes the main fully stocked kitchen and resource center.

Private Wheland Wing:
* King bed, smart HDTV with Cable, Amazon Prime and Netflix, WiFi, ceiling fan with remote, luxury bedding and linens, iron and ironing board, full length mirror, luggage racks, water bottles, bedside radio/clock with 2 outlets and 2 ports for charging your devices.
* Queen bed, smart HDTV with Cable, Amazon Prime and Netflix, 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.
* Full size bathroom with large original soaking tub, custom tile work, luxury towels and amenities, hair dryer.
* Original shower room and dressing room, beautifully renovated with custom tile work, luxury towels and amenities.
* Hospitality Center 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.
* Dining for 4 plus a cozy seating area.
* Living room with ample seating, game table, games, smart HDTV with Cable, Amazon Prime and Netflix.
* Resource center with writing desk and office supplies, cozy reading area. Located at the top of stairs.
* High quality, fully equipped kitchen 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. Located next to the Resource Center.

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, fire pit, 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. 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

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • WiFi available

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Spices
  • Electric kettle
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Hair dryer
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • HDTV with cable/satellite service
  • Netflix
  • Streaming services
  • Books
  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer
  • Near laundromat

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Concierge services
  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In the city center
  • In the mountains
  • Near a health or beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo
  • In a village

Things to do

  • Fitness facilities nearby
  • Rock climbing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Water skiing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector installed (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 1100 sq ft (102 sq m)

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Infants and children are welcome!

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: 8
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
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

Property is also known as

Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect Location Charming St Elmo
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect Location! Charming St Elmo!!
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect Location Charming St Elmo

About the neighborhood

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 Metropolitan Airport (CHA) - 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, Wheland Wing, Upgraded Detailed Amenities, Walk to Cafes, Shops pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Bear House 1890, Wheland Wing, Upgraded Detailed Amenities, Walk to Cafes, Shops?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Bear House 1890, Wheland Wing, Upgraded Detailed Amenities, Walk to Cafes, Shops?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Bear House 1890, Wheland Wing, Upgraded Detailed Amenities, Walk to Cafes, Shops located?

This family-friendly Chattanooga apartment building is located in the mountains, 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.

Bear House 1890, Wheland Wing, Upgraded Detailed Amenities, Walk to Cafes, Shops Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 137 out of 142 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 142 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 142 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 142 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 142 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jason R., Muskego

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place in St. Elmo
Had a great time and was a perfect location. Highly recommend. They had everything we needed, even a little dish of chocolates for us. It is only a few minutes from Lookout Mountain and less than 15 minutes from downtown. Good restaurants only a few blocks away too.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Spectacular home, perfect location
We were in the Wheland wing, it was beautifully decorated, welcoming and comfortable. The grounds were colorfully decorated with many areas to stop, take a seat and enjoy your surroundings. Best part was their location, five to ten minutes to everywhere you want to go! The aquarium, art district, ruby fall, point park just to name a few. If you’re visiting the area the Bear House is the perfect place to stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

keith B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful place to stay
I don’t know where to begin. This home was very clean. Super close to downtown and rock city, ruby falls and just about anything. The amenities were awesome. Bed was so soft and super comfy. A keurig with coffee stocked. A full stocked kitchen and washer and dryer. My kids loved staying there as well. Really made you feel like you were at home. Property manager is a great guy. He was so pleasant and always smiling. The Bear House is a truly a wonderful place to stay when visiting Chattanooga. If we ever go back we will definitely stay again. Thank you for letting use your home.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Betsy M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful!
Beautiful old home that was convenient for everything we wanted to do. Decor was charming and there were even snacks and coffee provided. We would definitely recommend this home to anyone!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa R.

Liked: Cleanliness
The house itself is a destination!
Girl’s weekend in Chattanooga. Each of us loved staying in this beautiful house in the historic St Elmo community. The owners thought of everything making our stay like being at home. The large front porch was the perfect place to sit and enjoy a beverage at the end of the day( there are multiple other spots on the property to sit and relax). Downtown Chattanooga took less than 10 min to get there. The house is walking distance ( maybe 1/4 mile from the incline railway and numerous restaurants- so no driving needed! Great neighborhood!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christina S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely stay for a small family
My husband, 2 year old, and I thoroughly enjoyed our 4 night stay in the Wheland Wing at the Bear House! The rooms were clean and nicely decorated. The beds and linens were comfortable. The beds are high, so if you have a little one, consider bringing bumpers—ours slept on a toddler bed that we brought because she is not sleeping in a bed at home yet. The water pressure and temperature worked great in the shower and tub. Our favorite part was the gardens on the property which were beautiful and peaceful. Our toddler loved visiting all of the little (and big!) statutes. The owners of the property, Steve and Sharman, were very nice and friendly. The neighborhood is in a convenient, safe, and quiet location. In addition to being walking distance to restaurants and the Incline Railway, it is in close driving proximity to Lookout Mountain and Ruby Falls. It was also a short drive to St Elmo Park, a neighborhood park with a fun and well-maintained playground for kids and toddlers. We would recommend this property to friends and family! Thanks again for a wonderful stay.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deb S.,

Liked: Cleanliness
Home away from home
Great accommodation with many thoughtful extras.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bobby S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stay
Everything was perfect. Great location, great accommodations, and great hosts.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rachel M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
We had a great visit. Would definitely come back.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alisa G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved the Vintage Home
Stayed for a wedding in Chicamagua. Had a great time. Beautiful home!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carla W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Hospitality Above and beyond expextations!!
A beautifully appointed 2br! Felt like home and so close to activities and wonderful restaurants!! Loved all the quaint,cozy seating areas to relax and read! Beautiful front porch for dining or relaxing!! The best VRBO Ive stayed in, they supplied wonderful bath products from a local shop Good Fortune and now Im a customer!! Everything you need is there for you, plus extras like coffee, tea and snacks!! The hosts were so kind and informative!! Stay here, believe me you wont regret it!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sharon M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Special Touches
This was my third visit to the Bear House. Every unit I’ve occupied has been fantastic. Steve and Sharman are always welcoming, even when it’s cold and rainy outside. I love staying here so much. The kitchens are well-equipped. The beds are extremely comfortable. You won’t find better accommodations or nicer hosts in Chattanooga. Added bonus for me, we have family in St. Elmo so it’s really convenient to stay here.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Janet G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Ruby Falls
Had a perfect day
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Edward R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cozy, inviting and close to everything
We enjoyed the area we were in. The rooms were comfortable and the stay was enjoyable.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tara S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Clean and comfortable
We had a nice stay. Had everything we needed. It was within walking distance to The Incline and some nice restaurants. The king bed was super comfortable!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stay at Wheland house
The home was very clean, well stocked with any amenity you could think of. Neighborhood was quiet and within walking distance to neighborhood shops. Especially enjoyed sitting in outdoor conversation spots in the yard. Would definitely stay again if we were ever come back to the area
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Chelsea C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing
This was truly a beautiful home. The owners did so well with remodeling the apartments. Everthing you needed was there. The kitchen was my favorite place. Great veiw of the moutian side. My one year old had a great time exploring the property. The owners were very welcoming and also respectful of our privacy. We loved the layout of the apartment. Property is perfect for hanging outside and enjoying beautiful moutian weather. We really enjoyed walking in the neighborhood and surrounding areas.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Leanne Z.

Liked: Cleanliness
Every thing we needed was there!
Enjoyed our stay
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marcy g.

Liked: Cleanliness
This is a great place to stay!!!
Thank you so much for the wonderful stay. Everything was great. Very spacious property with lots of added little things. Candy, breakfast bars, water bottles, special soaps in bathroom, tons of storage for just about anything. Close to Chattanooga downtown. We didn’t utilize the patios outside, wish there was time for that, very cute and cozy. Thanks again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrea L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Magical property!
The Bear House is so charming and we loved our stay this last weekend! It’s located at the base of all Lookout Mountain attractions, making it a premier location. We also went over to the Ocoee River and Nickajack Lake (bat experience-so cool) from there and it was an easy drive to and from. Bear House was clean, perfect for couples or families and an absolutely beautiful property. Thank you, Sharman! :-)
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bernadette D.

Liked: Cleanliness
What a great place
Everything about this place is spectacular. The location is so closed to all attractions. The rooms are cleaned. The beds are comfortable. The owner goes all his ways to make you feel at home such as free coffee, chocolate, mini snacks. The place has everything you need to cook meals and don't forget the beautiful garden, cool enough to have a glass of wine
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bruce S., Greer SC USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Rock City & Cats
Nice clean property - owners were right there to assist with any needs. Easy walk to St Elmo shops/restaurants including a great Cat Cafe. Being walking distance is a huge plus as parking to visit St Elmo shops is at a huge premium and is all pay/metered. This was true for all the places we visited in Chattanooga also (though some restaurants did have limited free parking - check before hand). About 10-15 minute drive from property to downtown Chattanooga. If you are visiting Rock City/Incline/Lookout Mtn. - this is the area to stay vs. downtown. Nice historic district.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathy H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Top Notch Accommodations
We had the most wonderful, amazing stay at this property! The hosts were great…they put a lot of work and thought into making this place and our stay very enjoyable! This property is so comfy, homey, & inviting inside and outside…the inside had comfy beds, very nice bathrooms with good storage and lots of storage throughout this property. Snacks, chocolates, and coffee was provided for our convenience. The full size kitchen had all the items you’d need to fix a meal. Washer, dryer and laundry supplies are available too! Since we arrived around dinner time and didn’t want to eat out, we found some boxes of pasta roni in the kitchen and that made a quick & easy meal. The outdoor yard had multiple welcoming areas to relax in. Beautiful gardens! The carved bear statues were fun too! We loved walking a couple of blocks to stores and restaurants…a beautiful setting with Lookout Mountain always in our view. We also enjoyed driving a scenic short drive to downtown Chattanooga too! We will definitely return!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ellen S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place
Property was well taken care of. Conveniently located near many attractions, dining locations within walking distance. Steven was very helpful and friendly. Would definitely stay with them again.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Diane B.

Liked: Cleanliness
It was great
It was great
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023