Located on a quiet road with open fields and mountain views, this recently renovated cottage is clean, beautifully built, warm and comfortable. All new kitchen with new appliances and zinc countertop, new bath with hand-tiled tub and shower. All wood walls and floors, fine craftsmanship with rustic touches.
Downstairs bedroom with queen bed and upstairs bunkroom with queen and two singles will sleep two couples, or small family comfortably. Also perfect for one or two people who want privacy and peace. We do not cater to large groups - max adults is 5.
Gas furnace plus electric heat in the bathroom to keep showers warm and comfy. A wood stove in the living room with large glass viewing door is perfect for evening relaxation in cool weather.
House is situated on 100 private acres you can roam at will on foot, cross country skis or snowshoes. Trails lead to your own beautiful waterfall behind the house, or across the street to a high bank above Minerva stream with private access for canoe or kayak, or through the woods nearby where we allow New York State to maintain a trail on our property to ponds with a public lean-to if you want to experience Adirondack camping in a lean to 6 miles up the trail on a pond.
Once you arrive, you will be 2 miles from the small hamlet of Olmstedville with its gas station and general store, town museum, several churches and a delightful local restaurant (Li'l Nonny's) with wonderful home style breakfast and lunch until Columbus Day: 8 miles from North Creek with stores, restaurants and bars (we recommend Bar Vino for delicious food and a good wine list), and a slow train to Saratoga Springs. Rafting trips down the Hudson can be arranged in summer months, and there's the exciting White Water Derby the first weekend in May each year on the Upper Hudson River. Nearby Gore Mountain has great skiing during the winter season with biking and gondola trips in warm weather. You are an hour and a half from the Governor's mansion in Albany; two hours from a lovely French restaurant in Montreal; or four hours from NYC for nearly everything else in the world. A train runs between NYC and Montreal with stops in Albany, Ticonderoga, Westport etc. If you want to spend a nite in Canada.
At home in the cottage you may see a deer across the street or an eagle cruising the sky. Watch for Ravens (one of the most intelligent of all birds) doing summer acrobatics, hear coyotes howling after dark in late Summer and Autumn, and come in contact with the occasional owl or fox. You may also spot a bear if you are lucky. They are generally non-agressive unless they have cubs with them - just smile and leave them alone. Do NOT put out food for them!!
The night sky shows the brilliance and beauty of the Milky Way and if you are lucky, the Northern Lights will shine. You are in the middle of a beautiful natural area, yet right on a paved road. We do the snow-shoveling in winter and mow the lawn in the summer.
Natural Stone Bridge and Caves is 10 miles east in Pottersville - great for both kids and adults - you can swim there and see some natural Adirondack caves without special clothing or equipment.
Lots of comfortable climbs are within striking distance in all directions - Crane Mountain in nearby Johnsburg, with great views for a relatively short climb, is our favorite. Vanderwarker is half an hour north on 28N and still has a fire tower with a great view. You can also climb Snider, located behind our caretaker's home, which is walking distance from the house. Just call Duane for permission and instructions - 45 minutes to the top and a nice view of Minerva Valley, Olmstedville and the rolling peaks to the west. Watch for deer and bear scat under the Beech trees.
If you drive north on I-87 the high peaks are magnificent to look at. There are ferries and a bridge that cross Lake Champlain to Vermont. One will take you directly to Burlington, a wonderful, vibrant College city on the lake.
Contact friends or take care of business with free internet and telephone (U.S. and Canada only). Or just kick back and read a good book. Care-taker is down the road a piece if you have a question or need assistance. We opened for business in late 2013 and every guest so far has been pleased - check our 90 five-star reviews. We look forward to your happy stay with us. Marcia and George Halloran