Vacation Rentals by Owner

Serenity

Guest: Inga B.
Date of Stay: 05/04/12 Review Submitted: 05/13/12

If u anything like me (perfectionist with ocd's), than u will find this place to be an absolute serenity. I could finally relax and sleep

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Not enough superlatives for this Tenant House

Guest: Erin W.
Date of Stay: 04/07/12 Review Submitted: 04/08/12

Shady Spring Farm's Tenant House was absolutely delightful. The home has been renovated in such a thoughtful way - every detail is lovely and clearly executed with care to be true to the home's late nineteenth century origin, if I remember correctly from what I read. Everywhere we looked there was something that made us smile - from the beautiful farm sign out in front to the little bowl of marbles in the drawer beside the vintage marble run. After all, what good is a marble run to a six year old visitor without marbles? (Thank you for anticipating that!!) The house does feel historic - with beautiful refinished (pine?) floors, pretty wallpaper, appliances that look "vintage" but that work as well or better than anything you can buy today, old-fashioned comfortable beds with crisp linens and fluffy pillows, comfortable furnishings, etc. - and still has all of the amenities of today (wireless internet, DVDs, a microwave, central air ...). The kitchen is very well equipped; it had everything I needed and all utensils, pots, pans, dishes, glasses, measuring cups, etc., felt fresh and new and clean. The movie selection was extensive (sorry we didn't have time to watch any movies!), and the toys (marble run, Tinker Toys) and games (Word Spot, Scrabble) were terrific. The new claw-foot bathtub was luxurious. Everything was immaculately clean. It was wonderful to let ourselves in to this toasty warm, cozy house, to find soft music playing, to feel so "at home" away from home. The setting is peaceful and idyllic; we enjoyed wandering the property, feeding the trout in the Spring House, watching the cows and new calves, and the children *loved* sitting on the tractors. Barb and Tony were incredibly warm, responsive and helpful, and we couldn't have asked for anything more ... except to stay longer. We hope to return soon for a longer visit. Thank you for making us feel so welcome.

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An incredible place to ring in a new year!

Guest: Intrepid Traveler (Philadelphia, PA)
Date of Stay: 12/30/11 Review Submitted: 01/04/12

The Tenant House at Shady Spring Farm was absolutely marvelous! Myself and other friends (all young professionals) spent the weekend enjoying walks outside, drinking coffee sitting in rocking chairs on the porch and watching movies from a pretty eclectic DVD collection. The Tenant House was incredibly clean and great fun to stay at! The antique appliances and furniture transport you back to another time! The house has been beautifully renovated, the entire house is incredibly cozy and all the bedrooms offer beautiful views out onto the farm. Barb and Tony were so fantastic to work with - promptly responding to our inquiry, emailing with us and providing directions to the property. I would pick the Tenant House again and again for any stay. We traveled to nearby Berkeley Springs for an afternoon visiting antique shops and getting drinks at a charming bed and breakfast. Definitely stay at Shady Spring Farm - it makes for a great getaway!

Owner response:Thank you Alissa and Andrew - working with you to ensure your friends would enjoy their holiday together was a pleasure. It's great to hear that you enjoyed the farm as well as the surrounding area & that the Tenant House worked perfectly as a meeting point between Pittsburgh and DC! It was very kind of you to leave the Holiday treats. :)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect, Peaceful Christmas

Guest: wennix (United States)
Date of Stay: 12/24/11 Review Submitted: 01/02/12

We spent two wonderful nights at the Tenant house after a week at Disney World. The peaceful farm was exactly what we needed after all the crowds and craziness. Barb and Tony took care of every detail to make our stay perfect including offering a Christmas Tree package that was perfect and beautiful. The house itself is warm and charming and half the fun is discovering all the details they have put into the restoration. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a stay at the Tenant House!

Owner response:Working with Wendy to create the perfect Christmas surprise for her family, and in particular her daughter Natalie, was so much fun. Knowing that our guests are able to slow down and enjoy their time together while being here on the farm is so rewarding. Thanks to Wendy and her family for being such enjoyable guests.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The Tenant House

Guest: Sandy (Hummelstown, Pennsylvania)
Date of Stay: 10/08/10 Review Submitted: 10/12/10

The simple, unassuming exterior of this house does not prepare you for the welcoming atmosphere felt immediately upon entering. It is a very special house. Immaculately clean, the care and attention to detail that was used in restoration is very evident. It is so pleasant being in the house it is difficult to leave to enjoy the many activities and sights in the area. The house is surrounded by farmland with various animals; sheep, cattle, horses etc. Walking the lane on the property, which offers incredible panoramic views of pastoral beauty, provokes a delightful sense of relaxation and peaceful quiet. I find myself returning again and again and each time is better than the last.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Stay

Guest: brooke (Johnstown, Pa)
Date of Stay: 10/01/10 Review Submitted: 11/03/10

Barbara and Tony, Thank you so much for the great stay at your farm. Our entire family really enjoyed the weekend. Everything was perfect.

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Beautiful Home, Quiet Area,

Guest: Mark (Orwigsburg, PA)
Date of Stay: 09/11/10 Review Submitted: 09/21/10

Home is beautiful! I surprised my wife with a weekend stay for our 24th anniversary. She just loved the house and all it's furnishings, etc. Very quiet area, it was so peaceful sitting on the porch in the morning and the evening. We are both very busy and we needed a place to just get away from it all. This was the perfect place for a quiet weekend of pure relaxation! Thanks you!!!

Recommended for:Age 55+, romantic getaway.

Guest: Ken & Leslie Jadin
Date of Stay: 11/02/09 Review Submitted: 11/01/09

Thank you so much for your warm hospitality. The Tenant House is wonderful. We loved your place and hope to return. The area around your farm is so breathtakingly beautiful. We feel deeply refreshed.

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Guest: David & Melanie, Matt & Jen
Date of Stay: 09/06/09 Review Submitted: 09/05/09

We had a very relaxing weekend! Your farmhouse is ideally situated halfway between Muncy PA and Charlottesville VA. We are very thankful that such an inviting place is so well located. We had fun with the antique appliances, feeding the fish, walking in the woods, and generally just relaxing. We can't wait to come back!

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Guest: Roy, Dinah, Toben, Tristan Newton
Date of Stay: 06/20/09 Review Submitted: 06/19/09

A comment from our in-house guest book: Thank you! We loved your home!! We came here for our daughter's wedding at the golf course. Perfect setting, perfect weather. The wedding went well. We will remember your home, it made our stay very nice. We appreciate all the hard work and dedication that you must have put into this.

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Guest: Laurel8 (Philadelphia, PA)
Date of Stay: 06/02/09 Review Submitted: 06/02/09

The farmhouse is absolutely gorgeous: everything was renovated beautifully and feels old-fashioned without being at all fussy. The grounds are also lovely: the farm is set in a fairly high mountain valley, across a road from another small farm with grazing sheep, and feels deeply peaceful. The house was sparkling clean and well-appointed when we visited, which made for a wonderfully relaxing weekend. I only wish we could have stayed longer.

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Guest: Amelia, Alyssa, Laurel, Nori
Date of Stay: 05/30/09 Review Submitted: 05/29/09

A entry in our guestbook: Barbara and Tony, Thanks for this gorgeous place, for the care and effort you so obviously shower on the house, and for helping to preserve peaceful, sustainable rural lives. Like everyone else who's written here, we were so impressed by the sparkling cleanliness of the house and so relieved by the weekend away. Also, Max and Otis: BRILLIANT. :) Thanks again! We hope we'll be back. Amelia, San Francisco, CA Alyssa, New York, NY Laurel, Philadelphia, PA Nori, San Francisco, CA

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Guest: The Wiltons
Date of Stay: 05/25/09 Review Submitted: 05/24/09

A comment from our in-house guestbook: Barbara and Tony, What an idyllic house in an idyllic location! We had a wonderful time enjoying both the peace and quiet and our trips to Cowans State Park and Falling Water. Our only regret is that we are not staying longer and have to leave today to head back to Philadelphia. The Wiltons

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Guest: Jeffrey & Jeanette
Date of Stay: 02/16/09 Review Submitted: 02/15/09

A comment from our guestbook: Barbara & Tony, There's no delight in owning anything unshared. Thank you for sharing your home with us. It gave us pause, from our hectic lives, a chance to renew and refresh. Your home was everything we were hoping for.

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Guest: Jerry, Liz, and Benjamin Castillo
Date of Stay: 01/22/09 Review Submitted: 01/21/09

An entry from our guestbook: What an amazing place and experience! It was so nice to leave the chaos of the inauguration to come here to this peaceful oasis! My son loved the marble toy so much he kept trying to climb the stairs to get to the "balls" - he is just 14 months old. In just two short days this house feels like a home away from home and we can't wait to come back! Thank you, Barbara!!

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Guest: Erik, Samantha, Luke & Violet
Date of Stay: 01/02/09 Review Submitted: 01/01/09

A comment written in our guestbook: WOW! That's really all I can say! My husband and I were just speechless the moment we stepped in the door! Not only is this house breathtaking, but so is the area around it. It truly made for a very memorable Christmas for my family before my husband heads off to Iraq! Absolutely gorgeous! Erik, Samantha, Luke & Violet Finster

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Guest: Cheryl, Virginia, Sandy and Joyce
Date of Stay: 12/06/08 Review Submitted: 12/05/08

A thank you we received: Barbara, This was truly a wonderful, relaxing time for us. The home is truly an experience of living in simplicity, which I am striving for. Bless You, Cheryl

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Guest: Michael/Robin (Woodbridge, VA)
Date of Stay: 09/21/08 Review Submitted: 09/21/08

The 4 day and 3 nights we stayed at the farm were FANTASTIC!!! The local area has plenty of outdoor recreation and places to explore. It is a great opportunity to have a vacation without the rush of trying to do too many things. The local residents are friendly and full of suggestions for places to eat, shop, and explore. You will find yourself wishing you had a few more days when it's time to go. Thanks to Barb and Tony for a great getaway.

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Guest: Mr & Mrs Jeffrey Benson (Valley Forge, PA)
Date of Stay: 08/03/08 Review Submitted: 08/03/08

This home is truly a treasure -- what a delightful weekend! From the moment you step inside the front door, no detail has been overlooked. The house is a remarkable restoration back to the 1930's - the refrigerator, stove, telephone - just as if time stood still. This peaceful, quiet oasis has been created for visitors to enjoy and we did!

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Guest: N/A
Date of Stay: 07/15/08 Review Submitted: 07/14/08

An excerpt from an email exchange between myself and a guest: We were really impressed with how nicely the renovation was handled. It had an authentic feel with modern conveniences and we were so happy you didn't give into cluttering the place with kitchy knick-knacks as so many places feel the need to do. The floors are gorgeous, as was the quilt in the room we chose. We loved the fresh flowers and that the place was immaculate. We liked the historical society pamphlets, too. We chose to have all our meals in and I was also impressed with how prepared the kitchen was for a cook. The abundant sharp knives were a bonus. The only thing I could have asked for was a whisk or an egg beater. We enjoyed our stay and would be pleased to give you a good recommendation for future guests! Betsy Pittsburgh, PA Betsy, I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed the house. It's been four long years in the making. My husband will be thrilled that you noticed the floors as he worked an entire summer sanding them by hand and used dental picks to clean the cracks between the boards. I've added both a silicone whisk as well as an antique hand-crank egg beater for future guests. I also want to thank you for doing the dishes and leaving everything so tidy. We hope to see you again. Barbara Onorato Shady Spring Farm

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