Little Fern Guest Cabin

This quaint, little (8'x12') off-grid guest cabin was once a donkey shed on a farm located about 8 miles away.  Tucked back into a cluster of cedar and locust trees, this simple cabin, although not far from the road, is somewhat secluded and is partly shaded in the summer.  It is well insulated and has plenty of windows. The cabin offers a full-sized comfy bed with clean bedding, a large dresser, a desk, chair, bookcase and solar electricity.  A covered porch with two comfy chairs is perfect for sitting and sipping at any point in the day.  There is also a small covered dining area at the cabin.  Just a couple steps from the porch is a screened-in gazebo kitchen with a 3-burner propane stove and all of the essential cookware for preparing a full meal (no refrigerator).  Potable tap water is provided for drinking. A simple outhouse with a composting toilet is located in the trees beyond the pond (about 75m away).  Parking is available near the road and there will be a very short walk (<1minute) to the cabin.   

For campfires, there is a portable fire pit at the cabin and also a communal fire ring down by the pond.   Firewood is available for purchase ($5/bundle).  The pond has a little dock and is great for swimming on hot days (bring your pool floats!).  There is a lovely nature trail throughout the property.  

There is also a wonderful SAUNA on the property that you may reserve by the hour ($10/hour for 2 people;  payment can be made in advance by purchasing in extras or you can pay on site via cash/venmo/paypal).  The sauna is located at the back of the host's residence and can be reached by a short (3/4 mile) hike down the nature trail.  The sauna is available for guest use between 9am-9pm. 

Please bring a flashlight/headlamp so that you can find your way around after dark.  The path to the bathroom can be a bit muddy in rainy conditions, so check the weather and be prepared.

***WINTER UPDATE****:  If you book your stay during the colder months, there is a small propane space heater (portable little buddy) provided.  However, you must bring your own 1# propane cylinders (available at most hardware and sporting goods stores) or add on, as an extra, to your reservation.  The plumbing in the gazebo kitchen is shut down in the winter.  5 gallons of potable tap water will be provided for cooking and washing dishes.  The price has been discounted for the winter months.     

DISCLAIMERS:   

***** THE BED:  As stated above, the cabin has a FULL/DOUBLE bed, not a queen.  The mattress dimensions are 53"W x 75"L.  The bed is also on an elevated platform (above a chest of drawers) and requires the use of a step stool.    

***** SOLAR ELECTRICITY: There is solar power w/ a couple of backup batteries for the cabin and the outdoor kitchen, however it is limited.   It is enough to power the lights and to charge cell phones and other smaller devices.  It is not set up to power larger electrical appliances, such as slow cookers, blenders, heated blankets, etc.  Note that the power supply will be effected by the weather (lack of charge when cloudy or snowy).  

***** COMPOSTING TOILET:  The privy has a simple, primitive, dry toilet... this means there is no flushing with water, but rather using sawdust as a cover material.  

*****EXTRA GUESTS:  the cabin is quite small and only sleeps two people.   There is the option of setting up a tent outside for an additional two people (please edit the number of people to your reservation).  We will even set up a tent for you if you add-on this service in "extras" (bring your own bedding).  

*****NO PETS INSIDE:  Please, not pets inside the tiny cabin.  However, you are welcome to bring a dog if it sleeps outside (dogs are welcome at all of the campsites).  

The area offers great hiking, paddling (Rocky Fork Creek is the best around!  Ask about shuttling service), boating, mountain biking, birding and disc golf (Paint Creek State Park is only 2 miles away and the Highlands Nature Sanctuary is 7). And a visit to the nearby Amish markets and bakery is a must!

Here are some POINTS OF INTEREST in the area:  

The HIGHLANDS NATURE SANCTUARY (7 miles away), previously called "7 Caves"  is highly recommended for some beautiful hiking.  There is a small museum (The Appalachian Forest Museum) at the main trailhead by the parking area... the folks there can direct you to a couple of other great trails nearby if you're interested in further hiking.  NOTE: Most of the trails within the sanctuary are not open to dogs, however, there are a couple of dog-friendly trails (inquire at the museum).   Museum is closed for the winter (Nov-March). **Highly recommend the Barrett's Rim Trail (2.5 mile loop) and the Kamelands Trail, which are both accessible during the pandemic.  

AMISH BAKERY (Country Crust Bakery) & MARKET (JRs General Store)* on 41 South in Bainbridge (15-20min away): The bakery is a great lunch stop for a fresh, soft Pretzel Bun sandwich (delicious) and to load up on fresh baked goods (the apple fritter is my fave!). The market, which is almost right across from the bakery, is also worth checking out... delicious deli sandwiches and great deals on spices, cheeses, pickles, jams, bulk foods, produce, etc. Watch out for horse & buggy traffic... and bicycles!  *The Amish accept cash or check only and are closed on Sunday.

In the teeny town of BAINBRIDGE (10-15min away): There are some nice ANTIQUE/PRIMITIVE SHOPS... in particular, the Ancient Valley Mercantile... they have local gifts, gourmet coffees and local honey. The Paxton Restaurant has good home cooked meals and a variety of pies and cheesecakes for dessert...or grab an ice cream at the Dairy Queen before strolling the primitive shops. 

PAINT CREEK LAKE STATE PARK: (3 miles away) There are dog-friendly hiking trails (the little pond trail is a personal favorite), mountain bike trails, a 21-hole disc golf course, boat ramp (if you have kayaks, you can paddle around on the lake), and a camp store that has ice and hand-dipped ice cream.  There is also a BEACH, which is good for picnicking and swimming, located at the southern entrance, off of SR 50.  

GREENFIELD: This town is closer (5 miles) and larger than Bainbridge and good for getting supplies. There are some restaurants, bars and supermarkets (Community Markets, at the further end of town, is recommended over the Save-a-Lot).  

COVERED BRIDGE:  There is a sweet little covered bridge that you can still drive across in the tiny town of South Salem, just a 5 minute drive away.  To get there from here, take 41 North and then take a right onto Lower Twin Rd and drive a few miles and you will come to the bridge. 

SERPENT MOUND (about 30 miles away, Peebles, OH) is an internationally known National Historic Landmark built by the ancient American Indian cultures of Ohio. It is an effigy mound representing a snake with a curled tail.  Nearby are three burial mounds—two created by the Adena culture (800 B.C.–A.D. 100), and one by the Fort Ancient culture (A.D. 1000–1650).  A must see!

CHILLICOTHE (Ohio's first capital):  (30 minutes away) The historic downtown boasts charming architecture and is perfect for exploring on foot.  Several local shops, restaurants, coffee shops, breweries and bars.  A lovely city park with a small lake is host to a year-round population of ducks, geese and swans.  There is also a disc golf course and skate park in the city park.  There is frequent live music, gourmet cocktails and a wide variety of craft beer at Steiner's Speakeasy (an Americana-style bourbon bar of America).  

GREAT SEAL STATE PARK (about 35 miles away in Chillicothe):  If you are into mountain biking, you will find some of the best trails in the state here (start at the Lick Run parking area).  There is also a great disc golf course here along with a picnic shelter and a playground for the kids.  

FORT HILL EARTHWORKS & NATURE PRESERVE:  (30 minutes away) This preserve encompasses 1300 acres of mature woodlands and 11 miles of some of the best hiking trails in the state.  Part of the Old Growth Forest Network, there are remnants of the temperate deciduous forests that once covered all of the eastern United States.  For archaeology enthusiasts, there is a stone and earthen wall hilltop enclosure, as well as a smaller circular earthwork (both of which can be difficult to discern).