Our extended family celebrated Christmas 2017 at Bama Bear Lodge. The "cabin" was a perfect place to gather. There are many communal areas for cards, games, movies, meals and gatherings as well as areas to tuck in and regroup if needed. The cabin was beautifully decorated for the season which made our stay there even more special. The views from every window, the decks and the front entrance are gorgeous. Facility wise, the cabin is well designed, and had more than enough room for our party of 14, we had many empty beds. The kitchen is a roomy gathering place, with every appliance and utensil we could ask for. The decks and fire pits are expansive and beautiful, we were there during an arctic blast so we really didn't spend much time on the decks but we did enjoy the huge hot tub on the lower deck. The owners Wes and Susan are very responsive and made sure that we had everything we needed for a perfect stay. The house was completed in August of 2017 and Wes is a builder so it was almost like staying in a designer show house with all the new bells and whistles. The location was ideal for hiking locally, no car needed, and the town of Black Mountain has a huge grocery store, liquor store and restaurants. Asheville was a quick drive and we took advantage of the proximity to tour the Biltmore, sample many breweries and went to Biscuit Heads for breakfast one day - highly recommend!! Some members of our party hired a local guide for fly fishing, also convenient. I would give Bama Bear Lodge 5 stars, I would love to go back in the fall and/or spring.