America's 1st THIS OLD HOUSE Idea Home

Chickamauga, Georgia
$440 avg/night Minimum Stay 2 Nights
Bed 4

Bed

Bath 3

Bath

Home Private Vacation Home

Property Type

Sleep 8

Max Sleeps

Night 2 nights

Min Stay

The This Old House Idea Home at Candlelight Forest in Chickamauga, GA is a beautiful and professionally designed idea home created jointly by the staff of This Old House, John Tatum, CEO of Cloudland Station and Candlelight Forest, and Nowland Design. The house sits at the head of a sweet little valley in the shadow of Lookout Mountain only 20 minutes from the heart of downtown Chattanooga.

A mountainesque craftsmen cottage, the home has a large wrap around porch and a steep roof that affords two floors plus a charming loft on the third level. The house is nestled in the shade of a ridge and is landscaped by designer Kate Karam of Monrovia.

The home was built to inspire how one can live large in a smaller home. With so many clever built-ins at every level, the house lives up to its reputation as an Idea Home.

A queen master suite is on the main, with another queen master suite on the second floor. The second floor also has a twin bunk bedroom and shares a full bath with the loft overhead that has two additional twins and a small play area. The loft is a kid's dream come true.

The details are abundant, from an extensively built-out mud room to large tapered stone columns crowned with triple caps of indigenous flagstones.

Located at The Candlelight Forest just outside of Chattanooga, it is the perfect home base for enjoying Chattanooga and all the local and regional sites. Uniquely situated, it has a backdoor entry into downtown Chattanooga only 20 minutes away. Moreover, located in the pastoral Chattanooga Valley, you are only 15 minutes to Cloudland Canyon State Park, notably one of the most beautiful state parks in the southeast, 15 minutes to Rock City and 15 minutes to Ruby Falls.

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  • Feature Features
  • Map Map
  • School District Rates & Availability
  • Review Review

Feature Features

  • PETS

    No Pets Allowed
  • SAFETY

    Carbon Monoxide Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Carbon Monoxide Detector On The Property) Deadbolt Lock Fire Extinguisher Smoke Detector Installed (host Has Indicated There Is A Smoke Detector On The Property)
  • BEDROOM

    4 Bedrooms Bed Sheets Provided
  • GENERAL

    Unit Size: 2000 Sq Ft (186 Sq M)
  • KITCHEN

    Coffee/tea Maker Cookware/dishes/utensils Dishwasher Microwave Oven Paper Towels Refrigerator Stovetop Toaster
  • LAUNDRY

    Laundry Facilities Washing Machine And Dryer
  • PARKING

    Onsite Parking
  • INTERNET

    WiFi Available
  • OUTDOORS

    Barbecue Grill Firepit Garden Outdoor Furniture Patio
  • BATHROOMS

    3 Bathrooms Bathtub Or Shower Hair Dryer Shampoo Soap Toilet Paper Towels Provided
  • THINGS TO DO

    Birdwatching Nearby Cycling Nearby Fishing Nearby Hiking Nearby Hiking/biking Trails Nearby Kayak On Site Mountain Biking Nearby Rock Climbing Nearby Theme Parks Nearby Water Sports Equipment Wildlife And Game Walks Nearby
  • ENTERTAINMENT

    TV With Cable/satellite Service
  • LIVING SPACES

    Fireplace Living Room
  • CLIMATE CONTROL

    Air Conditioning Heating
  • LOCATION HIGHLIGHTS

    In A Rural Location In The Mountains Near A Zoo
  • SERVICES AND CONVENIENCES

    Iron/ironing Board
  • SUITABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY

    Smoke-free Property

CheckIn Check-in : 04:00 PM CheckOut Check-out : 11:00 AM
No Wheelchair No smoking No pets Children allowed
Occupancy Max occupancy : 8

Map Map

School District Rates & Availability

Review Review

  • Melissa R.

    Submitted Jul 24, 2025

    Stayed Jul 13, 2025

    We had a great time here! The kids really enjoyed the creek and the farm and the home was spacious and extremely comfortable. The close proximity to Rock City, Ruby Falls, and Cloud Canyon State Park was also a plus.

  • Adriene H.

    Submitted May 22, 2025

    Stayed May 16, 2025

    The house was clean, roomy and accommodating. It served it’s purpose well.

  • Charlene M.

    Submitted Jan 20, 2025

    Stayed Jan 18, 2025

    We enjoyed everything about our stay at This Old House! The home is beautiful, immaculate and equipped with everything needed. The beds are very comfortable! Angie the host was very responsive and kind! There were 7 women in our group and the home was very spacious! We had the best time and look forward to returning in the future!!

  • Brittni L.

    Submitted Jan 9, 2025

    Stayed Jan 2, 2025

    Pros: Spotlessly clean. Absolutely charming property. Felt very safe. Loved the trails and the animals and the scavenger hunt and the host and...everything. We've stayed in quite few short term rentals, and this property is the cream of the crop.Cons: We didn't want to leave. (Not a con, but a side note. One twin bedroom--and exceptionally charming play loft-- is accessed by a very steep set of stairs, so plan accordingly.)

  • John M.

    Submitted Aug 7, 2024

    Stayed Aug 1, 2024

    The house was sooo nice, we had a total of 8 people and had plenty of room. The house had everything we needed for the week. It was clean, quiet, the property was very nice. The wrap around porch was amazing to relax on after a busy day. The kids loved seeing the chickens, goats and donkeys. Would love to go back!

  • Gary M.

    Submitted Jun 24, 2024

    Stayed Jun 18, 2024

    The house and location are incredible. The kids had a great time feeding the animals, the tree house was fantastic and the rope swing over the creek was the biggest hit. We absolutely loved our stay in the beautiful house and highly recommend it!

  • Tracey B.

    Submitted May 2, 2024

    Stayed Apr 19, 2024

    Thanks for making our long weekend a wonderful getaway! The house is beautiful, very clean and very well-stocked. We enjoyed exploring the property and plan to bring our family to visit again!

  • Rebecca W.

    Submitted Apr 7, 2024

    Stayed Mar 20, 2024

    Our family of 7 absolutely loved our stay at This Old House. Angie went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. The design and decor of the house were beautiful (I especially loved the bathrooms, enormous wrap around porch, and spacious ceilings in the upstairs master) and we had plenty of room for everyone. The kids especially enjoyed the upstairs attic playroom (be aware that the stairs to this are steep) and couldn't get enough of the chickens and farm animals nearby, the incredible treehouse, playing in the creek, and canoeing on the pond. We were in town to do some activities in Chattanooga, but we honestly ended up spending more time on the property than we initially thought just because it was so peaceful and fun for the kids! It truly was a magical outdoor wonderland for them, and my husband and I enjoyed listening to the birds in the morning from the giant wrap around porch. So peaceful! We had everything we needed to cook in the kitchen and appreciated the family-sized dining table, fire pit, and outdoor sitting and dining areas. We have already told all our friends in California about this rental and the kids are already begging to return!

  • Carol Z.

    Submitted Aug 19, 2023

    Stayed Aug 15, 2023

    This home was one of the nicest homes we have encountered on VRBO. Well appointed kitchen, baths, porches, etc. The beds were as comfortable as home. The grounds are lovely and peaceful.

  • Jenny M.

    Submitted Jul 16, 2023

    Stayed Jul 14, 2023

    The house is amazing, kitchen is fully stocked, beds are super comfortable, and there is so much to do. Great property for just relaxing or for the adventurous group, something for everyone. The kids loved all the animals! We really enjoyed our stay and would love to come back!

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Total

Includes taxes and fees
$440+
View details