Most Awesome!

Guest: Patti (Downers Grove Illinois)
Date of Stay: 08/27/06 Review Submitted: 10/30/10

We actually stayed at Mr. Dunbars cabin a couple of years ago. I was checking to see what other people have said about their stay. This was the most peaceful and awesome vacation ever. I've taken Alaskan cruises and exotic vacations...but the one spent here will hold my favorite memories. My 3 grandchhildren came for an overnight stay from Gatlinburg and still talk about Grandmas cabin vacation. If I could, this is where I would retire! Mr. Dunbar is a very special person to share this with so many strangers. I learned alot about him from a google search. Please leave this comment, Mr. Dunbar. Everyone should know the caring person you are. My thoughts and prayers are of you very often...I'm really not sure of the date we were there, so I'm guessing at the date.

Owner response:Thanks Patti - This is one of the nicest notes I've ever gotten.

Recommended for:Families with young children, pet owners, age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, adventure seekers.

Great place!!

Guest: Dalllas Dad (Dallas)
Date of Stay: 09/26/10 Review Submitted: 10/27/10

We stayed at Mr. Dunbar's cabin during the last week of September, 2010. The location is outstanding -- set in the woods near the top of a small hill near the bucolic, tranquil town of Bagdad. The cabin itself is spacious, clean and comfortable -- the large fireplace is a great feature for the cooler evenings. The woods are marvelous and full of wildlife (we saw mostly deer and turkeys) and great for walking. The lake is serene and we enjoyed fishing from the canoe that Mr. Dunbar was kind enough to let us use. We probably did not bring quite enough fishing skill to allow the pleasure of having fresh fish for dinner, but the comments in log in the cabin led us to believe that, for those adequately equipped, the lake will yield nice fish. We very much enjoyed our time at the cabin. Mr. Dunbar was more than helpful and seemed genuinely interested in ensuring we enjoyed our stay. If you need to get away for a relaxing week or two where you won't be disturbed, consider renting this cabin. It would be simply fantastic for Thanksgiving -- bring your smoker for the turkey! Highly recommended!!

Owner response:I'm truly humbled by this wonderful review. I'm glad you had such a great time, and I hope you can come again.

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

Exactly what my editor ordered....

Guest: bill (atlanta, ga)
Date of Stay: 07/23/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

I am amidst drafting a book and needed a very quiet, secluded getaway to get my thoughts together and, hopefully, on paper. I found the Bagdad property and contacted the owner, Tom, by phone to get more details. He was very informative and most helpful....I decided to make a "test run" weekend before committing to a full week. The property is precisely as described on vrbo.com: rustic wilderness off the beaten path yet still with most of today's lifestyle comforts. I fished the 60 acre lake and hiked and hiked and hiked the 500 acre working farm. Tom even told me about the "secret" fishing hole deep into the farm woods. I don't own horses but the barn would have been a fine temporary home for any horses I would have brought with me to exercise on the property. I found the canoe, the pontoon boat and even the sauna that sits right on the lake! Oh, the quiet and solitude? Indescribable. I sat out on the deck in the rocking chairs or out by the firepit (stocked with dry wood and kindling) for hours and hours (no mosquitos, surprisingly!) and just absorbed the stillness. So, yes, I was staying in the property I had envisioned from the website and my conversation with the owner. And, with that, I signed up for a full 10-day stay in order to tackle my work. I was even so enthusiastic about this "find" that my college-age son drove 8-hours from school to visit me-we so enjoyed time alone fishing, hiking, cooking, sitting on the deck, sitting by the fire....just time to connect. To be fair to vrbo.com readers (and I depend on reviews myself), the rustic wilderness part of the cabin does include some bugs. 99.5% are outside the cabin but I did have to manage the occassional fly or ant that snuck in. There were no mosquitos outside (not sure why since it sits on a lake) and we did not use bug repellant. There were no bed bugs nor cockroaches as the previous reviewer noted....and I did see where Tom as an entire arsenal of bug management tools-active and passive-that he is using to keep the wilderness from encroaching on the cabin. But, hey, this is a cabin set back about a mile into 500 acres- the wilderness wants to win! No, there is no oven and the kitchen is pretty basic. Everyone will share 1 bathroom and brush their teeth in the kitchen sink. There is A/C upstairs in the sleeping areas but not downstairs-it can get hot especially in the kitchen. Tom and Ann were helpful!!! I lost power for a few hours; they actively helped out. Would I recommend it/them? YES!

Owner response:Thanks for writing this Bill! I'm really glad you and you family had a great time, and that you have honestly described what others can expect. I want to sing the praises of the wonderful property, but having others know what they can truly expect is the most important thing.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

PLEASE DO NOT STAY HERE

Guest: Disappointed Traveler (Milwaukee, WI)
Date of Stay: 04/25/10 Review Submitted: 07/28/10

Okay, so the first issue we had with this property were the COCKROACHES. They were everywhere, especially upstairs in the loft. Not a great sight to see when you first wake up. The second was that THE OWNER CAME IN TO CABIN WHILE WE WERE STAYING WITHOUT TELLING US. I should have been concerned when we weren't given a set of keys. This wouldn't have been nearly as problematic (although still concerning as we had valuable possessions like our computer there) if our dog hadn't been inside and escaped when he was surprised by the intruder. OUR DOG WAS MISSING FOR 30 HOURS. Terrible way to start a vacation. After fleeing the seen, Tom Dunbar did come back the next day to help look for our puppy. He offered to fully refund us whether or not we found the dog. Of course, when we found the dog, instead of a refund we got a letter referring us to his lawyer. Now, mind you, I'm a lawyer and could have sued him, but the point for us wasn't money, it was integrity, of which this guy clearly has none. I just realized too, that what I thought were spider bites I had received there were probably BED BUGS. PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DON'T STAY HERE.

Owner response: This urban couple was polite in setting up the rental, but either wasn't honest, or mis understand our description of our cabin. It is an isolated cabin set in 500 acres of forest. There are some bugs, specifically wood beetles which will occasionally emerge from hiding in these 4 ft thick beams, originally hewed in the late 1800's. We spray regularly, and usually shortly afterward, they will crawl out of the walls prior to expiring. We try to time the spraying to miss the rentals. We don't have cockroaches, nor are there bedbugs, and in the case of the latter, we have asthma covers on every mattress, so there is no possibility. As for dogs, WE ONLY ACCEPT WELL BEHAVED DOGS, KEPT IN A KENNEL any time the dog's owners aren't actively watching them. We don't allow them on the furniture or bedding. And THE CABIN IS A CENTRAL PART OF THE FARM'S OPERATIONS. We keep the paddle inside so that renters can use the canoe anytime they want. But the paddle was necessary to load the pontoon onto the trailer. Hearing the barking, despite KNOWING THE DOG SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN A KENNEL, since the renters had gone to the grocery, I closed the porch gates above the stairs, designed to hold pets. Carefully opening the door, with foot extended, the dog immediately ran over my foot, and being so small, and already apparently knowing it would fit between the bars, sped down the stairs and was gone. It would not come when called. This location is not the right one to train these basic skills, since there is no way to contain it outdoors. The refund was offered on the 2nd day of a week long rental, after a full 24 hours of searching hundreds of acres, dealing with owner hysterics and lawyerly threats, and when it was assumed by all that the dog was lost. The offer also included the purchase of a new dog. When, thankfully, the dog emerged from the forest on the 25th hour, the renters STILL STAYED THE ENTIRE WEEK! We considered the refund of a single day most generous, since the owner himself spent that entire day either looking or considering strategies for the dog, disrought, after the renters didn't follow the rules. Perhaps the renter's bites were due to walking for hours in the deep forest and high grass meadows in running shoes and running shorts rather than pants and boots. The letter referencing my lawyer was in response to bullying demands for full refund. We love dogs, but here's some perspective: http://norton.cachefly.net/JFK_CHF/support_chf.html

Recommended for:

Beautiful cabin - even prettier landscape

Guest: St. Louis Margaret (St. Louis, Missouri)
Date of Stay: 05/29/10 Review Submitted: 06/11/10

My husband and I arrived on a hot May night into the Kentucky wilderness with hope hanging on our sleeves. We wanted nothing more than to escape the harsh lights of the city and all the business that accompanies our lives there. We brought our 3 boys, aged 13, 8 and 20 months. They were not very excited about going without television for an entire week, but we couldn't wait. We climbed the steep hill and saw the towering poplar cabin sprouting out of the hill like it had been planted there as a sapling and tended by a nurturing hand. The cabin at Backbone Creek exceeded our expectations in many ways. The beds were among the most comfortable we have ever slept in and swimming in the lake was one of our great delights. We explored the property to the extent that the 90 degree plus heat would allow us, taking great pleasure in the chorus of the frogs and toads that errupted from the various ponds. My children were especially enchanted by the box turtles that crawled around the property. Evenings around the campfire were spent in wonder over the Whippoorwill songs that rang out from the trees. As it so happened, I was the only one who didn't catch a fish, but that was okay too, as I found time to splash through the creek with our two big dogs. Tom warned us that there would be bugs, but they really weren't that bad as long as you kept the cabin doors closed. I can't state enough how fabulous the cabin was. I was really longing to know the history. I'd love to see pictures of the restoration. The only thing that bothered me, in fact, was the small shower, but that was such a small sideline in the grand scheme of things. We will be back, but even now I wonder if the place could live up to the hype I've created in my mind of the best vacation we ever took.

Owner response:Thank you for all your kind remarks! The only thing I haven't figured out yet is where to put a hot tub! I saw an article in Mother Earth News this month, and it's got me back on solving that problem! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and many thanks for writing a review so others can see. Best Regards, Tom Dunbar

Recommended for:Sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, adventure seekers.

Guest: John & Stephanie Hill (Chesapeake, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 09/07/08 Review Submitted: 09/07/08

Mr. Dunbar, All we can say is, "Wow!" We had a woderful time in your beautiful cabin. We found the cabin to be a perfect blend of "old world tradtion" with "new world technlogy." The oringinl cabin part is filled with integrity and beauty. The upstairs addition makes you feel as if you are sleeping in the trees. We just loved our time in the cabin. We also enjoyed spending time in your pontoon boat and fishing on Trailwood Lake. Our nine year old daughter, Maddie, caught an 8+ pound large mouth bass on her first cast! It was a fish of a lifetime. We continued to catch fish throughout the weekend--although none as big as her first--but, the fishing was fun and the surroundings were pristine. Thank you for sharing your wonderful hide-away with us. We will definately return! Sincerely, John, Stephanie and Madelyn Hill

Owner response:Thanks for all, especially the story about Maddie's fish, and the wonderful pictures of the fish that John caught. He is a gifted fisherman. Nobody brings up the big one's like he does.

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Guest: Kristen,Gary & Tanner Kendall (Vevay, IN.)
Date of Stay: 07/24/08 Review Submitted: 07/24/08

Peaceful Seclusion! We stayed the week of July 13th-20th.The cabin is beautiful and the pontoon is a major plus!Also being Pet Friendly & able to take our little "boy" Tanner made it even nicer!We hope to make this a yearly vacation!Thanks for sharing this piece of Heaven you have! Kristen,Gary & Tanner Kendall

Recommended for:

Guest: Andreas & Katrin Ruben (Springfield, OH)
Date of Stay: 07/09/07 Review Submitted: 07/09/07

June 30 - July 7 2007 We spent a week in this beautiful cabin and enjoyed it thoroughly. The cabin is very roomy, very cozy - just the perfect getaway. It has all you need even for a longer stay - everything is in very good condition and very well maintained. We loved the peace and quiet and the lake as well. Go out on the lake at dusk and you can observe wildlife like deer or different kinds of birds. This vacation was wonderful relaxing.

Owner response:Thanks for everything, and I'm glad you enjoyed your stay!

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Guest: Kris Christensen (Goshen, KY)
Date of Stay: 09/27/04 Review Submitted: 09/27/04

My family stayed at the cabin over the weekend of September 17-19. What a beautiful time of year! The cabin is delightfully rustic, yet still has what I consider to be the necessities - hot showers, flushing toilet, and refrigeration. My husband and his family loved the fishing - caught lots of catfish! I loved the peace and quiet, the donkeys and the sheep. If you are looking for time away from the hustle and bustle - this is it! Thanks for the use of the cabin!

Owner response:Thanks for visiting, and please come again.

Recommended for:

Guest: Ann 8 (Nicolasville, KY)
Date of Stay: 09/07/04 Review Submitted: 09/07/04

Stayed at the cabin over Labor Day weekend and had a great time. No tv and no air conditioning reminded me of how it was when I was growing up. A full sized refrigerator with a freezer would be nice, especially for extended stays. Thanks for sharing your cabin.

Owner response:Thanks for your comments! I think a big fridge would be great too, and I'm looking at spaces where it would fit. 2010 UPDATE: We now have a big refridgerator, and air conditioning with window units upstairs, that don't block the view from the huge windows.

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