With stunning, ever-changing views of perennial gardens and woodlands, this contemporary home is a serene zen influenced sanctuary located in a rural town in the 5 College area of W. Mass. Take advantage of the cultural, academic and social scenes and then return “home” to enjoy the comforts, recreation and beauty of this home. Nestled in a clearing in the woods off the main road, the house is extremely private and secluded, the grounds are beautiful and relaxing. Our large, contemporary, home is a great place for family reunions, intimate gatherings or a romantic getaway. The spacious home can easily accommodate eight or more people yet is cozy and comfortable for just two. The kitchen features a professional gas stove, and lots of counters for food prep and entertaining. The spacious living-dining room has a modern wood stove, comfortable furniture and is fairly “child safe”. Huge thermal windows bring the outside in, making the interior bright and airy. The elevated main floor optimizes the views of the surrounding gardens and woods.
Four large bedrooms include a king size bed in the master bedroom and queen-size beds in the upstairs and finished basement rooms. The ground floor features an entertainment area with video, audio, piano and assorted instruments. There is even a pool table, as well as ping-pong. Comfortable couches encourage conversation and can double as beds if you have a large group.
The hot tub on the back deck has a view of the Japanese Tori garden and a Koi pond. Enjoy the natural sounds of the small waterfall that flows into the pond. Walk in the acres of woods that surround the house. The deck is a great place to eat and entertain.
There are many places to hike, bike, kayak, snowshoe and cross-country ski nearby. Located just 20 minutes from Amherst, 30 minutes from Greenfield and Northampton, and about an hour and a half from Bradley Airport. Nearby interstate highways and Rt 2 will get you to Boston and Albany within 2 hours. WiFi equipped.
I'm sure you will enjoy Evergreen!
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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
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number C0102402720
About the area
Shutesbury
Located in Shutesbury, this holiday home is in a rural area. Emily Dickinson Museum and Montague Bookmill are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Elements Hot Tub Spa and Amherst Farm Winery. Travelling with kids? Consider Maze and UMass Fine Arts Center. Take the opportunity to explore the area for outdoor excitement like hiking/biking trails.
University of Massachusetts Amherst - 22 min drive - 17.1 km
Amherst College - 26 min drive - 21.7 km
Emily Dickinson Museum - 26 min drive - 21.7 km
Getting around
Amherst Station - 20 min drive
Westfield, MA (BAF-Barnes Municipal) - 52 min drive
Restaurants
Cushman Market & Cafe - 17 min drive
Shutesbury Athletic Club - 6 min drive
Deja Brew Cafe & Pub - 17 min drive
Quabbin Sky Vineyard - 11 min drive
Village co-op - 11 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Gorgeous Country Home, pet-friendly?
No, only service animals are welcome at the property.
How much does it cost to stay at Gorgeous Country Home, ?
As of 13 Apr, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Gorgeous Country Home, on 31 Jul, 2026 start from S$541, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Gorgeous Country Home, ?
On-site parking is available at the property.
Where is Gorgeous Country Home, located?
This family-friendly Shutesbury holiday home is located in a rural location, 2.7 mi (4.4 km) from Lake Wyola State Park, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Maze and Puffers Pond South Beach. University of Massachusetts Amherst and Quabbin Reservoir Watershed Reservation are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Amazing! Peaceful, beautifully decorated, everything that you need for spending relaxing time away from home. The garden is a piece of art. You would like to spend all your time outside! The owners truly love their place and put their soul into it. The communication was great and check-in/out was very easy. John, thank you so much for sharing your home with us! Michael and Natalia
Natalia J.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Sept, 2025
And thank you for taking such good care of my home!
John
My wife and kids stayed at Evergreen for 3 nights while we celebrated a wedding in the area. The photos of the home and property were nice, but they pale in comparison to reality. Evergreen is a magical place and John made us feel so very welcome in his home. I can't say enough about the outdoor spaces - you have to see it to believe it. If we ever have reason to go back to this area, we will definitely stay at Evergreen again.
Peaceful and serene large house on precious country property. Still close to Amherst and Northampton. Used the ping pong table. Enjoyed hot tub amid a light snowfall. Really enjoyed our stay!
Loved the large garden, variety of birds and wildlife. Very spacious inside and out. The kids had a blast with the pool table and piano. If I’m ever in the area again, I would love to stay again.
The accommodations were great. Perfect for our needs. You can tell the owner puts a lot of care into his yard/grounds. Easy communication with him and check in. There was a book that answered all questions. We had a group staying for the weekend. The only issue we all agreed upon was the refrigerator/freezer could have been cleaner.
I stayed here for new years with friends and we all loved Evergreen. I wish I could have seen the garden in season, because even in winter it was still beautiful and all the indoor plants made it feel like it was spring anyway. The kitchen and baths had everything we needed and the beds were very comfortable. The stars are highly visible and there's nothing better than relaxing in a hot tub looking at the crisp night sky. Thank you John!
Brittany L.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Verified
4/10 Poor
Joan S.
29 Aug, 2024
Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, location
Remote and not clean to my standards.
The home and the property are lovely. However locating the home was not easy and the drive to the home included over 2 miles of dirt road through a wooded area. The home seems to be someone’s actual home. There were many belongings visible there were dirty towels. Also the basement which is where one of the bedrooms is located has a musty smell preventing anyone from using it. We only stayed one night and the. Moved to a hotel
This was a great Covid Christmas house with immunocompromised family because windows could be opened slightly while the wood burning stove burned wood. We did bring our own as owner did not have his for sale. It also had a fire pit for outside time when the weather was freezing. We loved being together and this home was near my sister, husband, and college age niece who visited each night. The beds were comfortable and the kitchen had plenty of room and it was stocked with cooking items, even a salad spinner! I highly recommend this unique home.
Stunning home with jaw dropping Zen Garden.
It was beyond beautiful. I
Secured this residence for my daughter’s wedding, for bride, her maids and myself.
Then the second night for 7 out of town friends attending the ceremony.
It was a perfectly appointed home with everything you could need.
More importantly, the owner couldn’t have been more supportive regarding my concerns.
The Zen vibe of the house and gardens, brought me back to my teen yrs when I was immersed into that Zen culture.
Truly a magical place. Peaceful, spiritual and calm. Everything I needed as an anxious MOTB. Many thanks for the owner.
Claire T.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Judy H.
13 Sept, 2018
In a few words: Extraordinary, exceptionally beautiful, serene and in harmony with nature.
John has probably heard every version of complement possible about his property, I am happy to add mine to them. First of all he was a very nice, accommodating and understanding host. He was easy to reach, helpful, flexible and communicative. I live one town over and arranged this rental for family. I couldn’t have been happier to have found such an elegant home in the neighborhood and my adult children were overjoyed. We all celebrated my birthday there on Sunday with an omelette bar cooked up by my son and daughter-in-law and the kitchen was perfect for that. We also spent time together on the back patio, walked the labyrinth and gardens and enjoyed the hot tub. I really mean it when I say that John’s home was an ideal setting for a soulful family gathering.
Judy H.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Mar, 2020
Thank you for such kind words Judy, your family was the ideal group to rent to. I really appreciate how well you cared for my home and if the need arises again, I am very happy to repeat the rental.
We stayed with friends and our kids (1 and 4) and found the property to be well-maintained, very clean, and beautiful. It was well-appointed with clean towels & linens, as well as having several clean bathrooms and a great kitchen w/ all major appliances. The wi-fi (was fast for us) may be needed as cell service is spotty in Shutesbury depending on the network. There is a land line in place as well as extiguishers and smoke detectors. There are a few child-proofing things we did to make it friendly for our kids (moving pretty statues/glass bowls, art etc) to higher locations out of reach, and keeping an eye on them in the back as there is a koi pond. I think this house is one we definitely would stay at again. I think a phone call with the owner a week before one's reservation would be helpful, in order to more efficiently explain the house rules/procedures, etc, but some could be said for any VRBO home of course. I like that the owner availed himself of us (we didn't meet in person but was readily available via cell phone/text). Thanks a lot John.
We had a great time at the Evergreen home! The house and property are beautiful, and we loved the outside space (especially the hot tub + fire pit) and adjacent trails for leisurely strolls. We felt like we were the only people around for miles! Especially with great weather, there was plenty of space for people to spread out and be by themselves or socializing. Off the property, there is a lot of great hiking right near by!
The kitchen is very well-equipped for serious cooks. We brought a few implements we weren't sure would be there, and could have left them all at home, because the kitchen had pretty much every tool we could have asked for (garlic press, mandoline, kitchen scale, etc.).
We did have one challenge, which I'm sharing in case it's relevant for future travelers with asthma or other breathing issues - the basement bedroom has some semi-exposed duct work, and the dust particles triggered some in our party's asthma and allergies. Unfortunately, amongst our crew (3 couples, 1 single adult, 1 infant) 5 people had a reaction to that room, so no one could sleep in it without having breathing issues. John was very responsive, understanding, and as accommodating as possible given the circumstances, and adjusted our rate accordingly, but we did ultimately need to do some shuffling between the couch & an air mattress in the living room, and then a tent in the yard.
Even with the bedroom challenge, we had a great time and would definitely go back - but we'd probably consider it a 3 bedroom unless we were with people with no allergies/asthma concerns. (I think it would be fine for most people without sensitivities, and it hasn't been a problem reported by other guests, but it did have an impact on our experience.)
We had a wonderful time at this property. The Zen garden is beautiful and the overall feel of the home is very peaceful. We took full advantage of the fire pit, hot tub, pool table and all the home had to offer. We were there for a mini UMass reunion and being only 20 minutes from the town and campus was great! Communication with the owner was super. Very responsive and helpful with any questions we had. We would definitely stay here again!
We loved every second staying at John's property. Our arrival came with a nice winter storm and John was so thoughtful to have the driveway plowed and garage open. So thoughtful. The home was clean and comfortable. We loved spending time in the well-equipped kitchen and living area. Would love to return in the spring to see the landscaping and enjoy the beauty of this property again. Our group had an excellent time. Thanks so much John!
Excellent getaway- with dogs in tow. Access to trails from the property.
Great hot tub and magical tree lights as well as inspiring open views of the night sky. Pool table and table tennis for inclement weather. This place has it all.
Enjoyed the lovely garden, the koi pond, and of course the hot tub. There was always plenty to do even though we barely left the vacation house. Thank you for a lovely vacation.
We enjoyed our stay. We loved looking through the books, playing chess and pool. The quick drive to the UMASS campus was perfect for visiting our student.