Private Stone Cottage
- Cottage400 sq. ft.
- Sleeps: 4
- Bedrooms: Studio
- Bathrooms: 1
- Min Stay: 2 nights
Cozy 400 Sq.Ft. Stone Cottage with Jacuzzi and Wood Burning Fireplace
Bedrooms
Owner
Nancy Norton
- Languages:
- english
About Nancy Norton
Buzz and Nancy met in 1990 and have slowly transformed the property as they've raised their children there. Buzz is from Ithaca, and Nancy's paternal family has lived in upstate New York for almost 200 years. Her maternal family is from Brooklyn. They both love traveling, and appreciate the new ideas they pick up when away from home.
Nancy Norton purchased this Cottage in 1987
Why Nancy Norton chose Ithaca
Buzz's family has had a stone quarry here since 1956 when they took it over from Cornell University. Stone is no longer quarried or fabricated here; the quarry reclaimation should be finished in 2020, and the neighborhood is increasingly residential. We love the hillside meadow, the woods, the pond, the gardens, the orchard, the root cellar, the views . . . though with about eleven acres, it all keeps us busy! The main house was a Cornell Farm Service home Buzz moved here in 1987. After renovating the main house and raising our children, in 2003 Buzz built a garage with a 700 sq. ft. apartment for extended stays on the second floor. It was so popular, he built the stone cottage two years later. The tower cottage came along in 2012, and in August of 2014, the hilltop house was opened. Each is unique, but all are supremely comfortable.
What makes this Cottage unique
Buzz started with a blank palate here, as the property was old quarry land. If Buzz isn't golfing, he is happiest taking an idea from paper to stone and wood. Buzz enjoys design, and our travels have subtly influenced each new building. The local blacksmith, Duran Van Dorn, has contributed his unique style as well. Nancy enjoys the interior design, keeping the focus on guest comfort while considering sustainability and utilizing the local producers of fine furnishings, particularly Stickley, Harden and J.W. Southard. Guests are encouraged to make themselves at home - walk the grounds, relax on the patio, or the hammock under the poplars, or the swing down by the pond, watch the swallows by day or fireflies on summer evenings, maybe catch a glimpse of the chickens or observe the ducks on the pond. Nights are quiet and days can be as busy or relaxing as you'd like.
Amenities
Featured
- No Smoking
- Children Welcome
- Air Conditioning
- TV
- Satellite or cable
- Internet
- Pets Welcome
- Parking
- Heater
- Fireplace
- Accessible
Bathrooms
- Bathrooms: 1
Safety features
- Smoke detector
- Fire extinguisherOn the right side by the front door
- Exterior lighting
Location Type
- RuralHillside view
General
- coin laundry
- Air ConditioningWindow air conditioning unit.
- HeatingPropane forced hot air.
- Linens ProvidedAll cotton high count sheets and duvet covers, many organic. Hypoallergenic or down pillows and duvets available.
- FireplaceStone Cottage has wood burning fireplace October - May. Patio has fire pit weather permitting.
- ParkingOff street parking near rentals
- InternetHigh Speed WiFi
- Towels ProvidedPrimium cotton towels
- Fitness Room / EquipmentLet us know if we can provide yoga mats or resistance bands or weights. You are welcome to use the exercise room in the main house where there are rowing and Pilates machines (reformers and & chair).
- Wireless Internet
- Iron & Board
- Hair Dryer
- Shampoo
- Basic Soaps
- Toilet Paper
Kitchen
- RefrigeratorCottage has undercounter refrigerator.
- StoveCottage has an induction burner.
- OvenCottage has a countertop toaster oven.
- Microwave
- Grill
- Kitchenette
- Coffee MakerAll rentals have a French Press and an electric kettle.
- Toaster
- Blender
- Coffee Grinder
- Dishes & Utensils
- Kettle
Dining
- Dining Area
- DiningStone Cottage has seating for two. Shared patio has large stone table with chairs for five and 5 comfy arm chairs, a Weber gas grill, and a fire pit. A solar oven is available in sunny weather.
Entertainment
- TelevisionSpectrum Cable TV
- Satellite / Cable Spectrum Cable TV
- BooksApartment
- GamesLet us know if you would like to borrow a board or card game.
Outside
- Lawn / Garden
- Beach Chairs
- Beach Towels
- Deck / PatioStone dining table with market umbrella, five chairs, four lounge chairs with footstools, and a love seat provide a comfortable outdoor area for relaxing and meals.
Suitability
- wheelchair accessibleNo grab bars, or walk in shower, but bath chair with movable seat allows easy access to tub/shower.
- Long-term Renters Welcome
Pool / Spa
- Spa Whirlpool
Onsite Services
- Massage
- Housekeeper Optional
Notes
- Eco-Friendly cleaning practices, solar and wind powered utilities. A number of small appilances are available for loan if you want to use them - a juicer, an automatic egg cooker, a blender, an Instant Pot, a slow cooker - and more! Just let us know if you need anything for food preparation.
House Rules
Children allowed
Pets allowed
No parties/events
No smoking
Max guests: 4
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date.
Damage and incidentals
You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.
37 Reviews
Lovely visit
We loved our stay at The Hilltop House. Waking up each morning was like waking up in heaven- The view was beautiful. We will definitely be staying there again.
Magical
We stayed in hilltop house, which is a complex of a main cabin with a kitchenette and a sleeper sofa, a sleeping cabin, and a bathroom cabin. Charming craftsmanship throughout. The metal-, stone-, and woodworking is magical. Spend hours on the deck with coffee enjoying the sweeping views. Most comfortable sleeper sofa we have ever experienced. Enjoyed star gazing through huge windows from sofa bed. We are not fussy about bugs / critters - there were some and this is to be expected given the location and cottage atmosphere. Nancy was a fantastic hostess, great communication, directions etc. We’ve stayed in many Home Away rental properties and this ranks among the most memorable. We absolutely loved our stay and would gladly return.
A perfect escape
A wonderful stay at the Stone Quarry House! We stayed in the post and beam home (44B).
My husband and I came with our two kids (ages 3 and 5) and there wasn’t plenty of space for all of us. (This little retreat would also make a perfect place for solitude)
Nancy is a wonderful host, even roasting and grinding fresh coffee when we arrived. The house is beautiful, full of light, and very comfortable. The sunset view cannot be beat!
Also, the house is just a few minutes to downtown Ithaca, where we enjoyed many delicious restaurants and the farmers market. We also adventured out to a few waterfalls for hiking and swimming. A perfect summer vacation!
Okay stay
Stayed at the Tower cottage. Bedroom in the tower was comfortable and unique, shower was spacious, but the compost toilet and associated moths/spiders really took away from our stay. We had to minimize our time in the cottage due to the bugs throughout the cottage.
Thanks so much for letting us know that the moths and spiders are a problem. I'm so sorry it impacted your stay. This is a short term problem - it hasn't been a problem in the past. But I noticed it last week and I've been in the tower every day since removing them manually (vacuuming them up and disposing of them). Perhaps I will have to call the pest management specialist to take more drastic action. I try to avoid any chemical controls, but if they interfered with your enjoyment of the cottage, the problem may be worse than it was before your arrival! :-( Thanks again for letting us know!
Quaint, comfortable, retreat.
Nancy is an incredibly responsive host. Be it requesting restaurant recommendations, or with instructions to check in. It was easy to arrive, check in, and ease into a schedule.
We stayed in the tower which truly felt very fairy tale like. Unfortunately didn’t have hair long enough to let down and have Prince Charming come through the tower! We kept the windows open and has the best sleep on a very comfortable bed with super soft pillows. Waking up to the rooster and his harem was a real treat :).
Asha was a great guest! It was a delight to meet her and her partner. We would be happy to have them return anytime!
Map
Ithaca is a community full of active artists and musicians. It is a rare night that doesn't offer a live concert or theater event. The Cornell Concert series offers world renown classical and jazz artists as well as exciting world music. A veritable treasure chest of resident musicians frequently play at local venues. Famous for its gorges and state parks, Ithaca has countless hiking trails.
Sapsucker Woods Bird Sanctuary and the Cornell Plantations, which offer some of the most beautiful walks in Ithaca, are just minutes from Stone Quarry House. Nearly twenty screens at Ithaca's movie theaters show a wide range of films from blockbuster hits to lesser known art films you would only expect to see at film festivals or in larger cities.
Dine out at the world famous Moosewood Restaurant, or choose from one of many other fine restaurants in town. Ithaca is famous for its International Cuisine and carefully sourced local seasonal meals.
Other Activities: skiing, snowboarding
Golf: Ask about access to the Robert Trent Jones designed golf course at Cornell. Buzz is a frequent golfer, and he may be able to help you set up a time to play or advise about other area courses.
Ski: Winter offers its own fun: you can cross country ski right out your front door, or drive twenty minutes to Greek Peak, the largest ski resort in Central New York. Winter also means sledding and ice skating on our own Stone Quarry House pond, or one of three indoor rinks in Ithaca.