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The Heart & Soul Behind Talking Water

Discover the story, the people, and the passion that brought Talking Water Nature Retreat to life — from our family’s vision to the land we’re restoring, one handmade cabin at a time.

Read Our Story Meet the Family
Our Story

Becoming Talking Water

Talking Water Nature Retreat is more than land — it’s a restoration. This 82-acre mountaintop haven has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once Cherokee land, it was later stripped by heavy timber logging and gem mining — activities that rapidly depleted its natural resources.

What was once a neglected, overlooked property is now a peaceful collection of handmade cabins, built by our family on the bluff. Every day brings us closer to a landscape that reflects the harmony and balance we believe in — a place to reconnect with nature, yourself, and each other.

The Talking Water land during restoration
The bluff as we found it — mid-restoration.
Our Journey with the Land

Restoring the Land

February 2022

We found the property

Three generations of Sonners & Suches stumbled across land for sale — a mountaintop next to a state forest with a creek running through it. We all knew this was the one.

April 2022

Talking Water is born

We purchased the property and named it for the loudly bubbling water along Suck Creek, a mile of which flows through the land.

Summer 2022

Clearing the property

We removed hundreds of decaying logged trees, dug out buried trailer homes, and hauled in dozens of dumpster loads of fill dirt to control erosion and restore the land’s natural shape.

August 2022

Foundations rise

Walls and roofs went up over the following months. Water, septic, and electrical went into the ground — and finally, outlets to charge our tools. (The poor generator needed a break!)

April 2023

A slow opening

Friends and family came to stay, lend a hand, and give feedback. We slept under the stars, woke to birdsong, and knew we were onto something special.

July 4, 2023

Open to the world

We officially opened Talking Water Nature Retreat — and we still pinch ourselves that we made it happen.

Today

Still building

Our journey with this land is far from over. We keep building, planting, and nurturing — with Meadowlark, our newest cabin, now underway.

The Talking Water family
Meet the Family

The Heartbeat of Talking Water

Behind every detail is a family that poured its love, creativity, and energy into making this dream real — three generations of Sonners and Suches, building it all by hand.

The idea took root during family reunions in the 1990s, in beautiful, offbeat settings full of exploration, shared meals, and lively conversation. Those gatherings left a lasting impression on Bobbie, who set out to create a place where others could feel the same relaxed, welcoming spirit. Fueled by a passion for DIY construction and design — and the stunning backdrop of Chattanooga’s mountains — our family set out to make it real.

Coop Biddies. We love our chickens! Their coop sits by the pavilion, and they gift us loads of rainbow-colored eggs each day — plus endless entertainment.

Come Experience Talking Water

Ready to book your stay, take a tour, or ask a question? Reach out anytime — we can’t wait to welcome you to our little slice of heaven.

Book Your Stay Call 423-713-3641
6405 Suck Creek Rd (Hwy 27), Chattanooga, TN 37405