Great place to stay will hunting

Guest: Tommy (Crowley, Louisiana)
Date of Stay: 11/23/11 Review Submitted: 11/28/11

Really enjoyed our stay at cottage. We were deer hunting in Delight and needed a place to stay. Cottage was very close and had enough room for five guys. Mark made us feel right at home.We plan to stay again!!!!

Recommended for:Age 55+.

A Hone Away From Home

Guest: Dawn and friends (Indiana)
Date of Stay: 07/25/11 Review Submitted: 08/07/11

I'm so glad that we stayed at the cottage. It was clean and comfortable. I had brought a group of women together for an adventure in rock hunting. The first impression when we walked into the cottage, was "This isn't a cottage, it's a 3 bedroom home !!!" The pictures do not do the real place justice. Our Diamond hunting was a bust but going to Wegner Crystal mine made up for it. We spent 2 days at the Crystal mine. I think if we go back to Arkansas to hunt for diamonds, it should be in April not the end of July. Mark and Suzanne were wonderful host and their knowledge of the surrounding areas was exceptional. We thought that a bug light for the back door light would keep the bugs from hanging around the light. Mark did one better, he brought tiki torches and oil for us to use while we sat out on the deck. The chickens and goats helped us feel welcome too. Each morning one of us would go out and talk to them. Right before we left, I was almost sad to leave my little friends. I would recommend this place to anyone. In fact, I'd like to stay there again if we get back to Arkansas. It was truly a home away from hom. Thanks Mark and Suzanne for letting us enjoy your cabin.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children.

The Bell Family's excellent vacation

Guest: Chris, Terrell & Caitlin (Aledo, TX)
Date of Stay: 06/19/11 Review Submitted: 06/24/11

We stayed at this adorable cottage 6/19-6/23/11. We were very happy with the central location and surrounding area's beauty. The owners met us there soon after we arrived and were very friendly and informative. The chickens and goats were really neat, and the fresh eggs and veggies from the garden were wonderful! Ask Suzanne how to fix the cucumbers! Yummy! No luck at the diamond mine, and it was REALLY hot that day. The water park made the afternoon fun, though. Wegner's mine was great for a 2 hour dig- go early! We tubed the Caddo river even though the water was low- and still had a blast. We also did some bank fishing, not much luck- probably due to the jet skis! Overall we truly enjoyed this quiet, quaint, clean spot.The outdoor deck is great for star gazing. I can only suggest that you bring a large, lidded, skillet if you plan to cook for more than 2-3 people.(We buy frozen chicken and veggie skillet meals to cook on vacation). But that is a pretty small criticism for an overall GREAT place to stay. Other than that- this place should be perfect for your needs in this area. Thank you so much to the Wiley's- we truly enjoyed your property and the area! We hope to come back again soon!

Owner response:Suzanne took care of the skillet issue TODAY (had one at the house, ASK BECAUSE WE USUALLY CAN HELP OUT from the house..........crockpots, etc.) Thanks Bells.

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

A True Gem Near a Diamond Field!

Guest: Pete & Shana (Warwick, New York)
Date of Stay: 04/03/11 Review Submitted: 04/14/11

After a pretty rough trip, we arrived at the cottage and felt like we were home! The description of the cottage is accurate, but it is larger than the pictures convey. And I agree with a previous post that it was very clean; we too are picky about that! We had a wonderful time and enjoyed our stay so much that we stayed an extra night. We traveled to Murfreesboro in order to try our luck at finding a diamond. Although we were not successful, we did find a wonderful area with a lot to explore. Our focus was visiting the Crater of Diamonds State Park (which we decided was more accurately described as Crater of Jasper) and we spent a lot of time there. There are some wonderful instructional materials available to assist with the search for diamonds. We tried both surface searching and wet screening, and chatted with some nice people from Michigan at the sluicing pavilion. We also had the opportunity to travel to other places in the area. Lake Greeson was beautiful; Narrows Dam was a sight to see. Washington, with its historical buildings and information center, was delightful. We would have liked to take the guided tour of the historical village but did not have time. We ate at Fisherman's Cove in Nashville, but utilized the well-equipped kitchen for most of our meals. The fresh eggs made a perfect breakfast each morning. There is also a Sonic right in Murfreesboro that is adequate for meals on-the-go. Mr. Wiley kindly gave us directions, advice, and guidance. He is very knowledgeable about the area and is a pleasure to talk to. Pete is an avid treasure hunter and was given permission to metal detect part of the yard. He found a few old shell casings, and one vintage label from a sardine can. The goats and chickens kept us company and were very entertaining. The only disappointment was not seeing an armadillo, and we gladly accept it! I would absolutely recommend this cottage!

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

Family Fun on the Little Missouri

Guest: Mdr (Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/17/11 Review Submitted: 03/25/11

Not far from the banks of the Little Missouri River, Suzanne and Mark have a delightful fishing cabin that was our home away from home---complete with goats, chickens and delicious farm fresh eggs. What a treat! You couldn't ask for better hospitality. The cabin is spotless! And Mark is an expert fly fisherman and was generous with advice that truly made my trip with our sons complete. Four Michelin Stars! Oh, and after you fish and dig for diamonds, be sure to eat at Los Agaves in Murfreesboro!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great place to stay!!

Guest: Dawn (Illinois)
Date of Stay: 03/13/11 Review Submitted: 03/20/11

We enjoyed our stay at the cottage very much. The discription on the website was accurate but could not describe in full the beautifully decorated cottage. The photo makes the cottage look small but it fit three adults and two children comfortably. The cottage was clean (and we are VERY picky about that) and well maintained.The chickens and goats provided much entertainment for the kids and fresh eggs for breakfast each morning. Mark came by a few times...even bringing a crock pot for us to borrow while we stayed...and offered information on anything we asked for. He was very helpful and welcoming. We mined for diamonds for two days with no luck and plan to try again. We would definately stay here again.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Peace & Quiet

Guest: Larry & Robin (Independence MO)
Date of Stay: 10/16/10 Review Submitted: 10/23/10

We really enjoyed our stay at the Wiley's cottage. It was just as described and shown in the pictures, very clean with everything you need. If you want a peaceful and quiet place in the country, this is it. Our trip was all about the Diamond Mine, although we had lots of fun, no diamond found us! Mark and Suzanne are very nice and helpful. We had fun tending the goats and chickens. And especially enjoyed the fresh eggs every day. If the diamond fever strikes us again, we will be back to stay at the cottage and would recommend it to friends.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children.

Lil Mo's Quiet Wonderful Getaway

Guest: ACPRLF (Tulsa, Ok)
Date of Stay: 09/03/10 Review Submitted: 09/09/10

The cottage was so comfy and cozy nestled in a quiet and peaceful surrounding. My fiance and our 4 boys enjoyed our visit tremendously and look forward to coming to AR and doing it again. Everything was just as described in the description and we even had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Mark. If you are looking for a place to enjoy nature and relax in the comfort of a comfy cottage then Lil Mo's is the place for you! There are many wonderful things to do close by for family fun. We enjoyed our little goat friends, deer and chipmunks. Thank you for a great place to stay and spend some much needed family time!

Owner response:Welcome guys.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Little Missouri River Cottage

Guest: lisa (Port Arthur, Texas)
Date of Stay: 08/20/10 Review Submitted: 08/23/10

We absolutely loved it. The cottage was very neat and clean when we arrived. It makes you almost not want to go home. Kudo to Mark for being so helpful and friendly. Hope to stay in the cottage again next year.

Owner response:Thx Lisa for impromptu inviting the hired hand in for a little breakfast. You are new friends.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Perfect getaway for nature lovers

Guest: Nature loving family (Medora, IN)
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 07/06/10

Arkansas really is the Natural State and this cabin is perfect for Nature Lovers. We had a great time with our 2 kids (19 & 22) during our stay at the Wiley's cabin. If you're looking for a fast-paced, big city, modern vacation...please look elsewhere and save this cabin for someone who will enjoy it. If you're looking to get away from it all and enjoy your family and spend time outdoors, you will love it here. This place is really convenient to so many activities...Mark will send you a list for your convenience in planning...we loved Diamond Crater Mine (no luck finding a diamond), taking a drive through the mountains to Queen Wilhemena State Park (saw deer and even a bear on the trip), canoeing on Caddo River, Narrows Dam... Look for the armadillo in the evenings, his/her den is on the property. Everyone goes to the Diamond Mine and they have screens and a bucket in the garage to save you some money when you go to the mine. I hope you have better luck than we did. You have to eat at Buddy's and sign the wall! For a nice dinner, drive 25 minutes and eat at Fisherman's Cove...you'll love it and have leftovers for the next night's dinner. Yes, as you read in an earlier review, there is only one small TV, but if you're like my family, it won't be on much anyway. This is the place to leave TV behind and play some games with the family at night, if you're not too tired from all the fun during the day. Are you really going on vacation to watch TV??? The description and photos on the VRBO listing are accurate. The place is comfortable, well stocked with towels, blankets, dishes, etc. Washer and Dryer with plenty of laundry supplies means you go home without a pile of dirty laundry...yeah!!! Suzanne even stopped by to make sure we had everything we needed and were enjoying our stay! We'd stay here again if I came back to the area.

Owner response:Thanks much Robin. An accurate description of our area and our cottage.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.