Exactly what my editor ordered....
Submitted: August 10, 2010
Stayed: July 2010
I am amidst drafting a book and needed a very quiet, secluded getaway to get my thoughts together and, hopefully, on paper. I found the Bagdad property and contacted the owner, Tom, by phone to get more details. He was very informative and most helpful....I decided to make a "test run" weekend before committing to a full week. The property is precisely as described on vrbo.com: rustic wilderness off the beaten path yet still with most of today's lifestyle comforts. I fished the 60 acre lake and hiked and hiked and hiked the 500 acre working farm. Tom even told me about the "secret" fishing hole deep into the farm woods. I don't own horses but the barn would have been a fine temporary home for any horses I would have brought with me to exercise on the property. I found the canoe, the pontoon boat and even the sauna that sits right on the lake! Oh, the quiet and solitude? Indescribable. I sat out on the deck in the rocking chairs or out by the firepit (stocked with dry wood and kindling) for hours and hours (no mosquitos, surprisingly!) and just absorbed the stillness. So, yes, I was staying in the property I had envisioned from the website and my conversation with the owner. And, with that, I signed up for a full 10-day stay in order to tackle my work. I was even so enthusiastic about this "find" that my college-age son drove 8-hours from school to visit me-we so enjoyed time alone fishing, hiking, cooking, sitting on the deck, sitting by the fire....just time to connect.
To be fair to vrbo.com readers (and I depend on reviews myself), the rustic wilderness part of the cabin does include some bugs. 99.5% are outside the cabin but I did have to manage the occassional fly or ant that snuck in. There were no mosquitos outside (not sure why since it sits on a lake) and we did not use bug repellant. There were no bed bugs nor cockroaches as the previous reviewer noted....and I did see where Tom as an entire arsenal of bug management tools-active and passive-that he is using to keep the wilderness from encroaching on the cabin. But, hey, this is a cabin set back about a mile into 500 acres- the wilderness wants to win! No, there is no oven and the kitchen is pretty basic. Everyone will share 1 bathroom and brush their teeth in the kitchen sink. There is A/C upstairs in the sleeping areas but not downstairs-it can get hot especially in the kitchen. Tom and Ann were helpful!!! I lost power for a few hours; they actively helped out. Would I recommend it/them? YES!
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Families with Teenagers,
Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: Thanks for writing this Bill! I'm really glad you and you family had a great time, and that you have honestly described what others can expect. I want to sing the praises of the wonderful property, but having others know what they can truly expect is the most important thing.
Helpful votes: 1/1
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