Gorgeous and Private!!!

Guest: Marc (Remer, MN)
Date of Stay: 04/11/08 Review Submitted: 01/11/11

I had been hiking in this valley the year before and was tickled to find out that we could rent this incredibly gorgeous cabin! Our group of 5 had an incredible long weekend of hiking and relaxing! This place has it all and the best thing about it is that you feel like you are the only people on earth!!! No traffic, no houses, no people, just wilderness, animals, fresh air and sunshine!!! A great cabin in a great location!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with teenagers.

Peace and Solitude at the Lone Spruce

Guest: Loren (Worcester, MA)
Date of Stay: 07/30/10 Review Submitted: 01/10/11

The Lone Spruce Cabin in the heart of the beautiful Black Hills has become a part of our family tradition. We have spent 10 days at the cabin every summer for the past 11 years. There is nowhere else we would rather spend our summer vacation. The cabin is tucked into a little valley, about a quarter of a mile off the main road, with an open meadow and a babbling brook. The meadow provides space for games and most importantly for star viewing. The nearest cabin is approximately a mile away, and there is absolutely no light pollution near the cabin. The Milky Way explodes overhead. On a typical night you can lie out under the stars and see at least one shooting star per minute and several satellites flying by overhead. We are an outdoor family. We love hiking, fishing, and mountain biking. There are new and discontinued forest service roads all around the cabin that provide excellent opportunities for mountain biking or for ATVs if that interests you. The views from the forest service road on the ridge across from the cabin are spectacular. There are wonderful views of Harney Peak and White Tail Peak. The walkin trout fishery below Deerfield lake is only a 10 minute drive away. There is also good fishing on Castle Creek, which can be accessed at various places within driving or hiking distance from the cabin. There is also ample wildlife in the area. We have seen wild turkeys, dear, antelope, and elk. The cabin itself is wonderful with everything that we need to call it home for a week and a half. It has a fully equipped kitchen. There is a gas grill on the front porch that we use constantly while at the cabin. The cabin has two full baths and can sleep 6 very comfortably and 8 if you use the futon in the living room. There is an air conditioner, but we have never turned it on. We typically spend our time at the cabin during late July or early August. While the temperatures may rise into the upper 80s during the day, it always cools off into the 40s or even 30s at night. It makes for wonderful sleeping. We also value our relationship with Kim and Marcia Benning at Heart of the Hills Vacation Homes. At this point we see them as part of our extended family. They have watched our kids grow over the years, and it is always good to see them as we begin and end our vacation. They take great pride in their properties. The Lone Spruce is always clean and supplied with everything you need.

Owner response:What a wonderful tribute to this perfect little spot in the Beautiful Black Hills! We often say that we miss too many opportunities by not using our own cabin enough. Loren, Lisa, Landon and Levi have experienced so many wonderful moments at this cabin, traveling thousands of miles each summer to do so. We live a mere 20 miles away and sadly have not experienced all the wonders described. We have, however, been recipients of many desserts made from the wild raspberries that grow nearby; picked by this reviewer and so thoughtfully baked for us to enjoy! Marcia

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

Beautiful setting

Guest: thagan (Princeton, MO)
Date of Stay: 07/02/10 Review Submitted: 07/08/10

We spent 5 nights in this charming cabin in the middle of the Black Hills. The cabin was clean, cozy, and had everything we needed. We enjoyed hiking and climing hills around the cabin. This cabin is very remote...about 20 miles from town. That was one of the things we loved about it, but was just a little bit disconcerting the first night. It is very centrally located - we were able to see most of the attractions without too much travel time. I highly recommend this cabin for a peaceful vacation!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, romantic getaway, families with teenagers.