Bear Hug

🐻 Lose yourself in one of the many storybooks for young and old.
🐻 Snuggle among the comfy throws and pillows in every corner.
🐻 Solve arguments over who gets to sleep in the bunk room.
🐻 Watch an inspirational film on the 44” screen.
🐻 Drink sweet Ozark water drawn from the spring a stone's throw away.
🐻 Craft home-made meals in the bright spacious kitchen
🐻 Gather for brunch around the long rustic table.
And if you must work…
🐻 You’ll find two great work areas with high-speed wireless internet access.

🌿 Splash in the cold, crystal-clear creek.
🌿 Follow a meandering woodland trail along the creek bottom or up a breathtaking ridge overlooking the valley.
🌿 Children can play for hours on the big Rainbow playset.
🌿 Burn off energy on the premium double-net trampoline.
🌿 Sear a steak or hot dog dinner on the park-style charcoal grill.
🌿 Gather around picnic tables under trees strung with soft lights.
🌿 Sing and tell stories in Adirondack chairs around the campfire.

🚙 Head to the river three miles away for a day of floating. The family-owned Riverside Resort can supply your rafts, kayaks, or canoes.
🚙 Wander the trails on the 14,000-acre JT Nickel Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve, the largest protected conservation area in the Ozarks (18 miles away).
🚙 Visit Natural Falls State Park, a filming site for the 1974 film Where the Red Fern Grows. (less than 20 miles away)
🚙 Encounter the rich local history of the Cherokee Nation and other Native tribes at the Cherokee Heritage Center, and shop hard-to-find historical books and gifts at the gift shop. (26 miles)
🚙 Sam and Ella’s Chicken Palace in Tahlequah doesn't serve chicken, but it has some of the the best pizza in the in the South. (23 miles)
🚙 The Oaks Cemetery is one of my favorite places to wander and remember. Here you'll find a monument to the Moravian missionaries and Cherokee converts who came west on the Trail of tears and are buried here side by side. (3 miles)
🚙 Enjoy a classic Southern meal at the local landmark Harvest House Restaurant. (11 miles)
🚙 Savor unforgettable homemade soups, deli sandwiches on homemade bread, and huge, scrumptious desserts at Heart and Soul Kitchen. (12 miles)
🚙 Once Upon a Time Books is a haven for book lovers, with more than 100,000 books for sale and cozy corners to browse them. (45 miles)

🏡 You’ll have room to spread out in the open dining/living area. The rustic barn board table seats ten, and the bar along the big window seats up to four more.
🏡 Speaking of the bar, it overlooks the yard and creek, and it's a great place to work on your laptop and keep track of the children on the playground at the same time.
🏡 The gorgeous coffee bar came here from the Old World, and probably pre-dates the Declaration of Independence. Whoever did the intricate carvings would be startled to see the Keurig coffee maker, quality coffee grinder, charming electric tea kettle, and stainless steel French press on its marble top. You might come just to appreciate the coffee bar.

Things to Know About Bear Hug

🌲 You are welcome to park in the graveled areas beyond either end of the house. There is room for multiple vehicles, and you can park larger vehicles along the driveway. Please do not park anywhere on the lawn between the cabin and the creek.

🌲 The bunks are full length, but narrower than standard twins. It's plenty of space for most adults. Be aware when you book. All beds are ample for children.

🌲 The fifth sleeping area is an open loft with a futon large enough for two children or one adult. We've called this a "small double bed." If you fill all the rooms, the people in the other upstairs rooms will need to walk through this area.

🌲 The loft has sloping ceilings. Average-height people will have no problem standing upright in the middle of the rooms; tall people may have to stoop a bit.

🌲 The loft bedrooms have low doorways. They're perfect for children, but adults should be prepared to duck.

🌲 Please keep pets off upholstered furniture and beds.

🌲 Your stay includes a generous firewood supply, and you can purchase more should you run low. (To avoid spreading disease, please do not bring firewood from elsewhere.) Ask for details.

Things to Know About the New Song Property

🌲 While thousands of guests in all types of vehicles have successfully come and gone, be aware that the driveway is rough and somewhat steep. Drive carefully. We are happy to answer any questions you have about access.

🌲 Please contact New Song Sanctuary before bringing in guests that are not registered on the booking. We are generally flexible about visitors, but we need to know who is here.

🌲 To ensure you have a restful stay, New Song observes quiet hours from 10:30 pm to 7:00 am.  

🌲 The water supply is unfiltered live spring water. If you are not comfortable with that, please bring your own drinking water.

🌲 New Song Sanctuary shares the woods with wildlife, including ticks, bugs, and spiders. Bring effective tick and insect repellent in season if you plan to venture into the woods.

🌲 The spring-fed creek runs year-round. It is full and gurgling most of the year but lower in late summer.

🌲 If you wish, you may dig wild onions in the woods (early spring) or harvest watercress from the creek (spring and fall). To avoid over-harvesting, respectfully leave some behind in each clump you find.