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Entire home

Great night to roast marshmallows around the fire pit.

We just added a new floating dock for the paddle boat. Life jackets onsite.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 10238 sq m

Popular amenities

Washer

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Fireplace

Dryer

Explore the area

Richmond, KY

Paradise Cove Aquatic Center14 min drive
Lake Reba14 min drive
Eastern Kentucky University15 min drive
Lexington, KY (LEX-Blue Grass)49 min drive

Most relevant reviews

10/10 Excellent

We were all able to stay in one place and it was amazing! We were in town for my daughter’s wedding and it was just perf...

Todd H.

Nov 16, 2023

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Guest Main

1 Double Bed

Log Downstairs

1 Double Bed

Log Upstairs

1 Double Bed

Master Main

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Log

Toilet · Shower only

Main

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Kitchenette

Separate dining area

Garden

About this property

Big and spacious., 2 Acres, New Furniture, Fishing Pond, Game Room, Paddle Boat

Nell's is a quiet, secluded spot to enjoy the beauty of nature with good company. The beautiful family history here is surpassed only by the surroundings. Nell's was once just a 200 year old log cabin that was relocated to the spot. But before Nell (my Grandmother) would move in, it had to be a little more modern.

https://tinyurl.com/downatnells

Being a native Kentuckian born in 1922, she wasn't so enamored with old log cabins. So in the early 80's, a new section was added with lots of windows to let the beauty of the surroundings gloriously shine through.

Nell decided it was the "most beautiful place" she'd ever seen and moved from eastern Kentucky into what became known by all as "Down at Nell's". It has a special place in our hearts and we’re so glad we can keep it in our family and share it with yours.

After a year of helping my parents host guests at their nearby Martin Manor, my wife and I learned something. If you have a special place and want to preserve it, the best thing to do is share it with others. By making people feel welcome and exceeding expectations, we’ve seen folks from all over the country have a great time here on the Martin Family Farm. And we’re having fun too!

Property manager

John Martin

Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Water view

Pool

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 23

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

While we are in a rural area, it is a quiet neighborhood so no ATVs, dirt bikes, go carts or four-wheelers may be operated on the property.

A ladder provides access to a loft with a swing. Guests use the ladder at their own risk

No camper or trailer greater than 18 feet. Tight turn in driveway and steep incline prevent access.

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

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Richmond

Located in Richmond, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Reba and Paradise Cove Aquatic Center, while Richmond Area Arts Center and EKU Center for the Arts are cultural highlights. Travelling with kids? Consider Hummel Planetarium and Old Town Fudge Factory. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Richmond, KY

What's nearby

Paradise Cove Aquatic Center - 14 min drive
Lake Reba - 14 min drive
Eastern Kentucky University - 15 min drive
Fort Boonesborough State Park - 31 min drive
Red River Gorge - 64 min drive

Getting around

Lexington, KY (LEX-Blue Grass) - 50 min drive

Restaurants

‪Noble Romans Pizza - ‬9 min drive
‪Champs Chicken - ‬9 min drive
‪Big Dan's Doghouse - ‬9 min drive
‪Side Porch Cafe - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Big and spacious., 2 Acres, New Furniture, Fishing Pond, Game Room, Paddle Boat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Big and spacious., 2 Acres, New Furniture, Fishing Pond, Game Room, Paddle Boat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Big and spacious., 2 Acres, New Furniture, Fishing Pond, Game Room, Paddle Boat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Big and spacious., 2 Acres, New Furniture, Fishing Pond, Game Room, Paddle Boat located?

Located on a lake, this family-friendly holiday home is within 12 mi (20 km) of Lake Reba, Paradise Cove Aquatic Center and Hummel Planetarium. Richmond Centre Mall and Daniel Boone National Forest are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

teena b.

6 May 2024

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

Derby weekend

Great visit, loved the house, lits of room in and outside. Loved the daily visitors.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Todd H.

16 Nov 2023

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

Wedding Party

We were all able to stay in one place and it was amazing! We were in town for my daughter’s wedding and it was just perfect! So perfect that my ex wife and her family stayed with my current wife and family and it was totally harmonious!!

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brenda B.

7 Nov 2023

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

Amazing

This is a place that is not only a lesson in history but a place of peace and serenity. The house is a treasure and the host's family history is shared throughout the home. It is big with three living room areas. It is perfect for a group get away. My daughter is getting married next year and this will be one of the places we look at for the event. There is so much to do around the property and the area. I will be back :)

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Samantha F.

10 Oct 2023

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

Peace and Serenity!

We came up for a wedding and this house was so peaceful and a great size. The description is on target for what to expect! Thank you for sharing your family home with us. We loved fishing, watching the nature and feeding the horses!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

6/10 Okay

Beverly W.

27 Aug 2023

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Disliked: Cleanliness

Nice but needs to be kept up better

Sibling outing for weekend. I would have liked the property to be cleaner. Cob webs, dust, and kitchen area walls were nasty. The outside was pleasant. Saw several squirrels. The hammock looks like it needs replaced. One of our party did use it and head hung below feet when lying on it. Walked to the paddle boat area. Weeds grown up.The canvas had lots of water on it. The pond area was very small and unkept so decided against using. ( The main pond looked better but wasn’t the one we could use). It rained a lot our weekend so we were unable to use the fire pit. The inside area was spacious. Wish beds were all queen/ king.

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Valerie G.

22 Aug 2023

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

Beautiful property

Unique, cool, peaceful place to hang out with friends. John was a great host! Perfect place to just be with friends and chill

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michelle D.

10 Aug 2023

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

Weekend getaway

Peaceful place to wind down after a long summer. Our family really enjoyed the beautiful property at night under the stars.

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Neil F., Indianapolis, Indiana

24 July 2023

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

Great Communication and Unique Place

This was a one-of-a-kind stay for my family, with an ancient log cabin updated and expanded to accompany a large family with young children. However, the best part of the stay was our host - we had a problem come up during this stay and the owner took care of it with pure professionalism. Thank you, John!

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michael S.

21 July 2023

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

Great Getaway

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Had everything that we needed for a getaway from our busy life’s. Great hospitality, we felt very welcomed. Perfect location. We have zero complaints and want to thank you for welcoming us and letting us stay at your cabin.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer D.

10 July 2023

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

Quiet peaceful vacation

This is a beautiful property to stay at! We did a couples trip with 2 other couples there was plenty of room for the 6 of us. We could be together or have private time any where in the house or on the property. Having coffee on the porch was the best part of the morning. John was so helpful and very good to respond to messages we sent. Definitely would recommend for a relaxing vacation.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gail G.

21 May 2023

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

Recharge your batteries in this beautiful, quiet setting

This is such a large comfortable home. It was just the two of us on our trip, but I could see this as a great family retreat since it is so large. We spent so much time sitting by the lake or swinging on the back porch, feeding bread to the geese, birds (blue jays, cardinals, robins and a woodpecker), squirrels and a bold little chipmunk. Spotlessly clean, well maintained and stocked with all the essentials. You will absolutely love this magical place.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brooke C.

10 Apr 2023

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

Mother / Sons Spring Break

This was my fifth time booking a Spring Break cabin and the first time I rented a property that was exactly as described. Nell’s was the perfect space for bringing another family. I really appreciated that the basics were supplied - paper towels, toilet paper, saps. My favorite VRBO rental to date!

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Travis I.

29 Mar 2023

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

Neat place with plenty of space!

This cabin is great for the size group we had. We had 5 adults and 3 kids ages 10 and 11. We arrived after dark our first night and the cabin was lit up in all rooms. Not only was it a beautiful sight, it helped our family easily find our way in and around the cabin. The information provided prior to our stay was very detailed and helpful and made it a smooth stay. John, the owner, was in contact several times to make sure things were going well. It was a great place for our long weekend. I highly recommend renting this cabin if you are in the area needing a place to stay.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tammy H.

20 Mar 2023

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

Quiet and Restful

From the moment we arrived, we were drawn to the quiet and comfortable setting. Nell's pond provided a place for fun and rest at each day's end. This is a place where your family can feel at ease, while also being well attended to by the hosts if a need arises.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barbara D.

12 Mar 2023

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

Such a special place

We had the best weekend, just not enough time to enjoy everything. Everyone took a turn on the paddle boat and we had a great time at the fire pit. We played game in the arcade room and had chess tournaments The bedrooms are quaint and sofas plentiful The rain and chilly temperature was the only disappointment

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

26 Jan 2023

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

Quiet and Relaxing

My friend and I stayed in this cabin for a girls relaxing getaway. It's very quiet and peaceful in the cabin. It was too cold to fish or enjoy the little ponds, but they were nice. The old part of the house is an old cabin that is so cool!! The upstairs bedroom and fireplace were the coziest part of the house....loved it.

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

April F.

16 Dec 2022

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

Awesome

This was the best place. Booked for a graduation wish we had more time to just stay and do cabin life longer.

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Laura R.

30 Oct 2022

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

Very enjoyable

This property is fantastic! John was very responsive to our questions and so kind. Well definitely be back.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Veronica G.

24 Oct 2022

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

Perfect Getaway

This is the perfect family getaway for a long weekend retreat

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Erin F.

20 Aug 2022

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

A great week in the hills!

This place was perfect for two families. We each had a “half” of the house and came together in the common areas. The space is cozy and comfy, plenty of room to spread out. The outdoor space gave us lots of options for relaxing on the pond or around the fire. The horse on the property had a great time enjoying our carrots. We would definitely book again!

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Andrea T.

2 Aug 2022

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

Great place to stay!

The house was so much bigger than we anticipated! It's very spread out so it would be great for multiple families. We enjoyed the fire pit and fishing in the pond. My only 2 negatives were the beds were kinda uncomfortable/small and there were TONS of spider webs on the back deck with HUGE spiders in them. I know it's a cabin in the woods but really freaked me & my son out. Oh and Tom Selleck the cat was my son's favorite part :)

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bob S.

15 July 2022

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

Simple and Relaxing

Our group of 8 stayed here over July 4th week. Grandparents, Parents, and young adults. Weather outside was hot as blazes during the day which cut some of our hiking short, but Nell's Place was a gem. Tucked back off the country road, once you venture down the gravel drive you will feel secluded and relaxed. The cabin has a lot of spaces to spread out if you'd like (3 living rooms) but also has some fantastic gathering areas (game room, long table for dinner/board games, and back porch with comfortable chairs were our favorites). Put away those electronic devices, shut off the TVs and reconnect with your loved ones fishing in the little pond out back, or sitting around the campfire! The location of Nell's was close enough for a quick run to the Kroger to replenish groceries, a 30-minute drive to Berea to poke around some little artisan shops and hike the Berea Pinnacles (the East Pinnacle is a beautiful view), and a 45-minute drive to Kentucky's Red River Gorge. We recommend the relaxing ski-lift up to Natural Bridge! Our hosts were wonderful - they held a July 4 celebration on their property next door while we were there and we were treated to watching fireworks from our seats on the porch at Nell's If we do another adventure to Eastern Kentucky, we will be sure to look for availability here again!

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

marie M.

10 July 2022

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

Great getaway

John was great. He gave my son directions to some fishing spots. He even asked the the owners of a private area if it was ok for my son to fish there. My family enjoyed it a lot.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Marcia B.

28 June 2022

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

Mystery Weekend 2022

This was our 14th year of girl cousin MW, and our stay at Nell's was full of love, laughter, and relaxation. Close enough to activities but country enough to be like home. John was totally delightful. Sherry does an excellent job of cleaning and preparing for guests. We were 6 sad ladies because our time went so fast...loved it!

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Wednesday H.

11 June 2022

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

Walk down memory lane

Great for family and friends. The fishermen were happy with their catch. Secluded, but lots of things to see and do. Day trips to caves, horses, and Kings Island too! Will definitely consider staying again.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by John Martin

My wife and I are excited to be doing this AirBnb project together. We love swinging in hammocks, sailing, and big, loud family dinners. Once or twice a year we all head to Myrtle Beach in a caravan. Reading and sailing are my passions and Jennifer loves her new job as principal of Madison Kindergarten Academy.

I manage my families group of animal hospitals and our son and daughters all work together for the clinics in different capacities. We also help my parents host their own successful short term rental property and they taught us how to do it right!