Arnold, California
Forest Bears Hideout
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This cozy mountain chalet offers stunning views making for a picturesque retreat in a secluded forest setting. Relax on the deck at sunset, fire up a meal on the grill, and dine at the picnic table. Everyone can nestle by the gas fireplace while playing tunes on the piano in the living room. On the lower living level, you'll find two bedrooms with a queen and double bed. The loft area offers a twin bed with a trundle and a queen.
WHAT’S NEARBY
For a daily/weekly fee, you'll have access to Blue Lake Springs Recreation Area with two lakes, pools, shuffleboard, basketball, and more. Hiking is always a popular activity. Explore local trails and get up close to giant Sequoias! If winter is more your season, head up to the slopes at Bear Valley Ski Resort for skiing and snowboarding.
THINGS TO KNOW
Blue Lake Springs Recreation Area amenities require a small fee
Cell phone reception is very spotty in this area - plan accordingly
The Blue Lake Springs HOA has closed off all amenities to guests (residents only) due to local restrictions and regulations.
Parking notes: There is free parking available for 3 vehicles.
Security camera details: There is an active Ring camera at the front door.
Damage waiver: The total cost of your reservation for this Property includes a nightly damage waiver fee, plus tax if applicable (the “Damage Waiver”). (A discount may be applied for stays of 28 nights or longer, if permitted.) The Damage Waiver covers you for up to $3,000 of accidental damage to the Property or its contents (such as furniture, fixtures, and appliances) as long as you report the incident to the host prior to checking out. The Damage Waiver fee eliminates the need for a traditional security deposit.
More information can be downloaded from the "Rental Agreement" on the checkout page.
Due to local laws or HOA requirements, guests must be at least 25 years of age to book. Guests under 25 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the duration of the reservation.
Other permit number: EXEMPT
City/town tax number: TOT-0407
County tax number: 355
What I liked about the property. Nice home, clean with nice decor inside the property. What I disliked about the property. 1- No air-conditioning. 90 degree temps made the second floor feel like a sauna. 2- Most windows did not have shades, blinds or curtains so we woke up before 7am everyday we spent at the property. 3- The ceiling fan in the master bedroom upstairs, which was the hottest room in the house did not work. When I called to complain about it on the day we arrived, I spoke to the property management company and she said that someone would get back to me. Nobody got back to me at all. We stayed there for three days. 4- The porch and deck was not swept and had pine needle droppings all over the place. 5- The refrigerator didn’t close well and our food and drink were not fully kept cold. Funny, that after my stay, I noticed a review where someone complained about this 2 years ago. It was never fixed. 6- We found 2 wasps in the house and thanks for the quick thinking of my mother, we sprayed them with hairspray so they couldn’t fly and killed them. 7- The electric fireplace was on when we arrived and was on the entire time that we’re here. There are instructions on how to turn it off, but they don’t make sense and we were not able to turn the fireplace off 8- The driveway is narrow and steep and not easy to get into. 9- The Internet connectivity has weak security with the router that makes it vulnerable to hackers. The hardware needs to be replaced to address this.
Gorgeous neighborhood. House not clean and not well maintained.
I had read the reviews about a few dated kitchen accessories and furniture, but we found all the dishes, the eclectic decor, numerous blankets, and pillows to be delightful! We are a family of musicians so the piano was a wonderful addition. The management company was very helpful when we tried to use the incorrect lockbox (there are two), and when we could not figure out the fireplace controls. The porch yields amazing views of the forest, the front room is spacious and well-lit, and the kitchen has room enough for a family of 5 to cook a Christmas dinner! I'll likely return - the house is in a perfect place to take long walks or sit by the fire and read.
The reviews and the description as well as the photos are pretty accurate. We were there for 3 nights during thanksgiving and had a great time. We had brought heaters in case it was cold, but often we found ourselves opening windows because it was warm. The only thing that was unfortunate are the beds. The only comfortable one is the full size bed downstairs. The two queens are squeaking, there is barely any support and they seem old. I would have given it a five star if the beds were comfortable. I also considered giving it a three star. I would suggest that the owners invest in new mattresses, a good night sleep is very important to customers.
It's good for a family of 6. The place is about 5 mins from their clubhouse and other amenities like swimming pool, sports courts, fly in lake, etc. The home itself is nice and cozy. Although it heats up pretty fast during summer months. Please get additional fans for your stay, the existing ceiling and box fans are not enough. The pots and pans are run down and way past their useful age. What was surprising was, the coffee pot was broken, there was just one bath towel for us, and just 2 hand towels. It's about 20-25 stairs from where you park to the home's entrance, so you need to carry stuff upstairs. Overall it was nice stay, with a few upgrades needed.
We stayed five nights and overall enjoyed it. There are some drawbacks and some good points. Drawbacks: 1. It's a STEEP climb to get into the house. Be prepared for a workout as you bring all your belongings up to the house. In the winter it could be treacherous. This house is not for people with balance and mobility issues. 2. There is no air conditioning. Bring fans to move air around if you're coming during a hot spell. 3. In the summer the porch gets a ton of sun, making it hard to sit out there until evening, and the house gets hot. 4. The living room is a tad crowded because of the huge, anomalous piano. The chairs are not the most comfortable. 5. The bed downstairs to the left is very hard and wiggles a lot when slept on by two people. 6. Grill was old and hard to manage, burned our steaks. Good Points 1. Ceiling fans! 2. Two bathrooms, good showers. 3. Lots of air flow with windows. Lots of natural light. 4. Decently supplied kitchen and huge dining table. 5. Cute decor. 6. LOTS of beds. The upstairs queen was comfy, as was the downstairs bed on the right. My daughter enjoyed using the trundle daybed in the loft as her cozy space to read. 7. Lovely surroundings, lots of trees, quiet. 8. Close to Arnold (groceries, White Pines Lake). We didn't use the television, so I can't provide a review on that. All the basics were provided, and it was a great stay. If it weren't three flights up we'd rent it again.
The view of the trees was an unexpected bonus. We had our 9 month old with us and it was a very comfortable environment for him. We would definitely stay there again.
Amazing house in a beautiful location within walking distance of a beautiful lake. Great deck with lots of space for dinner, bbq, lounge, etc. There's no AC, so it can get quite hot inside during the day in the living room. The rooms are much cooler and very comfortable. The kitchen and bathrooms were clean, but the floors were not. The place needs deep cleaning underneath and inside the furniture, lots of dust, residual food crumbs, etc. Plenty of linen for beds and bathrooms but none for the kitchen, it would be nice to have some kitchen towels and kitchen mittens. Plenty of kitchen utensils and cookware, although a bit worn out. Fridge is old and outdated, it doesn't cool enough. Excellent Wifi, we were there working all week and not a single time we've lost connection. Verizon is the only phone provider that works, although you're better off using the Wifi calling service on your phone. Greatly recommended!
The cabin was cute but high up an irregular path with no hand rail from the parking pad. Imagine four 80 year old ladies standing at the bottom of that hill trying to figure out how to get not only our selves but our luggage up to the cabin. We would have had to leave if one of the group had not spotted the parking pad to the neighbors cabin which was more manageable. Fortunately the neighbors did not show up while we were there and that is where we parked. There should definitely be something in your posting letting people know it is hard to get to the cabin. The lock box number we were given and the location of the lockbox was wrong. We called and after a 20 minute wait on hold someone (she was very nice) got the right number for us. It was not for the lockbox we were told but we figured out it had to be for the other lock box and we finally got into the cabin. In the cabin the refrigerator door would not stay closed and there was water on the floor as a result. We tried our best to keep it closed. Additionally the corner upper kitchen cabinet door was hanging by a hope and a promise and needs repair. There was no hot water from the tap and the water pressure was weak from the cold in the down stairs bathroom. The shower did have hot water. We love Arnold and have been coming there for years as one of our group use to own a cabin there. We will be back and will check the accessibility of the place we rent. Unfortunately for this place we had no idea of the problems
The cabin had all that we needed. The front deck and view are wonderful!
The outside deck.
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Total
Includes taxes and fees