Elegant Wilderness Cabin 12 Miles From Northampton
About the property
- Cabin4305 sq. ft.
- Bedrooms2
- Sleeps4
- Bathrooms1
- Half Baths0
- Minimum Stay2 nights
2 1/2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen With Frontage On 2 Rivers
The Glow Room at Indian Hollow is a history-rich 1850 post & beam barn, renovated in a light-filled, post modern style.
Imagine getting out of your car, opening the screen door to a big porch that overlooks a leaping mountain brook, deep enough to dunk in. Then pass through the strap-hinged front door and into a glowing pine-paneled great room with giant windows, a big wood stove, 3 Chesterfield couches, dining area and kitchen. You see the forest all around you, but you're inside, ready to unwind.
Upstairs, the loft features the master bedroom (sleeps 2, queen) and a reading/games room (can sleep 2, futon).
Walking into the ell, you pass the bathroom, the 'room with no purpose,' and the guest bedroom (sleeps 2, futon) which opens onto the back deck, where the barbecue is, and the sound of the leaping waters.
In summer the lawn is thick and lush, and you are surrounded with pines, birches, maples and mountains. Chauncey Brook forms the east border & offers a serene and ferny welcome; overlooking it, there's a beautiful firepit surrounded by log benches. The southern border is the Dead Branch Brook with its refreshing plunge pools.
About a 1/4 mile downstream it joins the East Branch of the Westfield River, a federally-designated 'Wild and Scenic River.' We will provide you with maps and information about the area, which contains extraordinary opportunities for picnicking, fishing, hiking, biking, swimming, x-country skiing, snow-shoeing, photography and painting. And being alone, with someone you want to be alone with.
This property is designed to inspire the maximum enjoyment of the 15+ square miles of open space that begins at its doorstep. The Glow Room is a launching pad.
To amplify the quiet and help you unplug, there is no internet service (bring DVDs for your laptop). New cell phones work, but will drop out.
Owner
Robbie Heidinger
- Response rate:
- 80%
- Response time:
- within a few hours
- Speaks:
- english
- Calendar last updated:
- Apr 02, 2018
About Robbie Heidinger
Robbie is a ceramic artist and teacher. Kurt is an environmental philosopher & director of Biocitizen.org.
Robbie Heidinger purchased this Cabin in 2012
Why Robbie Heidinger chose Chesterfield
The Glow Room abuts Army Corps of Engineer flood control land so there are no houses, or any development, for miles and miles. Since it is the last structure at the end of 2-mile dirt road, the Glow Room is a place where you can or will encounter wild brook trout, moose, deer, bears, bobcats, coyotes, fisher cats, porcupines, otters, foxes, mink, beaver, sharp shinned hawks, mergansers and bald eagles. Much of the forest has not been logged for two or more generations, and looks and smells like a forest should. The brooks and rivers are as clean and beautiful as they get in New England, and since you live aside them you can walk for a few minutes, or hours, and find spots where you are totally alone, totally at peace. The name Indian Hollow refers to the history of the Rhodes family, Native Americans of the Nonotuck tribe who were famous from about 1820 to 1850 for curing patients with their homeopathic medicines, made with herbs they grew and foraged locally. The Glow Room was purchased in 1876 by Civil War vetHenry Weeks, whose wife was a granddaughter of Yellow Jacket, a famous Indian Chief of western New York. He deflected the Dead Branch to form a millpond, used the hydropower to cut stone and began to make and sell 'Old Norwich Scythe Stones.' The ruins of the stone mill are wonderful explore. Near the Chauncey Brook bridge, he set up a blacksmith shop and made knives and sap spouts, and repaired wagons and sleds. Later he had a store there. 'Historic Hampshire,' reports that 'Evening week day services were held in in a little hall over the Chesterfield Hollow blacksmith's shop, and when he worked late, smoke from the forge seeped up from below. Lyceums in the blacksmith-shop hall drew crowds of young people from the adjoining towns. The program consisted of a few recitations, songs by the quartet, the reading of a newspaper called the Valley Star, and a debate a question of the day.' This spirit lives on—
What makes this Cabin unique
The Glow Room is a sanctuary within a sanctuary. You can experience the vitality of the rivers and mountains, fields and forests of the Hollow, and then drive 12 miles and enjoy the boutiques, restaurants and cultural events that earn Northampton its title of 'Paradise City.' We always looked for a little cabin tucked away from it all, yet not so far away that getting there was a triathalon. When we first saw it, passing by after a June rafting expedition, we were sad because we thought it would be sold in a blink. But when we checked in late September, it was still unsold. Our first walk through revealed why—the place was about to collapse; it was a sick house, that had framed portraits of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E Lee on the walls. But we loved it. And it seemed to want us. About of year of constant work, first stripping it down to its bones and then carefully rebuilding it, restored it to health. Any person who spends a few days here feels better about life, because here you feel it thrumming all around you.
Amenities
- Heater
- Kids Welcome
- Parking
- No Smoking
Bedrooms
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 4
- Bedroom 11 queen
- Bedroom 2full size futon
- The master bedroom has a queen size mattress. The guest room has a full size futon. The game room has a full size futon.
Bathrooms
- 1 Bathroom
- Bathroom 1toilet, shower
- The bathroom has standard features, shower, no bath. We swim enough in the rivers (when it's warm) that a bath is redundant. We encourage you to soak in the flowing waters!
Location Type
- Mountain Viewsurrounded by Berkshire mountains, all preserved open space—12 square undeveloped miles
- Ski-Outexcellent river-side x-country skiing, right out your front door
- Water View
- Waterfrontlocated with 2 pristine native brook trout streams on edge of property
Theme
- Adventure
- Away From It All
- Historic
- Romantic
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- HeatingOil burner used only for back up; set at 60 degrees. Electrical baseboard heating in the ell and guest bedroom.
- Linens ProvidedWe provide basic sheets & blankets.
- ParkingPark right by the house.
- Towels ProvidedWe provide basic towels.
- Wood StoveLarge Jotel stove heats the Glow Room perfectly.
Kitchen
- Coffee MakerFrench press. Bring ground coffee.
- Dishes & UtensilsEquipped to service up to four people.
- KitchenAll standard features. Equipped to service up to four people. French press charcoal grill toaster
- Pantry ItemsBring, and depart with, your own food and beverages.
- Refrigerator
- Stove
Dining
- DiningEquipped to service up to four people.
- Dining Area
- comfy seating for 4 people
Outside
- Deck / Patio
- Outdoor Grill
Suitability
- wheelchair inaccessible
Attractions
- museums
- botanical garden
- health/beauty spa
- library
- live theater
- churches
- playground
- restaurants
- ruins
- synagogues
- water parks
Leisure Activities
- antiquing
- bird watching
- eco tourism
- horseback riding
- scenic drives
- shopping
- sight seeing
- sledding
- walking
- wildlife viewing
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- groceries
- hospital
- laundromat
- massage therapist
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- mountain biking
- cross country skiing
- equestrian events
- fishing
- freshwater fishing
- hiking
- hot air ballooning
- hunting
- kayaking
- cycling
- rafting
- rock climbing
- roller blading
- skiing
- snowboarding
- snowmobiling
- swimming
- water tubing
- whitewater rafting
House Rules
Check-in: 2:00 PM
Check-out: Noon
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. You must contact the owner directly to request cancellation.
23 Reviews
Latest reviews
Beautiful, isolated, comfortable
Really pretty property with comfortable beds. We enjoyed our stay but would be really great if you could add a front light and trim pine trees out front. Really hard to get into house on snowy dark night. Also a long handled lighter would be great for starting a fire in stove. We were left with only 10 stick matches and they get blowing out.
Comfortable stay off the grid
Comfy cabin with a great wood stove. Bring some books.
Perfection
There’s wilderness on your doorstep when you’re staying in this wonderful cabin/house. The Dead Branch River/Brook, flowing into the nearby Westfield River, is your neighbo(u)r (I am used to British English). You can follow it upstream and get a sense of being in the wild. Or take a short stroll to the Westfield River itself and wander around its banks (www.westfieldriverwildscenic.org). Or do your birdwatching right from your lazy chair in the smashing garden, with tons of beautifully colo(u)red warblers. It’s just perfect!
Nice Cabin- very remote.
A beautifully furnished cabin with the sound of the river as backdrop. Was tough to not have service or a land land and be so remote at the end of a long dirt road. A little disappointing that the river was across the road and no view of it. Also feel this property is expensive for what you get- would expect a few more creature comforts for the price... overall a beautiful cabin if you truly want to be away from it all!
Charming cabin in the woods
This cabin is light and airy, with windows on all sides. It is comfortable and cozy. It has a wonderful kitchen with sharp cooking knives (a rarity). And its location in the woods makes this a wonderful place to unwind.
Beautiful serene escape
The glow room is a special place. It has a clean airy uncluttered vibe which is juxtaposed against the natually choatic beauty of the wilderness. It is contemplative and inspiring. It was brought back to life by true artists.
Location
Our home is located 12 miles from downtown Northampton at the end of a dirt road, in the most serene, beautiful and wild part of Western Massachusetts. Visitors get to enjoy the best of nature and of culture—a perfect place to escape and unwind.
Availability
Additional information about rental rates
Base rate of $225.00 per night for 4 people. There is an additional one time $45.00 cleaning fee.