Charlottesville & Shenandoah Valley

Your Backyard Has Been
Waiting Long Enough

Bear Creek designs, builds, and furnishes complete outdoor living spaces — so you see your finished yard in 3D before we break ground. No surprises. No scope drift. Just a backyard that finally matches your home.

Family-owned since 2016
4.9 ★ on Google
In-house 3D Design Team
Charlottesville · Waynesboro · Staunton
10+
Years Building
Outdoor Spaces
4.9★
Google Rating
40+ Reviews
8+
Communities
Served
3D
Design Before
We Build Anything

Complete Backyard Transformations
— Not Just Construction

Most contractors hand you a structure and walk away. Bear Creek designs it, builds it, and furnishes it — so your space is livable the day we hand over the keys.

Custom Decks

Composite and natural wood decks designed for the way your family actually uses the space. Engineered for Virginia weather, built to last 25 years.

Pool Installation

Full pool design and installation through our sister brand Bear Creek Pools — planned alongside your outdoor living space so everything integrates seamlessly.

Covered Porches

Covered porch additions that extend your living season. 3D-designed to blend with your home's existing architecture and style.

Pergolas & Outdoor Kitchens

Shade structures and full outdoor kitchen builds — the combination that transforms your backyard into the neighborhood gathering spot.

Patios & Hardscape

Concrete, paver, and natural stone patios — including drainage and grading solutions for lots with slopes or water management challenges.

Outdoor Furniture & Lighting

We don't hand you an empty structure. Our in-house store sources and places furniture and lighting — your space is move-in ready on handoff day.

The Only Outdoor Living Company in Central Virginia That Does All Three

Brian and Victoria Mininger founded Bear Creek in 2016 with a simple conviction: homeowners shouldn't have to coordinate three separate vendors to get a finished outdoor space. We handle every phase — from the first sketch to furniture placement — under one roof, with one point of contact, and one clear timeline.

3D
Design Approval
Before We Build
1
Point of Contact
Start to Finish
$0
Surprise Charges
After Design Sign-off
Start My Design Assessment

You're Not Hiring a Contractor.
You're Hiring a System.

If you've been burned by a contractor who showed up late, gave you a vague number, and then went silent — here is exactly what working with Bear Creek looks like instead.

The Professional Difference

We run every project on Buildertrend — the same platform used by top-tier construction companies nationwide. You have full visibility into every milestone, every schedule change, and every communication. No guessing. No chasing.

Milestone schedule shared at project kickoff
Named project manager — not a call center
HOA submission package handled by Bear Creek
Line-itemized proposal — no range, no ambiguity
1

Outdoor Living Assessment

We walk your yard with both homeowners present. Our consultant asks about how your family lives in the space, takes measurements, and explains what a realistic scope looks like for your specific lot and budget. You get a clear picture before anyone commits to anything.

2

3D Design Presentation

Our in-house design team — Ernan and Leslie — renders your specific backyard in full 3D. Your deck. Your dimensions. Your materials. You and your spouse see the finished project before a single board is cut. This is the meeting where couples get aligned. Most homeowners say it was the moment they knew this was the right decision.

3

Line-Itemized Proposal

You receive a detailed, line-by-line proposal with no ranges and no "depending on what you want." Every material, every labor cost, every phase is listed. If you want to adjust scope, we show you exactly what changes and what it costs.

4

Managed Build on a Confirmed Timeline

Your project starts on the agreed date. You receive a full milestone schedule on day one. Brian oversees every crew day. You are never left wondering what is happening or when the next phase begins. Typical backyard makeover: 8–12 weeks start to finish.

5

Furnished Handoff — Not Just Structurally Complete

On handoff day, your space is livable. Furniture is placed. Lighting is tested. Victoria walks the finished project with you personally. The backyard you saw in the 3D rendering is the backyard you now own.

4.9
Google Reviews

"We had been putting this off for years. Bear Creek walked us through every single step. The 3D design meeting was incredible — we actually saw our backyard before it was built. The final result matched exactly what we approved."

Albemarle County Homeowner

"Brian and his team were professional, communicative, and on time every single day. I have dealt with contractors who disappear after the deposit — that is not Bear Creek. They followed through on everything they promised."

Charlottesville Homeowner

Tell Us About Your Project — We'll Tell You What's Possible

Answer five quick questions and we'll reach out to schedule your free on-site assessment. No pressure. No vague quotes. Just a real conversation about your specific yard and budget.

1
Project
2
Timeline
3
Property
4
Budget
5
Contact

What type of project are you looking for?

Select the option that best describes your backyard vision. You can always tell us more during the assessment.

When are you hoping to start?

We book projects in order — knowing your timeline helps us hold a spot in our schedule for you.

Tell us about your property

This helps our team arrive at your assessment with the right preparation and ideas for your specific situation.

What's your approximate project budget?

There's no wrong answer. This helps us match the design to what you want to invest — so we're not showing you a $90,000 plan when you're thinking $40,000.

Where should we send your assessment results?

Brian or a senior consultant will reach out within 24 hours to schedule your free on-site assessment. No sales pressure — just a real conversation about your project.

Your information is private and will never be shared or sold. We hate spam as much as you do.