Perched in the Smoky Mountains, Brown Bear Lodge offers an immersive retreat for groups of up to 22. Overlooking Watauga Lake, enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and swimming or hike out your front door to the Appalachian Trail. Return home to unwind with a hot tub and sauna.
Reviews
9.69.6 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire cabin
10 bedrooms5 bathroomsSleeps 22743 sq m
Popular amenities
Spa pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air-conditioning
Gym
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire cabin to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
TN Mountain Lodge: sleeps 22+ lake, hikes, hot tub, Sauna
The Brown Bear Lodge is located in the smoky mountains-30 minutes from Boone, NC. This 8,000 square foot lodge can comfortably sleep 22 people and on a youth retreat once slept close to 60 people.
It overlooks Watagua lake, and you will be able to go kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, and swimming. You can also hike out your front door to the Appalachian Trail. When you are finished with your hike you can come home and enjoy a hot tub and sauna.
(Boat rentals are available at Cove Ridge and Fish Springs marinas on Watauga lake.)
Get ready for a high quality lodge. Huge stone fire places, bears carved into the wood and real bear rug, and beautiful sights.
*Kitchen: HUGE Island and all the cooking supplies you could need. *Playroom: The playroom has a large fort, ping pong table, drum set, seesaw, TV, swing and much more. *Deck: The deck has four eating areas with tables. Enjoy eating outside. It also has a twin size bed swing and lots of other areas to relax. *Garage: The three car garage is loaded with toys for kids to enjoy- scooters, tricycles, etc. *Living rooms (2): There are two living room spaces. Both have a large fire place. *Bedrooms: Each bedroom has a theme (Dancing Bears, Red Fox, Green Frog, African Safari and more) *Laundry rooms: There are two laundry rooms- both with a washer and dryer
You are renting the entire lodge so you will have access to everything. The only exception is a closet where the owners keep their personal clothes.
The Brown Bear Lodge is a half-way up a mountain and is surrounded on three sides by a national park. Get ready for an amazing view! It's 3/4 of a mile from the community entrance- which is directly across from the lake. When we go to the lake we normally walk or pop in the car.
Here’s some more information:
Top floor: 1) Bedroom #1: King Bed, twin bed (Full attached bathroom with a bathtub/shower) 2) Bedroom #2: King bed, couch that could be used as a twin 3) Playroom- Has a large fort. One side of the fort has a full bed and a twin bed, the other side has a matching full bed and bunk bed. 4) In the playroom is a private corner behind a book shelf. There is a King sized bed there. Super comfortable. Not behind a locked door.
On this top floor there is a second full bathroom that can be shared. It has a shower.
Ground floor:
1) Bedroom #1: Master bedroom- King sized bed, large bathroom, big bathtub, separate shower, laundry room.
This floor also has a half bath for those in the kitchen and living room.
Downstairs:
1) Bedroom #1 King bed, Full bed on the floor (perfect for families with kids). There are also LOTS of comforters that can be used for additional beds for kids. This bedroom has an attached full bathroom (tub/shower combo)
2) Bedroom #2: King bed
3) Bedroom #3: Two twin beds
4) Gym- has a twin bed and privacy curtains.
Another half bath and laundry room is downstairs.
To avoid confusion, and so that you can see an accurate rental price PRIOR to booking, make sure to enter the correct number of overnight guests. When checking out, VRBO will label any number of guests over the first 2 as “Additional Guest(s).
Note: For Security Deposits, VRBO collects these funds and returns them to you if the property is not damaged. As the host we do not receive these funds.
Please remember to declare the total number of guests in your booking, including children aged 2 and up, in accordance with Vrbo policy. This helps us ensure a comfortable stay for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation!
Property amenities
Pool/Spa
Hot tub
Sauna
Internet
Available in the cabin: WiFi
Parking and transport
Car required
Onsite parking options include a garage
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee grinder
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Hob
Ice maker
Kitchen island
Kitchenette
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
10 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
5 bathrooms
Bathtub or shower
Bidet
Hair dryer
Jetted bathtub
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Fireplace
Living room
Separate dining area
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Games
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Video library
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Barbecue grill
Outdoor furniture
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Note from host: No candles or burning of any kind. $200 fee.
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Things to do
Arcade/game room
Bicycles
Gym
Kayak
Table tennis
Water sports equipment
Birdwatching nearby
Fishing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Swimming nearby
Wildlife walks 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
Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Excessive mess: If the property is left excessively dirty there will be a $300 fee for extra cleaning.
Late checkouts must be approved. Fees: $50 charge for a 30 min late checkout. If 2 hours or more late they will be charged for a full additional day.
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
No candles or burning of any kind. $200 fee.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
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 and a deadlock
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
We should mention
A car is required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Butler is home to this cabin. The Bonnie Kate and Backyard Terror's Dinosaur Park are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Fish Springs Marina and Lakeshore Marina. Kayaking and power boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking/biking trails and mountain biking nearby. Visit our Butler travel guide
Is TN Mountain Lodge: sleeps 22+ lake, hikes, hot tub, Sauna pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at TN Mountain Lodge: sleeps 22+ lake, hikes, hot tub, Sauna?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at TN Mountain Lodge: sleeps 22+ lake, hikes, hot tub, Sauna?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at TN Mountain Lodge: sleeps 22+ lake, hikes, hot tub, Sauna?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is TN Mountain Lodge: sleeps 22+ lake, hikes, hot tub, Sauna located?
Located in Butler, this family-friendly cabin is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from Watauga Lake, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Fish Springs Marina and Lakeshore Marina. Watauga Point Recreation Area and Williams Island are also within 9 miles (15 km).
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TN Mountain Lodge: sleeps 22+ lake, hikes, hot tub, Sauna 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.
This place is so cool it took us an hour just to explore it and get over the amazement. I've stayed in many cabins of this sort but none nearly as well furnished and equipped. Nothing lacking (towels, TP, kitchen stuff, etc.) and so many awesome extras (ping-pong!). It's easy to drive to for something so secluded with such an amazing view. The host was great about communicating and not imposing too many silly rules. I plan to go back.
Everything from the location, to the cabin, to the cleanliness, communication with the owners, was absolutely spectacular. I cannot imagine that there is ANY better place for a group or large family to stay when visiting TN! No need to leave the cabin. Everything you need is there. There’s even a hiking trail you can access. On a 1 to 10 it was a 20!!! Can’t wait to visit again!!!!
Based on reviews and information provided on the VRBO listing, Brown Bear Lodge was everything we expected. Our first impression as we gathered on the deck overlooking the lake was "WOW". The view was great and you could see halfway to forever. The lodge was beautiful and equipped with everything we needed. It was very roomy and gave us the opportunity to get together in one place or if someone needed a quiet place for privacy, you could find one inside or outside. The weather was perfect so most of our time was spent on the decks. There was an abundance of games, videos available. Both game rooms were enjoyed by everyone. The "nook" between the bedrooms off the upstairs game room was a favorite of the younger children. The hike up Brad"s trail to the Applalachian Trail was a little tough for us Flat Landers but, those who made the clinb came away with an appreciation of hiking in the hills. Brad was a great host and very responsive to our needs and questions.. Given the opportunity, we would definitely visit Brown Bear lodge again.
King family
Absolutely beautiful log home nestled in the mountain. Highly recommend if your looking to get away from your busy life. The pictures do not do the home or the view justice. Also, more for the kids to do at the house than we expected. Lots of games, bikes, scooters, kayaks, paddle boat, plus the kids room is wonderful. The porch swing & deck was my favorite spot!
We rented a boat from Fish Springs marina for 2 days, which I recommend. The lake is very clean, and relatively quiet.
I suggest you do your grocery shopping before coming into Butler or plan on going for a drive.
Brad was great to deal with. He got right back to us with any questions we had. Appreciate the Brown family opening their home to us! Highly recommend.
Perfect Vacation Spot for Mountains and Lake Adventures
Beautiful clean multi-level lodge with plenty of space for everyone. Amazing views of the mountains and Watauga Lake. Best views we have ever seen while staying in the mountains. Plenty of activities to occupy our teenagers including ping pong, pool table, table with chess, table with Chinese checkers, drums (2 of our sons play the drums), movies, hot tub, bikes and more. Trailer with kayaks, paddle boards and other toys to take to the lake. The lake is a must do and is one of the cleanest lakes in the US. Water is perfect for swimming, skiing, etc. Rent a boat from a nearby marina in advance or you will have to hope for a cancellation. We got lucky. Grandfather Mountain is a must see. Boone and Blowing Rock, NC have good restaurants and shopping as well as Johnson City, TN. Nights were cool which was refreshing coming from Florida. Had such a great time that we could have stayed another week. Host was friendly and responsive. Beds were super comfortable and we slept great. Check with the host before taking a trip to the grocery store. Kitchen was huge and has everything you can think of for cooking. You may not need some items on your list.
The online list and pictures for this lodge do not begin to give this property its do! The place is absolutely wonderful. Its big enough for more than the 20 family members of us. It has a great view from both balconies and is located within a quick hop of many attraction. All members from the 17 year olds to thr 78 year olds enjoyed the lodge. Best vaction week in a long time.
The home does not serve an all adult situation very well - the bedrooms join into each other and have to pass thru to get from one to another - there are not as many full baths as we expected - some are only 1/2 baths so our friends all had to share bathrooms - would serve a large family with lots of kids well - if is decorated beautifully - but I felt uncomfortable with all the many family photos around and many closets and drawers marked private that we were not to open - did not feel like a private place to stay at all