We thoroughly enjoyed our week-long stay at this property. It's clear from walking in that this sprawling, nifty home was created and added on to over the years, by a family that loves to spend time together. It's absolutely vast...at one point we had 2 adult couples, a single adult, and 2 teens, and everyone felt like they had their own wing of the house.
The place is definitely eclectic, with much of the construction DIY, so expect to see very unique, one-of-a-kind stuff here. (Also expect a few small step-ups or step-downs while traveling from one end of the house to the other, so be certain that older folks who aren't so sure-footed move carefully from room to room!) The decor is also one-of-a-kind, with some truly beautiful antique pieces.
The crowning glory of the house is, without a doubt, the back yard. The river runs directly through it, providing a gorgeous soundtrack if you leave your bedroom windows/doors open. The gorgeous recessed fire pit was a real treat. We brought our own hammocks, but there's a nice big one there. And you could literally seat 50 people at the variety of chairs/benches/tables back there.
For pet owners, the property is pet friendly, but the backyard is NOT 100% fenced. (We found this out the hard way when our pup fled the house from a smoke alarm beeping that it needed a new battery, and he fled down a wildlife trail along the river and disappeared...only to emerge on the paved road a few houses down, thank goodness!) So be certain you are with your pup at all times when they are in the back yard.
The location couldn't be better, close enough to "downtown" to walk, if you want, and only a few minutes to Inn of the Mountain Gods or Grindstone Lake. (Note that the place borders Fun Trackers, so in the afternoons, if you're at the house, you'll hear the racing go-karts, especially in the back yard. The upside to this is that you can walk around the corner to play mini-golf or race in the go-karts!)
You won't find a property this lovely, river-front, of this size, that's pet friendly, at this price point ANYWHERE else in the region. We will be back!!