The house was exactly as pictured! It get very luxurious. It was very clean, with lots of amenities to make the stay comfortable - cookware, utensils, refrigerator with ice maker, towels, games. Showers were comfortable with ample hot water. The steep drive up was intimidating the first time for this Florida driver, but the roads were good and we did it in a minivan with no issues. Their instructions take you a long route - we used Google Maps and got to the house quicker. During our visit (March) the nighttime temperatures got down below 20 degrees but the house never got cold. The amazing view of the sunset from the porch was worth the visit! There was plenty of firewood, but you might pick up some fresh wood at the convenience store at the bottom of the mountain, because the wood at the house was old and wouldn't burn. We spent most of our vacation in Asheville, but we carved out a day just to relax in the house and play games in front of the fire because it was so comfortable.
We had a wonderful stay at Bear and Bull Lodge. The property was beautiful and had stunning views. It was more than roomy enough for our party of 9 (ages 13-79). The kitchen was well equipped and we used it often in our stay. The only regret was that we didnât spend more time in the home on vacation. We look forward to returning when Hayley Point Ski Resort completes their construction and opens which is just down the mountain from the property. Thank you for allowing our family to stay at your home. We look forward to our next visit.
We celebrated my nephewâs 30th birthday! We had 3 families (6 parents & 6 kids) stay and we all were comfortable. We had space to be all together and separate space if we needed alone time.
The view of the sunset is amazing!
Bear and Bull did not disappoint. The view is amazing. Be sure to catch the sunset! We were rained out for all the outdoor activities we had planned but we were still able to enjoy sitting outside under the covered deck.
We stayed with dear friends and their children. The house is a great size for several families staying together. We all enjoyed everything Bear and Bull had to offer. Looking forward to staying here again!
We booked for a brief Easter holiday getaway and the lodge was perfect for our family of 5 adults and 3 children under 8. Spacious, comfortable, rustic enough but also well equipped. We all enjoyed the hot tub and arcade game. The TVs are a plus along with the gas fireplace options a a nice gas grill. The things to know-before-you-go are, 1) It is really not in the Ashville area so for Ashville based activities know it's at least 1 hr to anything in Ashville, thus, basically a day-trip. This is the reason for 4 stars in accuracy of property description 2) There is a lovely little Wolfe Provisions store about 9 min down the mountain. They have a small coffee bar alongside basic necessities and some nice gift items. They serve very good breakfast and lunch sandwiches and they even have several gluten free items. In the same building beside the store is a small, very nice spa with massage therapy and an esthetician. Beyond this, there is nothing in terms of food, groceries or shopping closer than Mars Hill which is a solid 25 min away. 3) There is nothing within 20-40 minutes for children, so take their entertainment with you. There is a Nintendo (very nice extra), but our game console aficionados couldn't get it to work. We would definitely go back for R&R but not plan daily activities to do in Ashville since that travel time really cuts into the time away.
We hosted a surprise 40th birthday gathering and couldn't have asked for a better spot! A gorgeous view complete with a hot tub. The kitchen especially, had items that we couldn't have even anticipated that we needed. Appliances - amazing! Plenty of dishes. There was even a little day cooler that we used to pack snacks in to take to the Biltmore. The fireplaces definitely set the vibe and are very easy to operate. WIFI worked great!
All of the rooms were very spacious. I was also impressed with the sound. We stayed in the main bedroom and were able to sleep in even though other guests were in the kitchen making breakfast. Having three bathrooms with three showers was pretty awesome too! Everyone had plenty of room to mingle or chill out and relax.
The host was very easy to get ahold of and we appreciate them!
We all felt very safe being in the gated community. Loved seeing deer on the way up and down. We almost did not book this lodge because of it being "45" minutes away from Asheville (our primary destination) but the drive went very quickly and we would have been missing out on this perfect getaway in the mountain. We would definitely stay here again!
We had a wonderful weekend in this beautiful home! Kitchen was well stocked with lots of wonderful cookware, keurig and even ice maker!!!
House was extremely clean and beds were comfortable.
We enjoyed being close to hikes and just being at the house enjoying the porch with the fire pit and jacuzzi. Perfect perfect perfect weekend!
The property and surroundings are beautiful! It had all of the amenities we wanted and needed for a fun relaxing time. The host was so gracious to even give us and early check-in and late check-out. This a a great place for any type of group or family event. Thank you Bear and Bull for a great birthday weekend!
The cabin was gorgeous and the views were amazing. The inside was spacious, nicely decorated, and clean. The kitchen was fully stocked with kitchenware and was nice and open to main living area. There was a Bluetooth speaker in main living area that we enjoyed using to listen to music while spending time with family and relaxing. We had 5 adults & 5 kids and felt as though we had plenty of space.
Outdoor views were amazing! Very peaceful area with deer walking around the property and picture perfect views of the mountains. About 35 minutes to downtown Asheville, but not a bad drive. Weaverville is closer and had a few restaurants that were good choices.
Overall we enjoyed the cabin and would highly recommend it to others.
My husband and I enjoyed the beautiful and peaceful setting of Bear and Bull. The home was well appointed and very welcoming. The outdoor spaces led themselves to quiet mornings of sipping coffee and listening to the birds, afternoons of reading and evenings of wine sipping and sunset watching. The location is far enough from the busyness of Asheville to enjoy peace and quiet yet close enough to take day trips or evening dinners. We look forward to returning.
The house was beautiful and clean. The kitchen has many cooking essentials. The view is spectacular! We had a 12 person van, and felt safe driving up the mountain and into driveway- although itâs a bit intemidating.
We had hoped to ski and tube, but the mountain closed down due to warm weather. Although gorgeous, the house is very isolated. With no skiing/tubing, and we felt we had few options for entertainment for our tween/teens. Just getting the the nearest grocery store is 25-30 minutes.
When we booked the house, it had a fooseball table in the photos. Those photos were updated and a Simpsons game (useless)replaced the fooseball- which is a shame. The fridge ice maker and water were also broken, which is no big deal, except I would recommend management notify clients. Had we known before hand, we would have purchased ice and water at the store (30 mins away) before we arrived. Lastly, bring laundry detergent/dryer sheets. Not enough towels are provided for a house this size with a hot tub etc and only 2 pods were provided.
Overall- I would recommend this home for those who would like to stay put more than those who want to explore. The porch and large slider doors are wonderful!
The bear and bull lodge is a great mountain getaway. Very spacious, we took a mother daughter trip of 11 and were all very comfortable and able to spread out. Home offered everything you would need. Great scenic views.
We absolutely love to staying here. It's a bit far to get to any activities but the drive is worth the views. The house is beautiful, could have used a few more towels in each room but otherwise it was everything we expected and again, the sunset views were phenomenal.
Spacious. Well equipped. The view is spectacular. The only drawback is going up and down the mountain. However, it is so peaceful that you can just enjoy reading, listening to the birds, watching the deer scurry past, or take a nap. We loved it.
As property owners who lost our place on Vrbo, we always appreciate arriving at a place that reminds us of how much the little, thoughtful things mean. In this house, the kitchen is wonderful and the porch was delightful. Plenty of pillows, linens, towels for everyone (THANK YOU)! In fact, the only improvements I would suggest are (1) to provide more trash bags and cleaning spray - we like to clean up after ourselves and so had brought plenty of those items with us, but definitely nice to have on hand and (2) ask the hot tub service not to drain the tub early on the day of checkout - I had my suit on for a last dip and was walking outside only to see him standing beside the tub. Bummer but definitely not a big deal given how lovely the rest of the experience was at the home.
Bull & Bear cottage was the ideal setting for the restorative vacation we were looking for. The modern, well-equipped kitchen was perfect for preparing meals for our group of 6. The 4 roomy, charming bedrooms were ideal, affording everyone privacy and comfort. We loved the hot tub and used it almost every night to hang out and take in the fabulous sunsets. (We did find it a tad too warm, though, and were not able to lower the temperature as it seemed preprogrammed.) Most of all, we enjoyed spending time together soaking in that view from the living spaces of the cottage and the deck.
We really enjoyed the amenities provided at bull and bear. Kitchen gear is top notch and the master bedroom was luxurious. As the previous reviewer mentioned... the outdoor furniture left us wanting more. Some of the furniture featured in the pictures was not on site and the outdoor dining table and chairs needs to be replaced.
We were impressed with how much was provided with the house (cleaning supplies, towels, games, kitchen items etc) but would have liked to have access to a broom or vacuum to clean up after ourselves.
But the sunset views cannot be beat and we would come back for more! We drove to bald mountain (20 min away) and hiked 6 miles on the Appalachian trail!
The Bear and Bull Lodge is a wonderful property, with a few minor issues.
Pros: The kitchen was high end and completely stocked with everything we needed. The cabin was exactly as described, and the beds were all very comfortable. We had plenty of towels, and the hot tub was great to relax in after a day in Asheville. The games available and the impressive bluetooth speaker were highlights for us. The management company was very responsive when contacted with questions and internet speeds at this property was better than expected. Also, the view from the deck cannot be beat!
Cons: We may have been the first guest of the season, so small things weren't as described. The pilot lights were not lit in two of the gas fireplaces, and there was no wood provided for the wood burning fireplace (per the welcome packet, the pilot lights should have been lit, and there should have been wood). Some remotes did not have batteries, and the TV in the master bedroom was not hooked up. The outdoor dining table has seen better days. None of these were dealbreakers for us, and we would definitely rent this property again.
Note on directions: Directions from Waze seemed more direct than the directions provided by the host. This property is accessed via windy gravel roads, so you should have four wheel drive to safely access the property.