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Click on this diary
to read a few guest room diary comments left by
our guests.
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Fodor's once again names Black Bear Inn as the
only
accommodation in all of Lake Tahoe for their coveted Editors' Top Picks.
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Ski Magazine, March 2008 reviews Black Bear
Inn for skiers headed to Lake Tahoe.
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Executive Traveler, Jan. 2008: "A delightful alternative to the brash casinos." |
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7x7 Magazine, Jan. 2008:
"The inn prides itself on its neo-rustic decor...framed artwork, chandeliers and plush couches. Stay in the main lodge or your own romantic cabin."
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ABC's The Bachelor returned
to Black Bear, and the episode aired in
April of, 2007.
This time it was Lt. Andy Baldwin and Amber. |
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Our lodge is given a flattering write up in the Travel
section of the December 2006 edition of
Sunset magazine.
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Read the nice write up we got in the "B&B
Beauties" section of the Summer 2006
Tahoe Quarterly magazine.
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Black Bear Inn has a huge, five page spread with
seven giant photographs in the June 2006 edition of the Thai-language
magazine
Traveller's Companion. We don't have the
faintest idea what the article says. |
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The
January 2006 issue of Ski Magazine lists the Black Bear Inn as
its lodging pick for "romance." |
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The
Jan/Feb 2006 edition of
Out Traveler lists Black Bear Inn as a
great place to stay during the gay ski week. |
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The
Winter 2005 edition of
Elite included Black Bear Inn in its Lake
Tahoe winter getaway article. |
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In
July 2005,
Waco Today interviewed Jerry about moving
from Texas to Tahoe. |
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Black Bear Inn is named as one of the best places to
stay in the Winter/Spring issue of Sacramento Bride
& Groom. |
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The
Jan/Feb 2005 Via lists Black Bear Inn as
one of the best places to stay in South Lake
Tahoe. |
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Black Bear Inn is named one of California's Top 10 B&B
Inns by the American Historic Inns readership! |
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Sacramento Magazine recommends Black Bear in
their Dec 2004 issue.
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Black Bear Inn is mentioned
in the May 6, 2004 issue of The Arizona Republic. |
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We were mentioned in the
first issue of Air Resorts magazine (August/September 2003).
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The Great Towns Of
Northern California has a nice write up for Black Bear. jump to review |
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We were mentioned in the
Summer/Fall 2003 edition of Sacramento Bride
& Groom.
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The May 2003 Men's
Health mentions Black Bear Inn as a "fabulous place to stay" in South Lake
Tahoe. |
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The Tracy Press
published an article about Black Bear on March 2, 2003.
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Skiing USA, a
publication put out by Fodor's travel guides, gave us a nice write up. jump to review |
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The travel section of The
Washington Times had an article about Black Bear on 11/3/02.
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Black Bear Inn was used as
a "Dream Date" location on the ABC program The Bachelor. The episode aired on
April 22, 2002. |
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Black Bear Inn is listed as
a Lake Tahoe destination in Nexos magazine, March 2002. |
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Estates West
mentions Black Bear in "The Best Of The Best" section as a significant
destination in Lake Tahoe. |
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Pilot Getaways,
Winter 2001/2002 mentions Black Bear as a place to stay when flying into Lake Tahoe.
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Alaska Airlines
says, "Within shouting distance of Heavenly Valley, Black Bear Inn is a
bed-and-breakfast built from scratch to be both charming and luxurious . . . it's an ideal
place for sublime indulgence." |
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Orvis
shot some photos for their Fall Women's clothing catalog in our great room. |
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Travel Holiday,
May 2001 says,
". . . this inn achieves the coveted "rustic elegance" so many lodges strive for -- then throws in a dose of romance. . . "
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National Geographic
Adventure lists
Black Bear Inn as an upscale retreat for hikers exploring the Tahoe Rim Trail. |
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Black Bear Inn is listed as
a prime getaway for Silicon Valley executives in the January issue of Click magazine. |
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The first edition (2000) of
Moon Handbook: Tahoe says,
". . . Black Bear Inn is so elegant, so inviting, and such a marvel of craftsmanship and design that you may find it difficult to leave . . ."
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Black Bear is listed as one
of the Best Places To Stay in South Lake Tahoe in the December 2000 issue of Ski magazine. |
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Our front sign is shown as
an example of Peter Truszewski's craftsmanship in the Fall issue of Tahoe Quarterly. |
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We were written up in
Best Places To Kiss In Northern California.
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We were mentioned in the
travel section of the Dallas Morning News on March 12, 2000.
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We were awarded Best New
Construction of 1999 by the Chamber of Commerce.
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We were featured in the
Lake Tahoe episode of an HGTV (home and garden channel) travel show called Vacation
Living. The first airing was August 17, 2000. It is still airing as of
January 2006
on a show called Fine Living. |
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- - - from Pilot Getaways;
published Winter 2001/2002; written by Laurel Hilde Lippert :
If you want a special experience, stay at
the exquisite Black Bear Inn Bed & Breakfast. Owners Kevin Chandler and Jerry Birdwell
have built a luxurious mountain lodge with five generous guest rooms and three cabins in
the "Old Tahoe" style with timber beams and river rock. The overstuffed
furniture, king beds, spacious bathrooms, and thoughtful decor are very inviting. "We
wanted everything to be a little bigger than what you have at home," says Kevin. A
hearty breakfast is served every morning. The Heavenly shuttle picks up guests outside the
front door, and you're a short walk from two of South Lake Tahoe's best dinner
restaurants."
GO BACK
- - - from California's Best
B&Bs;
published July 2001; written by Elizabeth A. Borsting :
Realtors often use certain adjectives and jargon in order to
mask a more accurate description of a property. Charming can often equal antiquated,
vintage usually means old, and rustic is another way of saying rundown. Enter the Black
Bear Inn, one of Lake Tahoe's most prized retreats, where rustic is finally getting the
respect it deserves.
Though short on history -- the inn was only built in 1999 ----
it's destined to greatness. This luxe retreat is found adrift on a wooded acre overlooking
Tahoe's mountainous beauty. If you enjoy skiing, paradise has been found with 19 champion
resorts all within a snowball-toss from here, including the renowned Heavenly less than a
mile away. The warmer months offer another type of nirvana, one where fishing, golfing,
hiking and sailing are the primary pleasures. Cross the California state line, just a short
drive down the road, and you're surrounded by a crop of casinos on the Nevada side.
The Black Bear Inn is centrally located, comfortably
appointed and unabashedly luxurious. Even if you lose at the craps tables, at least you've
hit the jackpot at the end of the night.
Choose to slumber in the main lodge where five ample-size guest
rooms await, or reserve one of three cabins shaded by towering pines. Let yourself be
spoiled by such conveniences as king-size beds, river rock fireplaces, televisions and
VCRs (some rooms even offer DVD players), and telephone and data ports.
The five rooms in the main lodge offer varying appointments from
wet bars and sitting areas, as found in the Sequoia Room, to vaulted log beam ceilings and
balconies as illustrated in the Fallen leaf Room. Beyond the inn are the trio of cottages:
Bonanza Trail, Sutter and Snowshoe Thompson. The Bonanza Trail is actually a duplex
containing two separate rooms, the Stagecoach and Black Bart chambers. Snowshoe Thompson
and Sutter cabins offer spacious digs with more than 900 square feet, separate bedrooms,
kitchenettes and exceptional views. From the three cabins you can also expect open floor
plans coated in hardwood with roomy bathrooms and a generous dose of privacy.
The slopes in the distance might be enticing, but it's hard to
pull yourself away from the comfy confines of the Black Bear Inn. Before venturing
outside, fill your tummy with a heaping batch of freshly baked muffins presented on an old
grocery counter, or grab an ice-cold bottle of orange juice from the well-worn washbasin.
Entrees may include a brie omelet, eggs benedict or blueberry coffee cake. If you're
residing in one of the cabins, you can request to have your meal brought to your room.
The three-story Great Room is an architectural marvel with a
magnificent river rock fireplace, a soaring cathedral ceiling, chunky log beams and a
sweeping staircase. Later in the day, as the sun fades to black, guests gather here to
sample wine and cheese. Suddenly, as you gaze out from this sublime setting from one of
the plush sofas, you realize that being labeled a couch potato isn't really so bad after
all. The inn also has a steaming outdoor hot tub, a perfect spot to end the day.
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- - - from Travel Holiday;
published May 2001; written by Heidi Schuessler :
Around the turn of the last century, rich West Coast families
retreated to the south shore and surrounded themselves with every possible luxury. If you
want to re-create that feeling of Old Tahoe largesse, head to the Black Bear Inn. Opened
in March 1999, one mile from Heavenly Ski Resort, this inn achieves the coveted
"rustic elegance" so many lodges strive for -- then throws in a dose of romance.
The cedar-planked building is hidden in a row of motels on Ski Run
Boulevard, so it's easy to overlook. Inside it's a different story: The focal point of the
two-story building is the Great Room, with soaring log beams connected by pine trusses. A
34-foot-tall river-rock fireplace stands opposite two arched windows. In the back are
three cabins and impeccable flower gardens.
Inside, owners Jerry Birdwell and Kevin Chandler have decorated every
available space with antiques from their native Texas, like distressed armoires, an old
spinning wheel, and a buckboard carriage. Most of the western details (wagon wheels and an
occasional bearskin) easily share space with stacks of books on Impressionist painters.
The creative touches make for good conversation over breakfast: One
guest room, the Frontier Room, has one wall made from the rough gray boards of an old
sharecropper's cabin, and a worn blacksmith's apron hangs over the bed. With three
separate cabins and only five guest rooms in the main lodge, privacy is assured. I stayed
in the large Sequoia Room, with cathedral ceilings, a gas fireplace, a king bed, and a
sitting area with two cushy love-seats. It was so calming and comfortable that I took a
morning off from hiking to watch a movie on the DVD player (all movie rentals are
complimentary).
The only indulgence missing here is room service, but the owners make
up for it other ways. There are thick robes for the outdoor hot tub, and cheese and
private-label wines are served daily at 5 P.M. Breakfasts, such as baked eggs
layered with thin slices of ham and herbs, and grapes, are delicious.
GO BACK
- - - from Moon Handbook: Tahoe;
first edition, published 2000; written by Ken Castle :
Opened in 1999 by retired Texas attorney Jerry Birdwell and his
partner, Kevin Chandler, this spectacular, all-new inn with its log porte cochere is
located halfway between the new Marina Village on Lake Tahoe and the California entrance
to Heavenly ski resort. It is nestled between some nondescript motels, but don't let that
bother you. The lodge and its one-acre grounds are so impressive and inviting that you'll
feel like you're in the ultimate Tahoe Valhalla, more of a mountain executive retreat than
a bed and breakfast inn. The most compelling feature is the magnificent lobby --
something you would expect to see in a much larger lodge. It has a 34-foot-high
cathedral ceiling, which is supported by massive cut logs and is graced by an equally
stunning river rock fireplace that rises from floor to ceiling. This Great Room has
intricate stone and lodgepole trim, giant picture windows, chandeliers, a grand piano, and
rustic Western collectibles that Birdwell has scoured from the back roads of his native
state. Adjoining this room is a large dining area with several tables and a bar, as
well as a full commercial kitchen. Two guest rooms are downstairs, while the others
are on the second floor and accessible from an open mezzanine that overlooks the
parlor. All rooms are spacious and individually decorated, with design elements that
range from river rock gas fireplaces to authentic barn-wood wall paneling. The
Fallen Leaf room has exposed log beams and French doors leading to a sitting balcony, the
Seneca room has a 10-foot ceiling and large bow window, and the Sequoia room -- really a
suite -- has a large sitting area, wet bar and DVD player. All rooms come with a
private bath, king bed, television, telephone with data port, daily maid service, a full
hearty breakfast and use of the lodge facilities, including an outdoor hot tub. In
addition to the lodge rooms, there are two cabins in the large, wooded rear yard, both
with rustic American decor. These come with king beds, fireplaces, kitchenettes,
televisions, telephones and a full breakfast. Downstairs, next to the side entrance
and parking lot, is a ski and boot storage room -- a nice touch. In the main lodge,
a chef serves a complete breakfast that might include omelets, frittatas, potatoes, bacon
and sausage, fresh fruit, home-baked breads, juices and coffee. The Black Bear Inn
is so elegant, so inviting and such a marvel of craftsmanship and design that you may find
it difficult to leave. Without a doubt, this is the premier small inn of the region
and, hopefully, the first of a new generation of upscale lodging properties that showcase
the Old Tahoe style of architecture.
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- - - from Passport
Newsletter;
published December 2000 Vol 35 Issue 12; written by Ginger Dingus :
Not too many years ago, visiting Lake Tahoe meant that you
would have to settle for something less than a truly first-rate hotel and sophisticated
cuisine. But all that has changed, and this year-round recreation area now offers dining
and lodging on a par with its stunning scenery . . . The Black Bear Inn, with its timbered
walls, plank floors, leather chairs, antler chandeliers, bear skins and farm antiques,
captures the spirit of a classy sportsman's retreat. A two-story, river rock fireplace
dominates the comfortable parlor and adjacent breakfast area. There are seven guest
accommodations -- five double rooms in the main lodge and a two-room cabin with
kitchenette, all with gas fireplaces. Children younger than 16 are not accepted.
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- - - from Sacramento Bride and Groom;
published Winter/Spring 2001; written by Suzi Rupp :
. . . If you want to be pampered while enjoying that 'at home'
feeling before and after your ceremony, choose a bed and breakfast inn. The Black Bear Inn
is a perfect choice. This charming inn offers two options for your honeymoon suite: the
wonderfully appointed and secluded Sequoia room upstairs in the main lodge or the intimate
Snowshoe Thompson cabin snuggled among the pine trees behind the lodge. In all, the inn
offers four individual cabins and five lodge rooms, all exquisitely and uniquely decorated
in western style reminiscent of Lake Tahoe's grand old mansions and estates. Each cabin
features a fireplace, kitchen and 'mud room' for skiers to remove wet boots before
entering. The cabins and lodge are filled with antiques carefully selected by owners Jerry
Birdwell and Kevin Chandler who provide every possible amenity for their guests. "We
want all of our guests to feel like they have 'come home,' " Chandler says. . .
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- - - from California for Dummies;
published 2001; written by Cheryl Farr Leas :
Wow! This stunning lodgelike B&B looks like it jumped
straight out of a Ralph Lauren catalog, complete with gleaming knotty-pine woodwork and a
two-story riverstone fireplace in the soaring living room. Extraordinary craftsmanship,
impeccable rustic-goes-chic style, beautifully outfitted rooms (gorgeous bathrooms!), lots
of lounging space, and super-friendly hosts add up to my favorite place to stay in Tahoe,
period. Geared more toward adults than families with kids, though.
GO BACK
- - - from Ski Magazine;
published September 2000; written by Ken Castle :
TAHOE REBIRTH
Plenty of great ideas have been born on cocktail napkins, but
transforming them takes more than an extra shot of Johnny Walker. In the case of the Black
Bear Inn, South Lake Tahoe's newest B&B , the vision was there, right from the start.
Proprietor Jerry Birdwell believed that Tahoe was ready for a change -- a return to the
days of rustic elegance and pampered luxury that typified mountain hotels in the early
1900s. And as it turned out, he was not alone in that belief.
Leave it to Birdwell, a strapping former defense attorney from Texas,
to sound the charge against architectural mediocrity in California. Having owned a
vacation home at the lake for several years, Birdwell poked around the handful of old
estates that remain from the past century. He took copious notes and photographs, then got
down to business by sketching, on a napkin, his plan for an Old Tahoe-style lodge.
When the Black Bear Inn opened for summer 1999, on a site down the
hill from Heavenly's California entrance, the vision had evolved into bricks and mortar --
or rather stone and timber. Most impressive is the soaring three-story Great Room,
boasting a massive river rock fireplace, rough-cut log beams and trusses, and a 32-foot
high cathedral ceiling. Gaze around the room and your eye is drawn to the sweeping log
staircase leading to a mezzanine and four of the five guest rooms.
GO BACK
- - - from The Best Places To Kiss In Northern California;
published Fall 1999; written by Linnea Lundgren :
Every once in a while we come across a new
inn that leaves us breathless (just like a kiss). The Black Bear Inn, located on the road
to Heavenly Ski Resort, is one such place. Modeled after some of the West's great
lodges, this seven-room inn captures all their majesty and rustic style, but offers a more
intimate experience without the crowds, fanfare, or enormous size. Put simply, it's a
scaled-down lodge perfectly suited for cuddling couples.
One look at the impressive Great Room and you'll
want to stay. The centerpiece - a 34-foot-high river-rock fireplace - parallels
equally magnificent rough-hewn log poles that stretch up into the cathedral ceilings.
Opposite the fireplace is a river-rock wall with French doors opening to the backyard
patio. Museum-quality country and farm antiques accent the interior, including vintage
sleighs snowshoes, and some interesting conversation pieces, such as a pie safe (designed
to keep sweet tooths from sampling the goods) and spikes from the old Truckee railroad.
Guests can continue to admire the Great Room during the evening wine-and-cheese hour, when
tempting treats are set out on an antique workman's bench fronting the fireplace.
Five rooms in the main lodge, also exemplifying the
lodge theme, continue to impress. Our favorites? We recommend the second-floor Fallen Leaf
Room, where you can share a smooch on the private balcony, and the spacious Sequoia Room,
a tucked-away retreat for those wanting complete privacy. No matter where you decide to
stay, all rooms are delightfully decorated and feature private entrances, TV/VCRs hidden
in armoires, king-size beds with hard and soft pillows, private bathrooms done in slate
and pine, and glass-enclosed showers large enough for two. Create instant romantic
ambience anytime by flipping on the gas fireplace via a bedside switch.
Out in the backyard, more kissing spots await,
in particular the sheltered hot tub, perfect for post-ski soaks. There's also a
charming duplex cabin, which holds two equally lovely rooms decorated similarly to those
in the main lodge. At the time of our visit, two additional cabins were being built that
look like they will be just as romantically promising when completed.
Come breakfast time, the innkeepers take full
advantage of their interesting antique collection. Fresh-baked muffins are presented on an
old grocery counter, and an old-fashioned washbasin is filled with glass bottles of orange
juice and milk. Sit at one of the tables together and enjoy such treats as Eggs Benedict,
blueberry coffeecake, or (our favorite) a green apple, walnut, and Brie omelet. After such
a feast, you're certain to have enough energy for both skiing and kissing.
GO BACK
- - - from the Dallas Morning News travel section;
published 3/12/00; written by Walt Roessing :
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The sign in the window of the
bed-and-breakfast inn said it all: "Gone skiing. Back at 3." Both Dallas-born
Jerry Birdwell, 56, who spent 30 years in Big D as a criminal defense lawyer, and Kevin
Chandler, 39, a computer programmer who worked 11 years in the Dallas area, were off
cruising the slopes of Heavenly Ski Area. That renowned resort is just a mile from the
front door of the new Black Bear Inn, owned by Mr. Birdwell and Mr. Chandler.
The Dallas duo opened their B&B last March after moving
from Texas two months earlier.
"It's great to be free of the rat race," says Mr.
Birdwell. "I now enjoy a stress-free, laid-back lifestyle in the mountains,
where I can ski in the winter and bike and hike in the summer."
The transformation from Dallas businessmen to inn owners
didn't occur overnight. It began five years ago when they purchased an empty,
one-acre lot a half-mile from Lake Tahoe along aptly named Ski Run Boulevard.
"It took three years to obtain all the permits, and
then we had to take down 29 trees on the property. That hurt because I love trees,"
says Mr. Birdwell.
Black Bear Inn consists of a handcrafted two-story lodge
with five spacious rooms, each with a kind bed, fireplace, private bath and data port; and
adjacent duplex cabin with two units; and a hot tub and gazebo. Paneling in the lodge
entrance and one room came from a Texas sharecropper's farmhouse built in 1903.
Construction starts April 1 on two more cabins.
When fully completed, the inn will accommodate 20 guests.
Says Mr. Birdwell, "Business has been good, with
visitors from the U.S., Europe and Australia - plus Texas, of course. The Internet is
one of our best sources of customers." Their Web site is www.tahoeblackbear.com
Are there any drawbacks to owning a B&B? Mr. Birdwell responds, "I shovel a lot more snow than I did in Dallas."
GO BACK
- - - from Tahoe Quarterly magazine;
published Winter 1999; written by Theresa Ochiltree :
Inspired by some of the West's great
lodges, Black Bear Inn captures their majestic and rustic style on a more intimate scale
by incorporating hand-hewn log trusses, natural stone and vaulted ceilings. The main lodge
and three cabins that make up this retreat offer luxury accommodations in an intimate
mountain setting on a wooded acre of Ski Run Blvd. Nestled at the bottom of Heavenly Ski
Resort. For reservations call 530-544-4451 or visit their web site
www.tahoeblackbear.com .
GO BACK
- - - from The Washington Times
published November 2, 2002; written by Richard Slusser :
Texans Jerry Birdwell and Kevin Chandler
had homes in Dallas and, for about 10 years, at Lake Tahoe before they decided to move
permanently to the California side of the lake and build a bed-and-breakfast inn. Their
concept was to create a lodge that looked as if it had been in South Lake Tahoe for a long
time and was built in a style called "Old Tahoe."
They did the preliminary design for the inn before local
architect Mark Allione took over the floor and, as Mr. Birdwell says, "sort of made
it prettier. . . . He balanced things out and made the exterior of the building more
attractive. We took some ideas from larger lodges throughout the West and used them on a
much smaller scale.
"We created this business around the idea of making
everything comfortable for our guests: private baths, large beds and a full, hot sit-down
breakfast."
They have succeeded in those endeavors. Black Bear Inn opened
in March of 1999, and business, Mr. Birdwell says, was very strong until September 11, but
by midsummer it was back on track and renewed the owners' belief in their inn.
The Black Bear is comfortable and calming in the spirit of the
Western look by Ralph Lauren. The entrance on Ski Run Boulevard belies what is beyond the
exterior and may be a bit of Old Tahoe that survived. The great room in the lodge has the
golden glow of bright native pine and a handsome river-rock fireplace that must be one of
the most popular areas after a day on the ski slopes. Nearby are comfortable
leather-covered wing chairs and large facing sofas with many matching pillows for
relaxation. Tables for breakfast are between the sofas and the kitchen.
The great room can hold its own against any Western hotel or
resort in ambience and comfort amid the pine walls and supports. Much of the credit must
go to the owners for not overdoing the Western artifacts in the great room or in the guest
rooms. They give just the right touch.
The view through the large, high window opposite the fireplace
takes in the deck, where tables and chairs are popular on warm days and nights; the lawn;
the large, tall pine trees; and the three cabins.
We stayed in the Sutter and found it quite comfortable.
Guests in the cabins may have breakfast delivered. We went into
the great room in the main lodge each morning, for the breakfasts were such a treat we
wanted to see what the next morning offered.
We could have returned home after the second night at the inn
-- but we could not pass up such a breakfast.
In the afternoon, wine and cheese are served for
après-ski or après-beach, depending on the season.
The three cabins are: the Bonanza Trail, a duplex containing
the 450 square-foot Stagecoach and Black Bart rooms, and the Snowshoe and the Sutter
cabins.
Snowshoe is an 840-square-foot cabin for two persons and has
10-foot ceilings and a large bath with whirlpool and large walk-in shower; the
900-square-foot Sutter has a living room with vaulted ceiling and two bedrooms, both
connecting to the bath. Each of the accommodations has a kitchenette and a river-rock
fireplace.
The lodge's five guest rooms open from the great room:
Seneca and the Washoe (with pine furniture, a handmade mesquite headboard and two club
chairs) are on the main floor. Up the handsome pine stairway on the second floor are three
rooms: Sequoia (the largest and dressiest room, with a sitting area, wet bar, vaulted
ceiling and a view of the cabins and trees behind the lodge), Fallen Leaf (the most
requested room) and the Frontier, the most rustic room because it is the only room with
barn wood, and that is only one wall.
Each lodge room has a private bath, a king-size bed, rock
fireplace, television with VCR and DVD players,
telephone, daily maid service and full breakfast served downstairs. Each guest room
accommodates no more than two guests, and inn policy is that this "is not an
appropriate place for children under the age of 16."
In any season, the Black Bear Inn is a cozy, comfortable
retreat from the touristy areas and --across the border in Nevada -- the big casinos. Stay
for breakfast, especially if blueberry pancakes are on the menu.
For skiers, a city bus as well as shuttles from Heavenly
operate on Ski Run Boulevard -- indeed, Heavenly is at the top of the aptly named street.
A short walk leads to two very good Italian restaurants.
GO BACK
- - - from Fodor's Skiing USA travel guide
published 2002; written by John Vlahides :
Black Bear Inn Bed & Breakfast -- South Lake
Tahoe's best and most luxurious inn feels like one of the great old lodges of the
Adirondacks, its living room complete with rough-hewn timber beams, plank floors, a
knotty-pine cathedral ceiling, hand-knotted Persian rugs, and even an elk's head over
the giant river-rock fireplace. The five inn rooms and the three cabins are furnished with
19th-century American antiques, fine art, and fireplaces; cabins, which can sleep up to
four, also have kitchenettes. Never intrusive, the affable innkeepers provide a sumptuous
breakfast in the morning and wine and cheese in the afternoon. They prefer not to
accommodate kids under 16. Heavenly is about a mile up the street. 5 rooms, 3 cabins.
Facilities: dining room, wi-fi, some in-room hot tubs, some kitchenettes,
cable TV, in-room VCR's, outdoor hot tub, ski storage, lounge; no smoking.
GO BACK
- - - from the Tracy Press
published March 2, 2003; written by Gretchen Macchiarella :
South Lake Tahoe - Nestled at the base of Heavenly Ski Resort and
just up the road from Marina Village on Lake Tahoe is the perfect place for a bed and
breakfast.
Yet there are just a handful of such places that complement a long
day on the slopes -- complete with a glowing fireplace, glass of wine and some fellow
travelers in the common room.
Black Bear Inn is probably the closest to a traditional bed and
breakfast in the area. All of the rooms are under the same roof, except for a few private
cabins, and the huge common area draws people for afternoon wine and cheese. In the
morning, a hot breakfast is served, something like fruit-topped pancakes or eggs Benedict,
with coffee and juice.
Each room has a slightly different decor and its own bathroom. The
three cabins are scattered in the back of the property, with a little more seclusion but
equal access to the common areas. The rooms, and even the private cabins, sleep only two
people, with no one younger than 16 allowed in the luxury inn.
"We get a lot of couples on their honeymoon or anniversaries;
people want to be sure it's going to be romantic," said innkeeper Kevin
Chandler.
The honeymoon cabin has a sitting area and a fireplace and is
situated at the farthest edge of the property. With a spa tub and kitchenette, couples may
never need to leave.
GO BACK
- - - fromGreat Towns Of Northern California;
published 2003; written by David Vokac :
Black Bear Inn Bed & Breakfast is one of
the finest adult hideaways in the Sierra. The dramatic log complex (circa 1999) has a
gazebo whirlpool on beautifully landscaped pine-shaded grounds with a lodge and cabins
that epitomize elegant rusticity. Full gourmet breakfast and afternoon wine and appetizers
served in a great room with a monumental river-rock fireplace and serene pines/garden
views are complimentary. Each beautifully, individually decorated room captures the
romantic spirit of the Tahoe area and has a gas river-rock fireplace, all contemporary
amenities plus extras like a DVD player, and a king bed.
"Snowshoe Thompson Cabin" - extra-large,
kitchenette, romantic, in-bath two person whirlpool, big walk-in shower, three-sided
river-rock fireplace.
"Fallen Leaf Room" - vaulted
open-log-beam ceiling, corner riverstone fireplace, large private garden-view balcony.
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- - - from Sacramento Bride & Groom magazine;
published Summer/Fall 2003; written by Suzi Rupp :
. . . For the ultimate in privacy and comfort
before and after your ceremony, choose the Black Bear Inn, a charming upscale bed and
breakfast that offers two options for honeymooners -- the delightfully appointed and
secluded Sequoia Room upstairs in the main lodge or the intimate Snowshoe Thompson Cabin
snuggled among the pine trees behind it. The Black Bear Inn gives an elegant "at
home" feeling, reminiscent of Old Tahoe's grand mansions and estates. The main
room in the lodge features a 37-foot stone fireplace and massive wrought iron chandelier.
Real tree trunks hold up the cathedral ceiling. Four individual cabins and five lodge
rooms are exquisitely and uniquely decorated with fine antiques. Each cabin features a
fireplace, full kitchen and "mud room" for skiers to remove wet boots before
entering. Couples who seek seclusion after their wedding will find exactly what they
desire here. Owners Jerry Birdwell and Kevin Chandler provide every possible amenity for
their guests, including one of the best breakfasts that you'll find in Lake Tahoe.
For dinner, you might have Celtic Catering prepare a gourmet meal and deliver it to your
private cabin. This property offers the perfect hideaway for romantics! "We want all
of our guests to feel like they have 'come home,'" Kevin says.
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- - - from Air Resorts magazine;
published August/September 2003; written by Cathy Weil :
With your hunger delightfully satisfied, now
it's time to find a place to relax and there's none finer than the Black Bear
Inn. Lake Tahoe's premiere bed & breakfast is nestled quietly away, yet near the
heart of all excitement. This pristine resort property is the perfect place to get away
while staying in the thick of the action. Located on Ski Run Boulevard, it's close to
Heavenly Valley Ski Resort, less than a mile from Stateline and the casinos and walking
distance to Ski Run Marine, home of the Tahoe Queen, one of the lake's famous paddle
wheelers. From the moment you enter the Black Bear Inn, you undoubtedly know that
you're in for an exquisitely hospitable experience. The high cathedral ceiling,
hand-hewn beams, enchanting river rock fireplace, overstuffed furniture, abundance of
carefully chosen antiques and pure alpine luxury greet you in the main lodge - as does the
warm staff when they welcome you with a nightly wine and cheese reception. Each of the
five individually themed and carefully decorated guest rooms in the main lodge and the
three cabins include a TV/VCR/DVD player, telephone and daily maid service. Once
you've decided to "pull the rip cord" and land for the evening, enjoy an
invigorating soak in the outdoor hot tub gazebo. Next, feel blissfully pampered as you lie
ensconced in the luxurious softness of Ralph Lauren linens and bath towels and Black Bear
Inn's own plus robes while you enjoy the glowing warmth of your personal fireplace.
After a dreamy night's slumber, wake up to the inviting aroma of a full, hearty
breakfast. The Black Bear Inn staff pride themselves on providing a pure Epicurean
delight, including such delicacies as eggs benedict, brie omelets, or freshly baked
muffins and coffee cakes guaranteed to send you soaring on your way! Owners Jerry Birdwell
and Kevin Chandler want nothing further for their guests than to feel more comfortable at
the Black Bear Inn than they do in their own homes. For this season, they have
painstakingly, personally seen to every minute detail to make that a reality.
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- - - from Bride's magazine;
published January/February 2004; written by Ken Castle :
. . .Duos seeking intimacy check in to the
Black Bear Inn. This Western-luxe bed and breakfast fits five couples into its main lodge,
and tucks five into cabins on the manicured grounds. Think the Snowshoe Thompson dwelling
looks familiar? No surprise -- it played a leading role in the first season of The
Bachelor. Doubles from $240, year-round. . .
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- - - from Fodor's Northern California;
published 2004; written by John Vlahides :
South Lake
Tahoe's best and most luxurious inn feels like one of the great old lodges of
the Adirondacks, its living room complete with rough-hewn timber beams, plank
floors, knotty-pine cathedral ceilings, hand-knotted Persian rugs, and even an
elk's head over the giant river-rock fireplace. Built
in the 1990s with meticulous attention to detail, the five inn rooms and three
cabins feature 19th-century American antiques, fine art, and fireplaces; cabins
also have kitchenettes. Never intrusive, the affable innkeepers provide a
sumptuous breakfast in the morning and wine and cheese in the afternoon.
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- - - from Sacramento Magazine;
published December 2004; written by Kim Pryor :
. . .Co-owner
Jerry Birdwell, a criminal court district judge-turned-innkeeper, decorated the
rooms with antiques from his home state of Texas. End tables are made of butcher
blocks and egg incubators. Some of the closet doors were taken from an old
sharecropper's cabin. A blacksmith's apron hangs on the wall of one room inside
the lodge, while an old barn door serves as a mirror frame in one cabin. The
antiques fit into the classic Tahoe architecture: hand-hewn trusses, rock and
wood walls, massive fireplace in the lodge.
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- - - from Tahoe Quarterly Magazine;
published Summer 2006; written by Susan Rock :
Reminiscent of the great railroad lodges of the West, South Shore's
Black Bear Inn has been named one of the top ten California inns by Historic
Inns of America. Located only one mile from Heavenly Ski Resort, it's imposing
from the outside with a stone and wood exterior and port-cochere. But this
purpose-built inn is even more impressive inside. Sturdy lodge pole pine
pillars, a magnificent 34-foot tall river rock fireplace and expansive picture
windows all create a handsome and stately air.
"We
wanted to build something that looked like it had been here a long time," says
Kevin Chandler, who with partner and fellow Texan Jerry Birdwell, a former
criminal defense lawyer and district judge, opened this B&B in 1999. "Most
people think of B&Bs as someone's home or fixed up motel.
We wanted a different look, a different atmosphere."
The
two call the ambiance "rustic mountain elegance." The soaring Great Room is
furnished with comfy couches heaped with pillows, leather wing chairs and
hardwood floors with Oriental rugs. A wrought-iron chandelier hangs from the
ceiling and a nineteenth-century piano stands under the stout split-log
staircase leading up to the mezzanine. They have adorned the property with
farmhouse style antiques, such as a chicken incubator turned into a coffee
table, milk cans for lamps, and wood from a sharecropper's cabin as paneling on
the walls. There's a blacksmith's apron hanging in one room, and an old tobacco
drying basket in another. Impeccable craftsmanship and solid construction
throughout include modern touches like double soundproofing, a mud room for wet
boots and gear, and a covered outdoor hot tub.
Spacious rooms - most with vaulted ceilings - boast king-sized beds, river rock
gas fireplaces, TVs, VCR and DVD players, rich Ralph Lauren comforters,
bedspreads, and towels and large private baths finished with slate and pine.
There are five guest rooms in the main lodge and three cabins with kitchenettes
spread out on the landscaped woody acre. Don't be surprised if you're swept off
your feet by the sizable and utterly dashing Snowshoe Thompson cabin, with its
log beam ceiling, three-sided fireplace and two-person Jacuzzi tub - the
bungalow (along with the main lodge) was featured in the first season of the
reality TV show The Bachelor.
The staff turns out freshly-baked goodies in the Black Bear's full commercial
kitchen, the site of the occasional cooking class. A different hot breakfast is
dished up daily in the dining area just off the Great Room, and wine - a
privately labeled vintage from Monterey - and cheese are served by the fireplace
in the afternoon.
GO BACK
- - - from Sunset Magazine;
published December 2006 :
The Black Bear Inn stands out among Tahoe's too-often generic lodgings. The new B&B, near
Heavenly Mountain Resort, offers a refined getaway --- especially in winter,
when snow blankets the inn's parklike property. Inside, rustic charm mixes with
modern convenience: Think antique cabinets and high-speed Internet access.
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Black
Bear Inn
1202 Ski Run Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe CA 96150
www.tahoeblackbear.com (877)232-7466
(530)544-4451
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