Bunk Beds at Your Smoky Mountain Cabin

 Lightning Bug Lodge is designed to be family friendly.  As owners with children, we understand the desire to both create family memories with the kids and find time as a couple.  Sometimes four or more in one hotel room doesn't always match the vision of a relaxing vacation. 

Come to Lightning Bug Lodge.  We had two bunk beds custom made locally, so you and your spouse can choose "Mountain View Serenity" (upstairs bedroom) or "Forest Life" (downstairs bedroom) bedrooms and have the kids sleep close, but outside your room.  The upstairs has a bunk with a twin over a Queen.  The downstairs has a twin over a twin.

The kids think it's cool too. When my kids have their cousins, they always head to the bunk beds and it's always a bunch of chatter and chuckles.

Smoky Mountain Cabin: Grilling in the Smokies

     Part of making memories together is making meals together.  Ligthning Bug Lodge exudes luxury in the woods, so we've bought a brand new high end grill for you to show off your grilling skills.  One of the conveniences of our location is that you will drive past a major Kroger grocery store on the way to the cabin (220 Wears Valley Road) on your way back from the strip.  Many tourists miss this major store and complain about limited groceries or high prices.  You just have to get off the beaten path.  If you are a planner and enjoy exploring local food like me, consider buying mountain food online ahead of your trip.  I recommend http://www.smokiesstore.org/browse.cfm/2,61.html.  Why?  Because your purchase serves a good purpose.  It supports the Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA), a nonprofit to help the park, which sponsors free historic demonstrations and festivals, funds the Park's library, and helps fund the environmental education program at the Institute at Tremont.  They offer cornmeal, wheat flour, sorghum, molasses, preserves, relish, pumpkin butter, honey, and pure maple syrup. 
While in the Smokies, we've also bought molasses and cornmeal at local stores, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park visitor center gift shops, and Dollywood.

Lightning Bug Lodge Amenities List

Lightning Bug Lodge is designed for gatherings; family reunions, girlfriend weekends, church retreats, and more.  With such celebrations in mind, we chose a large cabin (2,400 sq. ft.) with 3 bedrooms and 3 full baths, one on each floor. 

Because we appreciate nature and believe you will enjoy it too, we chose a unique location, ontop of a mountain, surrounded by woods.  It's an adventure driving up the mountain and we think it's worth it.

 

Besides the inspiring location, we hope you build memories indoors too.  I know that beating your spouse, uncle, or neighbor in a game of pool or foosball can build a fond memory too.  Here's the list of amenities for you:

Lots of Room

* Square feet:  2,400

* 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, sleeps 10

* One bedroom on each level

* Beds:  2 King, 1 Queen, 2 bunks (2 twin, + 1 full/1 twin)

* 4 flat parking spaces

Inspiring Location

* Wooded view

* Winter mountain view

* Quiet mountain top, semi-secluded
* All wood real log cabin

* 2 wrap around decks

Ample Entertainment

* Sega baseball game

* Regulation size Pool table

* Foosball

* Hot tub on deck

* Grill (gas)

* Swimming pool (resort)

* Tennis courts (resort)

* 5 tvs (1 big screen)

* 4 DVDs

* 1 VCR

* CD player

* Board Games & Books

* Grill

*Picnic table

Comfort

* Fireplace

* Heat and Air

* Rocking Chairs

* Gated resort with 24 hour security guard

* No pets allowed

* Non-smoking

Convenience

* Full kitchen

* Blender, coffee maker

* High chair

* Stainless steel appliances, dishwasher

* Full size washer and dryer
* Shagbark resort only 8 miles from Pigeon Forge

"Mountain View Serenity", the upstairs bedroom

The upstairs bedroom has a peaceful feel with a mountain view and attached bathroom with double vanity sink, tub, and shower.  Watch the sunset over the mountains or just relax in your big bedroom which includes a King size log bed and a vaulted ceiling.

If you want to be close to your friends or family, but not in the same room, no problem.  The loft is right outside your room complete with a bunk bed, full on bottom, twin on top.

"Forest Life" - Lower Level Bedroom

When you rent a cabin in the Smoky Mountains, there's usually someone in the group looking for fun day and night.  If you are the life of the party or a bird lover, you may want to chose the Lightning Bug Lodge downstairs bedroom I've labeled as "Forest Life".  It's the closest one to the entertainment including the pool table, foosball, big screen tv, sega baseball game, and hot tub.  And after all the excitement, you are certain to get a deep sleep in your King sized log bed.  And you may feel like a King in this spacious room that includes the only walk in closet. It also has a full size bathroom right around the corner.

The lower level also has a great view of the trees and birds from either inside or out.  That's because this level has both gigantic windows and a wrap around deck.  So bring your swimsuit or a pair of binoculars and you are sure to enjoy your stay.

"Pampered Glow", the main floor bathroom

When staying in the Smoky Mountains, you want to feel relaxed and pampered.  It's time to make memories and get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.  You can feel relaxed at Lightning Bug Lodge with 3 bedrooms.  I call the bedroom on the main floor "Pampered Glow" bedroom faces the sunset with four windows.  If you choose this one, you can't help feeling special and pampered. This is often the bedroom we let our parents use because it's right off the front door, no need to take the stairs inside.  Grandparents are special.

Of the 3 bedrooms, this one has the fanciest bathroom.  It's just across the hallway waiting for you with a jacuzzi tub.  Although all bedrooms have a tv, this one has the new flat screen HDTV and DVD player.  All Lightning Bug Lodge bedrooms have new handmade log bed and new matresses; this one has the $1,400 Serta matress for those who love a cushiony pampered feel.

Smoky Mountain Cabin: Always a Solution

We wanted a hot tub on the lower deck on the right side where it is surrounded by woods and feels private.  Now we just had to figure out how to make it happen.

When you grow up in mostly flat land neighborhoods, you are amazed with how people build houses on the side of a mountain.  And how does one get a hot tub onto a cabin deck that is suspended in the woods?  build a ramp???  There is always a solution and the local saw it as no problem at all.  Check out the photo for the answer.

 

Yes, of course, rent a crane, lift the hot tub way up into the sky and over the cabin roof, lower it down, and swing it onto the deck.  May you be amazed too of how people always find solutions.

The Green Exchange - LBL Video Library

No need to throw out your old VHS video tapes.  Bring them to Lightning Bug Lodge where you can exchange them for a different video tape at The Green Exchange.  That's right, we are going back to old school.  We have both a DVD and VHS player in the living room. 

Here's the 50+ VHS tapes we brought to begin the library:

1) Baby Take A Bow
2) Curly Top
3) Wild America
4) Let's Make Music
5) Veggie Tales Larry Boy
6) Veggie Tales Lyle
7) An American Tale
8) The Wiggles Wake Up Jeff
9) Moby Dick
10) Teletubbies
11) The Pebble & the Penguin
12) Anastasia
13) Divine Secrets of Ya Ya Sisterhood
14) Bread & Tulip
15) Two Weeks Noitce
16) Gabriela
17) Amelie
18) Panic Room
19) Little Big Man
20) Bed of Roses
21) The Paper
22) Mr. Jones
23) Italian for Beginners
24) Wine 101
25) Dance with Me
26) Woman on Top
27) Mad about Mambo
28) The Mask of Zoro
29) Uncle Buck
30) Highlander
31) The Devils Own
32) Primary Colors
33) Independence Day
34) The Dark Rider
35) The Man from Utah
36) Sagebrush Trail
37) Riders of Destiny
38) Diamand are Forever
39) Behind Scenes Goldfinger & Thunderball
40) Dr. No
41) Goldfinger
42) You Only Live Twice
43) From Russia with Love
44) Golden Eye
45) Young Guns 2
46) The Hunt for Red October
47) Fahrenheit 9/11
48) Planes, Trains, & Automobilles
49) Dave
50) The Blues Brothers
51) The 13th Warrior

We've purposely chosen quite a few childrens movies.  We want this to be a family place.  Please do not leave any rated X movies.  Thanks!

The Green Exchange - LBL DVD Library

Similar to our book library, Lightning Bug Lodge has a DVD library in which you may exchange a DVD of your own for a LBL DVD.  We call it The Green Exchange.  Bring home a new to you favorite movie back home.  Perhaps a comedy that reminds you of fun times and laughter in the cabin.  Perhaps a romance that reminds you of a honeymoon or anniversary celebration in the mountains.

We bought over 40 DVDs for your viewing pleasure.  As of September 2010, here's the titles:

1) Baby Mozart
2) Dr. Dolittle 2
3) Scooby Doo the Mystery Begins
4) Racing Stripes
5) Nims Island
6) Sesame Street Celebrates Around the World
7) Miss Spiders Sunny Patch Kids
8) Baby Prodigy
9) The Wind in the Willows
10) The Legends of Sasquatch
11) Baby Neptue Discovering Water
12) Songs from the Station Thomas
13) Nature Baby
14) Lilo & Stitch 2
15) Thomas Sodor Celebration
16) See & Learn Numbers
17) Let's Make Music
18) Envy
19) The Simpsons Movie
20) Guess Who
21) Zoolander
22) Balls of Fury
23) Trading Places
24) Take the Lead
25) Somethings Gotta Give
26) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
27) Edward Scissorhands
28) Wild Hogs
29) Fun with Dick & Jane
30) Calling All Engines
31) We Were Soldiers
32) True Grit
33) Johnny English
34) The Producers
35) Lawrence of Arabia
36) The River Wild
37) Monsson Wedding
38) Blades of Glory
39) Short Circuit
40) Tom & Jerry Whiskers Away

We know you may want more choices, so we also brought over 50 VCR movies.  See next post for the titles.

Introducing the Green Exchange: LBL Library

We want you to have a delightful stay at our cabin and we would like to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

From going on many vacations, I understand one of the joys you may look forward to is time to actually read a book.  However, even on vacation other activities may make it difficult to finish the book.  No worries at Lightning Bug Lodge because you can take the book home with you.  Just exchange it for one of your used books.

It will be fun to see how the collection evolves with travelers from around the country.  I've provided 50 books to begin the library.  Since this is a family friendly cabin, I've included both adult and childrens books.  Perhaps you find a new bedtime story as you gather near the fireplace.  At the end of the year, I'll show you the new list.  Here's the 50 books available in September 2010:

1) Nathans Fishing Trip
2) We're Going on a Nature Hunt

3) Alexander & the Wind Up Mouse

4) Wind in the Willows
5) Mysteries & Marvels of Nature
6) Day of the Dragon King
7) Busy Bear Goes to the Beach
8) Websters College Dictionary
9) Chasing Kangaroos
10) It Takes a Village
11) Three Cups of Tea
12) Chicken Soup for the Nature Lovers Soul
13) The Secret Language of Girlfriends
14) Miss American Pie
15) The Art of Possibility
16) Still Making Waves
17) At Large & At Small
18) The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
19) Away
20) The Wanderer
21) Finding Father Christmas
22) Barefoot
23) The Hornets Nest
24) Simple Abundance
25) Burning Bright
26) Creepy Crawly Creatures
27) Lady and the Tramp
28) Off to Sea
29) W is for Wind
30) The Michigan Count Book
31) Sunny Numbers
32) The Ancient World
33) Olivia Joules & the Overactive Imagination
34) Little House on the Prairie
35) Bravo Amelia Bedelia
36) A Bargain for Frances
37) Jingle Bells
38) Hour of the Olympics
39) Someone Like You
40) Common Phrases & Where They Come From
41) Angel Dogs with a Mission
42) Fetching Dylan
43) Lapham Rising
44) Pets in America
45) Abundance for Beginners
46) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
47) Poems and Rhymes
48) Teamwork in Tonka Town
49) Big Birds Guessing Game
50) Shapes Around Town

What book would you contribute to the library?   What kind of books would you like to see in the library?

Luxury in Nature, a Smoky Mountain Example

What do we mean by luxury in nature?

Coming from quite a bit of experience in tent camping & scout camping, there's no doubt that an air conditioned, heated cabin is luxury.  However, we took this cabin to the next level with choosing only the best in furnishings. so you feel surrounded in luxury. 

Here's one example, one of the chairs is a Lonsdale Barstool from Frontgate.  Inspired from the 18th century classics, this barstool uses the finest leather hide (considered top/full grain) and hand crafted solid hardwood.  In the cool grey color, it's a custom order.  In trying to be as green as possible, I went to the outlet where people returned their custom ordered fine furnishing (and saved at least a little green in my purse too).  While the standard barstool sells for $699, the custom chair costs $899 and 7 weeks if you order online. 

Frontgate's slogan is "outfitting America's finest homes", I'd add "and finest cabins".  Only the best for our guests; Relax and enjoy!