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5 Bdrm, Private Dock, Year Round Fishing on Cherokee Lake. Rutledge TN

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Bear Den South on Cherokee Lake
A spacious living area with a large sectional sofa, a dining table with chairs, a fireplace, and large windows offering a view of the outdoors.
Interior
Living area
Dining

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 14

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Rutledge, TN
  • Place, Cherokee Reservoir
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Norris Lake
    ‪26 min drive‬
  • Place, Wilderness at the Smokies
    ‪57 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Bunk Beds

Bedroom 5

1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

Convertible bed(s)

1 Double Sofa Bed

Living Room 1

1 Queen Sofa Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Number of living rooms
Garden
Dining area

About this property

5 Bdrm, Private Dock, Year Round Fishing on Cherokee Lake. Rutledge TN

Newly remodeled living room and kitchen Winter 2024. Year round access to Cherokee Lake. Make this a wonderful place to relax with nature. A get away for large groups with 5 bedrooms, 3 bath on peaceful Cherokee Lake. Across the lake from the Panther Creek State Park, this 4,000 square foot home offers beautiful views. A large back yard with access to a private dock, our house is a dream for families and couples alike.

There is a wrap-around deck upstairs with access to a New Remodeled open floor plan for entertaining groups. The master suite provides its own private lake view. Two of the other bedrooms have super comfortable queen bed and one King bed with a lake view. The fourth room has a full bed and queen bed and the fifth bedroom has two bunk beds for the kids. There is an additional sleeper sofa in the recreation room. The backyard fire pit and private launch ramp make for easy day and evening fun.

There is parking for a maximum of four cars or 2 cars and one boat trailer.
Saturday to Saturday rental due to cleaning schedule or in between. Cleaning on Saturdays.
Sorry no pets due to owner allergies.

Just an hour from Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Bristol Motor Speedway. Take a short day trip to Gatlinburg, Dollywood, Knoxville or the Biltmore Estates. Famous for Grainger County tomatoes. Cherokee Lake is one of several Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Lakes with year round fishing and water recreation.


Retreats are fun at Bear Den South!
Are you tired of running around after kids? Is work stressing you out? Do you need a break and love to scrapbook, quilt or relax with friends. Host your own retreat with friends!

You can lay out on the deck and read, scrap or quilt in the large recreation room, drift on the lake in the kayak, or sit in the relaxation station. You can plan your own retreat bring your own food or we can put dishes in the refrigerator for your group to cook when you are ready to eat.

Craft room has six foot tables, comfy chairs, a kitchenette for treats, fire place, and it's own beautiful view of the lake and mountains.

Keywords: Relaxing, Lake Access, 5 Bedroom House, 16, Beautiful Lake and Mountain views, crafting retreat.

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Exterior
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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Yes, but with adult supervision.
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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
Please read short term agreement for additional house rules. And return a signed agreement.
Limit one boat, you must use our dock. There will only be room for 3 cars and a trailer. Please notify owner if you are bringing a boat.
Please be sure to read the closing checklist.

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
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Rutledge

Located in Rutledge, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Norris Lake and Johnson Ridge Small Wild Area, while Grainger County Historical Archives and Bean Station History Museum are cultural highlights. Travelling with kids? Consider Cherokee Park and Stetsor Park. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and rock climbing.
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Map
Rutledge, TN

What's nearby

  • Cherokee Reservoir - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Norris Lake - 26 min drive - 32.3 km
  • Douglas Lake - 35 min drive - 45.5 km
  • Wilderness at the Smokies - 57 min drive - 81.9 km
  • Soaky Mountain Waterpark - 57 min drive - 82.2 km

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬29 min drive
  • ‪Huey Magoo's - ‬32 min drive
  • ‪Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen - ‬32 min drive
  • ‪Good Ole Days Sports Grille - ‬33 min drive
  • ‪Aubrey's Restaurant - ‬33 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 5 Bdrm, Private Dock, Year Round Fishing on Cherokee Lake. Rutledge TN pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at 5 Bdrm, Private Dock, Year Round Fishing on Cherokee Lake. Rutledge TN?

As of 8 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at 5 Bdrm, Private Dock, Year Round Fishing on Cherokee Lake. Rutledge TN on 9 May, 2026 start from S$399, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at 5 Bdrm, Private Dock, Year Round Fishing on Cherokee Lake. Rutledge TN?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at 5 Bdrm, Private Dock, Year Round Fishing on Cherokee Lake. Rutledge TN?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 5 Bdrm, Private Dock, Year Round Fishing on Cherokee Lake. Rutledge TN?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is 5 Bdrm, Private Dock, Year Round Fishing on Cherokee Lake. Rutledge TN located?

This family-friendly Rutledge holiday home is located on the waterfront, steps from Cherokee Reservoir and within 9 mi (15 km) of Bean Station Battle Island and Harrell Park. Grainger County Park and Wolfe Lake are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.4

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. 77 out of 99 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 17 out of 99 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 99 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 99 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 99 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

Jeff G.

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

lake house

the property was very accomodating to the lake and enjoyed our time very much
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris A.

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

Beautiful place very relaxing

Great place for family’s wanting to relax
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Barbara E.

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

Great House

The perfect house for our family of 10. We really enjoyed the deck and the dock and the open concept of the house. Plenty of room for us to spread out. The house has everything you could need for an enjoyable stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Jul, 2025
We are vety glad you had a great vacation. We love the house too. We hope you will consider coming back. Liz and Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Candida S.

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

Blessed vacation

My family and I had a wonderful vacation here. The house had everything we needed. We will forever cherish the memories we made. And we were all sad to leave. We would definitely stay here again. I highly recommend it.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Jul, 2025
We are so glad you had a great time at the Lake house. We hope you will come back to visit. Liz and Paul
Verified

8/10 Good

Jess D.

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

Beautiful stay, beautiful home

The overall experience was great. Beautiful home would definitely do it again
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Caroline H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rita M.

Family Celebration! Great time!!!

The property was perfect for our family gathering. Everyone had a great time.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jun, 2023
We are so glad you had a great time. Hope you will visit again in the future! Liz and Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Caroline H.

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

2023 Family vacation

Very roomy property, private dock was very nice to have.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Aug, 2023
Hi Caroline, We are glad you had a good time at the Lake House. We hope you will look us up the next time you are in the area. Thank you, Liz and Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christina S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We really enjoyed our stay here! The lake view from so many of the spaces in the house was so pleasant. The house was comfortable for our two families (4 adults and 7 kids/teens). The owners and host were easy to communicate with and quick to respond. The newly renovated and furnished kitchen/dining/living space was great and the kitchen very well stocked. The bedrooms and baths are dated, but very functional and the beds were comfortable. I know they plan for more updates and renovations in the next year, so this home will only get better! (Improved hot water heater and water pressure would be great, but we’d still return even if they aren’t updated.) Washing and drying our linens and cleaning before leaving were a little annoying but there are two sets of washers and dryers and plenty of vacuums, brooms, etc. Overall, we had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend at this home and would definitely consider returning!
Thanksgiving morning view!
We enjoyed the fire pit one evening.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Cliff W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved the house and lake frontage. We were a bit surprised how challenging it was to back a boat trailer down tricky driveway—advise not bringing boat much longer than 20 ft. Much larger and there would be no room for other cars. We had to clean almost the entire house before leaving—never had to do this before elsewhere. Housekeeping? Overall, we had a great stay. Perfect place for a large group. All the water toys and nice fire circle. Owner and property manager were nice, helpful and responsive.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Oct, 2025
So glad you enjoyed the house. Sorry to hear the ramp was a challenge. As I mentioned the best place to launch a boat from October to May is Gilmore Dock. Thank you for staying with us. Liz and Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tracy O.

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

Beautiful Home

The home was beautiful and well stocked with anything you might need or want.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Sadie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in

It’s a nice place for a big group or family we had a wonderful time and hope to go back again i

The house had plenty of room for a large group or large family we had a great vacation but parking is a problem it really needs additional parking and a bigger dock
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jun, 2023
Hi Sadie, Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately we are land lock in the drive way. Since we are one of very few rentals we try to be respectful to our neighbors. Yes, we want to build a bigger dock. This is in Paul's plans once he retires. Thank you for staying with us. I will reinforce in the agreement that there is only parking for 4 cars so people will know.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Darrel F.

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

Great view on the lake

The property was very close to my house and had all my family stay at the rental house with plenty of space for everyone. Great view!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jun, 2023
We are so glad it worked for your family! Hope you join us again sometime. Liz and Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mandy B.

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

Macklee's

Wonderful time. Stocked with everything imaginable. Was able to have a huge Thanksgiving dinner. Plenty of room for all the family in the common spaces. The views were gorgeous.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Paul M.

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

Annual Men's Retreat

Every year our church finds a location to have our men's retreat that allows us to fellowship, have devotionals, play games, etc. This place had exactly what we need. Access to the lake, several nearby marinas, all around good time
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Aug, 2023
Hi Paul, Thank you for the review. We are glad your group had a good time. Please let us know what we could do to improve your stay. Thank you, Liz
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gordon K.

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

Good fun!!

Had a great week. Hopefully back next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

lorri m.

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

Lovely house

We had a wonderful time the house was lovely. Very surprised at the amenities at the house for our use. Ie life jackets, water toys, kitchen items. Was just amazing
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Jul, 2024
Hi Lorri, We are so glad you had a good time. We love the Lake House and hope to retire there soon. I think someone in your party suggested a bench halfway to the lake. We have actually looked at that and once I can weather stain one of the benches inside I will definitely place it down the way. We hope you will consider coming back. Thank you, Liz
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gordon K.

It works awesome for our group...

The place is a blast.. Thanks for everything. See you in 12 months..
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jun, 2023
Thank you! We appreciate the feedback. Looking forward to seeing you again. Liz and Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Maggie B.

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

Great weekend stay

My bridal party stayed here for my wedding weekend. It had a great common area and plenty of beds for everyone to have their own space. We brought firewood and had a great bonfire by the lake. UberEats had a few options for delivery food that made evenings easy. It had a feel that reminded me of a place you visit over and over as a child. Thanks!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jun, 2023
We are so glad you found something. It is a wonderful place to go every year! Thanks for staying with us. Liz and Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Donna M.

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

Miracle Family

We love staying here! It is close to home and this is the second year we have stayed here. Clean, comfy beds. Plenty of room for everyone. We enjoyed seeing geese taking a siesta on the bank. Swimming and fishing! Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. We were able to do it all in one place! Love Love Love!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Sept, 2023
Donna, Thank you for staying with us. We look forward to seeing you soon. Liz and Paul
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah r.

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

Plenty of space

There were 13 of us staying for the weekend celebrating our family Christmas. The home was beautiful and very spacious. Plenty of room for all of us to spread out. The kids had so much fun. We went down to the lake and skipped rocks and enjoyed sittng on the deck. Kitchen was very well equipped with everything we could possibly need for a dinner. Plenty of dishes and cups as well. All the beds were extremely comfortable and I'm in love with that sofa! We had a wonderful time!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Jan, 2025
We are so glad it worked out for your family. We love the new couch too! Hope you visit us again. Happy New Year's!!!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lee S.

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

TERDS Reunion- Go Vols

8 guys that went to UT in the late 70’s and early 80’s drove from 5 states to the Bears Den on Cherokee Lake. Sleeping accommodations were great. The kitchen was well equipped for cooking with adequate refrigerator room when you included the downstairs refrigerators. The living room and dining area worked great for our group. Enjoyed the fire pit and the lake with our own canoes and kayaks. Lot’s to do in the area.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 May, 2024
Thank you for visiting. We are glad you had a great time. Hope you will come back another time. Liz and Paul
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Sandra B.

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

pretty lake, house not so great

The host was great about communication, but to be honest, once we were in the property, i wondered how it got such good reviews. I feel misled. Not enough pictures should have been a clue. the living and kitchen area were nice, but the bedrooms are very small and right on top of each other. No bathroom in master, carpet is old and dirty, holes in walls in old outdated baths. the dock area is dangerous and difficult to get onto dock. If you are on a budget this house is ok, but not up to par for the price in my opinion.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jul, 2025
Sandra, Thank you for your review. There are photos of each room on the site. They are no smaller than the photos. As you mentioned we have remodeled the main living area and kitchen. We have tried to do something every year. The glass railing was next. Our plans do include the bathrooms and carpet. TVA lowers the water beginning in July. It is a choice to still use the dock in July and August. In regards to the reviews we have several families that return who are happy to stay at the house. We are sorry you are dissatisfied with your stay. As I mentioned in our conversations we do have limited parking and work hard not to cause harm or disrupt our neighbors. We wish you and your family well in your travels.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Luther (Luke) H.

Great Family Home

Everyone in my family, 6 adults and 7 children love staying here. All are talking about going back next year. That will be our third year in a row. Lot of space for everyone. Large table where everyone can sit down together for meals. Perfect spot on the lake, middle section, where you have places to ski, tube, or fish without having to travel far. Only a short walk down the hill to the dock. Also, Gilmore Dock is just around the cove for gas and drinks or to store your boat if you choose not to tie it up at the house dock at night. We had a lot of rain on our last trip but that didn't prevent anyone from having a good time. The kids went swimming in the rain until we heard thunder. House is located in a large, quiet cove where you can use the paddle boat and kayaks without worry. Just remember to wear life jackets. If you have a large group, this is the place to stay on Cherokee.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jun, 2023
We are so glad you like the house. We greatly appreciate all the feedback you get. Looking forward to having you stay with us again. Liz and Paul
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Heather S.

Awesome place

We chose this home as our family vacation home July 2017. What a wonderful time, the house was beautiful and the view was amazing. It was easy to book and we had everything we needed when we arrived. We had a small issues (one of the smoke detectors battery was removed) so I contacted liz. She was great, she responded right away and we were able to get a replacement. Also the neighbors were wonderful one let us park our trailers at his house because we were having problems with our boat and needed to keep pulling it out of the water. ( if you need someone contact Tri County Marine in Morristown 423-587-2151 they were able to get us back in the water fast) also you will have the pleasure of meeting Tilly who is a black and white dog that belongs to the neighbor. She stole our hearts while we were there (she even made it into some family pictures). If you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy your loved ones I would recommend it.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jun, 2023
We are so glad you had a great time at the lake. Very glad you we're able to find help with your boat. We hope you will look us up again if you are in the area. Liz and Paul

About the host

Hosted by Elizabeth Sabo Johnson

Host profile image
Bear Den South is owned by Paul and Liz Johnson from Cincinnati, OH. We love our Tennessee home and neighbors. We are both business owners in Cincinnati and love to get away. We love to spend time with our large family, boating and travel.

Why they chose this property

Once you see the great view of Cherokee Lake you will fall in love with the lake and house like we did. We chose this location due to the beautiful views and easy access to miles of uncrowded water. It is a great location for short trip to the Great Smokey Mountains, Gatlinburg, Dollywood, and Knoxville. A two hour trip to Ashville, N.C. and the Biltmore Estates all places we like to go either with the family or friends. This is a great boating lake with the community boat ramp two doors away. If you like to ride motorcycles there are several scenic routes from the house to the Great Smokey and Cherokee Mountains.

What makes this property unique

Our family loves to boat, jet ski, kayak and swim in the clear water. We love the ability to float in the relaxation station or play in the water. There is also year round fishing on Cherokee Lake. If you are a marathon walker or runner, we have hills to walk and all of the neighbor hoods are linked by streets. There is also access to the state wide bike scenic route. Most of all when you walk out on the deck you feel the calm rush over you. Kitchen and Living room remodeled in 2024.
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