A Cottage in Woods Near Skiing, Lake, and Historical Sites

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The Gatehouse at Loudon Forge Front View

Welcome to The Gatehouse at Loudon Forge

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

Parking available

Washer

Barbecue grill

Outdoor space

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Explore the area

Fort Loudon, PA

Cowans Gap State Park
10 min drive
Buchanan's Birthplace State Park
11 min drive
Mercersburg Academy
12 min drive
Hagerstown, MD (HGR-Hagerstown Regional)
35 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed and 1 Crib

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bed

Convertible bed(s)

2 Double Futons

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Dining Area

About this property

Find rest in this quaint two story CREEKSIDE cottage that comfortably SLEEPS 6, nestled in the woods of south central Pennsylvania. Look up a new recipe in our cookbooks and create delectable meals in the FULLY FURNISHED KITCHEN, browse through local history books, classic stories and children's books in FRENCH COUNTRY DECOR livingroom, build a campfire with FREE FIREWOOD and roast marshmellows over the BACKYARD FIRE RING, enjoy FRESH MOUNTAIN AIR and SPRING while you grill steaks over a PROPANE GRILL. Enjoy one of our many BOARD GAMES in the livingroom or listen to crickets while you sip iced tea from the furnished FRONT PORCH. Then tuck in for the night in one of our 2 BEDROOMS-uniquely and thoughtfully decorated with HALF BATH closeby. No laundry worries as FRESH TOWELS AND LINENS are provided and the cottage contains a LAUNDRY ROOM with washer/dryer, ironing board, iron and other extras.

When you are ready to can enjoy our beautiful mountain creek from a creekside bench or shoot some 3 pointers at the BASKETBALL hoop, The Conococheague Creek is a stone's throw through the woods if you'd relish a short hike.

When you're ready to venture newly renovated COWAN'S GAP STATE PARK (just 7 minutes from the cottage door) where you can swim in the waters of a mountain lake, lounge on the sand, hike or bike on the lakeside trail, picnic, paddle boat, canoe or fish (ice-fishing in winter). Winter months offer skiing, snowboarding, and tubing at WHITETAIL SKI RESORT (20 min.) and fair weather golfing at WHITETAIL GOLF COURSE. In windy weather, take a drive to the LOOKOUT POINT on top of the mountain and watch HANG GLIDERS take the plunge.

For HISTORY buffs or educational jaunts, The Gatehouse's CENTRAL LOCATION makes day trips to several national and state history sites very doable. We are: 10 minutes to HISTORIC FORT LOUDON, 15 minutes to HISTORIC MERCERSBURG & JAMES BUCHANAN BIRTHPLACE, 1 hour to GETTYSBURG and HARRISBURG's CIVIL WAR museum, approx. 2 hours to WASHINGTON, D.C.,HARPER'S FERRY, and ANTIETAM BATTLEFIELD, and 2.5 hours to PHILADELPHIA. We are also an easy 2 hour turnpike drive to AMISH COUNTRY in LANCASTER PA. Many of our guests take day trips out to see the sites and find the cottage to be a refreshing respite at the end of a siteseeing day. Closeby educational locations include: 10 minutes to the renowned MERCERSBURG ACADEMY, 30 minutes to WILSON COLLEGE, and 45 minutes to SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY, and 1.5 hours to PENN STATE.

For those who enjoy amenities of FINE DINING, SHOPPING,, THEATRE, Martins are available to suggest great dining experiences, the PRIME OUTLETS are located 0.5 hours away in Hagerstown, MD, and the renowned TOTEM POLE SUMMER THEATRE founded by Jean Stapleton is a straight 30 minute drive on Route 30. Our local C.R. BUCKS (10 minutes away) restaurant offers deer for viewing and feeding, an arcade, miniature golf, TECHNOHUNTING, family friendly entrees, and delicious dipped ice cream all while enjoying hunting memorabilia and games as well friendly greetings from local folks. Outdoorsmen (and women) will want to visit the local KEYSTONE COUNTRY STORE just up the road in Fort Loudon for all your outdoor supplies.

To help you plan a vacation you'll remember, we've left several MAPS and BROCHURES for you in The Gatehouse and will answer any questions you may have.

We furnished The Gatehouse in comfortable yet tasteful french country decor--a pleasing respite from schedules, demands, and traffic jams. We offer the comforts and niceties for your vacation getaway. Our central location connects you with a fishing boat, ski slopes, golf course, outlet store or Big City (if you really want to go there!) The Gatehouse is family friendly and accommodating.

So, come to the peaceful valley of Fort Loudon, leave behind busy schedules, choose rest, and lift the latch on The Gatehouse at Loudon Forge.

PLEASE NOTE: While we are a rural wooded area the Cottage sits back about 50 yards from Route 75/Path Valley Road which does produce road noise but also makes it very accessible to other major roadways including the turnpike if you like to take daytrips.

Keywords: Cottage, Cabin, Gatehouse, Mountain Getaway, Peaceful Bungalo

Property manager

James & Kelli Martin

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Parking available

Similar properties

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 1:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

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

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

About the area

Fort Loudon

Located in Fort Loudon, this cottage is in a rural area. Buchanan's Birthplace State Park and Martins Mill Bridge are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Whitetail Ski Resort and Long Acres Alpaca Farm. Travelling with kids? Consider Greencastle Coffee Roasters and Cluggy's Family Amusement Center. Take in the nearby slopes with snowboarding and skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as sledging.

Fort Loudon, PA

What's nearby

Cowans Gap State Park - 10 min drive
Mercersburg Academy - 12 min drive
Long Acres Alpaca Farm - 18 min drive
Wilson College - 24 min drive
Whitetail Ski Resort - 26 min drive

Getting around

Hagerstown, MD (HGR-Hagerstown Regional) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

‪McDonald's - ‬11 min drive
‪The Garlic Knot - ‬12 min drive
‪Olde Towne Kitchen - ‬12 min drive
‪McDonald's - ‬12 min drive
‪Milky Way Restaurant - ‬7 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is A Cottage in Woods Near Skiing, Lake, and Historical Sites pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at A Cottage in Woods Near Skiing, Lake, and Historical Sites?

Check-in begins at 1:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A Cottage in Woods Near Skiing, Lake, and Historical Sites?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A Cottage in Woods Near Skiing, Lake, and Historical Sites located?

This family-friendly Fort Loudon cottage is located in a rural location, 1.8 mi (2.9 km) from Buchanan State Forest, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Buchanan's Birthplace State Park and Cowans Gap State Park. Expert's Choice and Whitetail Golf Resort are also within 12 miles (20 km).

9.6

Exceptional

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

Learn more

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Katy R.

24 Oct 2022

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

The Gatehouse

Loved my stay! The cottage was cozy and homey and thoughtfully stocked with all the right supplies needed for a weekend away. I spent most of my time hiking in nearby Cowans Gap which was absolutely beautiful this time of year. I gave a 5 star review because very thing really was wonderful, however I feel it should be noted this property is just off a main road and the traffic was a bit distracting (coming from someone that doesn't live near much traffic). But overall would absolutely recommend!

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

8/10 Good

Jocelyn M.

9 Oct 2022

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

great house but too close to a main road

The house itself is really cute and well maintained. The woods behind it are beautiful. But, I did not realize how close to a major road the house is. The noise from the road and constant view of the cars hurt the experience a bit.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Anton b.

30 June 2022

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

Beautiful and comfortable as always!

The Gatehouse is a beautiful little cottage. Very clean and had almost everything I needed. I grew up going to Cowans Gap state park. We would go 3 to 4 times a year with my mom. My mother is no longer with us, but I will continue are tradition with my sons. James and Kelly have always been extremely kind and welcoming. I would like to thank them so much. It meant so much to me to be able to go to my mom's favorite place. Her ashes were spread up at the lake. This was my first time being there since she passed and it was very surreal. We had a great weekend and will be back for many more. Thanks again it really did mean so much to be able to go and continue to make beautiful memories.

Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

2/10 Terrible

Tim S.

26 June 2022

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Very disappointed

Needs a lot of work, updates, cleaning, oven did not work, list is too many. Won't stay there again.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alexander T.

31 Oct 2021

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

MY STATE

I just can say is a perfect place to be relaxing. Highly recommend 👌 👍.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jodi S., Kirkwood, Pennsylvania

18 Oct 2021

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

Just what we needed

This was a quaint property with so much character. It had everything we needed and was a perfect location for sightseeing in the area. The owners went above and beyond to add special touches to make sure our stay was enjoyable. We loved it!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

dan s.

4 Oct 2021

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

Peace and quiet

Very nice place to stay. A perfect location for mountains

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen G.

30 Sept 2021

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

Very cute and relaxing cottage.

My sisters really enjoyed staying in this adorable cottage. Very clean and comfortable. It was surprising to be greeted with some soothing music , hot apple cider and all the fixings for S'mores. It supplied everything we could want. We would highly recommend this cottage for everyone and the hosts were wonderful. We hope to return sometime.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Ruth V.

22 Sept 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, location

Disliked: Listing accuracy

Great location for Historic Ft. Loudon

I already reviewed our stay.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

6/10 Okay

Ruth V.

21 Sept 2021

Liked: Location

Disliked: Check-in

Great location for Historic Ft. Loudon

We got off to a bumpy start (poor checkin communication from owner, missed the picture of the VERY steep 18th c stairs to 2nd floor bedrooms and no hot water for the first 2 days) *BUT* the cottage was comfortable & spacious & the A/C worked beautifully. Once we simply turned on the hot water setting ourselves, all was well. If you are looking for an old-fashioned country cottage, this is the place.

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

6 Sept 2021

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

Perfect

The space was perfect to spend time with our family. The cottage had everything we needed.We loved spending time outside and having a fire. We were also very comfortable inside the cottage. I would definitely stay here again!

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Shawn M.

30 Aug 2021

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

Peaceful and restful

We had a great time. The house was great and it was close to state parks that we went and visited throughout the day

10/10 Excellent

Tara T.

14 Aug 2021

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

Cozy cottage near Cowan’s Gap

We enjoyed relaxing in this cozy cottage near Cowan’s Gap. It was a nice place to come home to after a day of hiking and swimming. We had a great time!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Wendy M.

8 Aug 2021

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

Adorable cottage

The cottage was adorable. The property was just like it was described on-line. The owner was quick to respond to any questions I sent her. There is a lot of local information available for the surrounding area. The cottage felt like home and was decorated nicely. We would definitely stay again!

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jeannette D.

25 July 2021

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

Lovely Honeymoon

It was a wonderful, peaceful place that we were very happy with. Except for the general lack of phone reception, no complaints whatsoever!

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Donna H., Akron, PA

27 June 2021

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

Quiet and relaxing

The hosts were great. The house was cozy. I loved listening to the creek at night. We enjoyed using the fire pit both nights. The state park was close by where we hung out by the lake. It was an enjoyable weekend.

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jasmine L.

7 May 2021

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

Wonderful home! Amazing scenery!

My family gives this place 5 stars. James and Kelly are wonderful! The home is perfect and had more than enough to accommodate us! It's clean, private, quiet, beautiful, and the scenery is absolutely amazing. Thank you again for your hospitality!

Stayed 61 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Maxim A., Washington

26 Feb 2021

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

Charming house with a fabulous view

It is very cozy charming house. Very close to ski resorts. Rural and secluded and yet the nearest grocery store and a diner just a couple of minutes away. Kelly and her husband are absolutely amazing hosts. I would definitely recommend to stay at their place.

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2021

8/10 Good

Cheryl W., Washington, DC

12 Jan 2021

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

Cute place to stay

Very well decorated place near White Tail resort and in the PA countryside. There's a brook right outside which was nice and calming and the property owners were very communicative. Things to note that some have written in prior reviews: the 2 bedrooms are attached, so you need to go through one to get to the other. You basically go through one bedroom, then another and that's where the 1/2 bath is, all upstairs. Unfortunately, I didn't find either bed comfortable. The queen is too soft and the twin was too hard. The property is right on the main road so you can hear cars going by but I brought my white noise machine and that wasn't an issue for me. If you're coming in winter, the heater pumps out downstairs right by the futon so if you are going to sleep on the futon or watch tv there it may get too hot. The bathroom has everything you need - shampoo, conditioner, lotions, hair dryer. The kitchen has all the basics. I wish I had come in warmer weather to enjoy the outdoor seating. The queen room is very spacious and there's a breakfast table you can put on your bed which was a nice touch. I was also able to get some good runs in on the main road which was relatively flat going one way.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

DeWayna P.

30 Dec 2020

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

Wonderful holiday stay!

Booked for my niece and her family for an extended holiday visit - worked out well! Plenty of space for infant and toddler, all amenities for comfort, easy communication with owner.

Stayed 35 nights in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

Nadji L.

10 Nov 2020

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

Good

Slight road noise but good stay

10/10 Excellent

jeanine l., rockville, md, usa

2 Nov 2020

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

Great respite in between hikes

Relaxing peaceful tiny home cottage. Great place to get away from it all. Perfect fit for 3 family members (or a 4th on the futon-couch). Great day hikes nearby. Great local history books, maps & sites.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

April D.

29 Oct 2020

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

Beautiful cottage!

The cottage was beautiful! Very well taken care of and decorated and very comfortable. Lots of amenities; it had everything you could need and the owners were super nice. It was in a good central location. The night sky was clear and great for star gazing. There are trees all around but enough space to see the sky. Overall terrific! I think we'll be back again :) I would say the only two potential "cons" were 1) it was pretty close to the main road. You can hear the traffic most of the time. But it still has a "woodsy" feel and there are trails on the property that go back into the forest. 2) There are roosters near by that start crowing around 3- 4am and go thru the rest of the night.

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Melvin M.

23 Mar 2019

Cute cute cute

My 12 year old daughter, who is very picky, says this place is adorable, “give it six stars”. It is 20 minutes to White Tail, close enough that we came back and forth several times when skiing for the day. The kitchen is very well stocked, lots of extras such as a bag of coffee, sugar, other baking supplies. No bathtub, but two nice showers. Washer and dryer. Very warm and cozy. We loved it, I was there with my daughter. Food Lion and a large well stocked Dollar General nearby. Milky Way got great reviews but really is a basic breakfast and burger joint, perhaps five stars for its weight class but we didn’t go back. However, the two bedrooms are upstairs and you have to go through one to get to the other. The bathroom is off this back bedroom. This arrangement is best for families as there is no real privacy in either bedroom. What we did was have my daughter be upstairs and I slept on the futon downstairs in the living room which was very comfortable. This place would also be good for a same sex group who again didn’t need absolute privacy in their bedrooms. It would not work for two couples. The owners popped by twice on Saturday morning. This was great for us as we were just leaving and they were fun to meet. We will definitely go back, it was perfect for us and cute cute cute.

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer F.

30 Dec 2018

A perfect country getaway for a family of 5

We were looking for something other than a boring hotel to stay for the weekend near Whitetail, in addition to something that accommodates a family of 5 rather than squeezing into a hotel room with 2 queen beds. Also, being from Northern Maine but living in the city now in Virginia, I was really craving something relaxing out in the woods. This was THE perfect location, with a state park and several mountain summits within a 15 minute drive. The cabin owners communicated perfectly and the cabin was a real delight to stay in. The pictures don't do it justice. We were super relaxed, and even my city kids LOVED the cabin. They said they definitely want to come back and stay here again. We were able to cook in the kitchen saving time and money from eating out. It had GREAT water pressure in the shower, was very neat and clean for a cabin, and we couldn't have been more pleased with our stay.

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2018

About the host

Hosted by James & Kelli Martin

The Martins at Loudon Forge. We are a family of six that enjoys meeting people and introducing them to the peaceful lifestyle available in the woods of south central Pennsylvania.

Why they chose this property

The Martin Family opens the gates for you to come and experience historic Fort Loudon, Pennsylvania. Our home, Loudon Forge, was built in 1783 by James Chambers the son of Benjamin the founder of Chambersburg. Here, James and his family drank rest and peace from a bubbling mountain stream, serene woods, and cool mountain air.The Gatehouse sits on the entrance to our property on Route 75.

We furnished the Gatehouse to be pleasing, french country decor respite from schedules, cell phones, and traffic jams. We offer the comforts and niceties for your vacation getaway. Our central location connects you with a fishing boat, ski slopes, golf course, outlet store or Big City (if you really want to go there!) The Gatehouse is family friendly and accommodating.

What makes this property unique

Located 7 minutes from Cowans Gap State Park, which includes swimming, boating, fishing, hiking/biking trails. We are also only 20 minutes from Whitetail Ski Resort and Golf Club.