When the Bowers family bought property on Soddy Creek, right off the Tennessee River, they knew it was something special they could not keep to themselves. “It's a beautiful piece of property, and we wanted to share it,” shares Tamara Bowers. “You just can't help but keep looking out the window at the view and the wildlife. It’s a perfect place for people who want to relax and enjoy the quietness and serenity of it.”
In 2022, the family officially opened Riverside Bed & Breakfast. Now, Mark and Tamara Bowers, along with Stephen and Lindsay Bowers, work with trusted team member Chiesa Smith to provide guests with exceptional and personalized experiences. “I love working with family and Chiesa, who is like family to us,” shares Tamara. “We tag team and complement one another well as we work in different areas.”
Located only 25 miles from downtown Chattanooga, the unique location of the property provides an opportunity for local residents to experience a romantic or relaxing getaway within a short driving distance of home.
“My husband and I have four children, so we understand the need for a place to have a quick getaway and staycation for people who want to be close by but have a relaxing place with access to the water,” says Lindsay, Tamara’s daughter-in-law. “For parents in surrounding areas, it provides the ability to go away for the weekend but not be far from the kids.”
The close proximity to the city also means easy access to restaurants, activities, and entertainment in downtown Chattanooga, as well as to popular attractions such as Rock City and Ruby Falls, with the opportunity to return each day to a tranquil, private setting.
Accommodations include a private A-frame cabin with one bedroom and the main Bed & Breakfast, which houses two suites, appropriately named Serenity and Tranquility, a common great room, and a full kitchen. Guests in the main house enjoy a gourmet breakfast prepared by Lindsay each morning while guests in the cabin are supplied with ingredients to prepare breakfast at their leisure.
“We try to cater to whatever people need. We are able to accommodate simply because we are so small,” shares Lindsay. “For example, we had a lady who came for a week-long visit. She was gluten free, and we were able to provide her more than just eggs and bacon every day. We really try to personalize based on allergies and what people like and don’t like.”
“The breakfasts Lindsay makes are so awesome and people just love them,” adds Tamara. “The presentation is beautiful, and she puts a lot of thought into what she makes.”
The Bowers family particularly enjoys helping guests create special memories, celebrate milestones, and simply enjoy time away from hectic everyday life. Guests often come to celebrate a honeymoon, anniversary, mother/daughter or father/son retreat, engagements, or simply a personal retreat for a time of reflection and reset. When guests book a stay, Tamara follows up with them by text or email to gather information about their stay to help personalize the experience.
“We love to spoil and pamper our guests,” says Tamara. “Our motto is to provide a uniquely tailored experience. So, we like to learn more about our guests and be able to customize everyone's visit, whether they are here for anniversaries, birthdays, or engagements. We like to include a few special surprises for their time with us as well.”
With the personalized experience comes as much or as little interaction with others as desired. Although the family exudes a welcoming spirit and is always easily available to guests to address needs and provide support, they also honor the privacy of guests. “Some people just want to come and go, and that's fine, we'll let you come and go,” says Tamara. “But if you want to be part of our family, you're part of our family.”
The property offers numerous recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, and more for outdoor enthusiasts while providing spectacular views of the river and wildlife for those who simply want to relax and enjoy some down time. Guests often spot deer, a bald eagle, cranes, and Ranger, the resident groundhog, on the property. “We try to create a beautiful place with a koi pond and landscaping that has a lot of birds and pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds,” says Tamara.
Many couples find the specific combination of recreational and environmental amenities especially pleasing. “We have fishermen who come with their wives and their wives love it because they can sit and read all week while the husband fishes,” adds Tamara. Guests have access to a dock for recreation, relaxing, and enjoying the spectacular views. During warmer months when the lake is high, paddle boards and kayaks are available for guests to use and enjoy. For those who wish to bring their own boat, guests can utilize the boat slip next door at a discounted rate or rent a pontoon boat during their stay. Riverside also contracts with a local masseuse to provide massages for guests for the ultimate relaxation experience.
Although time at Riverside Bed & Breakfast provides a respite from the busyness of daily life, guests do not have to leave technology behind for their visit. Visitors enjoy the ability to stay connected with the outside world with high-speed internet and cable television. In-room accommodations also include luxury amenities to ensure a comfortable stay.
With almost half of bookings representing repeat guests, Riverside Bed & Breakfast has a sustaining reputation of providing a wonderful, unique experience for each guest. The reputation truly reflects the heart of the Bowers family. “We really enjoy meeting people and getting to know them. We've gotten to meet some incredible people from different walks of life and a lot of our guests end up leaving as friends,” says Lindsay. “When we have people get engaged, we’re part of their story and that’s exciting. It's also very exciting seeing people simply enjoy being here and watching the stress melt away when they arrive. Being able to provide and serve people in that way is really an honor.”
This holiday season and in the new year, consider giving the gift of experience through a tranquil getaway to Riverside Bed & Breakfast by purchasing a gift certificate or booking a surprise staycation. The Bowers family looks forward to helping create a perfectly wonderful experience.
Riverside Bed & Breakfast, located at 1807 Clift Eldridge Road in Soddy Daisy, is a non-smoking facility that hosts adult guests, no children or pets, for a minimum of two nights with a maximum of fourteen nights. Reservations can be made online by visiting riversidebedandbreakfast.com or by calling 423-556-9700.
For updates and specials, follow Riverside Bed & Breakfast on Facebook and Instagram. When registering, look for discounted rates for first responders, pastors, teachers, and military personnel and be sure to connect with Tamara when celebrating a special occasion.
For updates and specials, follow Riverside Bed & Breakfast on Facebook and Instagram. When registering, look for discounted rates for first responders, pastors, teachers, and military personnel and be sure to connect with Tamara when celebrating a special occasion.
You just can't help but keep looking out the window at the view and the wildlife. It’s a perfect place for people who want to relax and enjoy the quietness and serenity of it.
We really enjoy meeting people and getting to know them. We've gotten to meet some incredible people from different walks of life and a lot of our guests end up leaving as friends.