The New Southern Bears

Bear-A-Topia staff members will be selling raffle tickets for a dollar per ticket for our Liquor Basket Giveaway.  The basket will contain at least 12 different bottles of alcohol.  All proceeds from the raffle ticket sales will go to our host charity, which benefits single-parent families living with HIV or AIDS.

Bear-A-Topia will be hosting a live auction on  Saturday afternoon.  Bear OmniMedia has donated vintage BrushCreek Media Bear DVDs.  American Period Furniture, ID Lube, and other sponsors have donated some very nice prizes.  BK Travel Network will be donating unbelievable vacation getaways including an 8-day 7 night all-inclusive getaway.

In July 2007, we surveyed the attendees of our final BearAll run and asked what they would like to see in a bear run for the future. They responded and we listened.

Things To Do List:

ü    A lower run fee ($79.00).

ü A Hotel That We Are Capable Of Selling Out.

ü Free Hotel Parking.

ü Lower Priced Rooms (Kings - $79 and Queen/Queen - $84).

ü More Pool Parties.

ü Open Bar Nights.

ü     Live Entertainment.

ü    Less Bar Based Activities. 

ü    More Restaurants Within Walking Distance Of Host Hotel.

ü    Easy Interstate Access.

ü    Unique Optional Day Trips.

ü    A Larger Selection Of Merchandise Vendors.

·        Attendees can make their room reservations without anything being charged to their credit card until they arrive.

·        A very liberal reservation policy allows cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival.

·        Split payment plan allows you to register and pay half your run fee now and the balance on or before May 15, 2009.

·        You can request poolside rooms when making your reservation as long as they last. First come, first served.

On behalf of the staff of Bear-A-Topia: The Land of Ursine Adventures and the Board of Directors and general membership of Georgia’s Southern Bears, we would like to thank you for checking out our new event website. Bear-A-Topia is the latest event added to the Southern Bear lineup of fun filled, exciting adventures designed for those of you looking for something more than the run of the mill bear run while keeping an eye on value. We are very proud to announce the $79.00 bear event new for July 2 – 5, 2009 here in Atlanta. That means a $79.00 run fee as well as a $79.00* standard king room at our host hotel, Courtyard by Marriott. Our new event includes three meals; our meet and greet beer and pizza party pool side, our Brother Bear BBQ buffet with live jazz and our Red, White and Bear picnic cookout on July 4^th pool side in the courtyard. We will also offer an open bar Friday and Saturday nights with delicious cocktails developed just for this event. Experience the friendliest bear run staff you have ever encountered only at Bear-A-Topia.

Whether you are looking for fun in the sun poolside, seeing how many cubs and bears you can pack into the hot tub or seeking true adventure, Bear-A-Topia is the bear run for you. Our goal is to sell out the host hotel so we will have control over the hotel, pool and hot tub area. Reservation information is located on the Host Hotel page. We urge you to book now to insure your room at the host hotel because the overflow hotel is 1.3 miles away.

Bear-A-Topia is breaking new ground  in the way a bear run is set up and run.  With the economy in the shape that it's in, we are proud to offer an option to pay half now and half later on your basic run fee.  This allows you to split your payments over time.   Also new, we have our own Bear-A-Topia travel agent  to help make your trip easier and more memorable when you come to Atlanta.  Feel free to contact Bruce at BK Travel Network for all of your travel needs.  We are proud to have both Bruce and his partner Bok as Southern Bears members.

We have designed our schedule of events so that you can be as lazy as you want or as active as you desire.  Whatever your preference, we just want you to have a fantastic time.

If you are seeking adventure, there are three optional trips that are guaranteed to get your heart pumping. Experience white water rafting on the Ocoee River with class III and class IV rapids, ride 10 wooden and metal roller coasters as we present Bears on Coasters Adventures, BOCA, at Six Flags Over Georgia and top it all off with the tallest, fastest Zip Line Canopy Tour in North America. This is not for the faint of heart. To help those who are undecided or have questions about our adventure trips, each event has a Buddy Bear that you can email with questions pertaining to that event. Each Buddy Bear has experience in their area of expertise.

At the gazebo, there will be acoustic jam sessions, so please feel free to bring your acoustic guitars, banjos and any other string instruments and take part. Also check back often as the website will be continuously updated with new information. If we can be of service, answer your questions or assist you with your reservation and/or registration, feel free to cont us. Thank you once again for checking out Bear-A-Topia. We look forward to seeing you July 4^th weekend 2009.

Ed Sitton                                                Matthew G. Akins

Chairman                                               Co-Chairman

Bear-A-Topia                                         Bear-A-Topia

ed.sitton@bearatopia.com                   matthew.akins@bearatopia.com

* Plus the required12% Georgia hotel tax.