Bear Encounter Turns Anniversary Trip into Memorable Event

A couple’s anniversary trip took an unexpected twist when a bear entered a Gatlinburg tea shop, creating a memorable experience captured on video. Victoria Puyol and Joshua Card, in Gatlinburg for their seventh anniversary, stopped by The Spice & Tea Exchange where they had an astonishing encounter.

Joshua Card was the first to spot the bear near the shop’s entrance. “There’s a bear,” he recalled saying. Initially, Victoria Puyol didn’t grasp the situation until Card and the store clerk repeated themselves. The animal was standing in the doorway.

The couple remembered the advice to back away from bears, but as they retreated, the bear moved further inside. The clerk directed them behind the register with access to an emergency exit.

The bear showed interest in the shop’s merchandise, particularly a sweet-tea blend and tea diffusers, as a crowd gathered outside. Despite an air horn being used from a neighboring store, the bear remained unfazed. Card recorded the event as the bear approached the counter.

“Hey, what you doing there, buddy?” Card is heard saying in the video.

The bear then jumped onto the counter, prompting Card to step back. “He’s talking to this thing like it’s a puppy,” Puyol later said. “It’s a bear. It’s not a puppy.”

Card initially thought the bear might be a “show bear” due to the populated area but soon realized it was wild. His military and lifeguard experience shaped his reaction. He felt uncertain about the bear’s capabilities but chose to give it space.

Puyol was more shocked than scared. “I wasn’t like, ‘Oh my God, it’s a bear, I’m going to die,'” she said. “It’s a wild animal, like eight feet away from me.” Ironically, she had told Card she hoped to see a bear during their trip. “Be careful what you wish for,” she said, as the bear came closer than expected.

The clerk told them of another exit on the second floor, but the bear left before they needed to use it. Card and the clerk shut the door and ensured it was safe before exiting. The entire encounter lasted around 10 to 15 minutes.

Employees mentioned that the bear seemed to be a repeat visitor, having entered the shop earlier that week. A Facebook post by the shop included a photo of a bear, stating, “This young bear came into our shop today, snagged some sugar and came back for more!”

Now safe, the couple views the unique encounter as an unforgettable part of their anniversary getaway. “The trip has been filled with oddities,” Card said, “and this fuels that whole experience.”