Entire home
10 min to Rocky Fork Lake ⏐ Gorgeous Peaceful Farm for Large Groups - two houses
Holiday home in Hillsboro with kitchen and balcony
Photo gallery for 10 min to Rocky Fork Lake ⏐ Gorgeous Peaceful Farm for Large Groups - two houses





Reviews
10 out of 10
Exceptional
8 bedrooms 5 bathrooms Sleeps 18 5898.6 sq ft
Popular amenities
Explore the area

Hillsboro, OH
- Place, Rocky Fork Lake11 min drive
- Place, Rocky Fork State Park12 min drive
- Place, Rocky Fork Lake State Park14 min drive
Rooms & beds
8 bedrooms (sleeps 18)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Double Sofa Bed
Bedroom 3
1 King Bed
Bedroom 4
1 Single Bed
Bedroom 5
1 Double Sofa Bed
Bedroom 6
2 Double Beds
Bedroom 7
3 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 8
1 Queen Bed
5 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Bathroom 2
Bathroom 3
Bathroom 4
Bathroom 5
Spaces
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
About this property
10 min to Rocky Fork Lake ⏐ Gorgeous Peaceful Farm for Large Groups - two houses
An hour east of Cincinnati and southwest of Columbus
Minutes from Rocky Fork Lake
A world away from everything.
Come visit a place in Amish country, where the grass is greener, your coffee is smoother and the stars shine brighter; a place where you can catch a few fish and your breath. Close to adventure, yet quietly tucked away on a 82-acre picturesque farm, The Open Gate Farm is a quiet retreat from a noisy world - the perfect place to slow down, re-connect & create treasured memories.
Located in Amish country, the quaint town of Hillsboro (established in 1807) is centrally located 1-1.5 hours from Dayton, Columbus & Cincinnati and minutes from Rocky Fork Lake and Serpent Mound.
Boxwood House sleeps 10 in a spacious primary bedroom (king), a cheery sunroom (queen sofa bed), two upstairs bedrooms (one queen and one room with two full beds) and a cozy library (queen sofa bed).
The Carriage House sleeps 6 in a large bunk room (one queen and three xl twins), beautiful sleeping porch (king) and a cozy attic room (twin).
Looking for adventure? Rent boats and kayaks or book fishing trips on Rocky Fork Lake. Spend the day visiting art or history museums or sampling gourmet eateries in Cincinnati or Columbus. Visit The Air Force Museum, underground railroad sites or learn more about the Wright Brothers or the poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar in Dayton. There is plenty to do no matter the time of year or the weather!
You’ll have access to 82 beautiful acres, including hiking trails through woods and pastures and across creeks, fishing in a stocked pond (catch and release only please) and sipping your morning coffee overlooking green pastures or beside a misty pond. Visit with our jersey cows, Dolly and Daisy, and take pictures with our two adorable valais blacknose sheep, Siegfried and Tristan, a unique breed from the mountains of Switzerland.
We live on the property and are available if you need anything. Feel free to reach out for your needs and to book hayrides and learning experiences such as making maple syrup from freshly tapped trees, foraging tours, gardening and bread-making classes & participating in old-fashioned farm chores. Visit our website at kinderfarmfamilydotorg to learn more. *Learning experiences are based on the season and host’s availability.
You may be greeted by four friendly dogs.
Also, we are in the country and, while the internet has good speed (usually between 30 and 150 mbps), sometimes phone connections via the internet can be spotty. We find this can be an opportunity to disconnect from technology and better connect with yourself, family and friends.
Minutes from Rocky Fork Lake
A world away from everything.
Come visit a place in Amish country, where the grass is greener, your coffee is smoother and the stars shine brighter; a place where you can catch a few fish and your breath. Close to adventure, yet quietly tucked away on a 82-acre picturesque farm, The Open Gate Farm is a quiet retreat from a noisy world - the perfect place to slow down, re-connect & create treasured memories.
Located in Amish country, the quaint town of Hillsboro (established in 1807) is centrally located 1-1.5 hours from Dayton, Columbus & Cincinnati and minutes from Rocky Fork Lake and Serpent Mound.
Boxwood House sleeps 10 in a spacious primary bedroom (king), a cheery sunroom (queen sofa bed), two upstairs bedrooms (one queen and one room with two full beds) and a cozy library (queen sofa bed).
The Carriage House sleeps 6 in a large bunk room (one queen and three xl twins), beautiful sleeping porch (king) and a cozy attic room (twin).
Looking for adventure? Rent boats and kayaks or book fishing trips on Rocky Fork Lake. Spend the day visiting art or history museums or sampling gourmet eateries in Cincinnati or Columbus. Visit The Air Force Museum, underground railroad sites or learn more about the Wright Brothers or the poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar in Dayton. There is plenty to do no matter the time of year or the weather!
You’ll have access to 82 beautiful acres, including hiking trails through woods and pastures and across creeks, fishing in a stocked pond (catch and release only please) and sipping your morning coffee overlooking green pastures or beside a misty pond. Visit with our jersey cows, Dolly and Daisy, and take pictures with our two adorable valais blacknose sheep, Siegfried and Tristan, a unique breed from the mountains of Switzerland.
We live on the property and are available if you need anything. Feel free to reach out for your needs and to book hayrides and learning experiences such as making maple syrup from freshly tapped trees, foraging tours, gardening and bread-making classes & participating in old-fashioned farm chores. Visit our website at kinderfarmfamilydotorg to learn more. *Learning experiences are based on the season and host’s availability.
You may be greeted by four friendly dogs.
Also, we are in the country and, while the internet has good speed (usually between 30 and 150 mbps), sometimes phone connections via the internet can be spotty. We find this can be an opportunity to disconnect from technology and better connect with yourself, family and friends.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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House Rules
Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
Events
No events allowed
Pets
No pets allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
About the area
Hillsboro
Located in Hillsboro, this holiday home is in a rural area. Hillsboro Elks Country Club and Snow Hill Clubhouse are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Rocky Fork State Park and Rocky Fork Lake State Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Hillsboro, OH
What's nearby
- Rocky Fork Lake - 11 min drive - 6.5 km
- Rocky Fork State Park - 12 min drive - 9.7 km
- Rocky Fork Lake State Park - 14 min drive - 11.7 km
- Highland County Courthouse - 15 min drive - 14.1 km
- Serpent Mound - 31 min drive - 28.2 km
Restaurants
- KFC - 14 min drive
- The Porch - 14 min drive
- Ponderosa Steakhouse - 13 min drive
- Domino's Pizza - 14 min drive
- The Patriot Public House - 13 min drive
Frequently asked questions
About the host
Hosted by Heidi Steffen

We are the Steffen family. Here we welcome you into a glimpse of our days and also our hearts. You'll find us flawed and broken, yet incredibly loved and accepted by God.
For years our family prayed about owning a farm. In 2021, miracles happened and our dream came true when we sold everything we had and left two acres in southern California to buy an 82-acre farm in Hillsboro, Ohio. Quietly tucked away among sun-dappled woods and rolling hills in Amish country, we are now the grateful caretakers of 'The Open Gate Farm’, a little slice of heaven here on earth.
Here we grow kids, faith, and a garden. Slowly renovating our farmhouse, farming a bit of the land and adding a variety of animals to our family have challenged and grown us (especially me, a former labor and delivery nurse) in ways we never thought possible. But saying we all love it, is an understatement. While there are frustrations and tears (mostly mine), there is also an underlying contentment and joy. It’s exciting to see God weaving an incredible story of healing and redemption, as our little family works together and grows even closer.
Kinderfarm is a family-run ministry; the kids work alongside us now that they're older. We value strengthening families, connecting kids to creation, finding balance, discovering truth, and experiencing beauty in the ordinary everyday - making life simple, yet significant. Our hope is that you find beauty, rest and maybe even a bit of inspiration here. Our farm, along with our successes and failures, is something we want to share with you through our farm-school learning adventures and farm-stay retreats. We would be honored if our family, or even our farm, were to be a part of your story.
For years our family prayed about owning a farm. In 2021, miracles happened and our dream came true when we sold everything we had and left two acres in southern California to buy an 82-acre farm in Hillsboro, Ohio. Quietly tucked away among sun-dappled woods and rolling hills in Amish country, we are now the grateful caretakers of 'The Open Gate Farm’, a little slice of heaven here on earth.
Here we grow kids, faith, and a garden. Slowly renovating our farmhouse, farming a bit of the land and adding a variety of animals to our family have challenged and grown us (especially me, a former labor and delivery nurse) in ways we never thought possible. But saying we all love it, is an understatement. While there are frustrations and tears (mostly mine), there is also an underlying contentment and joy. It’s exciting to see God weaving an incredible story of healing and redemption, as our little family works together and grows even closer.
Kinderfarm is a family-run ministry; the kids work alongside us now that they're older. We value strengthening families, connecting kids to creation, finding balance, discovering truth, and experiencing beauty in the ordinary everyday - making life simple, yet significant. Our hope is that you find beauty, rest and maybe even a bit of inspiration here. Our farm, along with our successes and failures, is something we want to share with you through our farm-school learning adventures and farm-stay retreats. We would be honored if our family, or even our farm, were to be a part of your story.
Why they chose this property
The beauty and quiet of the countryside is what attacted us to this spot. Rolling hills with a mix of fields pasture and woods make for a gorgeous setting. The clip clop of horses pulling Amish buggies adds to the scene.
What makes this property unique
Serenity. A quiet beautiful setting with a house that makes you want to stay and relax. The perfect place to get away from it all. Enjoy a hike, read a book, visit farm animals, have afternoon tea in the gazebo...all without leaving the farm.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
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