Bear Haven Vacation Rental - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

08/30/2023

Great picture!

06/16/2023

06/16/2023

Banana Pudding Poke Cake - Don't Lose This!!!
Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
ingredients needed to make cake (eggs, oil & water)
2 (3.4 oz.) packages instant banana pudding
4 cups milk...
Must express something to keep getting my recipes.... Thank you ❤.
Recipe in First (c.o.m.m.e.n.t ).👇

05/12/2023

The fountain at the Village in downtown Gatlinburg is a beautiful spot to hang out.

05/04/2023

Have you ever wanted to hike to the summit of Mount LeConte? Learn about some of the different ways to get there >> https://smokymountainnationalpark.com/blog/scenic-hiking-trails-mount-leconte.

Learn about some of the scenic hiking trails that lead to Mount LeConte, including both the easiest and most difficult trails that head to the summit!

04/27/2023

Make little birdy rolls!!!😍
https://www.ambrosiasoulfulcooking.com/2021/01/bird-bread-rolls-breadbakers.html?m

03/09/2023

5 OF THE BEST HIKING TRAILS NEAR GATLINBURG YOU’LL LOVE

When you visit Gatlinburg, you’re right in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. While you’re here, you should go on a hike! There are a wide variety of trails, from easy to expert, and many features on each one. See a gorgeous view of the mountains or a waterfall on these trails. Here are 5 of the best hiking trails near Gatlinburg you’ll love:

1. Cataract Falls
cataract falls in the smoky mountainsFor an easy hike, you should go on Cataract Falls. This hiking trail is 1.1 miles roundtrip, making it perfect for beginners and small children. The path is simple to follow since it is laid out. You’ll cross over creeks, walk through wooded areas, and eventually come across the waterfall this trail is named after. This trail is great during the summer since it is heavily shaded. Your whole group will enjoy hiking this simple trail!

2. Gatlinburg Trail
If you’re looking for an easy trail that’s a little longer, you should hike the Gatlinburg Trail. You’ll walk along the Little Pigeon River and eventually cross over it on a footbridge. Throughout most of the trail, there are old homestead site remains, from foundations to fireplaces. It’s a great hiking trail near Gatlinburg because it’s close, and you get to be out in nature without a strenuous hike. The Gatlinburg Trail is the only hiking trail near Gatlinburg that allows dogs. It is 3.8 miles roundtrip.

3. Twin Creeks Trail
a hiking trail in the smoky mountainsTwin Creeks Trail is another easy trail that is an out and back. Its roundtrip length is 4.5 miles. If you enjoy bird watching or walking along and looking at native plants, this is a great hiking trail near Gatlinburg for you to go on! You’ll find many wildflowers along the path during the spring and early summer. You’ll find an old cabin along the trail, which is neat to see. There’s a creek along this trail too, so you can stop and enjoy listening to the water rush over the rocks before you keep going.

4. Bullhead Trail
You can consider Bullhead Trail moderate or hard. If you only travel the Bullhead Trail, it is 5.9 miles roundtrip and would be moderate. If you use this trail to get to Mt. LeConte, it is hard and 12.9 miles roundtrip. It is the least used trail to get to Mt. LeConte, making it nice for people who want to hike in solitude. Along this trail, you’ll have great views of the mountains. There’s a large rock formation known as “The Pulpit.” This is where the Bullhead Trail ends and the hike to the top of Mt. LeConte begins.

5. Trillium Gap Trail
Grotto Falls in the Smoky MountainsTrillium Gap Trail is considered a difficult hiking trail near Gatlinburg. That is 6.8 miles roundtrip. In the spring, you’ll find all kinds of wildflowers along this trail. You’ll eventually come across Grotto Falls. This waterfall is unique because it’s the only waterfall in the park you can walk behind. The pool of water Grotto Falls pours into is full of salamanders, fish, and frogs. Horses are allowed on this trail, and Trillium Gap is used to take supplies to the top of Mt. LeConte through llamas, so you might spot them while you’re hiking this trail!

03/07/2023

Hidden Places in the Smokies you will have to find.

The Smoky Mountains are home to popular spots you’ll love, like Cades Cove and Laurel Falls, but there are also some hidden gems in the park! If you’re hoping to step off the beaten path on your vacation and explore some lesser known areas, we can help. We’ve made a list of 5 hidden places in the Smoky Mountains you have to find.

1. House of the Fairies
A must-visit on your vacation is the House of the Fairies! This secret spot in the Smokies is actually part of a larger estate that dates all the way back to the early 1900s. The structure is an old springhouse, and hikers love stumbling upon it while exploring! You can find the House of the Fairies in the Twin Creeks area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To get there, hike the Twin Creeks Trail, which is an easy 1.9-mile trail. When you pass the Resource Center along the trail, you’ll see a small path jutting off from the trail. Take this path to the House of the Fairies!

2. Pearl Harbor Tree
trees in cades coveThe Pearl Harbor Tree is located in the popular area of Cades Cove, but many people have never heard of this hidden gem! The Pearl Harbor Tree is a reminder of what happened that day in 1941 and honors those who died. It was planted by a man named Golman Myers, who lived in Cades Cove with his wife and sons. His two older sons were of draft age, so when he heard President Roosevelt announce the attack, he wanted to do something to mark the mournful moment. He built the sapling tree, which was only about the size of a limb at the time, and place an old rim of an automobile around it to protect it. Now, the tree is about 60 feet tall, and you can often see American flags surrounding it that visitors have brought to honor it. To get to the tree, park in the pull-off about 3.6 miles along the Cades Cove Loop Road. You’ll walk west for .1 miles until you see a small clearing. Where the treeline on the western edge of the field meets the road is the hill you will climb to get to the tree.

3. Walker Sisters Cabin
The Walker Sisters Cabin is the most well known out of all the hidden places in the Smoky Mountains. When the national park was dedicated in 1940, 5 unmarried Walker Sisters still lived in the cabin. They refused to give up their family farm, so were given permission to continue living in the cabin for the rest of their lives. They became quasi-ambassadors for the park and greeted visitors, selling them handmade products like fried apple pies and children’s toys. Although the sisters are now gone, you can still visit the cabin and explore the inside! To get there, take the .7-mile hike from Metcalf Bottoms to the Little Greenbrier School, then continue for .6 of a mile to where the path crosses a footbridge. At 1.1 miles, you’ll reach the side trail that leads to the Walker Sisters Cabin.

4. Elkmont Troll Bridge
Elkmont Troll BridgeDid you know that the Smoky Mountains are home to a ghost town? Elkmont went from being a pioneer community, to a booming logging camp, to a resort town for wealthy vacationers, to an abandoned area. Not only can you see some of the empty homes and buildings in Elkmont, but you can see the Elkmont Troll Bridge! This unique spot spans a small creek a little ways off the Little River Trail. To get there, you’ll take a side trail on your right about 100 feet along the Little River Trail and walk through the forest until you spot the bridge. Just stay on the path parallel to the stone walls!

5. Mt. Cammerer Fire Tower
If you’ve never been to the Mt. Cammerer Fire Tower, you have to find it on your vacation! This hidden place in the Smoky Mountains is located in Cosby, TN. The tower is an old lookout building that offers gorgeous 360-degree views of the mountains. It was built by local laborers and the Civilian Conservation Corp in the late 1930s. The hike to the tower and back is a total of 11.9 miles, but the views you’ll have will make every step worth it! Your hike will begin at the Low Gap Trailhead.

02/24/2023

Skyland Ranch is a Sevierville attraction set on a 100-acre farm, offering a mountain coaster, canopy walks, live entertainment, and more.

02/18/2023

A Cades Cove scavenger hunt is great fun for children and adults! Your family will have a blast searching for these things on the Cades Cove Loop >>
https://experiencecadescove.com/blog/cades-cove-loop-scavenger-hunt/.

The Cades Cove loop is 11 miles long. In that time there’s a lot to see and explore! Have you seen and visited everything inside Cades Cove?

02/15/2023

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is paradise for history buffs! There are numerous historical landmarks scattered throughout the park for visitors to explore. To help you make the most of your next vacation, we’ve put together a guide to the top 6 historical places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

1. Walker Sisters Place
The Walker Sisters Place is a log cabin located in the Little Greenbrier section of the National Park. The Walker Sisters spent their entire lives in the cabin, which was built by their grandfather in the 1840s. When the Walker Sisters’ father died in 1921, the property was left to the sisters, who then took on all the responsibilities on the farm for more than 40 years, including raising livestock, growing vegetables and even making their own clothes! When the National Park was established, the Walker Sisters remained living in their cabin and became quasi-ambassadors of the park. Visitors to the park had the opportunity to chat with the sisters, who sold homemade treats and toys. Although the Walker Sisters are no longer there, you can still go see the historic cabin today!

2. Cades Cove
Cades Cove attracts more than 2 million visitors per year, and is the most-visited section of the national park! That’s because not only does it offer great chances to view wildlife, but it’s full of a number of historic buildings and landmarks. You can find John Oliver’s cabin, one of the oldest historical structures in the National Park. The cabin was built in the early 1820s by John and Lucretia Oliver, who were the first to come to this area of the Smokies. You can also see 3 beautiful churches that each come with their own unique history. There’s the Primitive Baptist Church, the Missionary Baptist Church and the Methodist Church. And we can’t forget to mention the John Cable Grist Mill. The Cable Mill was built in the early 1870s and processed logs, wheat and corn. The mill is still functional, and visitors can purchase its corn meal at the Cades Cove Visitor Center seasonally. These are just a few of the many historic sites in Cades Cove!

3. Elkmont Ghost Town
The story of Elkmont Ghost Town is definitely an interesting one. What was once a sleepy mountain community transformed into a bustling logging town in the 20th century when the Little River Lumber Company was formed and a railroad was built to connect the logging operation to a sawmill in Tuckaleechee Cove. Many of the residents got lifetime leases for their summer cottages, but many of the leases expired in 1992, turning Elkmont into a ghost town. Some of the cabins are still being preserved by the National Park Service and are open to the public to walk through and view.

4. Little Greenbrier School
Built in 1882, the Little Greenbrier School is a 1-story building that doubled as a church and a school for the residents of the Little Greenbrier Town. The school was started because citizens of the town wanted a teacher for their children. For a little more than 50 years, from 1883 until 1936, the Little Greenbrier School was a place for the community to grow academically and spiritually. Today, school groups can visit the historic building and learn about the Smoky Mountains while sitting in the old desks.

5. John Ownby Cabin
The John Ownby Cabin, which was built in 1860, was constructed from tulip trees, white pine logs and clay mortar. If you hike the Fighting Creek Nature Trail in the National Park, you’ll get to see this historic log cabin, along with beautiful forest scenery and a mountain stream. The John Ownby Cabin is one of the oldest remaining pre-park cabins in the Forks of the River community. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

6. Little Cataloochee Church
The Little Cataloochee Church was built in 1889 and served about 1,200 people who lived in Cataloochee Valley at the time. It is a white painted church surrounded by the Smoky Mountains and was a popular place for community gatherings. The well-maintained cemetery that is close to the church became the final resting place for many of its members. On Memorial Day, many descendants of the early Cataloochee families return to the church to decorate the graves of their relatives.

Now that you know more about these historical places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s time to come see them in person! Learn more about the National Park and plan your visit today.

02/12/2023

Valid parking tags are required for vehicles parked longer than 15 minutes. Parking rates are $5 daily, $15 weekly, and $40 annual. We will continue to update you as we are notified. Below is the link to purchase parking passes, as well as additional information.
https://smokiesinformation.org/product/annual-parking-tag/?v=7516fd43adaa

02/02/2023

OBER GATLINBURG SOLD TO SEVIER COUNTY NATIVES: WHAT TO EXPECT
JAN. 01, 2023
Ober Gatlinburg has been sold to a group of East Tennessee residents and is being rebranded as Ober Mountain. What is this going to mean for the popular Gatlinburg attraction? We’re going to break down the changes that will be coming and what you can expect when you visit the ski resort in the future.

Attraction Changing Hands
ober gatlinburg sign with tram in the backgroundThe Sevier County natives that have purchased Ober Gatlinburg are the families of Joe Baker, Cory Cottongim, and Chuck Edwards. Baker, along with his wife, Jessi, are founders of Ole Smoky Distillery in 2010 and Yew-Haw Brewing in 2016. So they know the area well and what visitors want.

Kent Anders, the former President of Ober Gatlinburg, has described selling the attraction as bittersweet. He is glad that another family has taken over so Ober continues to be a family destination.

The Future of Ober Gatlinburg
A little over a week after the press release that Ober Gatlinburg had been sold, another release told the public that the ski resort was going through a rebranding process. The name is being changed to Ober Mountain, and the website logo has already been updated. We’ve also seen new billboards along Highway 441 displaying the rebrand.

aerial tram at ober gatlinburgThe goal with the rebrand is to make sure tourists know that Ober is a year-round destination. There are plans in the works to expand the park to include mountain biking, ziplining, and ATV riding.

In addition to bringing new attractions that aren’t in the Gatlinburg area, the Aerial Tramway Mall will also receive a facelift. As of now, this mall includes restaurants, shops, and other fun things to do. The mall will be referred to as “base camp,” and more things will be added as renovations start. Plans for the mall and additional attractions are still in the early planning stages, so stayed tuned for more information.

About Ober Mountain
ober gatlinburg sign with trolleyIn 1962, the ski resort was built in Gatlinburg and operated as a private club. In 1972 and 1973, the lower terminal of the Aerial Tramway was built. At this time, the ski resort and the tram were two separate attractions. But in 1975, Claude Anders purchased both to combine them into a singular sensation, and donning his legacy Ober Gatlinburg two years later.

Over the years, Ober grew with the addition of several attractions that you can still enjoy today. They include:

Ice skating
Ice bumper cars
An arcade
the Wildlife Encounter
Water slides in the summer
Snow tubing in winter and hill tubing in summer
Ski mountain coaster
Scenic chairlift
Alpine slide
Mini golf course
Rock climbing wall
Kiddie rides
The Trails at Ober
and much more!
Ober Mountain will continue to grow and evolve as the new owners take over. We look forward to seeing how the adventure park changes with every new addition!

Ober Gatlinburg may be under new ownership, but you can still enjoy the same skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and other activities you know and love. Stay tuned as we keep you updated with information as it becomes available. But for now, learn about even more fun things to do in Gatlinburg!

12/21/2022

Now accepting reservations for 2023. Bear Haven is the perfect place to kick back and relax after a fun day of activities.

www.rentourpigeonforgecabin.com

06/24/2021

Sunset in the Smokies!

05/11/2021

Only four miles from Bear Haven, the Island is a great place to spend some time.

05/09/2021

Plan a stay at Bear Haven so you can search for these hidden treasures in the park:

The Smoky Mountains are home to popular spots you’ll love, like Cades Cove and Laurel Falls, but there are also some hidden gems in the park! If you’re hoping to step off the beaten path on your vacation and explore some lesser known areas, we can help. We’ve made a list of 5 hidden places in the Smoky Mountains you have to find.

1. House of the Fairies
A must-visit on your vacation is the House of the Fairies! This secret spot in the Smokies is actually part of a larger estate that dates all the way back to the early 1900s. The structure is an old springhouse, and hikers love stumbling upon it while exploring! You can find the House of the Fairies in the Twin Creeks area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. To get there, hike the Twin Creeks Trail, which is an easy 1.9-mile trail. When you pass the Resource Center along the trail, you’ll see a small path jutting off from the trail. Take this path to the House of the Fairies!

2. Pearl Harbor Tree
trees in cades coveThe Pearl Harbor Tree is located in the popular area of Cades Cove, but many people have never heard of this hidden gem! The Pearl Harbor Tree is a reminder of what happened that day in 1941 and honors those who died. It was planted by a man named Golman Myers, who lived in Cades Cove with his wife and sons. His two older sons were of draft age, so when he heard President Roosevelt announce the attack, he wanted to do something to mark the mournful moment. He built the sapling tree, which was only about the size of a limb at the time, and place an old rim of an automobile around it to protect it. Now, the tree is about 60 feet tall, and you can often see American flags surrounding it that visitors have brought to honor it. To get to the tree, park in the pull-off about 3.6 miles along the Cades Cove Loop Road. You’ll walk west for .1 miles until you see a small clearing. Where the treeline on the western edge of the field meets the road is the hill you will climb to get to the tree.

3. Walker Sisters Cabin
The Walker Sisters Cabin is the most well known out of all the hidden places in the Smoky Mountains. When the national park was dedicated in 1940, 5 unmarried Walker Sisters still lived in the cabin. They refused to give up their family farm, so were given permission to continue living in the cabin for the rest of their lives. They became quasi-ambassadors for the park and greeted visitors, selling them handmade products like fried apple pies and children’s toys. Although the sisters are now gone, you can still visit the cabin and explore the inside! To get there, take the .7-mile hike from Metcalf Bottoms to the Little Greenbrier School, then continue for .6 of a mile to where the path crosses a footbridge. At 1.1 miles, you’ll reach the side trail that leads to the Walker Sisters Cabin.

4. Elkmont Troll Bridge
Elkmont Troll BridgeDid you know that the Smoky Mountains are home to a ghost town? Elkmont went from being a pioneer community, to a booming logging camp, to a resort town for wealthy vacationers, to an abandoned area. Not only can you see some of the empty homes and buildings in Elkmont, but you can see the Elkmont Troll Bridge! This unique spot spans a small creek a little ways off the Little River Trail. To get there, you’ll take a side trail on your right about 100 feet along the Little River Trail and walk through the forest until you spot the bridge. Just stay on the path parallel to the stone walls!

5. Mt. Cammerer Fire Tower
If you’ve never been to the Mt. Cammerer Fire Tower, you have to find it on your vacation! This hidden place in the Smoky Mountains is located in Cosby, TN. The tower is an old lookout building that offers gorgeous 360-degree views of the mountains. It was built by local laborers and the Civilian Conservation Corp in the late 1930s. The hike to the tower and back is a total of 11.9 miles, but the views you’ll have will make every step worth it! Your hike will begin at the Low Gap Trailhead.

04/15/2021

Bears are getting too smart for their own good!

02/28/2021

https://www.pigeonforge.com/25-rainy-day-activities-in-pigeon-forge/

Make the most the precipitation by taking time out to enjoy yourself indoors! Here are 25 things you can do on a rainy day in Pigeon Forge!

02/16/2021

Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitors must wear masks, including busy outdoor spots
Brittany Crocker
Knoxville News Sentinel

Visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park must wear face masks in many sites, including crowded outdoor spots.

The National Parks Service implemented the mask mandate after President Joe Biden signed executive orders requiring them on federal property, in airports and on public transportation.

Park visitors age 2 and older must wear masks in visitor centers, historic cabins and churches, restrooms, museums and administrative buildings.

They are also required outdoors where physical distancing can't be maintained, like narrow or busy trails, overlooks and parking lots.

Report:The Smokies' Cassius Cash is listed as potential director of NPS

"With 384 miles of roadways and more than 800 miles of trails, the park has ample opportunities for visitors to spread out to recreate safely and responsibly," said park spokeswoman Dana Soehn. "By using a mask while passing hikers along a trail or when standing at a busy location within 6 feet of others, visitors will be in compliance with the mask requirement."

Soehn said park rangers will enforce the mask rule. She said enforcement methods vary situationally but could include education, written warnings or citations with fines.

"Our priority remains to educate visitors about the requirement and to provide guidance on how they can safely experience the park," she said.

The national park is the most visited in the country. It set attendance records two years in a row, welcoming 12.5 visitors in 2019. That's more than 1.1 million additional visits than were recorded the previous year.

For help planning a socially distanced trip to the Smokies, visitors can reach the park's backcountry office at 865-436-1297.