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Black Bear by AvantStay | Spacious Viking Lodge in Tahoe Donner w/ Game Room & Hot Tub!

House in Truckee, CA

8 guests·3 bedrooms·2 bathrooms
4.9 · 30 reviews

Why you'll love this stay

Outdoor Living

Outdoor Living

Stargaze from the deck while the hot tub soothes tired muscles.

Entertainment & Amenities

Entertainment & Amenities

Play favorites in a game room with billiards, shuffleboard, and big screen.

Value & Savings

Value & Savings

Guests save an average of 60% when booking this stay vs. Airbnb and Vrbo.

What guests are saying

Summarized with AI
Star icon

4.9

Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 30 reviews

Guests consistently praise the property's spaciousness and layout, making it ideal for families. Many highlight the cleanliness, well-equipped kitchen, and comfortable beds. The game room and hot tub are often mentioned as enjoyable features. Reviewers appreciate the proactive communication from the host and the overall ambiance of the home, contributing to memorable stays. The well-maintained condition and attention to detail further enhance the positive experience, making it a recommended choice for travelers seeking comfort and relaxation.

See all 30 reviews.

Property details

Welcome to Black Bear, an home! Set among the tall pines of Tahoe Donner, Black Bear is a multi-level mountain home built for the kind of trip where a big group spreads out, settles in, and stays a while. The main living room is roomy and bright, opening onto a kitchen with high-end appliances, a breakfast bar for slow coffee mornings, and a dining table with space for everyone to pull up a chair. A fireplace anchors the living area and adds to the home's lodge-like warmth. The bedrooms are spread across several levels, which makes it easy for everyone to find their own corner. There’s a king primary on the first floor, plus a second king bedroom and a bedroom with two double beds on the third floor. On the second floor, an additional sleeping area with a twin bed and trundle gives younger guests or extra members of the group a flexible place to land. The standout is the game-room loft: billiards, shuffleboard, and a 70-inch screen turn it into the natural gathering spot after a day outside, while a tucked-in workspace keeps remote check-ins easy. Outside, the deck is where evenings tend to land. A private hot tub looks out over the pines, lounge chairs invite you to slow down, and an outdoor dining area with a gas grill and a heater stretches the season well past summer. Tahoe Donner puts a lot within reach. The neighborhood's own downhill ski hill and cross-country center are just minutes away, so winter days can start late and still get a full run in. Historic Downtown Truckee sits about ten minutes down the hill, its old railroad-era main street lined with restaurants, cafés, and shops worth a wander. Donner Lake is close by for summer swims and paddleboarding, and when you want a bigger mountain, Northstar and Palisades Tahoe are both an easy drive. The north shore of Lake Tahoe is roughly half an hour out for beach days and lakeside dinners. Each home is provided with Short Term Tenant cards that allow access to Tahoe Donner amenities. Guests have access to public amenities, including the Downhill Ski Resort, Cross Country Ski Center, Snowplay area, Golf Course, Bikeworks, Equestrian Center, and on-site restaurants. Access to private amenities such as the Beach Club Marina, Trout Creek Recreation Center, Northwoods Pool, and Tennis and Pickleball Center requires a valid Short Term Tenant Card and payment of daily access fees at the time of entry. One card is required per person, per day, for guests age 3 and older. Tahoe Donner Private Amenity Access Update (2026): Private amenities require a valid Short Term Tenant Card and payment of daily access fees. Private amenities are not available to short-term rental guests during select peak and holiday blackout periods (public amenities remain available). 2026 Private Amenity Blackout Dates: • Jan 17 to 19 • Feb 14 to 16 • May 23 to 25 • July 1 to 5 • Sept 5 to 7 • Nov 26 to 29 • Dec 24 to Jan 3 (2027) provides a personalized hospitality experience to elevate your stay. With our Concierge Service, guests have access to our tech-enabled services like fridge stocking, private chefs, massages, transportation, special occasion celebrations, baby gear rentals, ski gear, beach gear, and more. For anything you need, we’re at your fingertips. Situated in the snowy Sierra Nevada Mountain range straddling the border between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe offers stunning panoramic scenery and year-round adventure. Visitors flock here especially to ski and snowboard on dramatic slopes that seem to fall into the abyss of the lake’s cobalt blue water. Whether you’re looking for a day in the mountains or a booze cruise on the lake, you can have it all in Tahoe. Nearby Attractions: Northstar Ski Resort, Rubicon Pizza, Tompkins Memorial Trail (hiking), Balance Holistic Health Spa, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort Golf Course, Truckee Bike Park, Truckee River Winery, Boreal Mountain Resort, Donner Lake (Watersports and Marina), Martis Peak Fire Lookout, Tahoe Donner Equestrian Center, Donner Memorial State Park and Emigrant Trail Museum. Home Truths: - We allow service animals at this home. If undisclosed pets are brought into the home without approval there is a fine of $500 per pet. - Due to extreme wildfire risk, any type of outdoor wood burning fireplaces, fire pits, or charcoal grills are strictly prohibited. Violations will result in fines starting at $5,000 per Lake Tahoe short term rental regulations. - Please note that all outdoor furniture and amenities, including grills, are seasonal and available from Memorial Day through Labor Day. - This home does not have AC. - Max occupancy for this home is 8. ​​​​​​​- Please note there are only 2 black sofa seats in the game room. - Please note that there is a FEE to access the Tahoe Donner amenities and areas. - Please note our occupancy includes an additional two beyond bed count. Trifold floor mattresses and additional linens can be provided upon request. - Please note that all Tahoe Donner short-term rental homes are subject to amenity blackout dates beginning January 1, 2026. During these blackout periods, short-term tenants will not have access to private Tahoe Donner amenities, including the recreation centers. Parking Details: - A maximum of 6 cars can park onsite. - No street parking allowed. - Violations result in fines of $1,000 and up, and revocation of the permit after three or more violations. --- The room configuration is as follows: Primary Bedroom / King bed w/ En-suite Bedroom 2 / King bed Bedroom 3 / Two full beds Loft / Twin trundle --- This is a smoke-free property.. As part of our commitment to being good neighbors, occupancy limits and quiet hours (9pm-8am) are strictly enforced. No speakers or sound systems will be provided for use in our properties. Violation of any noise ordinances will be subject to fines that can reach up to $10,000 per violation. Events or parties are not allowed without prior written approval and an additional fee. Any unauthorized parties or events will be shut down and a fine will be assessed. Please inquire for more information about our event policies and fees. There is nothing more important to us at than the health, safety, and experience of our guests & staff. We've enhanced our cleaning and sanitation protocols and are taking extra care to disinfect all surfaces between reservations with hospital-grade disinfecting solutions. As a reminder, we do work with 3rd party vendors to maintain the property, and although we adhere to the strictest CDC guidelines and advise all contractors to wear PPE equipment, we can not always enforce. We strongly advise guests to please deny access if any vendors fail to meet and adhere to these standards. IDs will be requested for verification after booking. All bookings over 30 days require a security deposit. We report and prosecute all Credit Card Fraud. STR21-00864 Pets - not allowed

Sleeping arrangements

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Double Beds

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Livingroom

2 Single Beds

What’s included

  • Self check-in

    Self check-in

  • Parking

    Parking

  • Jacuzzi

    Jacuzzi

  • Hot tub

    Hot tub

  • Pool

    Pool

  • Washer and dryer

    Washer and dryer

  • Washer

    Washer

  • Dryer

    Dryer

Guest reviews

Star icon 4.9 | 30 reviews
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Christopher

Great location, great location, great location!

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March 2026

We had a great stay overall! Check-in and check-out were incredibly easy, and the two-car garage was very welcome for handling snow and gear. The home was exactly as described, with a kitchen that worked well and a much-appreciated French press for our mornings. The surroundings were peaceful, and there was lots of room for the kids to play in the snow right outside. Location: quick drive to Tahoe Donner downhill ski resort and only a short trip into Truckee for everything we needed. However, the sleeping arrangements fell a bit short of expectations. 3 of the 4 bedrooms had windows with no blinds or non-functional ones, making it very difficult to sleep in. Additionally, the fourth bedroom was not as described; while the listing mentioned two single beds, it was actually a daybed with a trundle/rolling bed underneath, which was less comfortable for our group. With updated window treatments and more accurate bedding descriptions, this would be a top-tier mountain getaway.

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Nikki

Great location, great family experience

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January 2026

Beautiful location, incredible house for our large family. Literally a 5 minute walk to Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski area. Gorgeous surroundings. The house itself was well stocked and comfortable. Our family of 6 had plenty of room and even privacy for each member. The pool table and shuffleboard were a hit as were the board games. Excellent experience, the kids are begging to go back soon.

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Kate

Great location if you want to be close to Tahoe Don

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January 2026

Great location if you want to be close to Tahoe Donner … clean and comfortable. Game room was fun and hot tub was clean!

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Ronnie

Great location, great staff, great location

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November 2025

“The place was very clean and tidy, and the location was convenient. Overall a comfortable stay. Host communicated well and responded quickly. I’d happily stay again.

Know before you go

Self check-in

House rules

Check-in: 4:00pm

Checkout: 11:00am

No pets allowed

Min. age to rent: 25

No smoking

No parties

Have a question about this property?

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