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.  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).  A second bathroom with hot shower is available at the host residence (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.  The pond has a little dock and is great for swimming on hot days (bring your pool floats!).  

If you book your stay during the cooler months, there is a small propane space heater (portable little buddy) you are welcome to use, upon request.  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. 

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

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 TOILETS:  both toilets available to cabin guests are composting toilets.  They are simple, primitive, dry toilets... 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).  

*****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).  

ABOUT FRUITDALE FARM:

Fruitdale Farm, founded in 2017, consists of 15+ acres located off a quiet country backroad in the beautiful rolling hills of southern Ohio.  About half of the property is wooded.  As a farmstead, we are guided by regenerative practices and our goal is to become a sustainability learning and retreat center.  We are steadily making small improvements to the land and we love sharing it with others who appreciate the outdoors and all that this area has to offer.      

The property currently has 1 cabin rental (Little Fern Guest Cabin) and 5 designated campsites, and the host lives in a small cabin through the woods close by.  Enjoy a campfire under the stars and fall asleep to the sounds of crickets, frogs and owls.  There is a little nature trail (starting near campsite 3) that winds through the property that you may explore (about 3/4 mile).   

FIREWOOD is available for purchase.  You can pre-pay for your first bundle and have it delivered to your site.  Otherwise, bundles can be purchased on site (near campsite #3) for $5/bundle (self serve, exact cash only).    

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! 

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: (2 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)... The Pot Belly Pig would be my restaurant of choice if you decide to eat out.  Big City Pizza is my recommendation for pick-up.  

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).