We had a great stay at the Black Bear Inn and will definitely be back. The owners were incredibly friendly and made us feel right at home. The room was clean, quiet, and the bed was super comfortable. The food was the highlight. The French toast was amazing--easily some of the best I've ever had. We also loved the evening wine and charcuterie. Do yourself a favor and try the marinated mushrooms and the garlic-stuffed green olives. They were outstanding. If you're looking for a relaxing place to stay with great food and wonderful hospitality, I highly recommend the Black Bear Inn. read more

We stayed two nights in this charming and beautiful inn. Beautiful secluded and quiet location yet within walking distance of Arnold. Chef Bruce [owner) and Misty treated us to excellent afternoon wine and charcuterie and a fabulous freshly prepared breakfast, which we chose to dine on in the beautiful and spacious rear patio. Our room was extremely comfortable as well as the massive common areas. We will be back! read more

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Our stay at the Black Bear Inn last week was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, the owners made us feel genuinely welcome; warm, friendly, and truly passionate about what they do. The inn has that rare, cozy "home away from home" atmosphere which we absolutely loved. The rooms were spotless and super cozy, with beds that made it hard to get up in the morning and PERFECT water pressure (I'm a water pressure snob). One of the highlights was discovering that the owner is also a chef, so every meal was absolutely delicious, beautifully plated and crafted with care. The location is ideal! It's a super short walk to nearby businesses, yet also somehow perfectly tucked back among the beautiful big trees of Arnold, giving it that "peaceful, mountain-retreat" feel. We also loved that they offer a pet-friendly room so we were able to stay with our furry companion! We couldn't have asked for a better stay. Highly recommended--five stars all the way! read more

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The place is beautiful, quiet and comfortable. Bruce and his staff and very attentive. We spent a wonderful day and night here and will be back. read more

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Great location, beautiful building, and friendly host. Excellent breakfast and amenities. The only place I would stay in Arnold.

If we could give more stars we would. Bruce and Misty were fabulous hosts! The bed and breakfast was next level. Bruce is a classically trained chef. Our breakfasts were amazing both in taste and presentation. We had a group of 8 and used 4 of their 5 sleeping rooms. We used the dining area for our nightly board game. We will be back. Can't say enough good about them. read more

Bruce is fantastic. Breakfast was wonderful! Beds were super comfortable and the inn is very clean. Bruce made a delicious dinner for a special birthday and it was decedent. Can't wait to come back. read more

Black Bear Inn - Wine and cheese in our gorgeous room. Cheers. - Hotels Near Me - Arnold, California

The staff is so engaging and friendly... could not imagine a better setting or experience!! This is our special treat to ourselves!!!

We had an absolutely incredible time staying here - Bruce and Becky were such amazing hosts, this place was clean, elegant, and the food was delicious. Thank you Bruce and Wendy for an unforgettable weekend! read more

We choose the Black Bear Inn when we stay in the area and every stay is 5 star plus! The best venue to relax and be pampered! The inn is beautiful, the rooms are well appointed and spacious, the beds are comfortable and cozy, the grounds are inviting and relaxing. So many areas to relax or enjoy chatting with other guests. This weekend was BBQ Weekend and Bruce spent the day smoking and preparing our dinner, WOW! Delicious and topped off with Wendi home made brownies that were so moist and choco-scrumptious! A little red wine compliments of the chef to top off the perfect meal on a perfect evening surrounded by trees! This Inn is a must stay when visiting the are. Central to all of the adventures and the best spot to rest before your day of play! Enjoy! And let them know Lorie sent you! Haha. read more

Black Bear Inn - Every evening we enjoy wine and cheese served by the hosts Bruce & Wendi. - Hotels Near Me - Arnold, California

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I had the loveliest wedding at this venue, absolute magic. We stayed the night as well, cold outside, a nice fireplace in our room and we even had a tub with jets!! Lovely couple, kind and inviting, and breakfast was read more

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My wife and I have been coming to the Black Bear Inn regularly for the past few years. We would absolutely be there more if life provided more time. Credibility: We have stayed at world class locations all over the globe and have experienced the finest service and accommodations the hospitality industry has to offer and the Black Bear Inn does not disappoint. Quite frankly Bruce and Wendi operate the paradigm of an Inn. They are kind, gracious and welcoming. The inn feels like all the best parts of home while being operated and maintained as what you would expect at a fine hotel. Like the best adults only resorts, serenity is promoted and protected through maintenance of a no-children, no pets policy that is very much appreciated by all patrons who stay looking to escape daily life. The rooms are all well appointed with super comfortable luxurious beds, large open bathrooms with heated floors and jacuzzi tubs, comfy robes for two in the closet. Plenty of dinning options can be arranged with appropriate notice. In my honest opinion, The Black Bear Inn is one of the best places the the Sierra Nevada region has to offer and anyone staying there is fortunate to experience Inn-keeping at its finest all thanks to attention to detail by Bruce and Wendi. There is so much to do and see in the area: hot tubbing, skiing, fishing, hiking, golfing, wine tasting, antiquing, gold panning, snowshoeing and my occasional preference, the art of doing nothing but relaxing and getting off the grid. Most recently we enjoyed a Valentine weekend hike through the big trees and followed it up with wine and cheese hour back at the Inn. Yes that's right, as a guest you are treated to wine and cheese hour each night you are staying, personalized selections just for you...need I say more? We were fortunate to stumble upon and stay at the Black Bear Inn years back and have been returning and singing its praises ever since. Hopefully you too can enjoy this slice of heaven in little old Arnold Ca! Lastly, anyone that writes a bad review of this place has a serious screw loose and should be banned from social media. read more

Black Bear Inn - Valentines Day Chocolate covered strawberries in the room waiting for us upon arrival... - Hotels Near Me - Arnold, California

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Everything was perfect. Quiet, well appointed, with every detail attended to. Beautiful setting. The breakfasts were exquisite, the wine and appetizers in the afternoon were elegant and tasty. Wendi and Bruce were charming hosts. Stayed at the Monterey Room. Great experience. read more

I would give 10 stars if that was possible. We just returned from a two-night stay at Black Bear Inn. It is a beautiful, peaceful Inn located among the trees in Arnold. The rooms are spacious and clean with very comfortable beds. Bruce goes above and beyond to accommodate each guest. He is a fabulous chef. The breakfasts that he prepared were above and beyond anything we have had at an Inn or restaurant. He also cooked a delicious dinner, and serves great appetizers as well. Cannot say enough about the Black Bear Inn, except that it is definitely worth a visit! read more

My husband and I got married here 10-21-17 and it was the perfect place to have our wedding. We booked the wedding package and came a day early (Thursday) to set up. I highly recommend this venue as well as booking an additional night and arriving a day early. Our wedding was very intimate with just 16 people. The inn owners Wendi and Bruce are so warm and welcoming. You can feel the pride they have for their beautiful home. The grounds are beautifully maintained and the inside of the inn is immaculate with gorgeous high ceilings. Our ceremony was held outside and was stunning with the fall leaves in the background. With such a small group we were lucky enough to be able to have Chef Bruce cater our reception dinner inside the inn. We had the most amazing prime rib dinner. It was excellently prepared. The first course was a butternut squash bisque that is so good that I would make the trip back just for that! The 5 rooms were perfect for us with our closest family. We were able to take our time setting up which was so easy with Wendi's help. Throughout the entire wedding planning process Wendi was just an email away. She was so helpful, I am sure I could not have planned this wedding without her. read more

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This place is outstanding. I stayed here for one night with my mom, sister and brother-in-law. We stayed on a Tuesday night, and we were the only people staying in this 5-room bed and breakfast. How we lucked out and got this place to ourselves, I do not know, for this is a GEM of an inn! Check in is at 3 PM, and we got there early, at about 2:15. There was a sign on the door that said they would be back at 3 PM. We were exploring the grounds, when one of the inn keepers drove up and cheerfully let us check in early. The Black Bear Inn is on a lush plot of land with tons of great vegetation: grass, trees, flowers shrubs... It is green and beautiful. I just wanted to hang out outside the whole time. But the inside is just as inviting. There are Black Bear decorations EVERYwhere, so be prepared, but it is quaint and charming and not obnoxious in the slightest. All rooms have nice big king beds topped with quilts, and furnished with wood-burning stoves, arm chairs, a table and a TV. The bathrooms all have jacuzzi tubs (with a frog and rubber ducky!) and large walk -in showers. The "backyard" has a nice lawn, chairs and tables and a hot tub. All rooms have a "backdoor" that either open to the front garden or the back yard, with keys that work the front door to the B&B, your front door and your back door. There is a wine and cheese hour in the afternoon, and they make up individual plates for each room. Our plates had 3 types of crackers, a brie sitting in a yummy raspberry sauce, and green grapes. They also had homemade chocolate chip cookies which were basically the yummiest cookies I have had in ages. I wanted to eat the whole plate! There were two wines to choose from (a red and a white), and I enjoyed them both. They also had cider, tea and hot chocolate available, as well. They had a number of menus from local restaurants around, which made it easy for us to choose The Snowshoe Brewing Company for dinner. The next morning we had super yummy nut crusted french toast with fresh fruit. When my mom made our reservations, they were nice enough to ask if we had any dietary restrictions, so when our breakfasts came out, there were two plates with no meat on them. It was so nice to not even have to say anything and have them know not only that two people at the table didn't eat meat, but they even knew who wanted what. It was a great personal touch. We met both Kirk and Doreen (the owners and inn keepers), as well as two more of their staff, and they were all incredibly friendly. They even knew all of our names without us having to tell them who we were, which granted probably wasn't too hard to figure out, but it was still another great personal touch. I felt immediately relaxed and at home there. I would HIGHLY recommend this place if you are looking for a little mountain getaway. It is peaceful, beautiful and friendly. Absolutely charming, and would definitely stay here again! read more

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Seriously as good as it gets! The Black Bear Inn is the perfect place to unwind. It's location is perfect - so close to many beautiful lakes and lots of great mountain roads to explore. We were able to spend a half day in Big Trees and get back within minutes to enjoy our nice relaxing accommodations. The Inn itself is meticulously kept, both inside and out. The same care is taken in providing a personal experience, and exceptional food. Bruce and Wendi are such awesome hosts, and really help make the experience all it can be. While dining down the road the power went out due to lightening, and when we got back to the Inn, we realized we were in the best place in the world to be during a power outage. Bruce and Wendi had set lanterns and beautiful candles everywhere, and the ambiance was amazing. We played Scrabble by candle light and sipped on some yummy local wine. Bruce and Wendi were fully equipped with a generator, but we kept insisting not to fire it up on our behalf. Which reminds me, we were lucky enough to have the entire property to ourselves both nights we stayed. I'm not sure how we got so lucky! We enjoyed every single moment at Black Bear Inn. I would adopt Wendi and Bruce into the family if I could! We loved our stay so much that I easily convinced my sister to have her birthday weekend there, and we booked the entire Inn for a weekend next May. CANNOT WAIT!! Thank you Bruce and Wendi, you have truly upped the bar for Innkeepers globally! read more

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If you haven't been to the Black Bear Inn is the last year and a half, you have missed it. The new owners Wendi and Bruce are incredible. They have painted and upgraded all the rooms each named for a wine region. As other reviewers have said, the grounds are beautiful. We planned to stay 3 nights on this our 2nd visit and ended up spoiling ourselves with a 4th night. I could just sit on the patio for the entire time smelling the pines, watching the birds, butterflies and dragon flies. But the best part of Black Bear, other than the owners, is the food. A different meal each morning all with beautiful fresh fruit including the famous nut crusted french toast, Wendi's 5 bowl blueberry pancakes with blueberry compote and fun with eggs and omelets. The wine and cheese is a wonderful relaxing time with a fun variety of cheeses, sausages, fruit and Chathom wines. (I love the Syrah!). Individually served and each day something new. Then there is dinner. If you plan in advance and he is available, you can have dinner in house (or on the patio in the summer). Chef Bruce with the support of sous chef Wendi is an awesome chef! We had asked for diver's scallops and not only did he get them, but the roasted red pepper paint and basil oil made a beautiful presentation and taste. We ended up eating in two nights and of those two nights here is a list of my very favorites: 1. Appetizer of prosciutto wrapped prawns with a housemade (to die for) raspberry cocktail sauce 2. The banana bread pudding (banana and maple breads in a cream brulee sauce) for dessert. 3. Grilled cesar salad with housemade dressing (YUM!) and sauteed artichoke hearts. 4. Roasted garlic & carmelized shallot smashed baby red potatoes (with the short rib dinner) and of course the diver scallops! That's the short list from two great 4 course meals. This rates as my all time favorite bed and breakfast (and dinner) ever! read more

We had a wonderful getaway here at the Black Bear Inn. Bruce and Wendi's hospitality made our experience so amazing. They've clearly put a lot of hard work in to make sure that every guest feels comfortable like they're at home. We will definitely be back. read more

I would relate this B&B as a piece of Paradise. We were looking for a place that was not a long drive (came from Auburn Ca) and provided a calming/tranquil environment. We got that and much more. The owners are a delight, they are wonderful hosts, very welcoming. The breakfasts and the Wine & Cheese are all excellent. The grounds are beautiful, a delight to wander; the Inn is a beauty with the high ceilings and the special architectural touches. We were very impressed with how immaculate our large room and bathroom was. The only regret is we're sore we didn't find the Inn earlier!!! We will be returning! read more

I recently stayed at the Black Bear Inn. What a delightful stay it was!!. Wendy and Bruce go above and beyond, treating their guests to delightful breakfasts, and "happy hour" treats!. I HIGHLY recommend this beautiful place!. You will NOT be disappointed. read more

This place was an amazing place to stay on our engagement weekend. Wendy and Bruce made our stay very comfortable and they were a pleasure to have as hosts. Bruce made the most amazing breakfast and the dinner he made for another couple absolutely smelled absolutely delicious. Unfortunately the other couple beat us to the punch for a gourmet dinner experience. But accommodations we're available near by. What a fantastic time we had staying at the Black Bear Inn. read more

I decided that a great place to celebrate my "39"th birthday was in the mountains at the Black Bear Inn. We had been there twice before and looked forward to going to our FAVORITE INN.. Everything Bruce and Wendi do is "PERFECTION"...which you first notice as you enter the property, to the each unique room, the friendly owners and the FOOD...OMG it's ALL gourmet, made and served with LOVE....each creative dish is prepared to perfection and served with a beautiful presentation and attention to detail..the gourmet breakfasts are included, and if you so choose (for extra $) Chef Bruce will prepare a delicious dinner....we chose the Salmon BBQ'd on a cedar plank which was cooked and served to perfection. Staying at the inn is like coming home to visit family. The owners Bruce and Wendi do everything possible to make your stay perfect and memorable....they are a perfect team!! As soon as we came in the inn door I noticed a cute sign that said "Happy Birthday Sandie"...how sweet is that? Everything is just what you'd hope for....beautiful grounds front and back, cute rooms with French doors to your patio, a hot tub, clean and immaculate rooms and inn, great owners (not too intrusive) and the FOOD...OMG We enjoyed our outings....one day we drove up to Lake Alpine for lunch and walk around the lake. Their lodge has fantastic food and wonderful decks to sit, eat your food and view the lake. The other day we took the short drive to Big Trees. It's so beautiful...love walking around the trails...taking a million pictures and just enjoy the beauty of those tall, magnificent trees. On the way home we had a delightful lunch in Murphys at the Alchemy restaurant. This is not to be missed. ...and a quick stop to get some delicious cookies from Aria Bakery for the trip home. GREAT trip.....LOVE..LOVE...LOVE read more

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My husband and I got married at Black Bear Inn on 6/3/17 and the wedding was everything we could have dreamed of. The property was beautiful and easily accommodated having the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception all in one location. The pictures come out beautiful because of the surrounding trees and greenery. Wendi and Bruce are great hosts and were helpful with any requests I had. It was nice to be able to have my entire wedding party stay at the inn for the weekend, it made it a wonderful intimate experience. Our family and friends are still talking about how beautiful the place was. I recommend Black Bear Inn to anyone looking to have their wedding in one location and beautiful forest surroundings. We couldn't have been happier with our wedding!! read more

Black Bear Inn - Beautiful wedding location! I highly recommend! -photo credit: still memories photography - Hotels Near Me - Arnold, California

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Just spent a amazing night at the Black Bear Inn. The grounds are gorgeous, the hosts are wonderful, and the rooms are beautiful. After spending the day on the cute little lake outside of town, coming to the Inn and being greeted by Wendy with a wine and cheese platter was fantastic. Bruce prepared us a wonderful breakfast that stayed with us most of the day, nutty-crusted french bread which I already want more of. For someone like me who has a hard time relaxing or "turning off" the atmosphere the lodge provides was perfect. Laying outside under the trees in a hammock reading and relaxing was a nice change of pace. (While listening to Joe snore through his outdoor nap :) We can't wait to return...maybe in the winter for our next visit. To the hater who wrote the negative review...I'd bet my bottom dollar you never meet the Inn keepers or were ever at the lodge. You would have to be hella-high to not think this place is magical. Why would you think pets would be appropriate for this type of setting?? Or kids for that matter?? Plenty of lodging choices for both, but this is a nice, QUITE, intimate lodge?? Some people don't find barking dogs or screaming kids relaxing. I am one of those people :) Peace. read more

This is a marvelous bed and breakfast! The owners, Wendi & Bruce are very good at what they do! The inn itself is fabulous, only 5 rooms and they're all very clean and cozy. Those fireplaces work so well, you almost can't use them (they give off so much heat your room can become a sweat-box!) The hot tub is magnificent, especially with the snow covered yard surrounding you. Breakfast was amazing each day. The fact that they allow you to choose your breakfast and wine hour times are a very nice, and appreciated, touch. I am reluctantly docking 1 star (no 1/2s on Yelp!) because of the cable and wifi situation. Both are slow as molasses. However, if you are coming to unplug, this shouldn't bother you. I was happy my phone didn't get reception. However, we city-slickers are nothing without our tablets, so the wifi spottiness was somewhat annoying. Re: the inability to bring kids here....it makes total sense. The inn is NOT cheap and any elevated voices would disrupt the guests...there are only 5 rooms!!!! The only loophole to that rule is getting your friends and family to rent out the whole place! We hope to after our bundle arrives! read more

It's times like this where I wish Yelp would allow me to sprinkle in a few extra stars for good measure, as I'm not sure 5 of them will allow me to adequately express my appreciation for the weekend we spent at the Black Bear Inn. Beginning with the immaculately manicured grounds and charming cabin-like exterior, we were hooked. Moments later, we received a warm, personal greeting from Wendi and Bruce, the proprietors. Our room (Calaveras) was spacious and included a very comfortable bed. The bathroom had an incredible rain shower and all the amenities of home. The main lodge area has a massive rock fireplace where you enjoy a personalized cheese and wine selection each evening. Mornings start with a home cooked breakfast (completely tailored to your diet) served outside on the relaxing patio. It's truly home +1. Wendi and Bruce should be the standard bearers of proprietors nationwide. They are at the top of their game and elevate the bed and breakfast experience for all. We were so pleased with our stay, we've already booked our next trip. P.S. to the one-star-wonder (who didn't even stay at the Inn)... even if you were the kid who was beat up on the playground each day, don't take it out on hard-working folks who are doing extraordinary things. Your words are cheap and hollow, no doubt like your spirit. read more

I just attended a wedding here and what a beautiful place for an event! The main cabin style inn is really nice and open space. They used the back area for the reception, which had lights strung in the trees and long tables set up for about 100 people. The ceremony was down near this creek bed and the entryway path down to the alter was gorgeous. Its really long and in the trees, which makes for a nice dramatic entrance for the bridal party. Not sure how much the rooms are because we rented a cabin for the weekend, but they were nice and decorated well. The only downsides were the building itself only had one restroom for everyone at the wedding (not good for drinkers!!) and the space probably couldn't fit much more for a reception than what the wedding I was at held. read more

We had such a wonderful experience at black bear inn for a night away . Wendi & Bruce we're so nice & accommodating of anything we asked for . The grounds are absolutely stunning ! Wendi provided some great dinner suggestions and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with walking distance to the inn . We some how got lucky and had the entire inn to ourselves for our nights stay. The wine & cheese tray was A+ and such a nice treat ! We will definitely be back sooner than later ! Absolutely beautiful place to spend a couple of nights ! read more

Black Bear Inn - Hotels Near Me - Arnold, California

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My friends got married at Black Bear Inn a few days ago and it was freakin' magical. The meadow, sprinkled with fresh, powdery snow, was the perfect backdrop for their winter wedding. The small reception took place in the gathering room which was warm, clean, and festive. And dinner... OH MY GOD, THE DINNER. So good. So so so good. We started off with creamy butternut squash soup and artichoke Caesar salad, then Bruce nearly made us all fall over in delicious prime rib nirvana. I still have dreams about this dinner. Sensational. We had the pleasure of renting out the entire place for the weekend. My friends and I had wine in the hot tub and built snowmen in the backyard. Wendi even provided the carrots! We got to gobble up two breakfasts prepared by Bruce, the first, eggnog french toast with bacon, the second, a hearty scramble with sausage, both served with a fresh fruit medley. My boyfriend and I stayed in the Tuscany room, which was lovely, like all the rooms (I peeked). Comfy, fluffy, warm bed, personal fireplaces, jet tub, and walk-in shower...it was great for a romantic getaway. Wendi was extremely friendly and accommodating, and Bruce fed us so well, I didn't want to leave. The grounds are gorgeous, especially in the winter snow. Such a lovely weekend here! read more

A lovely, beautiful inn located in a picturesque setting that can't be beat. We stayed at the Black Bear Inn for three nights while on vacation in Northern California. Located in Arnold, it is just a few miles from Big Trees State Park (home of the giant sequoias) and the entry to the scenic byway to Ebbetts Pass - a very convenient base for exploring the area. The architecture is fabulous - a giant timber framed cabin with outstanding touches throughout. There are five guest rooms down one hallway and a huge two-story great room for use by everyone. Each room has outdoor patio space in either the front or back of the inn, and the main patio is available for meals or hanging out. The front lawn also has a walkway down to a grassy area that is used for weddings or other gatherings. The breakfasts are terrific - we had two different quiches plus the famous nut-crusted french toast (just google "black bear inn french toast") both accompanied by fresh local fruit. The evening snack was brie, crackers, and fruit served with wine. The rooms are cozy and well appointed. The bed was a little too soft for my taste but it certainly wouldn't prevent me from going back to this wonderful gem. The staff is friendly without being cloying, which is always a plus. The owners live on site so everything is immaculately maintained. This is easily the most lovely inn I've ever stayed in and I wouldn't hesitate to go back. On my next trip, I will probably bake in some time to just "hang out" at the inn and relax in addition to all the local adventures. There are other places to stay in the area, but none are as lovely or relaxing as the Black Bear Inn. Visit their website (arnoldblackbearinn.com) for rates and specials, as well as highlights on what to do in the area. read more

We cannot stop talking about our visit to the Black Bear Inn! Our niece was just married here and the family blocked out the Inn for us all to stay. Wendi and Bruce have created an oasis tucked amidst the redwoods. The setting was spectacular! Perfect weather, delectable food, beautiful rooms with outstanding views of the pristine grounds. This is a must stay and I for one can't wait to return! Thanks to Wendi and Bruce for creating such a pleasantly memorable experience. read more

This was the venue of our dreams. First of all, Bruce and Wendi are amazing to work with, and they helped us out with ALL sorts of random stuff on the days leading up to the wedding, along with the wedding day itself. They were always there to lend a hand with setup, duct tape, batteries, decorating, literally ANYTHING that we needed. The rooms are gorgeous and spacious, and furnished with everything that we needed. The grounds are also perfectly manicured and beautiful, with different areas for the ceremony and reception, with a hot tub for the night before! If you're having a wedding near the Big Trees, there is no other option that even comes close. Book this venue! read more

10/5 for these guys! What a cool place. Major sanctuary! So quiet so peaceful and beyond elegant! The owners Bruce and Wendy are the sweetest dang people! And I am so happy to have met them and really want to be friends with them! Can't wait to come back and see them!:) read more

If we could add a sixth star to this, we certainly would! The place is beautiful! The setting is amazing! The owners were amazing! Food, accomidations and ambiance made this place magical! read more

I travel to satisfy the need for ridiculously delicious food, stunning photography opportunities, and the desire to converse with lovely personalities. At the Arnold Black Bear Inn, I hit that once in a lifetime travel home run. In my many years of travel... this is by far the best experience I have had. Bruce and Wendi are what you dream of in Inn-keepers. Every morning we had a gourmet breakfast suitable for the A-list of Hollywood. Every afternoon a wonderful charcuterie plate paired with a great wine. I can't say enough about them, or the Inn. Put this on your bucket list, you will not be disappointed. read more

I happened upon the Arnold Black Bear Inn through an Internet search for wedding venues. We live in Fremont area and after looking at the all the usual Bay Area wedding spots and not finding a good fit, we decided to expand our search to Calaveras County. Even though it's a 3-hour drive from our home, it proved to be the perfect find, a diamond in the pines. We made three trips to the Inn prior to our wedding weekend (yes, when you rent the venue you and your guests have the Inn and ground essentially to yourselves for the weekend!). The first was to see if the venue fit our needs, the second was to show our close friends and the third was to meet with our wedding coordinator and to stay overnight for a pre-wedding romantic getaway. Each time we visited, Innkeepers Bruce and Wendi Davison welcomed us warmly and treated us like friends. They offered suggestions for dinner or outings with a smile. The wine and cheese reception in the afternoons is excellent, delicious local wine paired beautifully with a custom selection of cheeses and/or meats. The Inn is breathtakingly beautiful, modern romance complemented by the feeling of home. High ceilings with beautiful wood beams frame the stunning stone fireplace of the "Gathering Room". The guest rooms are well appointed, most with lavish deep soaking tubs and tile showers. The beds are soft as clouds, wrapping you in comfort and lulling you to sleep. The hot tub is awesome too. The grounds are impeccably kept and the natural beauty abounds. Our wedding weekend was amazing, better than we dreamed it could be. I attribute this largely to Wendi and Bruce and the care they take in making the property shine and sparkle in every way. We were married at 4:30pm on May 4, 2013 in the lower meadow and our reception immediately followed at the back patio area. The simple white lights strung over our reception tables added so much magic to our evening (thank you again Bruce for risking life & limb up on that ladder!). The weather was so gorgeous and everyone had a wonderful time. The natural setting and our simple embellishments of color made for the perfect photographs...our photographer was giddy with all the great photo ops! From the time we arrived on Friday afternoon to the moment we departed on Sunday morning, we felt so welcome and deliriously happy. All of our family and friends said again and again how beautiful the Inn was, how accomodating Wendi and Bruce were and how they couldn't wait to visit again someday. As for my new husband and I, we are planning to make Black Bear Inn our anniversary destination starting in 2014 :-) It's a fantastic place to celebrate love. read more

Our stay here was nothing short of perfect for us. From the room, to the service, to the amazing breakfast.. We loved it all! We stayed the weekend before Christmas expecting it to be busy, however, we basically had the place to ourselves (apparently it's a slow week for them?) Black Bear made my first experience of Lake Tahoe a fantastic one, and we most definitely will stay here again! read more

I was in desperate need of a getaway to destress before closing up my freelance business and starting a new, full-time job, so I rented a car with no destination in mind and started looking for places to go. After some recommendations I decided to head to the Sierras for a few days. Unfortunately I still had some work to finish up for several clients, but I wanted to get on the road ASAP, so I needed to find a place with wifi so I could finish up my work while easing myself into vacation mode. It was peak season and most things were booked up, but I happened to find the Black Bear Inn and it seemed like the perfect combination of what I needed: in the woods, yet in a small town with restaurants and other stores nearby, clean with every creature comfort one could want from a hotel PLUS an outdoor hot tub for extra relaxation, delicious breakfast lovingly prepared, plenty of outdoor spaces to lounge/work, and free wifi. I called to make sure they had room and when I embarrassingly acknowledged that I had to do work the first day but wanted a relaxing place to do it, Wendi quickly replied that Black Bear Inn would be the perfect place to accomplish both and did not find it at all odd that I planned to spend all Monday on their property working. Bruce and Wendi made me feel like an old friend visiting their home. They clearly love what they do, and went out of their way to make me feel welcome. The breakfast was amazing and lovingly prepared. They also offer complimentary wine and cheese in the afternoon which was such a lovely touch. I don't think I've ever enjoyed myself this much at a bed and breakfast. I will definitely be back and will definitely refer my friends and out-of-town guests to this very special place. read more

This is such a special place! Innkeepers Wendi and Bruce have created a gracious and welcoming atmosphere in this beautiful timber-framed inn with its five guest rooms that backs up to the Stanislaus National Forest. Bruce is an artist and professional chef. His scenic paintings are spread throughout the inn, and the food is outstanding. We went up for a birthday getaway, and it was memorable. It was also snug -- whether sitting in the covered hot tub and watching the snow fall or enjoying wine and hor d'oeuvres by the fireplace. With great attention to detail, the new owners have created a beautifully decorated inn, though we are partial to the rusticity of the Calaveras room. Yelp's information about the Black Bear Inn indicates there is no Wi-Fi service, but there is, and it's free. We see that as just another way that the current owners have added extra touches in anticipation of guests' needs. We have traveled extensively and have stayed in many small inns and bed and breakfasts around the world . This is definitely one of the top five! We highly recommend it and look forward to returning. read more