Bear House 1890, Lilly's Loft, Delightful, Upgraded amenities, Walk to Cafes
🐻 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 Lilly's Loft (Carriage House 2nd floor), with its own entrance, offers historic charm with modern-day amenities. Wonderful, the private apartment including one bedroom, full bath, kitchen, living, dining, and light-filled sunroom overlooking the beautiful gardens.
**Custom, fully equipped kitchen with gas stove/oven, dishwasher, microwave, refrigerator. A variety of small appliances including toaster, mixer, crock pot, and electric tea kettle. The kitchen comes equipped with a Keurig and 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. **Beautiful light filled sunroom/dining room with dining for 4 and a cozy nook for reading or relaxing. **Comfortable living room with ample seating, games, high speed Wifi, electric fireplace, large smart HDTV with Cable, Amazon Prime and Netflix - a wonderful gathering space for you to relax and enjoy your visit. **Resource center in living room with desk, office supplies, vacations guides, reading materials. **Restful bedroom includes a queen bed with high end mattress, 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, high speed Wifi, and smart HDTV with Cable, Amazon Prime and Netflix. **Upgraded full size bathroom with bathtub/shower combination, 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. **Note on ceiling heights: All ceilings are 7' tall with the exception of the sun room that you walk into from the deck entrance. It is a sloped ceiling about 6' 4”-6’8”.
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
Add dates for prices
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Similar properties
River Gorge Condo! Mountain and River Views! 10 minutes from Downtown Chatt!
Chattanooga
River Gorge Condo! Mountain and River Views! 10 minutes from Downtown Chatt!
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
default
Pets
No pets allowed
default
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Inquire owner about event details and attendees
Important information
You need to know
Property # 1324077vb
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 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. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Ruby Falls and Rock City, while Lookout Mountain Incline Railway and Tennessee Aquarium are popular area attractions. Consider Camp Jordan for a night out or Songbirds Guitar Museum if you're travelling with kids. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding and mountain climbing.
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
Moccasin Bend Brewing Company - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum - 18 min walk - 1.6 km
Ruby Falls - 4 min drive - 4.2 km
Point Park - 9 min drive - 5.8 km
Getting around
Chattanooga, TN (CHA-Chattanooga Metropolitan) - 21 min drive
Restaurants
Taco Bell - 2 min drive
Little Coyote - 8 min walk
Wendy's - 2 min drive
Domino's Pizza - 10 min walk
The Tap House - 10 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Bear House 1890, Lilly's Loft, Delightful, Upgraded amenities, Walk to Cafes pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Bear House 1890, Lilly's Loft, Delightful, Upgraded amenities, Walk to Cafes?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Bear House 1890, Lilly's Loft, Delightful, Upgraded amenities, Walk to Cafes?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Bear House 1890, Lilly's Loft, Delightful, Upgraded amenities, Walk to Cafes?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Bear House 1890, Lilly's Loft, Delightful, Upgraded amenities, Walk to Cafes 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.
The house and property was charming and very inviting! The amenities in the house were plentiful and great to have for some cooking we did using the kitchen. There was a very comfortable bed and the shower was exceptional too! It’s always nice to have good water pressure when taking a shower. We enjoyed a local restaurant down the street and it was very close to the UTC campus where we visited our child who is a student. Very nice and we will be back when we visit again! I hope it’s available!
The house was very welcoming very accommodating and communicated very quickly. We will absolutely be staying here again. We love the place. It was so clean cute and had everything we needed.
Heather B.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 12 April 2026
Thank you for your review. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. Please come again anytime!
A cute, small upper level detached from the main house. There's good food within walking distance, and lots of great activities available nearby such as hiking, tourist spots, and sightseeing. The bathroom is a bit cramped, especially if you're a bigger person, this might not be the best place to stay, but otherwise is very cute and cozy! The property has multiple areas to congregate outside, and was great to enjoy the cool weather every night! We loved lilies loft and look forward to our next visit!
Jacob K.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 12 April 2026
Thank you for staying with us here at The Bear House! We’re glad you enjoyed your stay. We work hard to provide a clean and very nice apartment for an enjoyable stay. We do have wonderful gardens and seating areas outdoors as well. Please come again anytime!
Our stay at Lilly’s Loft was warm and cozy, bright and cheery. Every detail was thought of for a wonderful experience. This lovely couple knows how to provide their guests with exceptional hospitality.
Jessica W.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 April 2026
Thank you so much! We love our guests. Please come again anytime!
Perfect accommodations and so close to all attractions! Will definitely recommend to friends and family. If we're ever in Chattanooga again, we will absolutely stay at The Bear House. We stayed in Lilly's Loft and it couldn't have been more cozy and comfy.
Excellent little house, Amazing. The whole area was great. Point Park Battlefield is spectacular, go early and spend a few hours. Rock City (Uber back can be a problem, so just ask drivers pulling in are you Uber and have cash to pay for the ride down; Ruby Falls. 1885 Grill , Great Cocktails and food.
This property is absolutely lovely! The hosts are amazing and very friendly. The neighborhood is beautiful and the accommodations on the property are perfect. They literally provided everything we could possibly need or want for a perfect stay. The drive is shared but the apartment itself has a private entry. This was the best place that I have stayed at in quite some time, clean, comfortable, and absolutely gorgeous historic home. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us!
Brittany B.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 April 2026
Thank you for staying with us here at The Bear House! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. We love our guests. Please come again anytime!
The weather was hot but our stay was more than comfortable! From the beautiful grounds to the little extras scattered throughout the property, Lilly's Loft was a wonderful place to call home for our stay in Chattanooga. Many shops and restaurants were within walking distance and the downtown area was a short drive. A great place to stay!
Everything was great! No issues and we had a super time. Walked to a restaurant and drove up the Mt. to watch a fabulous sunset, also just a short drive up the road - hiked to a Falls (well not so much, water wasn’t flowing this time of the year).
Curtis G.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 April 2026
Thank you for staying with us here at The Bear House! Please come again anytime!
This quiet little historic neighborhood is perfectly located for so many attractions. Ruby falls, Rock city and the Incline railway are just minutes away. There's pretty gardens on the property with various seating areas for relaxing evenings. The historic house is charming, clean and is stocked with pretty much anything you'll need for a stay.
Such a wonderful gem of a house..very clean and comfortable..first class luxury on everything from the bed linens and towels to lovely hand and shower soap. Lots of personal extras that go above and beyond most places. Excellent location as walking distance to locals restaurants! Lots of activities close by. This was a hit it out of the ballpark for us!! Highly recommend and u will not be disappointed!!
Kim R.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 April 2026
Thank you so much for your review. We work hard to provide a special experience for our guests! Please come again anytime!
Lilly's Loft was a very comfortable and quiet place. We enjoyed the short walk to restaurants a few blocks away. Ruby Falls was spectacular. Would stay here again in a heartbeat!
We enjoyed out stay in Lilly's Loft. It was comfortable and well stocked with everything we needed. Nice location near hikes on Lookout Mountain and could easily walk into St. Elmo.
The Bear House is a beautifully restored 6,500square 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