The Property
Becoming Talking Water
Talking Water Nature Retreat is more than just land and our family is dedicated to furthering the restoration of this gorgeous Chattanooga property.
This 82-acre mountaintop haven has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once Cherokee land, it was later used for heavy timber logging and gem mining, activities that rapidly depleted its natural resources. When we took ownership, our mission was clear: to restore and reemphasize the natural beauty and vitality of the land.
What was once considered the neighborhood’s “ugly duckling” is now a peaceful village of handmade cabins, lovingly built by our family and set atop a gorgeous bluff. Our efforts are ongoing, but every day brings us closer to a landscape that reflects the harmony and balance we believe in.
Today, our focus is on revitalizing the land, breathing life back into a landscape that had been depleted of its natural resources, and creating a place where people can reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other. Read through our story and get to know us a little better–we can’t wait to share it with you.
Our Journey with the Land
We (Sonners & Suches) stumbled across this land for sale in February 2022. All three generations of our family were interested in creating a nature-focused travel center. The land sat within rural Chattanooga, on a mountaintop, next to a state forest, and had a creek running through it. We knew this was our unicorn!
We purchased the land in April 2022, dubbing the land “Talking Water” for the loudly bubbling water along Suck Creek (one mile of which flows along the property).
The first few months were spent cleaning up after decades of logging in the area which was to become Songbird Neighborhood. We removed hundreds of decaying logged trees remnants, disposed of buried trailer homes, and worked tirelessly to control erosion and bring the land closer to its natural elevation, including bringing in dozens of dumpster loads of fill dirt. The neglect was more extensive than we had prepared for, but it made us more certain that we were meant to restore the natural beauty and stability to the land.
Hands-On Construction
Building foundations began appearing on the property in August 2022. Walls & roofs went up over the next several months. Progress was slow in our minds, but looking back, it was not too bad!
Water lines, septic, and electrical were all placed in the ground. Suddenly we had outlets to charge our tools with! It was a relief because the poor generator needed a break by that point.
Throughout the construction, our youngest family members huddled around firepits and chipped in whenever possible. Talking Water was all-encompassing for everyone and the kids were getting bigger (and being born!) and every member of our family was putting their mark on our property.
Many sleepless nights were spent painting, sanding, plastering, and furnishing each cabin. Designs were nearly a year old by the 2023, but coordinating multiple home builds at one time got confusing! It was so exciting to watch the personality of each cabin take shape. Frankly, we were proud. And tired. But really freaking proud.
A Place to Reconnect
On July 4th, 2023, we officially opened the Talking Water Nature Retreat to the world! Since then, we’ve been thrilled to share this special place with our guests and be part of so many special moments, big and small, in people’s lives. Sometimes we still have to pinch ourselves to believe that we have actually been able to make this happen!
Today, four of our Songbird cabins—Chickadee, Whippoorwill, Goldfinch, and Blackbird—are complete, each offering a unique experience.
Addicted to Construction
Our journey with this land is far from over. As we continue to build, plant, and nurture, we’re excited to see how Talking Water will grow and evolve. We hope that every guest who visits feels the same sense of peace, wonder, and connection that we do every time we walk these trails and sit by the creek.