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The Tulip Tree Bay Lodge

Photo gallery for The Tulip Tree Bay Lodge

Home Exterior
View of Center Hill Lake from the deck.
Chef's kitchen
View from Kitchen
Kitchen

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms4+ bathroomsSleeps 143200 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

Map
Sparta, TN
  • Center Hill Lake
  • Burgess Falls State Park
  • Hurricane Bridge Recreation Area
    ‪35 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds and 1 Double Bed

Common Space

1 Double Futon

4 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 5

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

The Tulip Tree Bay Lodge

A unique opportunity to stay in an architectural gem on Center Hill Lake! The Tulip Tree Bay Lodge is a 3200 square foot 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath house situated on 5 acres of mostly wooded land overlooking beautiful Center Hill Lake. The house comfortably sleeps and entertains 14 people. Enjoy your morning coffee or afternoon glass of wine on the gorgeous deck with views of Center Hill Lake with no other homes in view!

Bring your boat! CENTER HILL LAKE ACCESS is a 1/2 mile down the road!

Hot tub! Two Roku televisions--log on with your accounts or use ours: Hulu, Disney, Peacock. High Speed Internet. Fire pit. Ping pong table, basketball goal, tree swing, foosball, and corn hole! Board games, movies, and many books for the entertainment and enjoyment of you and your loved ones.

Do you like to cook? The chef's kitchen at The Tulip Tree Bay Lodge will thrill you! Double ovens, cooktop, two refrigerators (kitchen and garage), and dishwasher. For coffee lovers, choose from a traditional coffeemaker, Bodum French Press, Hario Pour over, or Keurig coffee for your morning wake up. Weber grill on the wrap-around deck. Leave your cookbooks at home! The house is stocked with over 20 cookbooks. Plenty of dining seating inside as well as outside on the deck.

Designed by renowned Lake Tahoe architect James Morton in 1978, this house is unlike any other on Center Hill Lake! The house is constructed entirely of California Redwood, Western Cedar, and Mahogany.


SLEEPING ACCOMODATIONS
Master Bedroom- King size bed, Woods/lake views, desk, loveseat, two full baths en suite (main level)

Bedroom 2- King-size bed and twin-size bunk beds (upper bunk weight limit of 165ibs, intended for kids/teens), fireplace, loveseat- direct access to hot tub patio (downstairs). Bathroom across the hall.

Bedroom 3- King-size bed, direct access to hot tub patio (downstairs). Bathroom across the hall.

Bedroom 4- Twin bed and set of bunk beds with full bed on bottom and a twin on top (upper bunk weight limit of 165ibs, intended for kids/teens) with en suite full bathroom (downstairs)

Secondary sitting room- Full Sofa bed (main level)

Property manager

Ashley French
Premier Host

Languages

English
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Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 22
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Bring your own child-proofing items.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking at all on premises.

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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 first aid kit
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Sparta

Located in Sparta, this holiday home is in a rural area. Smithville Golf Club and Southern Hills Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Hurricane Bridge Recreation Area and Window Cliffs State Natural Area - Burgess Falls State Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Sparta, TN

What's nearby

  • Smithville Golf Club - 23 min drive - 21.4 km
  • Hurricane Bridge Recreation Area - 35 min drive - 35.4 km
  • Tennessee Tech University - 49 min drive - 50.4 km
  • Window Cliffs State Natural Area - 52 min drive - 44.6 km
  • Cane Creek Park - 55 min drive - 53.7 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Hillcrest Restaurant - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Blue Water Grille - ‬36 min drive
  • ‪Blue Water Grille On The Hill - ‬33 min drive
  • ‪Redbud Cafe - ‬33 min drive
  • ‪Center Hill Restaurant & Motel - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Tulip Tree Bay Lodge pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Tulip Tree Bay Lodge?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Tulip Tree Bay Lodge?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Tulip Tree Bay Lodge located?

This family-friendly Sparta holiday home is located in a rural location, within a 10-minute walk of Center Hill Lake and Caney Fork River. Joe L Evins Park and Burgess Falls Lake are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 48 out of 57 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 57 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 57 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 57 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 57 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Austin S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was everything we wanted and needed. Killer views and architecture. 5 min drive down to the water and watched the fireworks from the deck.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christy M.

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

Family Weekend

Beautiful home on the lake! Very Spacious for a large group; about 35 minutes from TN Tech!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Kevin M.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy

Large home with lots of beds.

Overall, house could use a good cleaning and updated lighting.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cathy B.

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

Great views

This was a great place for our group. It is quiet and spacious with nice amenities. The location is also reasonably convenient.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

DANIEL S.

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

Good home for a group or family

Stayed here because it offered plenty of space for four friends who hold an annual golf trip. We all had our own room and bathroom and it was very comfortable. House was clean and spacious.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sarah K.

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

Great Time

We enjoyed our stay. Host was very nice and quick to answer any questions.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff M.

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

Getaway with old friends. Great spot.

We had a great stay at the lodge with old friends. Plenty of space to spread out. Great gathering spaces, spacious kitchen, plenty of bedrooms/bathrooms, a porch with a beautiful view! It was the perfect spot for a weekend away.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jessica P.

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

This was a perfect country getaway for our family!

The property was just as described. We enjoyed the large space and hot tub! The kids had a blast and we all enjoyed just relaxing and hanging out.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021

10/10 Excellent

Gina M.

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

Great Place

The view was wonderful! The house was bigger than expected. It was well stocked and very enjoyable. We will stay there again. It would be wonderful for a huge family get together.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie W.

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

Family reunion

My family and I gathered here from states in every direction. We had a wonderful time. It was the perfect space for our five families. There is plenty of room to spread out and have some time to yourself or to all join at the table for some card games and dominos. The scenery is beautiful. The boat and beach access were just down the road and very convenient. Ashley was very responsive to any needs we had although there weren’t many at all. The home provided all of our needs for linen, bathing, cooking, and fun. The garage has several games to play for outdoor fun as well. Thanks again for having us at your lodge!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gerianne C.

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

Great for large groups

We had a wonderful time and rented both the main house and the cottage and it's a great place to accommodate many "sleepers" Nice to have the basketball net for the teens and the ping pong, etc. Used the floats for the water too! Plenty of supplies in the house so you don't need anything like paper products, etc. Owner is easy to reach and responsive to things you need! Love seeing all the deer feeding on the lawn and the trees too!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carol D.

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

Family gathering

After two years apart due to covid we all gathered. Three generations celebrated 2 - tenth anniversaries and a fiftieth anniversary that occurred during 2021 and a seventh birthday while we were there. The layout of the house worked well and the view was spectacular any time of day. There was ample parking and many a scooter loop was made around the driveway. We hope to be back!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sandra M., Deer Park, NY

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

Great overlook of the lake!

Super WOW!! I can't stop raving about this house, I'm definitely staying here again. We woke up and went to sleep to a beautiful scenery all around. So many sites to see but this home is sooo cozy and has so much space that we didn't want to leave. We stacked up on groceries for 8 days, the Walmart is about 12 minutes away. This home had extra of everything, linen, towels etc....the kitchen had all kinds of different cooking essentials, we love this home!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay V.

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

love this house!!!

This was my third time staying in this house, and for good reason. Ashley, the owner, is a wonderful host, and she's thought of all the things to make her guests feel at home. The kitchen is a wonderful place to cook, with high end cookware, all the gadgets, and a view to die for. If I had a view like that to eat my breakfast, I'd never leave the house. The beds are comfortable, and there is plenty of space to spread out. Visiting during the winter was totally fine, because we didn't mind being inside here. I will absolultely be stayin here again, and again, and again, any time I visit the area. Thank you, Ashley!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Pat K.

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

Gals of '74

This was our 3rd trip here and is perfect for larger groups. We typically have about 8 ladies but this year many could not attend due to issues NOT related to Covid-19 (Thankfully!). Social distancing made easy as each of us had our own bedroom and bathroom. The weather was unseasonably warm & we spent a great amount of time outside, beautiful lake view, fire pit aglow at night and gorgeous fall colors with magnificent sunsets. We enjoyed some friends who came to visit. We love the big kitchen and numerous dining areas for our Friendsgiving Dinner each Fall. We made a trip to Short Mountain Bible Camp where some of the girls attended when they were kids. The view from there was beautiful!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2020

8/10 Good

John P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Location / Good Property

The property had plenty of large rooms to gather for Meals / games. Everyone enjoyed having all the large rooms to enjoy our time together. Plenty of bathrooms..... with large groups.... so important to have plenty of bathroom accommodations.... this place checked that box for sure in bedrooms / bathroom accommodation. The Kitchen has everything we needed.... again also open and convenient for everyone to move around and not be very crowded when cooking/prepping food. Loved the deck with the Lake view......Loved this place and would book again ! Couple of small things to check into regarding g the house prior to next family/ Group coming..... 1) Microwave wouldn’t always work..... outlets in Kitchen are not well connected to wall and could frighten people if plugging in appliances.... would check those out.. 2) Gas Grill has very low gas propane in the tanks.... we grilled 2 of the 3 nights..... we went and did an exchange at the marina for a full tank of propane gas. Also cleaned burners on the grill.....lot of burnt build up on the grill burners.....
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Pat K.

This home has ALL We Wanted plus extras !

All our wishes were granted here! Unlike the Smokies, we get 4 extra hours to relax! Day 1: Nice lunch at Smithville's Sundance, quaint shops on the square & dessert at Webb's Pharmacy till check in. Wow, lots of parking & level entry. Well adorned kitchen! Massive fridge, & an extra ice maker. Large inside dining sat us all & more room on the large deck. OMG, the view! Craft makers’ dream. Relaxed in rockers for cocktails. Loved the seclusion. Gorgeous flowering landscape. Laughed long & loud by the new fire pit. Beds were super comfy, a ton of closets, storage, linens, towels & 2 bedrooms access the hot tub! Day 2: Crafts, Burgess Falls, reading novels, & simply relaxing. We grew to 9 guests today, still plenty of sleeping room. Getting ready for dinner at the Foglight Foodhouse was a snap with 4 1/2 baths! (Go early for best seating, great food!) Day 3: We saw glass blowing, metal & wood working demos and bought pottery at the Appalachian Center for Crafts. Snow flurries arrived. So we all nested comfortably for movies in the big den with a nice fire & the ambience of this lovely Lake Tahoe inspired home. This gem bears quality craftsmanship throughout, views toward the lake in every room. The owners kept its glory plus all the upgrades! Another small den w/ TV is comfy for 5. A nice laundry room is near the enormous heated garage with ping pong, darts, bean bag toss & room for a car or a boat! Tons of cushions stored here for the inviting deck furniture. I saw only 1 chipmunk scamper to the lake & 1 mighty moose head impressively posed over the stairs. We can't thank Ashley enough for the best mini-vacation ever! She professionally ensures everything is "spot on" for our enjoyment. Superbly stocked, amenities abound, abundant quality kitchen-wares, extremely clean, & secure. All appliances, hot tub, TVs, internet worked great. She immediately responded to 2 items for maintenance later which didn't affect our wonderful stay. Much respect & appreciation to Ashley & her Tulip Tree Bay Lodge! Enjoyed all our conversations. We're boasting our fabulous experience, just save us a spot for our return! Lastly, we enjoyed Blue Water Grill for Sunday lunch. - We unanimously LOVE this place, - The Gals of '74
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2018

6/10 Okay

kelly h.

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Communication

Spring break Family Style

Ok I will tell you the good and the bad. Starting with the good- The good- the size of the cabin and the view was perfect and amazing! Plenty of room for all of us and all our stuff. The view was amazing with a great size porch. Loved the location. Loved the basketball hoop and loved going for walks around exploring around the cabin. Bad- The pictures are definitely not current I took pictures but not sure if I will be able to post. When driving up the cabin looks stunning until your closer and the window coverings in both garage windows are ripped. Very simple fix but really changes your first impression of the cabin. We noticed a few things right away I messaged the owner and she was very fast to respond. I just didn’t want to be held responsible. She said the things would not be a issue. The toilet seat down stairs was halfway on (my dad fixed it not a big deal but when it’s added with rest slightly more annoying with the price we paid) The plug in the kids room was coming out of the wall and one in the kitchen also was. Definitely a safety issue. The toilet paper roll in the same bathroom was broke. Towel holder in the 1/2 bath is broke and looks awful on the wall. Simply removing it would make the bathroom look better. The fire place would not work I messaged the owner the first night and did not hear back for a few days when I did she asked if I would like her to send someone to look at it I said yes because we had rainy cool weather and really was looking forward to the fireplace but I never heard back after that. If it was not possible just letting us know would have been appreciated. The switches definitely should have a paper some where it took us for ever to figure out you had flip a switch out in the main living space to make the bed room lights work. Decore- If your looking for cabin mountain cozy decor that is not here. Nothing was wrong with the decor just not what we have seen with cabins we have rented in the past. We love the cozy mountain camping decor. Even a picture of their view in the living room would be stunning. We loved the hot tub but the cover was so water logged and looked awful and was difficult to move. Over all we had a great trip the stuff wrong did not affect us having a great time we were just bummed a lot of the stuff would be a weekend of simple repairs or updates and the cabin would be worth every penny.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Orlando H.

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

It was the perfect place to have a bunch of friends for my best friends bachelor party

Amazing
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Albert G.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy

Time Out to Refresh and Relax

Five senior women came to relax and enjoy the fall weather and view of the lake. There's not much of a view because of the overgrown trees.The outside looks uncared for. Not particularly welcoming. The house is very dark inside. Lighting needs attention. Hard to find wall switches and many don't work. Bad hall connection near upstairs bedroom. Kitchen is well stocked, and spacious. However, ceiling fan is coated with caked on dust. Certainly hasn't been cleaned in a long time. The house has a moldy or musty smell as though it hasn't been used or occupied in quite some time. One guest was congested by the smell. The back deck railing is in poor repair with rotting wood making it dangerous.There was no notification as to where we could find cushions for the outdoor chairs. We followed the check out rules but there was certainly plenty of old items in the pantry. And there was no trash can outside so we carried it home to be disposed of. When I was there 6 years ago it was a new listing and lovely. The owner needs to do some work to make it inviting to the guests. We had a good time because we were there for a quiet getaway but it would have been nicer if it were fresher and more inviting.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff M.

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

Weekend getaway.

We love this property. We've stayed several times! Ashley is great and so is her beautiful home. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pat K.

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

18th Annual Friendsgiving Trip

This is the ideal place for our annual fall trip. This is our 4th visit, so that says how much we love this place. Plenty of room & amenities especially for cooking a big Thanksgiving meal. The weather, the fall foliage & the view from that deck were spectacular!! We love the additional ice maker & double ovens. We visited the Twisted Oaks for our 1st dinner (great service & food) and really enjoyed Smithville's 3rd Annual Pumpkin Festival on the town square. We met friends in Sparta for shopping and we highly recommend The Coffee Collective for a great caffeine break!! We can't say enough good things about the owner, Ashley. She's a fabulous host and makes our trips the BEST here!!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Margie N.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Jr High school friends

Our second year staying here. Love the cabin feel. Plenty of room Well stocked with Kitchen ultensils. games , ping pong loved the corn hole game..
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn B.

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

Great stay at a wonderful property.

Great stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelley S.

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

Guys motorcycle trip

This house was everything and more than we anticipated. 3 men on motorcycles enjoying the beauty of the area and meeting local residents. This property is very quiet and peaceful. Enjoyed the view from the deck. Hot tub and grill got used also. We are already planning next years trip and hope to be able to return to this property. The inside decor and all of the books, cooking equipment and the stereo truly made this a very enjoyable stay. Also the large garage was great to park the bikes out of the rain
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Ashley French

Host profile image
A native Nashvillian with roots in Smithville, TN, who loves sharing the beauty of Center Hill Lake with her guests!

Why they chose this property

Blame is all on my roots... My mom was from Smithville, TN. I spent every holiday and more visiting family in this area. Now I bring my family here for holidays and vacations, sharing it the rest of the time with rental guests.

What makes this property unique

The Tulip Tree Bay Lodge is unique among homes in the area as it is the only architecturally significant home on Center Hill Lake. Designed in the 1970's by famed Lake Tahoe architect James Morton, the Midcentury style and California wood from which the home is constructed is unlike an other home in the area.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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