Beat the Heat---Spring and Summer at Bear Lodge---Don't Miss Low Temps/Humidity

• Well travelled vrbo'er thinks best ever!

  Well travelled vrbo'er thinks best ever!

  • Guest Dave98
  • Date of stay 04/16/13
  • Review Submitted 05/14/13
  My wife and myself own multiple vrbos and regularly travel everywhere from Seattle to Prague in vacation homes. Singularly, this was the best vrbo we have ever been to. I had work in the mountains and decided to meet up with my wife for the week and we were simply blown away by the home, the decks, the view, and the hospitality. I can assure you that we will be back to this retreat. The home can easily accommodate any large family gathering but it also worked for us as a couple. Professionally designed, the first floor is really set up for the couple with a large master and master bath, large living room and fantastic kitchen. There is also a great seating area off the front and a large deck off the back. There are multiple bedrooms downstairs and a loft and both floors have added decking off the front and back. You are less than 10 minutes to town and a short drive to a resort with fine dining. Hiking and walking down the road a bit and out your front door. The community is set into a ridge and there are views and everchanging sky and mountain looks. Ralph could not have been more accommodating! As a fellow vrbo owner, I was amazed that there was a negative review and would tend to think this had to do with the guest rather than location, property or owner. There is no possibility of being less than impressed walking into this home. Thanks again and see you soon.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Owner response: David, it's been a great pleasure to get to know you and Pam via email and the telephone and I do hope that all is good with you. Your review is greatly appreciated. As we discussed prior to and during your visit, there are just some 'difficult situations' in life that we all need to just survive and move along. That negative review was one of those and the less said by me, the better. Everyone else reading the lovely reviews we have had felt sympathy for me and that is just how bad it was during that time period. We look so forward to renting your places as soon as we possibly can, and again, we thank you for staying at Bear Lodge and your most special words. They are, as always greatly appreciated. Ralph

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• Great view, lots of space

  Great view, lots of space

  • Guest pab
  • Date of stay 03/29/13
  • Review Submitted 04/05/13
  This conveniently located house has plenty of room and a wonderful view of the mountains. Ralph was extremely helpful and accommodating through emails and over the phone.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, families with young children.

  Owner response: Thank you Martin, and we were so happy to have you stay with us. My very best to you and the family, and delightful to meet you. Ralph

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• Rental was less than expected

  Rental was less than expected

  • Guest steve
  • Date of stay 02/02/13
  • Review Submitted 02/25/13
  We used VRBO previously for vacations and have had some wonderful stays. We hoped that this one would be the same. My husband and I exchanged several emails with the owner expressing certain needs, i.e. tv's working, cleanliness and Internet. We were assured that these were available and that the house would be warm when we arrived. The house was at 60 degrees which seemed cold for Floridians, and the thermostat is on a program that resets back to that temperature after you set it, so we were often cold in the morning. The cable was not working, and we spent 24 hours talking to Charter to get the cable back on. The wifi went down the next day, and we again worked with Charter (a great company) and they came out and installed new wiring. This house has seen better days. The powder room toilet was out of order, and the owner offered to have someone repair it while we were there, but we just chose to close the door. We didn't want to spend our time on repairs. Microwave only worked on one setting. We spent two weeks, and we felt we threw away a lot of money. When we asked to only spend a week, the owner told us that he gave no refunds. When we return to that area, we will stay at a location that we saw while we were there. It's actually on a Christmas tree farm, and the manager was terrific, and the property was immaculate. The only reason I give this a fair rating is that it does have basic necessities for a short stay.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers.

  Owner response: My parents raised me well and that includes realizing that 'occasionally in life, you can simply not please some difficult people.' I'm confident that if you will read the other reviews, you will get the true flavor of me and of our wonderful home. Enough said.

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• Wonderful stay at Bear Lodge

  Wonderful stay at Bear Lodge

  • Guest David S
  • Date of stay 12/22/12
  • Review Submitted 12/31/12
  The accommodations were wonderful and the owners equally as wonderful and responsive to any inquiry we had during our stay. Could not have asked for anything more. Beautiful home and location. Thanks again.

  Owner response: David, you and I spoke a number of times and agree that the goal is a win/win for everything. No matter how hard I try, if the renter is not so wonderful as you (and most of our renters), this would not be so successful. I greatly treasure your friendship and appreciate your words. My best to each member of your family, and especially to your Dad. Ralph

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• Wonderful Property

  Wonderful Property

  • Guest Mountain Traveler
  • Date of stay 11/20/12
  • Review Submitted 11/27/12
  My family and I loved Bear Lodge! The house had a fantastic living/dining room area with view and the kitchen was great for serving meals. The pictures of the home were accurate. The bedrooms were comfortable and it was great having a bathroom for each. The owner was attentive and a pleasure to work with. Blowing Rock outlet mall was exactly 4 miles away and easy to get to. Overall we really enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend this property!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Owner response: Polly, you and your family were so special and I'm so pleased you were able to get together at Bear Lodge for your Thanksgiving gathering. We look most forward to having you back soon and again, we hope you enjoy the holiday season. Merry Christmas to all of you, Ralph

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• Beautiful Views and Cozy Living

  Beautiful Views and Cozy Living

  • Guest LJ4UK
  • Date of stay 10/18/12
  • Review Submitted 10/29/12
  Our family joined two other families to spend a weekend enjoying the mountains and fall foliage at Bear Lodge! The lodge was so warm and cozy, yet abundantly spacious for the 12 of us! We all had infants and toddlers, and the Lodge was pleasantly clean and organized. We all felt comfortable letting the kids crawl and play everywhere! We arrived at night unable to take in the scenery, so when we awoke the next morning, we were so blessed by the spectacular views of the mountains! Bear Lodge is also in a great neighborhood. We went on a nature hike through it and the toddlers had a blast. The guys hiked up the closest mountain in 15 minutes and looked back at the cabin through the trees. We took the toddlers to the very close-by Tweetsie Railroad. We loved Blowing Rock's downtown atmosphere. It was definitely bustling with tourists enjoying the town. Bear Lodge's warm radiant heat was a treat to come back to after a brisk evening in town. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and plan to return to Bear Lodge again soon!!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• Family Get Away

  Family Get Away

  • Guest jymb
  • Date of stay 10/18/12
  • Review Submitted 10/26/12
  This was the most beautiful cabin that my family has ever been too. The pictures on the website accurately displayed how beautiful the home itself was as well as the breathtaking views. The owner was very helpful and went out of his way to help in anyway possible. Blowing Rock is such a quaint little town filled with unique shops and fantastic ice cream! We loved Foggy Rock, great service and the environment was perfect for kids! I would definitely recommend this property to anyone that is looking for a fabulous weekend get away!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Owner response: MB, we appreciate your kind words and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you and your family plus your wonderful friends. We were so pleased that you and your friends chose our home to celebrate the safe return of your husbands from the Middle East. We consider it a great honor to assist the military folks on their stays at Bear Lodge and I know we will remain friends for many years to come. We look forward to seeing you again soon, whether at Bear Lodge or here in VA Beach. Best to all of you lovely new friends. Ralph and Sassie

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• A MUST stay in the Appilachian Mountains

  A MUST stay in the Appilachian Mountains

  • Guest Taylor
  • Date of stay 09/28/12
  • Review Submitted 10/18/12
  Anyone looking for get-away to the NC mountains would be well served to consider staying at the Bear Lodge. Whether you have a large group or a romantic couples retreat in mind, this home is a must. I call it a home as opposed to a house because that’s the way you feel from the moment you enter the front door. All of the rooms are well appointed, but the great room living area and loft make it tough to want to leave. The fireplace is unique, creating a cozy atmosphere while efficiently aiding to the floor radiant heating in the great room space. The pictures truly don’t do the spruce wood lofted living area and porch justice. We love to cook, and the only disappointing aspect of the kitchen’s preparing and cooking surfaces was leaving it. The master bedroom is straight of a movie! And, of course, it’s nestled in one of the most breathtaking spots in the U.S. Speaking with the owners to make the arrangements was a dream as well. While we never had an opportunity to meet face to face, we feel as if we made friends. We can’t recommend this property highly enough. We can’t wait to get back for our next adventure in the Great Smokey Mountains at the Bear Lodge! John and Carrie Taylor

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, people with disabilities, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Owner response: John and Carrie, it has been such a delight getting to know you two via the phone and email and 'one of these days' we will shake hands. Nothing pleases me more than making new friends and when we can have wonderful people such as you share our home from time to time, that makes it even sweeter. Your review is so kind. As you know, while I was designing and building Bear Lodge, I chose the best materials I could find and added as many little trims as possible to build a sound and livable home for us. Little did I ever know we would be renting our home but life changes. I'm delighted that the friendship we have established will remain for years to come. I most humbly appreciate your review and the kind words. It truly takes my breath away to read such nice things!!! Ralph and Sassie

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• Family Gathering

  Family Gathering

  • Guest Bill
  • Date of stay 07/14/12
  • Review Submitted 09/02/12
  We spent 10 days at bear lodge with different groupings of family members and friends. It was a great experience for us all. The house is magnificent, with everything we needed and a truly comfortable set of rooms and living spaces. Ralph was great in getting us set up. We felt close to everything we needed--restaurants and shopping in Blowing Rock and Boone, , the Parkway entrance, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, and bicycling. We made great local trips to nearby attractions like Linville Falls and the Virginia Creeper Trail. This is a truly special house, and just right for a good sized group with diverse interests. Highly recommended.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

  Owner response: Thank you Bill. It's been a delight getting to know you and Jane. Your words are so kind and we greatly appreciate your kind words about Bear Lodge. It's a home that we are unusually proud of and are happy you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you back over the winter for ski season. Your punch list was also appreciated. I'm happy to say they were handled three days after you departed, so thanks for the assistance. Sassie and I send our best to you and hope the balance of this year is a great one for you two lovely people. Ralph

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• What a house!!!

  What a house!!!

  • Guest Peter
  • Date of stay 06/01/12
  • Review Submitted 08/04/12
  We are speechless after the finest vacation ever. Bear Lodge is more than it appears, and we thought it was gorgeous in the pictures. It's a great pleasure to work with the owner. If you want a spacious home with the finest amenities, you can not go wrong here. Thanks Ralph for all of your assistance. Great time!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Owner response: Thanks Peter..... you do KNOW how to win my heart when you talk about our home so kindly. Hope to see you personally on a trip to the RDU area later this year. Come back to Bear Lodge anytime..... it awaits your smiling face. Ralph

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Jan 5, 2013 - April 30, 2013 .. $585/night .. $2950/week (three-night minimum)
May 1, 2012 - Nov 19, 2012 ..   $750/night .. $3750/week (three-night minimum)
Nov 20, 2012-Dec 1, 2012   ..  $835/night .. $4350/week (seven-night minimum).
Dec 2, 2012-Dec 19, 2012  ..   $700/night .. $3500/week (three-night  minimum).
Dec 20, 2011-Jan 04, 2012  ..   $950/night .. $5000/week (seven-night minimum).
Long-term rental is available at a significant discounted price.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.