We enjoyed our stay. The log cabin itself is sparkling clean, with beautiful views and plenty of beds for 9 people to sleep comfortably. Communication with owner was fantastic. My only concern is the drive up the mountain, and this is true for all homes on the mountain/lake, that you will have to drive up the steep gravel roads, and there are a number of blindspots along the shared mountain roads (caveat: some places have mirrors to help with blind spots but not all). We encountered cautious mountain drivers fortunately, who shared the road graciously - as only one car can pass at a time. If you are unaccustomed to these roads, a car with good tire traction or four wheel drive would help (though owner said is not necessary). The nearest grocery store is not far in distance but takes awhile to get to due to the curvy mountain roads, so plan accordingly. Be sure to follow the owner’s directions exactly as you will need them to find your way to the chalet (no cell service on the mountain but wifi at the house is good). Nonetheless, we loved the hot tub, satellite tv, the silence and the spacious cabin itself. Everything is easy to find in the kitchen as all cupboards are labeled - makes clean up so easy! Thanks for a restful stay in such a beautiful natural setting!

We enjoyed our stay. The log cabin itself is sparkling clean, with beautiful views and plenty of beds for 9 people to sleep comfortably. Communication with owner was fantastic. My only concern is the drive up the mountain, and this is true for all homes on the mountain/lake, that you will have to drive up the steep gravel roads, and there are a number of blindspots along the shared mountain roads (caveat: some places have mirrors to help with blind spots but not all). We encountered cautious mountain drivers fortunately, who shared the road graciously - as only one car can pass at a time. If you are unaccustomed to these roads, a car with good tire traction or four wheel drive would help (though owner said is not necessary). The nearest grocery store is not far in distance but takes awhile to get to due to the curvy mountain roads, so plan accordingly. Be sure to follow the owner’s directions exactly as you will need them to find your way to the chalet (no cell service on the mountain but wifi at the house is good). Nonetheless, we loved the hot tub, satellite tv, the silence and the spacious cabin itself. Everything is easy to find in the kitchen as all cupboards are labeled - makes clean up so easy! Thanks for a restful stay in such a beautiful natural setting!

Communication from the owner was fantastic, easy process and a terrific value. With multiple extended family members a cabin with 3 separate living areas, 3 bathrooms and 2 kitchens everything worked great.

This property was by far the cleanest and most comfortable property that we have stayed in. The ride up to the cabin from the main road was a bit scary but we managed it fine. If there was snow it may have been more difficult. John was a great host and answered all of my questions quickly. Loved the house! It was very well stocked with anything that we could have needed. The property was beautiful and the kids enjoyed the game room and the swing outside! Thank you!

We have stay at many cabins this one is one of the best. We loved the hot tub and we used fire place every night. Everything you need is in the cabin. Would recommend.

This cabin was absolutely perfect! The view was amazing, like you were on top of the world. Property was very clean and had everything you needed…well stocked kitchen and plenty of linens. Yes, the road up was a little tricky but very doable. How else are you going to get that view? Owner was super responsive and helpful. Only problem…Our weekend was not long enough! Would definitely rent again.

From the moment we booked this property until the moment we left, John was on top of it & very responsive. The cabin was just what we needed. Plenty of space, very clean and a remarkable view. This is exactly what we were looking for. Highly recommend.

The cabin was beautiful, very clean, comfortable and relaxing. The master was open loft with no Privacy. The basement was very roomy and fun but was damp feeling and a little musty. The drive up to the cabin was very scary to us. The road up is not passable and rather steep. The home next door was pretty close. Overall very beautiful but I’d choose to stay on main road or not so far up a mountain! It would be wonderful if you’re familiar in driving in those areas

The cabin was beautiful, very clean, comfortable and relaxing. The master was open loft with no Privacy. The basement was very roomy and fun but was damp feeling and a little musty. The drive up to the cabin was very scary to us. The road up is not passable and rather steep. The home next door was pretty close. Overall very beautiful but I’d choose to stay on main road or not so far up a mountain! It would be wonderful if you’re familiar in driving in those areas

The host is an incredible person. The BEST! This property is unbelievable. The 3 children ages 9 to 12 feel in love with this place. Actually that included everyone. Someone stated in a prior review that you won't want to leave and that is so true. Amazing views and location! Very clean! We will return as soon as possible. Thank you, John

Very clean and well organized, beautiful views, very comfortable. Worked out very well.

Very clean and well organized, beautiful views, very comfortable. Worked out very well.

The long, windy, and bumpy gravel road up the mountain was our introduction to the chalet. The spectacular views were more than worth it! The setting is spectacular, with a wraparound porch to help capture it. To leave the most accurate review we'll summarize by room. The open floor plan, kitchen, dining, and living room allowed views of the mountains and forest from each area. First, the kitchen. It was one of the better-equiped ones we've had in our travels. There were few things lacking but we would suggest getting the knives sharpened, obtaining a potato peeler and cheese slicer, and some glass bowls of various sizes. The plastic ones could not go in the oven! The dining table seated more than we needed and it was good for playing Monopoly as well. The living room was comfortable and we could imagine sitting in front of a log fire in the winter. However, the TV was a disappointment and would have been more so if we needed it for entertainment. There were plenty of TV channels available, but the DVD player did not have the appropriate cable (we had brought movies anticipating the slow wifi). Also, while a Roku remote was provided, the wifi speed was way too slow to use it. This was not a surprise as other reviewers had prepared us for this eventuality. The bedrooms had plenty of beds for a crowd and each has its own bathroom. A big plus! The master bath, however, was surprisingly small given the size of the master suite. It was a one-person bathroom for sure! All bathrooms had ample, absorbent towels and were spotlessly clean. It should be noted that the master bedroom is a loft. And while that allowed for great views of the mountains, it didn't afford the privacy and quiet of a separate room. We found that if one of us wanted to sleep in, or anyone wanted to watch a late-night TV show it was impossible. If we were to make any structural change to the house it would be to wall off the master and have a large picture window to keep the view. The basement entertainment was great for our grandsons. The video arcade would have been used more if we had not been gone all day, but it was there when needed. The two downsides of the basement were the musty smell and the cold (it's a basement after all!). A heater was provided, but we found that closing the A/C vents and wearing a sweatshirt worked fine. A dehumidifier is a must. The hot tub was unusable; vents broken, cover caved in and too chlorinated. With a few changes the chalet would be perfect!

The cabin is beautiful and clean. The scenery and view from the wrap around porch are amazing. Cabin is spacious and has plenty of fun amenities like pool table, arcade machine, and hot tub. Highly recommend!!

Your family enjoyed our stay

The cabin is beautiful and clean. The scenery and view from the wrap around porch are amazing. Cabin is spacious and has plenty of fun amenities like pool table, arcade machine, and hot tub. Highly recommend!!

Your family enjoyed our stay

The long, windy, and bumpy gravel road up the mountain was our introduction to the chalet. The spectacular views were more than worth it! The setting is spectacular, with a wraparound porch to help capture it. To leave the most accurate review we'll summarize by room. The open floor plan, kitchen, dining, and living room allowed views of the mountains and forest from each area. First, the kitchen. It was one of the better-equiped ones we've had in our travels. There were few things lacking but we would suggest getting the knives sharpened, obtaining a potato peeler and cheese slicer, and some glass bowls of various sizes. The plastic ones could not go in the oven! The dining table seated more than we needed and it was good for playing Monopoly as well. The living room was comfortable and we could imagine sitting in front of a log fire in the winter. However, the TV was a disappointment and would have been more so if we needed it for entertainment. There were plenty of TV channels available, but the DVD player did not have the appropriate cable (we had brought movies anticipating the slow wifi). Also, while a Roku remote was provided, the wifi speed was way too slow to use it. This was not a surprise as other reviewers had prepared us for this eventuality. The bedrooms had plenty of beds for a crowd and each has its own bathroom. A big plus! The master bath, however, was surprisingly small given the size of the master suite. It was a one-person bathroom for sure! All bathrooms had ample, absorbent towels and were spotlessly clean. It should be noted that the master bedroom is a loft. And while that allowed for great views of the mountains, it didn't afford the privacy and quiet of a separate room. We found that if one of us wanted to sleep in, or anyone wanted to watch a late-night TV show it was impossible. If we were to make any structural change to the house it would be to wall off the master and have a large picture window to keep the view. The basement entertainment was great for our grandsons. The video arcade would have been used more if we had not been gone all day, but it was there when needed. The two downsides of the basement were the musty smell and the cold (it's a basement after all!). A heater was provided, but we found that closing the A/C vents and wearing a sweatshirt worked fine. A dehumidifier is a must. The hot tub was unusable; vents broken, cover caved in and too chlorinated. With a few changes the chalet would be perfect!

The Chalet was everything we had hoped for!! Very clean, great location and very homey. The pool table, swing, arcade game and hot Tub… my goodness- it was AWESOME!! Thank you to our Host- John!

The Chalet was everything we had hoped for!! Very clean, great location and very homey. The pool table, swing, arcade game and hot Tub… my goodness- it was AWESOME!! Thank you to our Host- John!

We were there in early April so we had views with no leaves. The mountain views were beautiful. Sunsets from the hot tub and the deck with great rocking chairs was one of our favorites! The cabin was very clean and the beds were comfy! The pool table and arcade machine were so much fun! We cooked every night and had everything we needed in the kitchen. If you’re going to build an outdoor fire, bring camp chairs. We loved our stay - we loved being so far away from everything! We would definitely stay here again!! Highly recommend this place!

We were there in early April so we had views with no leaves. The mountain views were beautiful. Sunsets from the hot tub and the deck with great rocking chairs was one of our favorites!The cabin was very clean and the beds were comfy! The pool table and arcade machine were so much fun! We cooked every night and had everything we needed in the kitchen. If you’re going to build an outdoor fire, bring camp chairs. We loved our stay - we loved being so far away from everything! We would definitely stay here again!! Highly recommend this place!

We loved this place. Beautiful location. It’s a bit remote and that’s what we wanted. Lovely house that was fully enjoyed by the family. We explored the area most days but spent one rain day there and had a splendid time. It was clean, comfortable and had spectacular views.

This cabin on Nanthala Lake is a real gem. The area is beautiful and it was marvelous to wake up to an amazing view of the mountains. We made great use of the hot tub and pool table. We would definitely stay here again. The drive up from the lake is somewhat of an adventure but adds to the secluded feel.

This cabin on Nanthala Lake is a real gem. The area is beautiful and it was marvelous to wake up to an amazing view of the mountains. We made great use of the hot tub and pool table. We would definitely stay here again. The drive up from the lake is somewhat of an adventure but adds to the secluded feel.

We loved the time we spent at the Chalet. It was quite, relaxing, and refreshing. While there we day hiked on the AT and walked along Old River Road. My VW Jetta handled the drive up and down the mountain in low gear with no problem. The Chalet had everything we needed and John, the owner, was accommodating and helpful. We would love to stay here again.

The first two days were a little stressful due to not knowing exactly that there was no wireless, tv, and no landline. We thought at first something was connected wrong so we spent a lot of the first two days trying to figure it all out. It was not until later in the afternoon on the 2nd day when my husband and mother drove the 20 mins to cell service to call John and figure out what was going on. Would not have been such a big deal if we knew in advance and we were prepared. My husband had planned to do a little work, our cats were home alone but monitored and my husband cares for his grandparents. Nevertheless, John refunded us some money for the no service which was greatly appreciated. My family and I did have a good time playing pool and swinging on the swing. The cabin is secluded minus one cabin next door but I am not sure anyone was even there. Luckily we bought some firewood because there was not any provided at the cabin. Although you could possibly chop some up outside but wasn’t sure. The hot tub was nice and my 2yr and husband loved the arcade games. Quality time was definitely had and would recommend.

The first two days were a little stressful due to not knowing exactly that there was no wireless, tv, and no landline. We thought at first something was connected wrong so we spent a lot of the first two days trying to figure it all out. It was not until later in the afternoon on the 2nd day when my husband and mother drove the 20 mins to cell service to call John and figure out what was going on. Would not have been such a big deal if we knew in advance and we were prepared. My husband had planned to do a little work, our cats were home alone but monitored and my husband cares for his grandparents. Nevertheless, John refunded us some money for the no service which was greatly appreciated. My family and I did have a good time playing pool and swinging on the swing. The cabin is secluded minus one cabin next door but I am not sure anyone was even there. Luckily we bought some firewood because there was not any provided at the cabin. Although you could possibly chop some up outside but wasn’t sure. The hot tub was nice and my 2yr and husband loved the arcade games. Quality time was definitely had and would recommend.

Our weekend at Bear Chalet was the perfect getaway for our family. The house was very clean. The Mountain views were amazing! The kitchen was fully stocked with everything we needed and more. We loved exploring the area around the house, including the rope swing! Communication was excellent with the owner. If we decide to venture back to the Topton area, we will definitely stay at Bear Chalet again. Thanks John!

The property was clean and equipped with essentials. The day after we arrived we got tons of snow and fulfilled our dream of having a white Christmas! We had to stay an extra night due to not being able to come down the icy mountain. John was very understanding and accommodating! He was a pleasure to work with. The views were gorgeous. It's pretty high up and 4 wheel drive is a must. We forgot a few items at the house and the housekeeping mailed it to us immediately. Very thankful. Definitely recommend this property!

The property was clean and equipped with essentials. The day after we arrived we got tons of snow and fulfilled our dream of having a white Christmas! We had to stay an extra night due to not being able to come down the icy mountain. John was very understanding and accommodating! He was a pleasure to work with. The views were gorgeous. It's pretty high up and 4 wheel drive is a must. We forgot a few items at the house and the housekeeping mailed it to us immediately. Very thankful. Definitely recommend this property!

We had an amazing time. It was a little hairy at first getting up some of the muddy parts of the road up to the house, but we had issues finding first gear in our new car (these Floridians had no clue what we were doing when driving mountain roads!). John was absolutely spot on that keeping it in a low gear and going 10 mph would give us zero issues going up or down. We went up and down the mountain several times with no problem after that first attempt. The house is very well maintained, very clean, and quite organized. Not a speck of dust in the entire place! We came armed with Lysol and were prepared to disinfect (its covid times, after all!) but the entire house was already very thoroughly cleaned before we arrived. The kitchen was well stocked (no crockpot, though, but everything else you could think of, even a griddle!), the hot tub was amaaaazing, and the kids (ages 3, 6, and 8) had a blast on the swing and exploring the woods! We are already talking about next year’s trip!Communication with the owner (John) was great. He was quick to reply to any and all messages and gave excellent advice. He promptly refunded part of our stay when our visit was delayed by a day due to previous renters not being able to leave on time because of weather. We went exploring and took a wrong turn and stumbled upon Fat Buddies BBQ in Franklin (about a 45 minute drive away)— best barbecue I’ve ever eaten!! Highly recommend you take a trip there!Overall a fantastic experience. My family plans to return to the chalet again! Thanks, John!!