10/10 Excellent
Barbara R.
27 Dec, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Barbara R.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Entire home
Boxwood House: Luxury FarmStay & Animal Encounters
Photo gallery for Boxwood House: Luxury FarmStay & Animal Encounters
Reviews
10 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 104000 sq ft
Popular amenities
Explore the area
Hillsboro, OH
- Place, Rocky Fork State Park9 min drive
- Place, Rocky Fork Lake10 min drive
- Place, Highland County Courthouse12 min drive
Rooms & beds
5 bedrooms (sleeps 10)
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Double Sofa Bed
Bedroom 3
2 Double Beds
Bedroom 4
1 Double Sofa Bed
Bedroom 5
1 Queen Bed
2 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer
Bathroom 2
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer
Bathroom 3
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet
Bathroom 4
Soap · Towels provided · Toilet
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Boxwood House: Luxury FarmStay & Animal Encounters
An hour east of Cincinnati & 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, Boxwood House is a quiet retreat from a noisy world - the perfect place to slow down, re-connect & create treasured memories.
Boxwood House sleeps ten 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).
Free Experience - We offer free catch and release fishing on the pond. Just bring your own pole!
You’ll have access to the entire house in addition 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 any 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.
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!
Quiet, secluded country setting.
You may be greeted by four friendly dogs when you arrive. 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, Boxwood House is a quiet retreat from a noisy world - the perfect place to slow down, re-connect & create treasured memories.
Boxwood House sleeps ten 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).
Free Experience - We offer free catch and release fishing on the pond. Just bring your own pole!
You’ll have access to the entire house in addition 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 any 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.
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!
Quiet, secluded country setting.
You may be greeted by four friendly dogs when you arrive. 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.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (6 reviews)
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
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
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 Paint Creek State Park.
Hillsboro, OH
What's nearby
- Rocky Fork State Park - 9 min drive - 11.1 km
- Rocky Fork Lake - 10 min drive - 7.9 km
- Highland County Courthouse - 12 min drive - 14.4 km
- Hillsboro Public Library - 12 min drive - 15.1 km
- Hillsboro Elks Country Club - 13 min drive - 16.5 km
Getting around
Restaurants
- Ponderosa Steakhouse - 13 min drive
- KFC - 14 min drive
- The Porch - 14 min drive
- Domino's Pizza - 14 min drive
- Subway - 14 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window10/10
Cleanliness
10/10
Check-in
10/10
Communication
10/10
Location
10/10
Listing accuracy
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
GRANT D.
9 Nov, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
GRANT D.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
10/10 Excellent
Jenny H.
27 Jul, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Jenny H.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
10/10 Excellent
Paula G.
31 Jul, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Paula G.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
10/10 Excellent
Mary E.
27 Apr, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great property
Mary E.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023
10/10 Excellent
Clyde H.
25 Jun, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Pleasant setting
Clyde H.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Angela W.
19 Jul, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing property
Angela W.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
10/10 Excellent
Jeff S.
14 Nov, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent country getaway
Jeff S.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
10/10 Excellent
Freda M.
5 Aug, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Serene country farmhouse, home
Freda M.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
10/10 Excellent
barb c.
3 Jul, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Spotless!!
barb c.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
10/10 Excellent
Jamie S.
3 Feb, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Country Retreat
Jamie S.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024
10/10 Excellent
Christian M.
20 Jun, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect Weekend Retreat
Christian M.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Verified traveller
31 May, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
More then a carriage house
Verified traveller
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
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
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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