Vacation Rentals by Owner

Birthday/MLK weekend

Guest: Outdoor Lovers (Morgantown WV)
Date of Stay: 01/13/12 Review Submitted: 01/20/12

Our stay was absolutely wonderful! The cabin was very accommodating and Floyd was extreamly helpful. We loved the relaxing evenings in the hot tub and the ease of access to the local attractions. We would recommend this cabin to anyone looking for a home away from home. We definitely plan on returning! 

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Had a great time at this location!

Guest: Jo G. (Baltimore, MD)
Date of Stay: 11/12/11 Review Submitted: 11/21/11

Cozy cabin with lots of space to relax. We took beautiful day hikes in Dolly Sods Wilderness Area and Blackwater State Park with our ten-month old baby and two dogs. This was a great place to come back to at the end of the day. Nice kitchen, clean and spacious bedrooms, gas fireplace, hot tub. Not many neighbors this time of year. A very quiet retreat!

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

ARMSTRONG OUTING

Guest: sonodex (Pittsburgh,Pa)
Date of Stay: 10/14/11 Review Submitted: 11/08/11

We loved this house and the location. The only problem that we had was the hot tub was not working. We enjoyed the area and the restaurants. Our dogs were happy as could be to be able to be with us everywhere we went. The only thing we regret is not heading away from Davis to the other state parks. Lots of places to hike. We loved the house and it was everything that Floyd promised. The best part of this rental was the communication between floyd and us.......he was there for every need! Thanks Floyd, we will be back next year!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Senior trip

Guest: Jesse (Sardis, Oh)
Date of Stay: 06/20/11 Review Submitted: 07/06/11

My friends and I rented this cabin for a week. We had a great time. Cabin was very nice. Floyd kept in touch with us from the moment we inquired about the house until we got home. We fished, golfed and went white water rafting. We enjoyed the quite evenings and the hot tub. I would definitely recommend this property to friends and relatives. Thanks Floyd for your hospitality!

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

Very comfortable home

Guest: Rita (Snow Hill, MD)
Date of Stay: 01/20/11 Review Submitted: 02/05/11

We visited this home Jan 2011. It was very comfortable and clean. The hot tub was just a step away from the back door and made our evenings. In the evening you could sit on the sofa and watch the ski runs of Timberline. Excellent snow removal. The front porch swing would be a wonderful place to sit and enjoy evenings in spring, summer and fall.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

New Year's Celebration

Guest: Galina (Washington, D.C. )
Date of Stay: 12/31/10 Review Submitted: 01/13/11

My friends and I rented this cabin for a weekend to celebrate New Year’s Eve. We had a great time. Floyd kept in touch with us from the moment we inquired about the house until we got home. The kitchen offers everything you need to cook in, which made preparing our New Year’s Eve dinner very easy. We especially enjoyed the hot tub. We also visited Blackwater Falls which are breathtaking during the winter. I would definitely recommend this property to friends and relatives. Thanks Floyd for your hospitality!

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

Wonderful Ski and Family Get Away

Guest: Ski Family (Norther Virginia)
Date of Stay: 12/26/10 Review Submitted: 01/15/11

We have stayed in different personal property rentals-but this one definitely was at the top of our list. The owners were wonderful to work with. The place is very clean and well-maintained-and stocked fully with practical amenities. The rental is very conveniently located to both ski resorts-and has a lot of character because you pass through a small air strip to get there. You can also see one of the ski resort's lights at night from the front window-which added character to our ski trip. It is away from busy roads-but yet extremely convenient to skiing and the local restaurants. We would definitely come here again! It was a great family vacation!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Nice little get away!!

Guest: Greg (Slippery Rock, PA)
Date of Stay: 09/11/10 Review Submitted: 09/26/10

Was a nice get away. Was able to take our 2 children (2 dogs). The leaves were just starting to change down there so got to see that. Got to relax on the back porch and sit in the hot tub. Wake up in the morning seeing geese and deer and the fog lifting off the mountain and the sun coming up over the mountain. Got to see some nice scenery and just relax and get away from work. Nice little restaurant on site to get up and go to breakfast if you want or you can cook in the kitchen, whatever you prefer. Nice big comfy king size bed, wish we could get it to fit in our house!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, sightseeing.

Plan to Return Repeatedly to Celebrate Getting Engaged!

Guest: JKB (Aldie, VA)
Date of Stay: 08/13/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

Carminden is a lovely spot to stay and within a reasonable driving distance of several tourist attractions. We were only there for 3 nights but managed to make it to Blackwater Falls, Dolly Sods, Seneca Rocks, Smoke Hole Caverns, and Mt Storm. We cooked "in" many nights but managed to make it out to some of the local restaurants (all within a reasonable drive and reasonably priced). The view of the airstrip in the fog from the hot tub was simply amazing and unusual. We only wish we'd brought our dog - this has to be the most dog-friendly vacation spot we've been yet. We fell in love with one of the dogs from a neighboring house to tide us over LOL. The highlight of the trip was taking a scenic chair lift ride at Canaan Valley Resort and being proposed to! It definitely seems like magic happens at Carminden, and our trip was no exception. :)

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

Weekend at Timberline!

Guest: ealit (Marietta, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 02/26/10 Review Submitted: 03/02/10

What an amazing adventure! I was so grateful that Mr. Jones was so accommodating! Our trip was slightly rough, due to excessive snow, but it made the scene absolutely beautiful. The cabin is nothing short of an exact relaxation getaway! Timberline Ski Resort is only a SHORT drive, which is wonderful for an avid skier! The cabin was more than I could have asked for! Cozy, quiet and comfortable, it made my weekend enjoyable! The hot tub was gratifying after a long day on the slopes and the fireplace made my lounging on the couch feel like home. Big thanks to Mr. Jones, who was such a pleasure to work with. I look forward to returning next year!

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 12/04/09 Review Submitted: 12/04/09

My family, which is a son,daughter-in-law,granddaughter,grandson, spent Thanksgiving week-end at your home, and it was a perfect holiday,the home is so neat and clean, and there was everything I needed to prepare Thanksgiving dinner, the fireplace made it that much more like a old-fashion time, and we all were so glad to be there, and to top it off it started snowing the evening of thanksgiving, and that evening everything was covered in a blanket of white. Thanks again for letting us use your home.

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perfect getaway

Guest: tuck's mom (Hagerstown, MD)
Date of Stay: 10/19/09 Review Submitted: 10/27/09

Floyd, Thank you so much for sharing your home with us. It was perfect, They say what sells a house is location, location, location; your home has an excellent location to all the places we toured, Blackwater Falls, Seneca Rock, Dolly Sods and Cannan Valley. This was our first anniversary getaway, after 27 years! It will not be our last. We are already talking about next years trip. To future travelers, take a ride on route 72 - no large trucks allowed-one ride I'll never forget, it was breathtaking. We moved the deck chairs to the rear of the house to take in the beautiful sunsets. This was the perfect getaway in the fall.

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

Guest: Matt Campbell (Blacklick, Oh)
Date of Stay: 10/15/09 Review Submitted: 10/15/09

My fiancée and I, along with her sister and husband, rented this cabin for the first week in October. The fall colors were beautiful and there was plenty to keep us busy. We enjoyed horseback riding, canoing, ski lift rides and mountain biking among other things. The cabin setting was beautiful and we had no problems with the amenities. Some evenings were spent by the campfire or grilling and relaxing in the hot tub. If your timing was good, you could even catch a plane ride and view the scenic Canaan valley. Dr. Jones was very accommodating with regards to dates of stay and directions to the cabin. It was only a five hour drive from Blacklick, just outside Columbus, and I look forward to returning this winter for some snowboarding. Special thanks to the Jones Family. Sincerely, The Campbells

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Amazing Weekend!

Guest: Katie059 (Washington, DC)
Date of Stay: 10/08/09 Review Submitted: 10/21/09

My girlfriend and I went to the cabin to get away from DC. It was so amazing. There is such a sense of peace at the cabin, and the area is breathtaking. We had a wonderful time sitting by the fire, relaxing in the hot tub, horseback riding, and hiking. The best part was just doing nothing in that cozy living room. Thanks so much for a great weekend. We'll definitely be back and will recommend it to our firends!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/23/09 Review Submitted: 09/23/09

We stayed at Carminden for a ladies "get-away" weekend. The house had everything we needed & the hot tub was a great bonus! We spent our days exploring all the area has to offer and our nights relaxing by the campfire. Floyd was a pleasure to work with and we simply had an unforgettable weekend!

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Guest: Rob and Anne (Great Falls, VA)
Date of Stay: 04/13/09 Review Submitted: 04/13/09

Clean pet friendly home that totally met our needs. Very nice neighborhood. Owner is very available to answer your questions.

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Guest: Luan (Richmond, Virginia)
Date of Stay: 04/07/09 Review Submitted: 04/07/09

Rent a place that the owner cares about your vacation! We stayed at the house during the president weekend back in February 2009. Before our arrival, Dr. Jones kept the email flowing to make sure we were prepared for the trip. After we were there, Dr. Jones checked on us making sure we were comfortable and had everything that we needed.The house is decorated nicely and comfortable – making us feeling like we were at home. It is a short drive to either Timberline or Canaan Valley ski resorts from the house. The friendly neighborhood dogs would stop by visiting us whenever we got back from the slops and kept us entertained for a while. After that, we would enjoy the hot tub to relax our sore muscle from a day of hard work on the slops. Cooking is so easy with the fully stocked kitchen. After the dinner, we would relax in the living room to watch TV or just play a game (games are supplied in the house). We enjoyed our stay! We will definitely rent this house again in the future.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/09 Review Submitted: 03/08/09

We rented Carminden Cottage for 3 nights for a weekend of snowboarding at Timberline. We enjoyed every minute of the stay, from the cottage to the mountain. The hot tub was a huge plus, since everyone was sore from snowboarding. While there, my best friend proposed to his girlfriend on the mountain. She said yes of course! They will remember this trip for the rest of their lives. If we get another opportunity to come out here again, we will definitely stay here! Thanks Floyd!

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A relaxing place to unwind and refresh

Guest: a happy mom (Waynesboro, Va)
Date of Stay: 01/07/09 Review Submitted: 01/12/09

We arrived in Canaan Valley to fresh snow flakes falling, and were delighted to arrive at Carminden Cottage and find it so cozy and appealing. I came to the valley for a few days of skiing and reconnecting with my adult children before we all had to head off into our own hectic directions for the next few months. The ski areas are easily accessible, you can see Timberline ski area from the master bedroom which is nice. The house is comfortable, we enjoyed cooking together and sitting by the fire after a day of skiing. Floyd was wonderful to work with, even letting us delay the day of our arrival due to an ice storm. If you are looking for a nice place to unwind for a few days I would recommend this rental property.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/19/09

We just spent 4 wonderful days playing in the snow at Carminden Cottage. Thanks to Mother Nature for providing the snow to play in! This cottage is very comfortable and conveniently located to access all kinds of fun, winter activities: downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, snow-shoeing. We did them all! We enjoyed a great night of food and music at the Purple Fiddle. And we luxuriated in the hot tub at the end of each day. Many thanks to Floyd for working so hard to get the hot tub back up and running before we got there! We really appreciated all of your personal attention. We hope to be back again before long!

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Peace and quiet and...what else could you want?

Guest: Happy in Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)
Date of Stay: 10/16/08 Review Submitted: 10/21/08

We stayed at Carminden Cottage for 5 days for our 20th anniversary and rarely have we been so refreshed. We are self-employed and have 6 kids so we look for places off the beaten path to soak up some serenity. Carminden Cottage fit the bill perfectly! There are only a few neighbors. The cottage looks over beautiful fields to the mountains. There is a hot tub on the back porch from which you can enjoy the stars at night. There is a gas fireplace that turns on with the touch of a button and the most comfortable king size bed. We reveled in the beauty and the silence. A wonderful place for a quiet getaway.

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Happy in Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/20/08

We stayed at Carminden Cottage for 5 days for our 20th anniversary and rarely have we been so refreshed. We are self-employed and have 6 kids so we look for places off the beaten path to soak up some serenity. Carminden Cottage fit the bill perfectly! There are only a few neighbors. The cottage looks over beautiful fields to the mountains. There is a hot tub on the back porch from which you can enjoy the stars at night. There is a gas fireplace that turns on with the touch of a button and the most comfortable king size bed. We reveled in the beauty and the silence. A wonderful place for a quiet getaway.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/01/08 Review Submitted: 10/20/08

My husband and I rented the cottage for our 10th anniversary and had a beautiful, wonderful, relaxing time. Floyd spent time, money, and care to add extra special touches, including a bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge upon our arrival. The cottage itself is in a beautiful location, it's comfortable, homey, peaceful, and not too big for just the two of us. We loved being able to totally relax, cook some nice dinners in, and just enjoy the scenery right outside the door. Floyd took care to address all of our questions and concerns. We definitely want to go back. This was the first vacation in years that felt LONGER than it actually was. Thanks, Floyd, for offering such a nice affordable spot for a long weekend. Jolie and Bob, Pittsburgh, PA

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/08 Review Submitted: 07/19/08

We had a relaxing time at Carminden Cottage, it made our six night stay a great vacation to unwind enjoy the quiet location, it was nice to see that there was a place to build a camp fire in the evenings. If you want to get away from the hot summer days this is the place to go, the warmest day we had was 82 and nights got down to 50, no need for air conditioning here.

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Vacation with caution

Guest: Concerned renter (Springfield, OH)
Date of Stay: 06/29/08 Review Submitted: 08/30/08

Our family stayed here in June. We discovered many things to be broken or in need of attention. We spent 2 days cleaning. Lots of details that hadn't been taken care of for a long time. We didn't mind doing the extra, as we booked it at the last minute and it rained almost everyday anyways. However, 2 months later, the owner charged us our deposit for misuse, depositing our check without prior notice or contact. I gave him a list of all things we did, and a detail list of the things that we found to be broken and that needed attention. I wasn't expecting any compensation, as we know it is difficult to manage a home away from home. We have had such pleasant experiences with renting homes in the past. We like to leave things better than when we got there, to make it nicer for the next guests. Needless to say we were appalled to be charged for things that were not our fault. I truely believed after he discussed it with his housekeeper and maintenance person the matter would be resolved. The owner only gave us a partial return on our deposit. The home is a very nice home in a beautiful area. However, my recommendation, if you decide to stay here, is to contact the owner immediately upon arrival after taking a complete inventory of the condition of the home. Then follow up on your deposit. The integrity and communication of the staff and owner are jeopardized. Also, the listing is not completely accurate on amenities. When I see a listing, saying that the property is "Prestine", it raises my expectations to a higher level. This property in June 2008 did not meet those qualifications.

Owner response:As the owner of a beautiful vacation home in the magnificant Canaan Valley, we have so enjoyed inviting guest into our home to share in the wonders of nature that make this area so special. We also value more than you know opening our lovely little cabin to so many families near and far so that they too, can experience the true "magic" of Canaan Valley. The only time we ever hear anything negative regarding our property has been from families that for some reason have lost part or all of their security deposit. We have had to charge a security deposit only twice in the past 14 years. In this case the issue is $50.00 that we charged the family for breaking the rear screen door. We have over 40 very positive comments listed on our electronic guest book, as well as many more that have been left in the memory book on our coffee table beside the fireplace. What we are learning as time goes on is that a very, small group of people do not like to be held to account. When they are held accountable they take it personal. All I can say is that our vacation home is lovely! It has been and continues to be a prime destination for many families! If you do have any concerns or questions, please contact any previous guest, or contact me personally. Thanks for your kind consideration and continued business. Proud Owners

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

What a fabulous house to rent!

Guest: Kathy, Charlie, Bennie & Billy (Philadelphia, PA)
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/14/08

The house was beautiful and in a great location. It was close to numerous restaurants and state parks. The jetted tub was awesome, the kitchen was roomy and the gas fire place really made the place seem homey on a cold, blustery winter evening. Our 2 dogs loves the large back yard and the local great hiking.

Recommended for:Pet owners, romantic getaway.

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Kathy, Charlie, Bennie & Billy (Philadelphia, PA)
Date of Stay: 03/01/08 Review Submitted: 03/13/08

The house was beautiful and in a great location. It was close to numerous restaurants and state parks. The jetted tub was awesome, the kitchen was roomy and the gas fire place really made the place seem homey on a cold, blustery winter evening. Our 2 dogs loves the large back yard and the local great hiking.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/19/08

Floyd, I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you again for your help in planning our awesome trip to your cottage! We had been planning this trip for over a year and with my husband's crazy work schedule we had to reschedule our trip 3 times!! Floyd was GREAT about letting us change the dates without any hassle. The cottage itself was great! Everything we needed was there and the hot tub and fireplace was a big plus!! We made freinds with the local dogs and enjoyed a nice relaxing weekend in Canaan. We skiied during the day and spent our nights hanging out by the fireplace and enjoying the hot tub. It was everything we had hoped for and I am glad we finally got to go! We will definitely be back again!! Floyd was great and thank you again for all your help!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Allen Davis_HAC124706 (Morgantown, WV)
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/11/08

We loved our stay at the Jones's cottage. Location, location, location! You cant beat the location of Carminden Cottage. With a great view of both Timberline and Canaan Valley ski resorts you are right in the middle of Canaan ski country, only minutes from both resorts. Even though the weather didnt cooperate for the entire trip, we enjoyed coming back to the cottage and getting in the hot tub after a full day of skiing, hiking, and sightseeing in the area. Having a full kitchen to prepare our meals in instead of eating out was wonderful, it saves money in the long run, and we ate healthier than we would had we needed to eat out every night. Being a chef myself, I dont need to go out to eat great food - we loved having a full kitchen at our disposal. We will definitely consider the Jones's cottage for other winter trips in the area, though Ill stick to my tent during the warmer months. Thanks to all the Jones family for the use of their cottage!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: robin miner_HAC122250 (damascus, md)
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/23/08

Floyd, thank you for all of your help during our weekend ski trip. The cabin was great. We had everything we needed and the cabin was very clean. We were comfortable even with 8 of us! The hot tub was a welcome activity after a day on the slopes. Both resorts are very close by. We enjoyed the view from the front window! We ate at the Blackwater Brewing Company. The service and the food were wonderful. Floyd was a very gracious host. Thanks so much!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Courtney and Aron_HAC120526 (Key West FL)
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/12/08

The cabin was wonderful as usual. The hot tub really added to the vacation. The place was very clean and had everything we needed. The location is great, close to Canaan and Timberline. Really enjoyed the Blackwater Brewing Company in Davis. Look forward to coming back next year.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: CMeyerhoff_HAC119359 (Davidsonville, Maryland)
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/05/08

Interesting how all the comments listed are positive. Ours was a very disppointing experience. Be careful as some of the amentities and actual conditions of this property are not as stated. Fireplace didn't work, hot tub worked occasionally, beds were in bad shape and house is in general disrepair. Be wary and insist on assurances.

Owner response:Guest destroyed gas fireplace and were contacted to request reimbursement. After several emails regarding their liability to pay restitution they resorted to having each member of their party write notes to our guest book to damage the reputation of the owners. Please understand that a 100% guarntee is offered to anyone who visits in the future. They will find the property in excellent shape. Everything except the fireplace which is being replaced at the owners cost. Please feel free to contact any previous renter that may have left an email address to inquire if the property is in fact in the shape claimed by the disgruntled guest. As anyone in business will discover you cannot please everyone, no matter how hard you try.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Allen_HAC119396 (Annapolis, MD)
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/05/08

Your place is in need of repair, some of which are safety issues. The accusation you made about the fireplace was way out of line. You were quick to assume we would pay for the repair of something we did not damage and yet you have not offered a refund for the amenities you claim to provide that we could not enjoy.

Owner response:Another member of the same family. The fireplace was damaged during their visit. It is very unfortunate that they refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. It is costing me a considerable amount to have the fireplace repaired.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Chris_HAC119397 (Idaho Falls, Idaho)
Date of Stay: 01/01/08 Review Submitted: 01/05/08

The trip to your rental house was my xmas gift from my parents. I had some friends with me. We couldn't use the hot tub most of the time because it kept tripping out. You blamed my Mom for breaking your fireplace when we didn't even use it. And what's up with the books? Why would anybody want to read about sex and hiv on their vacation? The place needs some fixing up and you should take care of that before you rent it to anyone else.

Owner response:I rented our vacation home to a family. I was not told that they were bringing extra guests. It could possibly be one of their friends who tried to light the fireplace and did not know what they were doing and caused it to become inoperable. In the future we will insist that all guest pay a security deposit. It just takes one customer to cause problems for everyone else. We have been renting our property for over four years. This is the first hostile guest to have visited our vacation home. I apologize for their obvious attempt to damage our reputation as a premier listing on this website. Our record and reputation stand on it's own.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Trish & Ken R. (Suffolk, VA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/07 Review Submitted: 10/14/07

We stayed at the cabin over our anniversary weekend Oct 4 to 7, and had a marvelous time. Everything was just as presented in the pictures and anything extra we needed we found close at hand. The owners are very thoughtful and made a big deal of our first anniversary with balloons and a nice bottle of wine. We highly recommend staying here...two thumbs up !! The dog loved it too !

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Tarah Miller (Not Specified)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/15/07

We had a wonderful time at the cabin the past four days, as well as our child and our nephews. There were many great sites to see as well. We visited Seneca Rocks and Caverns, which was something we had never seen before. We recommend both sites, as well as tubing down a big hill at Canaan Valley Resort. The kids also loved the hot tub and pool nearby although it was way too cold to swim long, even in July. It stays really cool by the house which was good because the kids mostly played kick ball when we were home. I hope we can go back soon.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: The Westervelts (Not Specified)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/13/07

We came to West Virginia for a family reunion, not just with our large extended family, but with our smaller 4 member family, as we live many miles apart. The Jones house was perfect for us! We were able to reconnect with each other over family meals and just spend time together at the house. It was also very centrally located for us to meet up with other family, staying at the resorts or in other vacation homes. My sister enjoyed sitting in the front yard with our puppy reading a book and just enjoying the breeze and sun. My father and I both loved the hot tub and my mom just enjoyed having everyone together. We loved watching some of the smaller planes come and go. We tried several of the restaurants in the area and went to Seneca Caverns. We strolled the shops of Thomas and Davis, but somehow, a week just wasn't enough time to do all that we wanted. The weather was nearly perfect, with temperatures in the 70s in July! We had a great time and hope to stay at the Jones home for the next family reunion.

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Wonderful Long Weekend Stay

Guest: Riaglb (Wilmington, Delaware)
Date of Stay: 04/01/07 Review Submitted: 04/29/07

My husband and I stayed in this cabin for four days, along with our dogs Woody and Riley. We loved the cabin and the quiet nights, and found that four days was not nearly enough time to explore the area. We hiked at Seneca Rocks and at the South Branch of the Potomac, and also visited Blackwater Falls and saw a bit of the Dolly Sod. Our favorite place to eat was the Blackwater Brewing Company in Davis - pretty good food and excellent beer! Floyd was wonderful in making sure we had the information we needed. And, the HomeAway listing was exactly on target. Thanks - we really enjoyed the visit, and hope to return! - Janet

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/01/07 Review Submitted: 03/17/07

We really enjoyed our stay at the Jones cottage in WVA. The home was very warm and cozy, with all the ammenities available. A highlight of our stay was the wonderful hot-tub, which all 5 of us enjoyed after skiing (or before). As well, the guest information book provided many recommendation for eating/other activities, all located close by. Mr. Jones was especially friendly and did everything to make us feel welcome. Our family is looking forward to another opportunity to stay at Mr. Jones home and enjoy wild WVA in the summer or fall! Best wishes for a fun and relaxing vacation from our family to yours.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Katie_HAC74092 (Camp Hill, PA)
Date of Stay: 01/01/07 Review Submitted: 01/21/07

We couldn't have had better weather...we got a lot of skiing in and even a bit of hiking. The skiing conditions were absolutely perfect on Sunday afternoon. We all enjoyed our stay at the cabin very much. Cozy, comfortable and convenient!

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Alex P (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Date of Stay: 01/01/07 Review Submitted: 01/04/07

Dr. Jones, Just wanted to drop you a note of thanks for everything. Our Christmas vacation was wonderful at Carminden. The house had everything, and the details that make a home. Everything worked like a charm. The Jacuzzi was excellent. The neighborhood was so peaceful and everyone in the area was so nice. Kids (6 and 9) had never seen snow, were skiing the first day of class. They will never forget this vacation and nor will we. Alex and family.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/01/07 Review Submitted: 01/03/07

Great cabin in a great location. Dr. Jones was very helpful and really made us feel happy we rented from him.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: Ben Van Zile_HAC71222 (Orrville, OH)
Date of Stay: 12/01/06 Review Submitted: 12/23/06

We've just returned from our 2nd stay, and it was great! This time we went in wintertime and the contrast was wonderul. We could see the ski slopes from the front porch. The Jones' had done some redecorating and the place was really inviting. They also got us some discount lift tickets for the very close Canaan Ski Resort. We went to Blackwater Falls and took in the wonderful scenery. Between the skiing, the atmosphere, and the beautiful scenery all around us, our stay was perfect.

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Guestbook Comment

Guest: The Browns_HAC66174 (Pittsburgh, PA)
Date of Stay: 10/01/06 Review Submitted: 10/11/06

We stayed at the Jones' cabin for a getaway anniversary weekend without the kids. This was our first time visiting the area. Dr. Jones went out of his way to make sure that we had an enjoyable stay. The cabin itself was very comfortable and clean and was a great central location to do everything we wanted to do. Even though the weather was cold and rainy, we still had a great time. We browsed through the shops in Thomas and Davis on Friday and went to Sirianni's for dinner (awesome pizza). On Saturday, we went horseback riding with Mountain Trail Rides and then went to Canaan Valley State Park and rode the ski lift up to the top of the mountain (into the cold fog) and then hiked down the Bald Knob trail (this is a great hike with a beautiful view of the area). Then we went on to Blackwater Falls and did a couple of hikes there. We ate at the Golden Anchor on Saturday night and had some wonderful seafood. We used the hot tub both nights - it felt great after a chilly day. Sunday - we finally had a sunny day and could really see all the fall colors - we took a bike ride from the cabin down Cortland Road and then after we packed up for the day we spent a couple hours at Dolly Sods and went back to Sirianni's for lunch because we liked it so much. This is really a nice area with so much to do - we really could have used a whole week. We plan to bring the kids back with us sometime in the summer. Thanks to Dr. Jones for all making sure we had a great time!

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Guest: Bradley Schmerl (Pittsburgh, PA)
Date of Stay: 09/01/06 Review Submitted: 09/18/06

We had a very positive experience at the home. It was very comfortable and very peaceful, yet close to lots of amenities. The house was clean and inviting, and it was very nice both relaxing in the hot-tub after a day of horse riding, and sitting on the front porch and reading.

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Guest: Doug Holscher (Portersville, PA)
Date of Stay: 08/01/06 Review Submitted: 08/27/06

A tremendous place for a great family get away. Dr. Jones went above and beyond any first class service. The house was very clean and had everything we needed for an enjoyable stay. Its location provides peace and quiet and yet is within easy access of so much (too much to list). Thanks for the memories, we will be back. Doug, Melanie, Nicholas,Caleb and Mackenzie Holscher

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Guest: James and Tammy Wright (Stuarts Draft,VA)
Date of Stay: 07/01/06 Review Submitted: 07/24/06

Dear Dr. Jones, Thank you so much for the wonderful weekend at your cabin, it was very, very clean and comfortable. The whole family enjoyed the wrap around deck and the children spent a great deal of the weekend in the hot tub. The cabin contained all the items we needed for our stay. The surrounding area was beautiful, with Blackwater Falls being the highlight. Thank you Dr. Jones for going out of your way to see that we found the cabin and had everything we needed. We hope to return again soon.

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Guest: Angel, Matt, & Jill (Jacksonville, NC)
Date of Stay: 03/01/06 Review Submitted: 03/19/06

This was our first Ski trip and we enjoyed it so much and the use of Dr. Jones home was very nice my husband and i were so glad we didnt stay at one of the resorts because we were able to get up, fix breakfast, enjoy the fireplace, throw the dishes in the dishwasher and off for a day of adventure and then, came back and relax, and then off to the hot tub, our 4 yr old loved it. she had her own room upstairs and she really felt like she was at home. i couldnt recommend a better vacation. my husband had been in iraq for a year and Dr. Jones had the house decorated with balloons and a welcome home sign and a nice bottle of champagne chilled and waiting on us. it was very nice we will have so many memories, we are thinking on another trip next year when my husband returns from another year in iraq. thank you so much for the use of your home i couldnt have asked for more Very Satisfied A.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/06 Review Submitted: 02/22/06

One cannot help but think that they are staying in the home of a friendly family member. The Jones' home was clean, well-appointed and comfortable. Pretty much everything we needed was there for us, and Floyd was kind enough to check in on us just in case we needed anything else. While it was too cold to sit out on the porch (except during cigar time) it does present a warm welcome to the cabin, as well as shelter while in the hot tub. And the view of Timberline from the front door stands as a perfect reminder of why one would travel to Canaan Valley in the first place. We are very grateful for the opportunity to stay at Carminden Cottage.

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Guest: Aron & Courtney (Key West, FL)
Date of Stay: 01/01/06 Review Submitted: 01/22/06

We really enjoyed the new hot tub, especially after a day of skiing. The fireplace kept us warm in the freezing cold temperatures. We really enjoyed our stay and look forward to coming back next year!!!!

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