Summary:
Chickadee is a cheerful, ecclectic log cabin at Talking Water Nature Retreat, a family-owned & family-operated handbuilt retreat on Suck Creek Mountain in Chattanooga. This is not a place to just crash. Talking Water is for guests who want their stay to be fun: funky cabin design, mountain air, outdoor showers, campfires, hiking trails, chickens, goats, cats, creative buildings, and shared spaces made for gathering.
The Space:
Chickadee gives you your own private cabin, porch, patio, kitchen, bathroom, outdoor shower, and cozy places to sleep.
The indulgences are here, but they are not the primary reason to book. The smart TV, Wi-Fi, kitchen amenities, towel warmer, toiletries, and cozy comforts are the cherries on top. The real reason to come is the experience of a playful, handmade, nature-filled retreat.
Chickadee is a private log cabin at Talking Water Nature Retreat.
Inside the cabin, you’ll find:
- King bed
- Sleeper futon beside the bed
- Sleeping hammock kits with ENO-style hammock hooks
- Small full kitchen
- 24" Fridge
- 24" Stove
- Microwave
- Keurig
- Stocked dishes
- Cookware and basic cooking supplies
- Indoor full bathroom with toilet and shower
- Seasonal outdoor shower for starlight bathing
- Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, and soaps)
- Electric fireplace across from the bed
- Smart TV above the fireplace
- Wi-Fi
- Covered front porch with rocking chairs
- Deck with built-in sleeping hammock and other lounge furniture
- Private patio with firepit
- Charcoal grill
- Picnic table
Sleeping arrangements
- King bed sleeps 2
- Sleeper futon (sheets in the closet) sleeps 2 when unfolded
- Hammock kits (in-cabin) for guests who want the full Talking Water experience
Chickadee is a great fit for guests who enjoy:
- Funky, creative design
- Sounds of nature
- Outdoor showers
- Campfires
- Hiking
- Chickens, goats, and cats on site
- Private cabins with central gathering spaces
- Handmade spaces with personality
- A family-owned retreat with real people caring for it daily
- A stay that feels more memorable than a standard hotel room
Book Chickadee if you want more than a bed. Come for the funky cabin, the mountain air, the outdoor shower, the trails, the chickens, the campfires, the handmade details, and the feeling of being somewhere loved.
Parking:
Chickadee includes parking for 3 to 5 cars in the driveway. Pay-per-use EV charging is available on site. Message us if you need help arranging additional parking or have questions about charger access.
Guest Access:
Just beyond the privacy of Chickadee Cabin, you’ll have access to the Songbird Pavilion, playground, ceremony hut, firepit areas, and miles of hiking trails.
Guests have shared access to:
- Songbird Pavilion with cold-water outdoor kitchen and picnic tables
- Central firepit with chairs and benches
- Mini playground
- Tetherball
- Ceremony hut (with reservation and fee)
- Cob Pizza Oven (with reservation and fee)
- Onsite Hiking Trails
- Pay-per-use EV charging station
- Shared laundry room, including: Games, puzzles, and books as well as extra supplies, souvenirs, and fresh eggs for purchase
The pavilion is the heart of the Songbird Neighborhood. It is a great place to cook, eat, play games, meet up with your group, or sit by the fire after a day exploring the mountain.
The Neighborhood:
Chickadee is one of the four cabins in our Songbird Neighborhood. Each cabin has private indoor space, while the shared outdoor areas are designed for connection, play, and time outside. The Songbird Neighborhood also includes the Meadowlark Bunkhouse with 4 queen beds and without a traditional kitchen or indoor shower.
We are not a silent luxury resort, and we are not trying to be. You’ll hear birds, bugs, frogs, wind in the trees, chickens, and yes, roosters. You will also hear road noise.
We’re nestled in the rural Suck Creek Mountain community surrounded by nature’s best:
🌲 Prentice Cooper State Forest borders our southern end
💧 One mile of Suck Creek flows through our land to the east
🌊 The Tennessee River runs along our road at the base of the mountain
The land at Talking Water was logged for decades without land stabilization or replanting of trees. Since purchasing the property in 2022, our family has been doing our best to honor this powerful land with restoration, evolution, quirky charm, and a deep love for people and place.
Getting Around:
We are tucked into nature, but still close enough to Chattanooga for an easy, beautiful drive into town. We are 15 minutes from the downtown riverfront, 10 minutes from Aldi, and 5 minutes from Prentice Cooper State Forest.
Other Things to Note:
- EV Car Chargers are pay-per-use and located in front of the Meadowlark Bunkhouse (about 200 yards from Chickadee).
- There is road noise and the cabin is beside a scenic highway and state forest.
- You will hear nature: chickens, roosters, and other normal animal sounds.
- Fresh, unwashed eggs are available to purchase from the laundry room.
- Dogs must stay leashed and under control at all times. Our goats and chickens are not always caged and unleashed dogs are a danger to all. Unapproved pets are not allowed.
- Talking Water is not a good fit for guests hoping to sneak in a party, extra visitors, or pets that were not approved in advance.
- We love hosting families, but this is not a place for kids to run wild without guidance. There are natural hazards, animals, trails, water, landscaping, and ongoing construction details around the retreat.
- Kids and adults should use Leave No Trace principles and treat the land, cabins, animals, and shared spaces with care.
Pets
- Pets must have prior approval from the hosts. A pet fee applies.
- Pets must be leashed and under control outdoors, crated when unattended, and cleaned up after. This is especially important because we have vulnerable goats, chickens, cats, and wildlife on the property.
- Guest pets must remain leashed when outdoors, crated when not besides their owners indoors (each cabin is built with many wood and plaster details), and fully under control of their owners at all times.
Interaction with Guests:
Talking Water is a family-owned and operated evolving dream fulfillment. Our family is onsite daily caring for the land, animals, cabins, trails, gardens, and ongoing construction projects. We are not a cult or your typical dirty hippies, but we are usually dirty due to one project or another :)
You will see three generations of our family working, gardening, building, tending animals, and maintaining the property during your stay. We will not approach you (we respect your privacy), but are happy to chat if you reach out to us!
We lead periodically earthbuilding workshops here, and you’ll see cordwood, cob, hempcrete, plaster, stonework, and other natural building examples throughout the property. Some spaces are finished, some are evolving, and all of it is handbuilt with a lot of love.
We have brush-clearing goats, chickens who lay fresh eggs, and working cats who help control rodent populations. These animals are part of the life of the retreat, so guests should expect a real, active, nature-based property, not a sterile rental tucked away from everything.
Guest pets must remain leashed when outdoors, crated when not beside their owners indoors (each cabin is built with many wood and plaster details), and fully under control of their owners at all times.
