Bear Creek Lodge - Exceptional Rates for Exceptional Lodging!

Hi I think I had mentioned to you that my cabin has just been placed back on vrbo. It was been off since Sept. 2022 although i did have reservations to fulfill into 2023. I had 3 sick family members I was taking care of. I currently have an assistant helping me get everything going again and I didn't realize my past listing had been reinstated just as it had been when it went off-line Sept. 2022, as I had sent the assist new pics, etc. This time around, it's on vrbo plus another page. The cabin had been cleaned previously, but it was not freshened up the day of your arrival. For some reason, the calendars with the 2 renting agencies did not sync together and your arrival on vrbo wasn't visible for me nor the cleaning lady to see. When I realized this the day you called about an hour away from BCL, I called the cleaning lady and she was at doc appt. I called maintenance who was installing the new hot tub that day and he said he was almost through. He wrapped things up quickly and told me he would freshen things up. I'm sorry, but at this late hour it was my only option other than canceling your reservation. So he cleaned his work area and I apologize, but he did not wipe off the porch furniture, etc., as the regular cleaning lady would have done. --I did not purposely attempt to deceive the location. 100% of guest love the location. The location was Pigeon Forge when I bought it and for years thereafter. I had no idea it had been changed until my Amazon order didn't arrive recently. Since then, GPS and packages still sometimes arrive using the Pigeon Forge address and sometimes the Sevierville address is required. I asked the mailman and he said there's such an influx of people moving to the Sevierville area, they had to redraw some lines dividing up the workload of postal carriers delivering mail in order for it to be delivered in a timely manner. Plz pull up the map of Sevier County and take a look...I'm near enough to PF that the end of my road is decorated for Christmas by the city of PF. My goal is for guests to arrive safely at the cabin. --a refund for your inconvenience? #1, regardless of cabin you stayed in, it's next to impossible for a host to get an AC technician out at 8:00-9:00 PM. #2, I am only familiar with person I've been communicating with through the booking. The communication became strained when different members of your group began calling/texting bc AC wasn't working. They did not identify themselves and I had no idea who I was communicating with. If and when I do refunds, it is with the person I have had communication with. And, the maintenance did check the hot tub the next day. Evidently it had been used the night of your arrival and he reported to me the hot tub was unplugged. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but glad you were without air and hot tub only one night....although I would have preferred you had it 100% of the time. My apologies offered to you and your group. I hope my explanation helps you better to understand what happened. Thank you for your understanding. Karen

Thank you for staying! Please come again! Karen

I was going to look up the dates to find who was leaving this review, but then saw "teens of the church" and "last year"... I figured out it was Melissa. Thank you so much for staying with us at Bear Creek Lodge. You have become more friends than guests! Hope to hear from you again soon!

lol! In realiality, you should have given me 5 stars just for putting forth the extra effort I did in trying to communicate with you. I will forward the many emails/texts I sent to you so you can see the extra work I did for you. I sent the first check-in info to you on 3-23-2023 and I did not hear back. I didn't know if you received info. I sent it countless times after this. Then you called VRBO bc you had not heard from the hostess..lol! I called you just as you could have easily called me.My number was visible to you as soon as you booked. I sent info again..countless times. FYI: to help other cabin owners in the future, please give your cell number when initially booking, plz call the owner if you have questions or feel you don't have info, please use the same name when you attempt to communicate with owner...you booked under Melissa, then there was Mary Ann, then there was your daughter and I don't recall her name this moment, etc. I thought I was dealing with Melissa then I had a Mary Ann who had a completely different last name than Melissa. Sorry friend, but I'm not a mind reader and plz keep in mind I've never met you nor do I know your history. I had no idea Melissa and Mary Ann were the same person...or maybe they're not...I still don't know. If you think the communication was difficult, you got that right. It was beyond difficult. It was very frustrating for me also. Also, if you're having trouble getting info and you notify vrbo for help, hostess again sends info ...plz respond even if it's only 3 words and say "I got it." Better luck to you next time and your new hostess if you use the tidbits above. I'm glad everything else was OK Thanks, Karen

Thanks for staying at Bear Creek Lodge. Please come stay with us again soon. Thanks, Karen

Thanks to the Gibson family for choosing Bear Creek Lodge for your home away from home. There are so many cabins to choose from and it is truly an honor that you chose to stay with us. As you noted, the Great Smokey's has entertainment for everyone including all ages. Bear Creek Lodge hits the mark when it comes to locality in assessing all of the different sites and events and enough room for everyone to stay together under one roof. I share satisfaction with this family that grandparents, children, and grandchildren "made time for family time". Thanks again and please keep us in mind for your next visit to the Great Smokey Mountains. Karen

Lorraine, I am so glad to hear that Bear Creek Lodge, met all of your family's expectations. When we hear reviews like yours, we feel our goal has been met because we want satisfied guests who remember our name, number, easy location, and the good news they are planning to stay with us again! Please share our contacts with your family and friends. We are looking forward to you coming again. Thank you for choosing Bear Creek Lodge for your lodging while in the Great Smokey Mountains! Karen

Thanks for the feedback Ricky. We appreciate you staying at Bear Creek Lodge and hope you feel at home. We can take care of the cookware without a problem. We continually add new silverware, cups, and glasses, but glad to be aware that some folks are needing more cookware. Living room furniture: aww...I like it. I like the TN mountain look of the sofa plus it lets out to a queen bed. I'm hoping you are only referring to the recliner which needs a screw replaced. I had the screw that came out, and once it is replaced, I see no need for a new recliner. It is a pair of matching Lazy Boy recliners with no tears as far as I know. The screw does need to be replaced. The cleaning lady can't replace it and it is quite a chore to get someone out just for that one item, but I'm trying. Hopefully when you come again it will recline as it should. Thanks for coming and hope to see you again next year. Karen

Thanks Chris. I hope you all will come again. Karen

Thank you, Joyce, and thanks for leaving your comments for the public to see/guest comment book. I receive many positive comments, but usually over the cell phone, e-mails, etc. I am so glad that you and your family chose Bear Creek Lodge and I feel my goal was accomplished if you felt at home and want to return again! Thank you for staying at Bear Creek Lodge--your home away from home! Karen

Thank you for choosing Bear Creek Lodge #107706 for your lodging. Glad the TV's, hot tub, pool table, and extra amenities kept everyone happy in your group and you all had a good time. Let your family, friends, and church know about affordable lodging at Bear Creek Lodge. Please keep us in mind for your next visit to the Great Smokey Mountains! Karen

Cherelle, I want to clarify so you will know for your next visit: we furnish enough paper products, etc., for guests to have until they can go to the store if they come unprepared for those things. I send an email with recommended items to bring. Broken sofa bed in basement: it's stated in paperwork this sofa is available for 1 person to sleep on if they wish, but guests are asked not to pull it out into a bed. Kids jump on the sofa bed in the game room for fun I suppose, and it does no good to continue to replace the bed springs. Furniture: some people like the furniture and some don't. I guess each to his own, but it's very near what is pictured on the web site. Most of the things you mentioned are in the paperwork sent prior to guests arrival. However, it's usually sent to 1 person, the group leader, so often times everyone in the entire group doesn't read all the paperwork prior to arrival. I would happily send info to others if their email addresses were provided. Thanks for leaving the review. It helps to make things better for everyone. I'm happy you would want to stay again. Karen

Thanks Vicki. I'm pleased to hear Bear Creek Lodge met your expectations. Prosperity nor popularity can fulfill happiness like the memories made and stored in the heart! I'm happy family memories were made for such a special event such as a Golden Wedding Anniversary. Blessings to the honorees and to each family member. Thanks again for choosing Bear Creek Lodge for your lodging in the Great Smokies! And, thanks for the feedback. It is feedback of the guest that enables us to make each stay a little better. Thanks again, Karen

Thank you for taking the time to leave review. I'm glad you and your group enjoyed your stay. Please come and stay again! Karen

Thank you for your feedback. I'm pleased Bear Creek Lodge met your expectations! Please keep us in mind for your next visit to the Great Smokies! Blessings to you and your family for a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year! Karen

I'm sorry everything didn't meet your expectations, but I do appreciate the feedback. But to let you know, guests depart by 10:00 am and the cabin is cleaned before new guests arrive at 4:00 pm so usually, arriving guest enter a freshly cleaned cabin. In the event it was cleaned a couple days before during slow season, cleaner goes by the day of arrival and freshens things up. Having said that, it is in an area sloping down the side of the mountain as evident in pictures and so there are quite a few trees. Unless someone is sweeping non-stop, it is difficult to keep bugs, especially the lady bugs, off of the front porch and sometimes even under the windows inside here and there. It's not bc it hasn't been swept, it just happens to be nestled right into the Great Smokey Mountains. A broom can always be found in the kitchen area for guests to use during their stay bc I understand with 2 babies, a person would prob want to sweep daily and we do not provide daily housekeeping services unless guests request and an additional fee is charged for this service. Updating cabin: I guess that would be a person's personal opinion, but to accommodate a wide range of guests arriving to stay at Bear Creek Lodge, all having different backgrounds, cultures, ethics, economics, finances, etc., I personally feel it is meshed to meet the needs of a variety of guests which is what we have coming into Bear Creek Lodge. The furnishings may be more suitable for some than others. I am upfront in disclosing the cabin is not equivalent to a resort, upscale lodge. Bear Creek Lodge is a log cabin sitting on the side of a mountain less than 3 miles from Pigeon Forge Parkway. It is one of the few cabins located close to Pigeon Forge setting on an acre of land vs. a lot. Light switches: If I had to guess you experienced a problem with the kitchen bar light and the ground floor bathroom. Both of these areas are on the ground floor. I'm not purposely disputing your word, but all of the light switches do work. Some of these are 2-way switches which can be turned on from 2 different entrance doors. I will add a memo to label light switches when I'm in the area again. There are 3 different light switches in bath/ground floor. One is also for a light switch in the bathroom that guests do not see when it is turned on. It is inside the locked closet which stores supplies for the cabin. I'm glad you were able to have some fun and make memories.