Reviews of Property: Classic WV Farmhouse Escape/13 acres/Great views/Pet Friendly

My family just returned from our fabulous holiday at Lost City Goats. Everything was exactly as pictured on the internet and more. The place was authentic and charming with a lot of attention to details. There were so many cozy places to sit with a book or to daydream. The beds were really comfortable, sheets luxurious, and it was wonderful to sleep with the windows open and the mountain air breezing in. The house has everything you could possibly need if you want to eat in. Fresh muffins on the doorstep the first morning were a welcome treat. The vegetable garden was in full bloom and we were able to take advantage by picking our food for a fresh dinner. My daughter loved her farm chores, feeding the chicks and the goats. I did my laundry and hung it to dry on the clothesline; that is really country living. We enjoyed our dinners at the Lost City Grill and The Guest House. We rode horses in the State Park and went Zip- Lining down the mountain. We also spent a lot of time walking in the National Forest right on our road. Mark and Phil were great hosts, always available to answer questions and provide information on activities in the area. All in all it was one of our best holidays. We have already recommended it to family and friends and plan to come back in the Fall.

This was a great place to relax and do outdoor activities. Just a few miles up the road are great hiking trails in the GW National Forest. We recommend Tibbet Knob, about 10 miles up the road on the left, amazing views...worth the hike! If you like nature and like to hike, swim, fish or ride horses you should have no problem keeping busy. We even visited a Civil War battlefield and went to a county fair. There was an info packet at the house with local attractions and things to do, but if you want to swim at Trout Pond or at the pool in Lost River State Park, there is a $3 fee for adults. Also, there is bad cell phone reception all around, but you can get service near the top of the mountain.

The house had more than we could ask for, towels, linens, all the kitchen basics, a cozy fireplace for cold nights, and the fenced in yard was great for our dog...she loved the freedom (and the goats)! The house was well maintained and it has that country charm...that's the whole reason we picked it....it was great.

The owners, Mark and Phil were wonderful hosts, they answered any questions we had about area attractions and were very helpful. They treated us like friends would and even made us muffins the first morning, they made our stay even more enjoyable!

We would recommend this place to anyone who wants to get away from 'city life' for awhile and just relax and enjoy nature.

I went to this farmhouse to get the kids back in touch with "real work" and learning how to care for real live farm type animals and we got it! It was a great learning experience, we got to feed the goats and chickens, help with the garden, pull weeds, etc. Everything you don't experience in the city! The peace and quiet was wonderful too! The kids had to learn to get along or they had no one to play with, they also had to learn to work as a family unit. I would definitely reccomend this place for people who need to get away frmo it all or need to reconnect with their kids. On the otherhand I could also see this place as a quiet getaway for couples who need time together as well. The area has a lot of walking trails and a sweet little "beach" area that will take your breath away.

The farm house was a fantastic get away!! Very cozy and the dogs loved the goats and chickens. I also had fun taking care of them. The house is comfortable and well maintained. We loved the area and will be back!!! Thanks for the fantastic muffins!!!!

My family of 5 plus 1 big dog had a terrific time in Lost River. We fed the goats, collected fresh eggs for breakfast, read in the comfy chairs, and hiked the terrific trails in nearby GW National Forest. We even woke to fresh muffins on Easter from our gracious hosts! The views off the back porch are stunning, and the nighttime stars are a wonder. Thanks for sharing with us!

This review comes a good bit after our stay in October 2008. My wife and I first stayed here in April 2007, and we knew then we'd have to come back again. Actually, we also rented the cottage down the hill for the week too and thus took advantage of a full family vacation. Our time at the farm back in October was especially poignant since little did we know that it would be our last vacation with our beloved Chocolate Lab, Chico, who passed away two weeks after our return home. The farm was just as we remembered the first time - clean, homey, and complete with everything we needed for our stay. We greatly enjoyed our time with the goats, especially our old friends Bo Diddley, Opal, and Pearl, as we remembered them from our first visit. Another highlight was the opportunity to take Chico all the way up to the top of the North Mountain Trail, just a few miles from the farm in the George Washington National Forest. And, it was hard to beat fresh eggs for breakfast followed by sitting in the sun room reading, or sitting out on the back deck taking in all the beautiful colors of another wonderful fall.

Phil and Mark once again went above and beyond the call of duty, but that was no surprise since their hospitality was something we remembered from before. Phil even called us both weekends to suggest the fall festivals in nearby Wardensville and Broadway. We took advantage of both and were glad we did.

The bottom line is that this was truly a wonderful vacation experience for many reasons. If you're looking for a place of great beauty and solitude, and where simple pleasures are the norm rather than the exception, then the farm is the right place for you. Phil and Mark, thanks so much for making your place pet friendly. We will remember this vacation for a long, long time.

We have just spent the most relaxing week at the Farm House. My husband Tom, my 17 year old granddaughter Kimmie, our dog Chloe and myself arrived the Saturday after Christmas 2008. We immediately staked out our bedrooms and Chloe choose the over-sized love seat in the living room. Mark stopped by and gave instruction on feeding the goats and chickens and Phil stopped by the next morning with the most wonderful muffins. (Phil, I still want that recipe.) This vacation was all about rest and relaxation and the Farm House was just what we needed. Kimmie and I loved feeding the chickens and the goats. And of course the turkey that thinks he is a goat. I looked forward to that each morning. And every evening, I looked forward to soaking in the claw foot tub. Tuesday morning we awoke to snow showers. Not enough to stick but it was wonderful sitting in the back sun room watching the snow flakes dance in the wind and skip across the deck. It could have snowed us in for days and I would have been very content. Speaking of content, Kimmie spent many hours on her laptop, the Internet was a life saver for her since there is no cell phone service. She did finally buy a phone card so she could call her friends. Me, I was very happy no one could reach me. Oh, I can't forget the stars. They are amazing. We will definitely be back, maybe in the summer. I would love to work in the garden and take advantage of some of the attractions that are not open in the winter. The house and the hosts are wonderful, you won't be disappointed. Thumbs up on this place!

This was our second stay at the Farmhouse. We had to come back because we enjoyed our first stay so much.

We stayed in early October 2008 and had a great time. We hiked in the George Washington National Forest (which we had done before) and in Lost River State Park which is close by and has quite a few trails that are well maintained and provide excellent views. We saw quite a few wild turkeys and deer. We also took advantage of the stable in the park (Hidden Trails Stables) and had a wonderful ride up to the highest point in the park which culminates in a magnificent view at Cranny Crow Overlook. The park is pretty deserted in October and a lot of things are closed, so call early to arrange things. There are mountain biking trails but I think only the most experienced riders should try those (not me).

We also canoed down the Shenandoah River. We used Shenandoah River Outfitters near Luray, Va. They were great and let us take our dog with us. However, the main reason we used them was that all of the outfitters closer to the cabin we either closed or were not open on the day we wanted to canoe. Again, if you go this time of year, be sure to call places as far in advance as you can to make sure you are able to schedule everything.

We had a great dinner at the Inn at Lost River. The food was top-notch and the service was very friendly. It was unfortunate that the 1853 restaurant in Moorefield has closed, but the Inn was a more than able substitute.

We also had a great lunch and wonderful ice cream at the Lost River General Store. This is a few hundred yards from the Lost River Co-op which is a nice place for arts and craft.

The arts and crafts festival in Wardensville had a large and interesting selection of flea market items as well as arts and crafts, music and good food.

We made the drive to Romney and walked the Fort Mill Ridge war trenches and the Indian Mound Cemetery.

Although there is so much to do, the main reason we intend to return is the generous hospitality of Phil and Mark. They keep you supplied with muffins, fresh eggs and good advice. They provide the perfect combination of hospitality and privacy to let you enjoy the house and area while making certain you have a very good time.