Entire home

A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad.

Lakefront cottage with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad.

Nice catch!
Front entrance - Spring.
Front yard in spring.
Bird Cottage when entering.
Approaching Bird Cottage

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6900 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

View in a map
Palestine, TX
  • Place, Texas State Railroad: Palestine Depot
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Place, Anderson County Courthouse
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Place, Redlands Hotel
    ‪8 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Double Beds

1 bathroom

1 downstairs Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad.

A rustic stone cottage, a quiet retreat, a romantic getaway - whatever you call it, it's a little piece of heaven nestled in the tall trees of East Texas. It's so close to the Texas State Railroad you can hear the gentle call of the steam whistle. A 4-acre lake is just waiting for you to reel in your bass, or perhaps you'd like to help your son or daughter enjoy catching their first sunfish or crappie on a cane pole from the available pier. There's even a mini-pontoon peddle boat for exploring the lake or for another way to catch the "big one"! Bird Cottage is well named because of all the various species of birds native to the area that as bird lovers we often enjoy, so don't forget your binoculars and camera if you are a bird watcher, too. If you just want to escape all the noise, traffic and bustle of the city and need to recharge your batteries, then relax on the soft cushions of the metal gliders under porch fans with a gentle breeze blowing through your hair and with a good book in your hand and a wine glass nearby, or oversleep in the cozy bedroom until the birds wake you to another wonderful day. You'll feel at home when you breathe in the fresh pine scented air should you decide to take a stroll on the grounds or even jog to the end of the 1-mile county road and back. Participating in local activities and festivals, taking a one-hour trip to Canton for First Monday antique and curio shopping, or picking up fresh produce from local farmer's markets may just be what you’re longing to do, and Bird Cottage can be your starting point for those adventures and more. However you decide you’d like to spend your time here, we’ll do our best to make your stay as care free and special as possible. And, if you have a special request, just ask. Now what are you waiting for? Let’s start making memories!
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Picnic pavilion available for additional fee.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
We prefer small to medium pets with 2 as a maximum
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
This is a strict NO SMOKING property.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 80
Note from host: Picnic pavilion available for additional fee.
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
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Palestine

Located in Palestine, this cottage is in the city centre and on a lake. Palestine Community Theatre and Redlands Hotel are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Green Park and Davey Dogwood Park. Discover the area's water adventures with water tubing and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking/biking trails.
Map
Palestine, TX

What's nearby

  • Texas State Railroad: Palestine Depot - 6 min drive - 3.7 km
  • Anderson County Courthouse - 8 min drive - 9.2 km
  • Redlands Hotel - 8 min drive - 9.6 km
  • Palestine Community Theatre - 8 min drive - 9.6 km
  • Palestine Regional Medical Center - 9 min drive - 11.1 km

Getting around

  • Tyler, TX (TYR-Pounds Regional) - 57 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Whataburger - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Smoothie King - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Chick-fil-A - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad. located?

Located in the heart of Palestine, this cottage is 1.8 mi (2.9 km) from Texas State Railroad: Palestine Depot and within 6 miles (10 km) of Anderson County Courthouse and Palestine Community Theatre. Redlands Hotel and Green Park are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 111 out of 113 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 113 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 113 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 113 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 113 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jim G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet country space and perfect location for the rail trip.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful property and gracious hosts. Great place for kids to run around and do some fishing.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Danya R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We three girlfriends stayed for three days on this beautiful property in October 2025. What amazing hosts these two are! Beautiful, clean, well appointed property on a gorgeous fig farm!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tim W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfort plus

Bird Cottage was just big enough and the hosts are very personable. No complaints whatsoever.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tina H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet, peaceful retreat

Beautiful property and wonderful owners. This was a birthday getaway for my parents, and much needed relaxation.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patti S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful peaceful relaxing

Clean well maintained and hosts were amazing and friendly
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sheri F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Friendly hosts

Beautiful place!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tiana T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful stay at this lovely Cottage

We recently stayed at this Cottage in early Springtime when the TX mountain laurel were in bloom. It’s beautiful and the owners have every detail covered for a wonderful stay. Thank you and we are looking forward to another time.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We went to ride the train and found a heavenly oasis.

I’ve been to many places that promise solitude but you never really feel it, you DEFINITELY will here. So quiet, so beautiful. I will definitely come back if nothing else just to stay here.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brenda B.

A Heavenly Haven

A lovely little cottage on beautiful grounds where mind, body and spirit find rest and renewal. The most hospitable hosts EVER and not a single need unmet. Highly recommended and we WILL return!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sarah M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Romantic Cottage!

Bird Cottage was the perfect sanctuary for our wedding anniversary! Roland and Susan could not have been more accommodating! We look forward to returning soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Victoria S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing tranquil getaway

This home is well taken care of by the couple who actually built it for their own use.They have made a lovely property for guests to visit and share its amenities. Our grandkids loved the pond and visiting their chicken coop.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah L.

Peaceful and beautiful time with my family....

Roland and Susan are amazing hosts and made us feel like family! The property is beautiful and was so relaxing. The cottage is very clean and updated inside but still feels true to being rustic. Our kids were able to be kids and run around and enjoy the beautiful nature of Texas. We would love to return... top notch VRBO!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Amanda P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sweet and fun cottage

Bird Cottage is adorable and the owners are friendly. It’s located on their main home property but we never felt uncomfortable. They are very welcoming. Our kids played ball in the yard, fished the lake, took out the boat and fed the chickens. The cottage is clean and well stocked. The beds are comfy too! Excellent place to stay especially if you’re going to the Texas Railroad.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michelle H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful!

Loved this property! The hosts were very friendly and accommodating! This was a great get-away cabin! Hiking at Davey Dogwood park was awesome, and we also hiked in Tyler state part which was about an hour away. Downtown Palestine has some good cafes and a few antique shopping stores. It was a perfect mini-vacation and get away from the big city. Would definitely recommend to family and friends.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Diana N.

Far from big city stress but close to home

Just what we hoped for in a country retreat. All the amenities needed, plenty to see and do but still felt like miles from nowhere. Three kids and two adults fit perfectly with plenty of outdoor space to roam. Our hosts were more than accommodating and added to the experience by suggesting in town restaurants, excursions and even provided the worms for fishing in their pond.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Mary M., Magnolia, TX

So cozy and nice!

Such a cute little cottage! Lots of attention to details, including a towel warmer. Beds were very comfy, and Roland kept us supplied with wood for the fireplace. It was the perfect setting to get away to celebrate my birthday with my sisters. The hosts put up a birthday banner and left cupcakes. Very sweet and attentive.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Andrew R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing vacation and even better people

Cottage was very clean and had all the amenities needed. We spent most of our time outside in the large green space in the middle of the estate, on the boat, or tractor. My two toddlers loved every bit of it. Roland and his wife were very friendly and made sure our visit was nothing but top tier. They made sure we had everything we needed and respected our space during COVID19. We will definitely be making a trip back.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jasmin D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nothing short of AMAZING!!

We had such a wonderful time during our stay. The property is AMAZING along with it's hosts. There is so much to do we never left the property during the 3 days we were there. The kids loved wondering around and exploring and we felt safe allowing them to do so. The chickens were so much fun, my kiddos loved watching them and following them around. They thought it was so neat to collect eggs. The lake is beautiful and the paddle boat was a huge hit with my kids. I would highly recommend this place and we will definitely be going back. None of us were ready to leave.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lonni M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful!!!

Our hosts, Susan and Roland are just amazing. For our second time staying at Bird Cottage, they attended to our special requests and opened up their lovely property to us and our grandchildren. Our grandkids loved fishing and using the paddleboat on the lake, playing soccer on the massive lawn, and eating breakfast on the huge, comfortable porch of the cottage. The beds are comfortable, the kitchen is great for cooking a meal, and the bathroom is huge with a great shower. Even our little pup enjoyed his stay! Thank you again Susan and Roland for another great stay on your beautiful property. See you next year!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lonni M.

Our very best HOMEAWAY stay ever!

We were in town for our 50+ family reunion. I stumbled upon Bird Cottage on Homeaway. What an amazing find! The cottage is adorable and very comfortable. The porch has fans and gliders and is an amazing place to sit and drink coffee or just talk to family. The kids fished in the beautiful pond, played baseball on the gorgeous grounds, and enjoyed the loft in the cabin. Our host, Roland, is so kind and helpful and left us danish for the morning, orange juice, creamer, as well as a loaded Keurig for coffee. We loved the huge stone shower and all the comfortable beds. We are looking forward to coming back every year!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just Perfect for Thanksgiving!

My two adult children stayed with us here for Thanksgiving and it was wonderful. The cottage is simply darling and has everything we needed. The kitchen is amply supplied, the living area cozy and comfortable; and we loved using the fireplace that cold weekend. Beds are very comfortable and all the decorative bird touches to make it truly Bird Cottage were charming. It is set on a gorgeous piece of property that is delightful to roam. Our hosts were so welcoming and helpful, even when we had a medical emergency. Also very close to the Texas State Railroad which was so convenient Polar Express was AMAZING . Small note: The spiral staircase to the upstairs sleeping soft is quite small and tricky, but even my hefty adult son managed it. Many thanks to our hosts for a tour of the property and a delightful stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kendra G., Houston, TX

Adorable quiet retreat!

Everything about this bird's nest cottage is 5 star, including the owners, Roland and Susan. Great communication before, during and after my stay. The moment you drive onto the property, the stress melts away. It's beautiful! The cottage is well equipped with everything you need for a great stay - including a towel warmer in the bathroom and some amazing homemade blueberry bread!! It's perfect for relaxing, watching the cows in the neighboring pasture, or taking a quiet walk down to the pond. Likewise, it's close enough to Palestine where you can grab groceries or a bite to eat, or hit the Piney Woods Wine Trail. I booked the cottage for a weekend away by myself, and will definitely be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tracey J., Palestine, TX

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Anniversary getaway

Most relaxing place we’ve ever stayed! Absolutely beautiful, peaceful, quiet, secluded, cozy, and comfortable. I believe our favorite spot was the porch, which was always nice and breezy. From the moment we arrived, we could tell that Susan and Roland had gone out of their way to make this a special weekend for us. They were very accommodating, from the welcome anniversary flag, champagne on ice, and homemade blueberry bread. The decor inside and out was very meticulous. I can't count how many bird items are on display. The grounds are immaculate, and the fishing was pretty decent too. We would not hesitate to stay here again. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful cabin.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

SPRING BREAK FOR THE GIRLS

Everyone caught a fish except the wifey poo! she evidently was not holding her rod correctly! lol the girls had a great time and learned to drive! i think !!! bet Roland was tired of seeing my golf cart go by the house all day!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

About the host

Hosted by ROLAND OR SUSAN HARTZOG

Host profile image
We are retired an live on the property in the main stone lodge/house. I grew up in Palestine, went to the University of Texas, graduated in Radio-TV-Film and have worked for a TV station in Austin before starting my own production company in Houston. We have traveled extensively throughout the world and the US and Canada. We enjoy meeting new people but understand the concept of giving space where needed. I have worked on the property for about 20 years and we love gardening, landscaping, wine and are somewhat foodies..

Why they chose this property

The 8 acre property has a 4 acre lake, picnic pavilion that can accommodate 50 guests, fruit orchard (figs, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, peaches, persimmon & cherries) a greenhouse, cobblestone circle drive, central manicured yard, extensive landscaping throughout and is in a wildlife viewing area of East Texas.

What makes this property unique

We are the closest accommodations to the Texas State Railroad depot in Palestine where The Polar Express runs during the fall. The NASA balloon base is about 10 miles away and we are far enough away from Dallas and Houston but close enough to Tyler in case you're in need of something more than Palestine can offer. Lake Palestine is about 15 minutes away and has fishing, boating and other water related sports. Davey Dogwood Park is 5 minutes away should you like to enjoy the Dogwood Festival in the springtime.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests