Abi's Arboreal Abode - Tree-Yurt
Treehouse · Sleeps 4Sleeps a maximum of 4. Abi's Arboreal Abode is a 15' treehouse yurt nestled in a grove of walnut trees with a nearby outhouse. There is a bunk-bed with full-size lower bunk, single top, and a single trundle. This rental has electric, heat, and air, but is still just a tent so it can get hot/cold/damp. The farm also has a centrally located Community Farmhouse and Bath House which are shared with other guests. NO PETS/ESAs - NO EXCEPTIONS!
The space HomeGrown HideAways is a hundred-acre farm, campground, and event facility with treehouses, yurts, cabins, camping, etc. The owners, Nathan & Jessa, live onsite with a parade of dogs, cats, chickens, and ducks (please do not let your kids chase the birds). For the safety of our own animals (and yours), we cannot allow any additional animals onto the farm. Anyone arriving with an animal of any kind will not be allowed to stay and no refund will be given.
INTERIOR: You get the entire treehouse to yourself. It has a bunk-bed with a single mattress on the top and a full-size futon on the bottom. There is also a trundle with a single-sized mattress that pulls out from under the bunk-bed. The beds have sheets, pillows, and blankets, but let us know if you prefer to bring your own. There is a drop-leaf dining table with four fold-away chairs and a cabinet with cleaning supplies and games. A trash can is provided, but we do not have trash service on the farm so you need to take your trash to town with you upon departure. This rental sleeps a maximum of FOUR people. If you have more than four people, then please book a different or additional site.
The treehouse has electricity, but no indoor plumbing. We provide a jug of spring water and there is an outdoor water spigot across from the nearby outhouse. There is an electric fireplace and a window air conditioner that we install in May and remove in October based on prevailing weather conditions. There is a ceiling fan to circulate the air, but please remember that the yurt is just an over-sized tent. Even with the heat and AC, it can still be warm in the summer, and chilly in the winter. It's camping!
EXTERIOR: Abi’s is located in the section of the farm we refer to as Tiny Town since there are multiple, adjacent sites due to the accessibility of electric and water in this area. If you’re looking for seclusion and privacy, we would suggest our Yome Away from Home, the Treetop Flyer, or the Wabi Sabi Studio. There is a spiral staircase to access the treehouse deck (watch your head!), but we have also installed an electric lift for getting your belongings up to the platform. There's a firepit, a picnic table, clothesline, small patio table with two chairs, and two hammocks underneath the platform (hammocks are typically stored away during winter to limit wear and tear from the weather). A shared outhouse is just a few steps away from the base of the stairs and the bath house is across the creek in the main camping field. Firewood bundles are available for purchase under the pavilion next to the Community Farmhouse (see section regarding CAMPFIRES below).
CHECK-IN: Guests can check in any time AFTER 4pm, but we do recommend arriving before dark. Depending on our cleaning schedule, we may be able to accommodate an earlier arrival time with advance notice. PLEASE KEEP US APPRISED OF YOUR ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME AND DO NOT ARRIVE EARLY WITHOUT PERMISSION. Rentals are unlocked so guests can just let themselves in.
CHECK-OUT: Please vacate your rental by 10am and depart the farm no later than 11am. Guests remaining on the farm after 11am are subject to a $35/hour late departure fee. If something comes up and you need to leave before your scheduled check-out date, please do us the courtesy of sending a message once you have cell service so that we know not to expect you.
CANCELLATIONS: Prior to confirming your reservation, please familiarize yourself with our cancellation policy. We recommend TRAVEL INSURANCE to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as illness, death, travel interruptions, and other unexpected events that may necessitate cancellation. HomeGrown HideAways is unable to offer refunds outside of our cancellation policy since travel insurance is specifically designed to address such situations.
ALTERATIONS: Guests are welcome to submit alteration requests, whether to extend their stay or make adjustments to the number of individuals on the reservation. For more substantial changes to the dates of your reservation, you'll need to cancel the existing booking and initiate a new reservation with the revised dates. The cancellation policy remains applicable to both canceled and re-booked reservations.
UNPLUG AND RECONNECT: HomeGrown HideAways does not have cell service or wifi, but there is a landline in the Community Farmhouse for guests to use. We hope that you will take the opportunity to re-connect with nature, yourself, your family, and other guests. In addition to the shared kitchen space, we also have a pavilion with cornhole set up for rainy days, and a massive bonfire area where we encourage guests to pitch in on firewood to share stories and s’mores. Please note that quiet hours are from 10pm – 7am and sound carries far in the holler.
SHARED BATH HOUSE: In addition to year-round outhouses, there is a seasonal BATH HOUSE with 4 flush toilets and 2 solar-heated showers. The bath house is rustic with a concrete floor so we recommend shower shoes or flip flops. Towels and toiletries are not provided. In the winter months, when the bath house is closed, we open the restrooms in the community building for showering (1 full bath and 1 half bath).
FARMHOUSE: The farm has a centrally-located, solar-powered, chef-inspired COMMUNITY KITCHEN with 4 ovens, 5-burner gas cooktop, microwave, refrigerator with farm-fresh eggs (when available), coffee-maker, toaster, dishes, cutlery, baking sheets, basic cooking supplies (oil, salt, pepper, etc), plus HomeGrown farm goods, s’more kits, and other goodies. BRING CASH FOR THE HONOR SYSTEM. Please remember that this space is available for ALL visitors of the farm so guests are expected to clean up after themselves and not to loiter when others are waiting. To prevent over-crowding, we ask that a maximum of TWO people from your group occupy the space at a time and children MUST be accompanied by a guardian at all times. Meals may be eaten at the picnic tables on the porch, upstairs, under the pavilion, or you can take food back to your site. FOOD SCRAPS MUST BE PUT INTO THE COMPOST BIN – NOT IN THE TRASH. Please do not discard food on the ground as it can make our animals sick and attract unwanted wildlife. A coin-op laundry is available for guests (laundry soap is included) and there is a shelf with various rental items such as towels, extra blankets, etc. The 2nd floor of the Farmhouse has extra tables and chairs, library, and board games (PLEASE PUT BOOKS AND GAMES BACK IN THEIR PLACE). The projector, speakers, and A/V equipment are not available for general use.
THE FARM: We are a farm in the mountains so we have all the good (beautiful views, babbling brook, hiking trails) and the bad (insects, howling coyotes, poison ivy) that nature has to offer so come prepared. We recommend hiking boots, bug spray, and weather-appropriate clothing. Be prepared to encounter INSECTS (mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers), WILDLIFE (deer, turkey, snakes, toads, and dare we mention the bear track we spotted one spring?), WEATHER (hot, cold, rain, snow), TOXIC PLANTS (poison ivy, stinging nettle, wild mushrooms), just to name a few. There is a steep and rugged 1.5-mile hiking loop that takes most folks about an hour (if they can get past the first 10-minute uphill climb). We also have playground swings, disc golf, hula hoops, a croquet set, and a creek full of geodes to hunt. Please do not leave any sticks, rocks, games, or other items in the grass where the mower might run over them.
CHILDREN: The farm is a great place for children to learn and explore, but farms have inherent dangers. Parents are expected to have their children within eyesight at all times and ensure that books, games, and toys are all returned to their proper locations. HomeGrown HideAways is not responsible for accidents caused by unattended children.
CAMPFIRES: Most sites have their own fire pit except for the primitive camping area which has a shared firepit. There is also a large communal fire pit near the Community Kitchen. Due to the spread of invasive insects, we ask that you DO NOT BRING FIREWOOD unless it is store-bought/kiln dried. We have bundles for sale here for $5/bundle (bring cash) or you can scavenge dead wood from the forest floor for free. DO NOT cut down live trees and DO NOT burn plastic, glass, trash, gas, or anything that isn’t wood or paper. There is plenty of fire-starting materials under the Pavilion next to the bundles. On your way to the farm, you will pass the local fire department. Please make note of the fire danger sign. If the fire danger is high, a campfire may not be advisable – please check for local burn bans.
SMOKING: Smoking is not permitted within the vicinity of any building on the farm. Please do not discard cigarette butts in the firepits or on the ground. They must be completely extinguished and can be thrown in the trash.
TRASH: In case you missed it before, we do not have trash pick-up on the farm and very much appreciate it if you can take your trash with you when you leave the farm. We do have recycling bins for clean plastic and aluminum cans. Paper and cardboard can be put in the box next to the firewood bundles under the pavilion for others to use for starting fires. We also have a compost bin available for all food scraps, paper napkins, and paper plates. Please do not discard food on the ground as it can make our animals sick and attract unwanted wildlife.
SUSTAINABILITY: HomeGrown HideAways is highly focused on environmental sustainability. Buildings are designed with ecological features such as passive solar and ventilation; reused, salvaged, and locally-sourced materials; the Community Farmhouse and bath house have integrated solar; we offer recycling and composting; we do not use synthetic chemicals or fertilizers on our gardens; local spring water is provided so guests can refill their water bottles instead of bringing cases of water bottles.
MOTORIZED VEHICLES: We do not allow ATVs, 4-wheelers, golf carts, or any non-medical motorized transportation. Bicycles are welcome and encouraged.
GENERATORS: We highly discourage the use of generators as they can be quite noisy and produce toxic fumes. Please talk to us in advance if you require one for a specific purpose.
ACCIDENTS: If a child or member of your party has an accident involving bodily fluids, please take the time to clean up after them. First aid kits are supplied in most rentals and in the Community Farmhouse. If bedding is involved, we have coin-operated laundry facilities in the Community building to begin the washing process. Please notify us of such events.
COOLERS & CANDLES: Coolers should be left outside so that the condensation doesn't damage our floors. Candles are not allowed due to too many wax spills.
SECURITY CAMERAS: We have several security cameras onsite for both our safety and yours. Two are located outside to cover the grounds and three are inside the community building (kitchen, hallway, and loft). They record 24/7 for liability purposes. Anyone caught tampering with the cameras will be asked to leave immediately without refund.
NEARBY: We are just 8 miles from the Berea Pinnacles, 6 miles from Get Outside Ky (they rent canoes, kayaks, SUPs, and e-bikes), 3 miles to Tater Knob Pottery, 20 minutes to Anglin Falls, and a scenic hour from Red River Gorge. Berea is known for its arts and crafts, the historic Berea College, and outdoor recreation. In addition to hiking at the Pinnacles, there are several other trails throughout town and the newly opened Silver Creek Bike Park.
NOMS: Our favorite places to eat in Berea are Native Bagel Company, Nightjar, Dona Maria's Tamales, Bert's SpeakCheezy, Apollo Pizza, PapaLeno’s, Honeysuckle, and El Rio Grande. In Richmond, we like Masala Indian, Purdy’s Coffee Co., and Thai Smile.
ACTIVITIES: We highly encourage guests to check out the Berea Tourism website for all kinds of classes, workshops, concerts, art demonstrations, guided hikes, and other events. Some of our favorite places are Rebel Rebel Studio & Lounge, the Berea Makerspace, Berea Arts Council, and the Berea College Forestry Outreach Center.
Guest access Guests have access to all 100 acres of the farm EXCEPT the private rentals, the residence, and the chicken/duck houses. DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN CHASE THE BIRDS!
We HIGHLY recommend arriving before dark. There are very few streetlights on the road coming in and none on the farm. It gets REALLY dark out here and some of our city guests have a bit of trouble with this.
Rentals are unlocked for your arrival. Be sure to save/screenshot/download the check-in instructions you receive in your inbox as there’s no wifi or cell service once you arrive.
Other things to note Items we recommend bringing: CASH for firewood, eggs, and farm goods; bug spray; hiking shoes/mudboots; slippers; earplugs (sometimes the coyotes throw big parties); and shower shoes (the bath house is rustic with a concrete floor).
We live onsite. If you have any issues during your stay, PLEASE come knock on our door so we can assist. There's nothing worse than finding out in the review that you didn't enjoy your stay and it's something we could have easily fixed.
We are constantly striving to make the farm better and sometimes we forget to update the listings with the latest changes and improvements. For the most up-to-date information, we suggest you follow our HomeGrown HideAways social media accounts where we also advertise on-farm workshops, classes, and events.