Bear Visits Gatlinburg Tea Shop During Couple’s Anniversary Getaway

A couple’s anniversary turned eventful when a bear unexpectedly entered a Gatlinburg tea shop. The incident was captured on video as the bear rummaged through merchandise and jumped onto the counter.

Victoria Puyol and Joshua Card were in Gatlinburg celebrating their seventh anniversary. While visiting The Spice & Tea Exchange, Card noticed a bear entering the shop. “There’s a bear,” he noted, alerting Puyol and the store clerk to the unexpected visitor.

Puyol initially didn’t grasp the situation. However, repeated statements from Card and the clerk helped her realize the animal was indeed in the doorway. Card first spotted the bear near the entrance before it moved deeper inside. The clerk guided them behind the register, offering access to an emergency exit.

The bear seemed especially interested in the shop’s offerings, tearing into a sweet-tea blend and examining tea diffusers. A crowd gathered outside, and a nearby store employee sounded an air horn, but this didn’t deter the bear.

Card started recording the event as the bear approached the counter. “Hey, what you doing there, buddy?” he said in the footage. Moments later, the bear jumped onto the counter. “He’s talking to this thing like it’s a puppy,” Puyol recalled, contrasting the situation by reminding it was a bear, not a pet.

Card initially suspected it might be a trained bear on a leash, considering their location in a busy area. He quickly understood it was a wild animal. Card, a military veteran with lifeguarding experience, mentioned that his emergency training influenced his calm response.

Card described feeling unsure about the bear’s intentions. He debated intervening but chose to maintain distance from the curious animal, which seemed more inquisitive than aggressive.

Puyol shared her reaction as shock rather than fear. Standing eight feet away, she didn’t panic but acknowledged the wild presence nearby.

Adding humor to the experience, Puyol mentioned her pre-trip remark to Card about hoping to see a bear. “Be careful what you wish for,” she remarked, noting her surprise at the close encounter.

The couple was informed by the clerk about an alternative exit on the second floor. However, the bear abruptly left the store before they needed to use it. Card and the clerk secured the door, ensuring safety before stepping out.

Puyol estimated the encounter lasted around 10 to 15 minutes. Store employees revealed that the bear was a repeat visitor, entering earlier that week. The shop even shared a photo of the bear, captioning its repeat sugar theft.

Safe after the encounter, the couple reflected on their unforgettable anniversary. “The trip has been filled with oddities,” Card mentioned, adding to their unique experience.