Breathtaking views will leave you gobsmacked & restore your faith in humanity. Award-winning interior designer! Midcentury Modern style + historic craftsmanship = WOW! 24/7 security, Tesla charger, fully stocked kitchen, coffee station, dining for 6, & whole-house filtered water. WiFi, hot tub, shuffleboard & board games. Chances of spotting black bears are good - just give them space, please. An ideal romantic getaway for couples, an unforgettable spot to bond w/ friends in the heart of nature. The space Welcome to The Bougie Bear! We are located in the premier community of Shagbark Estates, just outside of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. The home was completed in October of 2024 - a total rebuild, as the original structure was lost in the wildfire of 2022. The home is filled with light, and the views from the multiple windows are out of this world! Building materials include walnut barn wood, chestnut and sugar pine beams, and cherry wood cabinets - all of which were sourced from the farm I grew up on in East Tennessee. In fact, these are the same materials that my father used to build our family home 50 years ago! Pretty cool, huh?! 🛎️ We believe you're really going to love the house! Please do read the "Other Things to Note" section below to set realistic expectations. We only want you to experience happy surprises during your stay. 😊 Guest access You're the king/queen of the castle during your stay! You have access to the entire house. Other things to note • About the drive to the house—it's winding and some of the roads can be very steep. Hey, you have to climb the mountain to get those gorgeous views, right?! 😁 You may feel more comfortable in a vehicle with some clearance, as very low suspension vehicles may scrape the speed bumps as you enter the neighborhood. Even if you are in a sedan, you shouldn't have any problems if you are just mindful of the speed limit. If there is ice or snow in the forecast, we strongly recommend that you have a 4WD vehicle. • Your stay comes with a starter kit including toilet tissue, paper towels, trash bags, and dishwashing detergent. We also provide Keurig coffee cups/pods for the first few cups. • Enjoy our Terra Pure Earth Conscious shampoo, conditioner, and body wash during your stay. Plus, these goodies are not only pampering but also cruelty-free, gluten-free, and paraben-free. • Experience the refreshing touch of our recently installed water filter and softener, bestowing its rejuvenating effects on your hair and skin. • Kindly note: we operate on a septic system. To keep things flowing smoothly, PLEASE stick to flushing only toilet paper. If you flush wipes, feminine hygiene products, trash, etc. Thanks in advance for helping us avoid costly plumbing charges. You're the best! • The hot tub takes approximately 4-6 hours to reach its ultimate soaking temperatures. Depending on when the house was last cleaned, it might not be hot and ready right away. • PLEASE NOTE: It is important that you shower with soap and water, rinse thoroughly, and NOT apply oil or lotion before entering the hot tub. DO NOT ADD BUBBLE BATH TO THE HOT TUB. If you do not follow these steps, the once sparkling clean and inviting spa could become a foamy mess. If we need to send our housekeeper out to do an interim clean during your stay of 1 week or less, you will be responsible for the additional cleaning fee of $50. If you damage the hot tub by not following these rules, you will be responsible for that as well. Thank you for understanding. • We provide high-speed Wi-Fi for your use, and it is powerful! While we strive for a reliable connection 365 days a year, it is a courtesy and is subject to local service provider availability. We cannot provide refunds for internet outages beyond our control. Thanks for understanding. • We use ALL WHITE BEDDING, and wash everything - including the bedspreads and mattress pads - at each turn. Not to throw shade on other properties, but bear-themed bedding with lots of dark colors and patterns hides lots of stains and...ummm...history. That bear bedding you'll see in many other listings most likely does NOT get washed nearly as often. Just sayin'.... • If you're a fan of the cuteness that ladybugs bring, get ready to meet our Asian lady beetles! These little critters are pretty common around here, and during fall and winter they seem to have a magnetic attraction to the cozy indoors. While we're actively on the bug-busting job, these lady beetles, along with their buddies, the kudzu bugs and box elder bugs, might still make an appearance. Please know we're doing our best to keep their numbers in check. • Knock on wood, we have been 100% successful in keeping the house bedbug-free. We have routine inspections and so far, it's been smooth sailing! 🙌 We'd really appreciate your help in keeping it that way. Please, pretty please, avoid putting your luggage on the beds or sofas. Bedbugs are like the stealthy ninjas of the insect world, and luggage is their ride of choice. Let's make sure they miss their stop at our place! Thanks so much! • Great news! Our fireplace is electric, so you can get that cozy, smoke-free ambiance in no time. Enjoy the warmth without the effort or the worry. • Forgot something after checking out? No worries - we might be able to ship items left behind per request. Cost will be shipping plus a handling fee, which starts at $20. • THIS IS BEAR COUNTRY. Nature's VIPs, black bears, often make appearances in the Smoky Mountains, adding an extra touch of wild charm to your stay. While we're not bear whisperers, the local gurus assure us that these furry neighbors are pretty shy, unless provoked or if they feel their cubs are at risk. Give them their space and they will move along. Bears have a nose for good things, especially your food. So, here's a pro tip—DO NOT LEAVE ANY FOOD IN YOUR CAR, or you might find it unexpectedly 'bear-handled.' Yes, they DO know how to open car doors. Inside the house, keep food safely stored to resist bear curiosity. Oh, and for our garbage, we've got a bear-proof cage with a lock at the front of the house. You can find more info about bear etiquette at Bear Wise .org. (Airbnb won't let me include a link.) • Please note: Shagbark charges property owners $10 for each vehicle accessing the property. I cover up to 2 vehicles per stay, and guests are responsible for any vehicle charges after that. I will need to collect the following info on all vehicles no less than 24 hours before check in: Driver's full name. Cell number + email. Vehicle make and model. License plate number and state. 🐻 Oh, yeah! As promised, here's a little crash course in bear etiquette (from Bear Wise .org): ▪️Never Feed Or Approach Bears▪️ Intentionally feeding bears or allowing them to find anything that smells or tastes like food teaches bears to approach homes and people looking for more. Bears will defend themselves if a person gets too close, so don’t risk your safety and theirs! ▪️Secure Food, Garbage And Recycling▪️ Food and food odors attract bears, so don’t reward them with easily available food, liquids or garbage. Make sure your car and the cabin are locked. Yes, bears know how to use door handles. ▪️Know What To Do If You See A Bear 🛑 If you see a bear before it notices you, don’t approach. Stand still, enjoy, then quietly move away. 🛑 If a bear sees you, back away slowly. Never run; running may trigger a chase response. 🛑 If a bear approaches, hold your ground, wave your arms and yell “Hey Bear” until it leaves. Always stay with your group. If it keeps approaching, use bear spray. 🛑 If a black bear makes contact with you, do NOT play dead; fight back aggressively. • We haven't scared you away, have we? 😅 No? Good! 🤗 In that case, welcome to The Bougie Bear! Out of respect for our rockstar cleaning team, we are unable to accommodate early check-ins or late check-outs. Thanks for understanding.