Entire apartment

Bear House 1890, Sherfey Suite, Perfect Getaway, Walk to Cafes, Outdoor Activity

Family-friendly apartment in Chattanooga

Photo gallery for Bear House 1890, Sherfey Suite, Perfect Getaway, Walk to Cafes, Outdoor Activity

Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior
Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Step into the charming Historic Bear House Circa 1890 in Chattanooga's trendy St Elmo Historic District, and discover a beautifully restored 120-year-old house with modern-day amenities. This rare historic property offers a private Sherfey Suite with its own entrance, featuring a fully equipped kitchen, beautiful living room with high-speed WiFi and large smart HDTV.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire apartment

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 246 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen

Add dates for prices

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, Sherfey Suite, Perfect Getaway, Walk to Cafes, Outdoor Activity


🐻 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.

Private Sherfey Suite (Carriage House 1st floor), with its own entrance, offers historic charm with modern-day amenities. Wonderful, private apartment including one bedroom and full bath. Open kitchen, living, and dining floor plan.

**High quality, fully equipped small kitchen with electric stove/oven, microwave, refrigerator. Small appliances include toaster, mixer, and crockpot. The hospitality center comes equipped with Keurig and a well-stocked variety of coffee, teas and hot chocolate, and related condiments. 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 and some breakfast items. Chocolates and fresh fruit are always included!
**Beautiful living room with ample seating, dining, games, high speed Wifi, large smart HDTV with Amazon Prime and Netflix - a wonderful gathering space for you to relax and enjoy your visit.
**Resource center in living room with office supplies, vacations guides, reading materials.
**Queen bed, luxury bedding and linens, iron and ironing board, full length mirror, luggage racks, bedside radio/clock with 2 outlets and 2 ports for charging your devices, Smart TV with Amazon Prime and Netflix.
**Spacious full size bathroom with bathtub/shower combination (rain head faucet), hair dryer, and specialty toiletries from nationally known local store Good Fortune (soaps, body wash, bath salts, lotion), luxury towels and numerous amenities.
**Separate laundry room with large capacity washer and dryer. Laundry room located in the main house (Bear House). Shared between the Carriage House (Sherfey Suite & Lilly''s Loft) and Stinson Suite in the main house.

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. 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 UN

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the apartment: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Office

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 an outlet shopping centre
  • Near the marina

Things to do

  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Mountain climbing nearby
  • Parasailing nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Rock climbing nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snorkelling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 500 square feet

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

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

Check-out

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

Special check-in instructions

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

Rules

Inquire owner about event details and attendees

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are 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: 4
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
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 Perfect Stay Apartment
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect Location Perfect Stay
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect Location! Charming St Elmo!!
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect Location Charming St Elmo
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Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect St Elmo Location Chattanooga
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect St Elmo Location Apartment
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect St Elmo Location Chattanooga
Apartment Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect St Elmo Location!
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect St Elmo Location! Chattanooga
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect Location! Charming St Elmo!!
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect Location! Perfect Stay!
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect St Elmo Location
Apartment Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect St Elmo Location!
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect St Elmo Location! Chattanooga
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect Location! Charming St Elmo!!
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect Location! Perfect Stay!
Historic Bear House 1890 Perfect St Elmo Location!

About the area

Map
Chattanooga, TN

What's nearby

  • Lookout Mountain Incline Railway - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Ruby Falls - 3 min drive - 3.1 km
  • Chattanooga Convention Center - 5 min drive - 5.5 km
  • Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic District - 5 min drive - 5.2 km
  • Tennessee Aquarium - 6 min drive - 7.2 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Dunkin' - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Domino's Pizza - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪The Tap House - ‬10 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Bear House 1890, Sherfey Suite, Perfect Getaway, Walk to Cafes, Outdoor Activity pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Bear House 1890, Sherfey Suite, Perfect Getaway, Walk to Cafes, Outdoor Activity?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Bear House 1890, Sherfey Suite, Perfect Getaway, Walk to Cafes, Outdoor Activity?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Bear House 1890, Sherfey Suite, Perfect Getaway, Walk to Cafes, Outdoor Activity?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Bear House 1890, Sherfey Suite, Perfect Getaway, Walk to Cafes, Outdoor Activity located?

This family-friendly apartment building is located in the city centre, within 1 mi (2 km) of Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, St. Elmo Park and Tennessee River. Ruby Falls is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) away.

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Bear House 1890, Sherfey Suite, Perfect Getaway, Walk to Cafes, Outdoor Activity Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 260 out of 275 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 275 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 275 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 275 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 275 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Nancy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We really enjoyed this place and location. Had extra little things like candy and breakfast bars. Perfect in every way Definitely will be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nathan H.

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

Great spot/stay in Chattanooga

This is the second time that my wife and I have stayed on this property and it likely won't be the last! Great location, comfortable accommodations with a lot of character and personal touches and the Sherfey's are great people!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brenda W.

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

Great stay in a perfect location.

Small but very nice space. Had everything we needed for our stay. Location was perfect.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kody G.

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

Great getaway!

Very homey and spectacular place! The owners are great people and very helpful. Were definitely coming back!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marie C.

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

Enjoyed our stay!,

We enjoyed our stay. We will highly recommend!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great historic place. St. Elmo was very nice!

Stay was amazing. Great location and historic. I will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Greg C.

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

Great location

Just as advertised. Easy walk to several GREAT restaurants and just a couple of miles to Chattanooga. Central to lots of activities!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deneen S.

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

A Gem in Chattanooga

Perfect for two people. Great location close to many restaurants and attractions. Quiet neighborhood. Very peaceful at night. Would definitely recommend to others.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

David H.

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

Great spot. Great apartment

Very clean. Kitchen was well stocked. Rooms were great , as was everything
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Courtney W.

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

Loved our stay at the Bear House!

The house is so cozy and clean. The host was great as well. The location was perfect with look out mountain and the downtown area being just a few minutes away. We would highly suggest that you stay at the Bear House if you are visiting Chattanooga!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kelly H.

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

Short stopover on our way to Georgia

We had a day to enjoy Chattanooga-Lookout Mountain and Rock City were both an easy distance from the house. We also did the Chattanooga Duck Tour which was fun. Our hostess was gracious when we arrived later than expected Friday night. Everything was clean and comfortable and checkout was easy. Thanks so much for a lovely stay!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah M.

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

Perfect

Our stay was even better than we anticipated. I wish we would have planned for a longer trip to enjoy the garden and outdoor area. Everything was very nice and the property had everything we could possibly need. There were snacks and plenty of coffee too. The house is located in a lovely residential area. We really enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Theresa C.

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

Great get away

The bear house was lovely. Everything was better than expected. We could have not found a more centralized location, nothing was more the 15 minutes away. I would highly recommend the bear house
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michelle M.

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

Great private property

This property is perfect for visiting Chattanooga! We were able to do all the sightseeing on Lookout Mountain and go downtown Chattanooga, both locations within 10 minutes. It made it convenient to stop by between activities and change our clothes or put shopping away. we were able to walk to dinner on our first night and explore the cute area of Saint Elmo. I highly recommend this location for visiting Chattanooga.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deborah O., Cookeville

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

Anniversary

The host was a really sweet lady, and office person was so friendly. The apt was clean and very well decorated. There were nice touches such as a few snacks and bottled water. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and hope to use them again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

shelley n.

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

Short stay

The cottage was just as pictured on line with beautiful setting areas outside... The cottage had lots of detailed "extras" that made the stay very comfortable. We could hear the guests above us walking around if we were inside during the day but at night .. when sleeping we didnt hear anything.. would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marie B.

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

Chattanooga is on our “Must Return” list

Amazing 2-night stay. Really appreciated the owner Mr. Sherfey’s visit and lesson on the history of the property and historic neighborhood of St.Elmo! We were comfortable and felt safe. Very peaceful area and enjoyed the birds and rabbits in the yard. Loved seeing chipmunks for the first time. Thanks for sharing your whimsical place with us.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Catherine D.

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

Charming Chattanooga Bungalow

We loved our visit at Steve & Sharman's "Bear House". Everything from the decor, amenities & the charm of their outdoor gardens & handmade woodland animals far exceeded our expectations. The bed was super comfortable as well & we want pillows just like theirs! Everything we needed was included; coffee & creamer, sweet treats, plenty of towels, toiletries, cooking utensils, even a "White Noise Machine" (thank you for that, by the way). The location was also perfect; close to the main highway as well as the most popular Chattanooga attractions. We would highly recommend Steve & Charman as hosts and we will definitely stay there again when we travel to Chattanooga.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Amanda H.

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

Incredible Location, Wonderful Hosts

I stayed in the Sherfey Suite for a long weekend. The location was wonderful, and the hosts were incredibly kind. I forgot to text or call when I got close as they had requested, but check-in was still very quick and easy. I felt this was going above and beyond of the hosts when I had completely forgotten their instructions.I was given a tour of the space with everything pointed out, and there was an amazing listing of places to visit in the neighborhood. I was lucky because that weekend there was a corgi parade within walking distance. Other attractions are a very short drive - I went to Ruby Falls, and I liked it so much I went to another cave attraction the next day.The space itself was immaculate, the TV was easy to use even for an old luddite like myself, and it was very quiet at night even with other guests upstairs. The check-out process was very easy, and the instructions were easy to understand. The check-out is also quite late, which is very nice if you want to sleep in. The grounds are also beautiful, and you might just see Bigfoot. . Be nice to him, he's shy.All in all a wonderful stay, can't recommend enough.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bill C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Clean and pleasant room. Well stocked kitchen. Beautiful garden areas for relaxation. Accessible to Chattanooga activities and restaurants.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Charlie P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good location
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Crystal M.

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

Get away

Property just like pictures!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl B.

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

Chattanooga Getaway

Quiet, clean, close to everything!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Catherine L.

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

Beautiful grounds

The owners are friendly and welcoming. The grounds are beautiful and the location to walkable restaurants and to Lookout Mountain, Point Park and Ruby Falls is excellent. The Sherfey Suite provides a comfortable first floor access with many amenities.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brook C.

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

Great Place with Outdoor Gathering areas

We stayed at the Bear House for Covenant graduation weekend as our son and his fiancé both graduated. Both of our families stayed in the spaces at the Bear House and enjoyed being together for meals on the lovely garden patio and playing games. Beautiful gardens and nice place to be together.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025