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Idyllic Carriage House Farm-stay near Rocky Fork Lake

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Enjoy 1900 square feet of peaceul living space here on the farm.
The sun drenched couch with panoramic views of the beautiful grounds is a perfect spot to visit or just curl up with a good book.
Exterior
Yes, you can use the gazebo for relaxing together. Just contact us to arrange.
Enjoy meals with family and friends in the sunroom around this antique table.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6176.5 sq m

Popular amenities

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

Explore the area

Map
Hillsboro, OH
  • Rocky Fork State Park
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Rocky Fork Lake
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Rocky Fork Lake State Park
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Wilmington Air Park (ILN)
    ‪44 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

3 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Garden

About this property

Idyllic Carriage House Farm-stay near Rocky Fork Lake

An hour east of Cincinnati and 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, The Carriage House is a quiet retreat from a noisy world - the perfect place to slow down, re-connect & create treasured memories.

The Carriage house sleeps six with options: a cheery sunroom (king), a spacious bunk room (a queen and three twin xls) and a cozy attic room (a twin bed located through a secret door in the bathroom). You’ll have access 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, a unique breed from the mountains of Switzerland.

Reach out to book hayrides and learning experiences such as making maple syrup from freshly tapped trees, foraging tours, gardening and bread-making classes, wreath-making or floral workshops & 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!

Please note: We have three friendly dogs that may welcome you when outside.
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.

Reach out to book hayrides and learning experiences such as making maple syrup from freshly tapped trees, foraging tours, gardening and bread-making workshops, soap and candle-making classes, & participating in old-fashioned farm chores. *Learning experiences are based on the season and host’s availability.

Property manager

Heidi Steffen
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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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

About the area

Hillsboro

Hillsboro is home to this holiday home. 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 Rocky Fork Lake State Park.
Map
Hillsboro, OH

What's nearby

  • Rocky Fork State Park - 10 min drive - 8.1 km
  • Rocky Fork Lake - 11 min drive - 6.2 km
  • Rocky Fork Lake State Park - 13 min drive - 10.1 km
  • Highland County Courthouse - 13 min drive - 12.4 km
  • Serpent Mound - 25 min drive - 23.3 km

Getting around

  • Cincinnati, OH (LUK-Cincinnati Municipal - Lunken Field) - 72 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Holtfield Station - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Ponderosa - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Big Ernie's Pizza - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Subway - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Domino's Pizza - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Idyllic Carriage House Farm-stay near Rocky Fork Lake pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Idyllic Carriage House Farm-stay near Rocky Fork Lake?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Idyllic Carriage House Farm-stay near Rocky Fork Lake?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Idyllic Carriage House Farm-stay near Rocky Fork Lake located?

Situated in Hillsboro, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Rocky Fork Lake, Rocky Fork State Park and Rocky Fork Lake State Park. Highland County Courthouse and Hillsboro Public Library are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 17 out of 17 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 17 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Logan S.

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

Cozy and comfortable stay

The location of this property is beautiful and serene. The interactions I had with the hosts were very positive and left a great impression on me. The house had everything we needed and more for a comfortable stay, and it was clear the hosts went the extra mile. It was amazing to take a walk and see their livestock and play with their friendly dogs. I’m very thankful for the time I spent there.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bill and Jennifer W.

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

Reunion

Very nicely presented. Peaceful and quiet. Loved the 4 dog greeters. We are dog lovers.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle B.

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

Beautiful Getaway

Absolutely amazing property and home!! We had a large group of family and friends in town for a local wedding. The house felt like “home away from home” and was immaculate. Wholeheartedly recommend!!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dwight V.

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

A little piece of heaven.

This was best VRBO rental that we have found. A must see and stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa C.

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

Beautiful

We very much enjoyed our stay. It's a beautiful home and property to relax and unwind from the world. The host are amazing and very welcoming. Highly recommend this property.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matthew R.

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

Another amazing weekend at the cottage....

Our second trip here, and everything was as expected. Peaceful and serene. Looking forward to the next trip.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey O.

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

Perfect family getaway

We had a wonderful stay at the Boxwood House. It was the perfect house for our group (6 adults, 3 kids) to spend time together. Every detail was thought of, all the cooking supplies you’d need, coffee, tea, ingredients for s’mores, and fresh flowers & scones when we arrived. The kids loved the house & property- plenty to do inside for the kids & all the space outside. It was so nice we could just let them play and have no worries. The highlight for the kids was fishing and collecting eggs. Heidi and her family were great hosts.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

pamela h.

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

annual family vacation

Our family,children and their spouses and our grandchildren,ages 8 to 82 had a wonderful time at Boxwood house.The home is beautiful and totally stocked with everything you could possibly need. Even snacks,popcorn and marshmallows,chocolate and graham crackers,which we enjoyed at the fire each night. Also, the fire wood was supplied each night. The owners and their children are wonderful. We hicked, swam, fished and spent time on the front porch enjoying family time. Our family vacation was wonderful, thank you. Pam
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amanda B.

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

Perfect Weekend Getaway

We had a large group with lots of kids. They had so many things to keep them entertained and everyone enjoyed the trip. The farm animals are so cute, the house is gorgeous and fully stocked with activities and essentials. 10/10
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kim C.

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

Beautiful Home Amazing Host!!

If we could give this home 10 stars we would. Our experience from start to finish was just perfect, from communication before our arrival, to the moment we stepped into this amazing home. We were welcomed with fresh baked bread and farm freah eggs. The home is large and had plenty of space for our family of 10 to enjoy our annual cousins weekend. It was stocked with everything you need, and was super clean. Heidi was super nice and quick to respond to any questions we ask. We have already rebooked for next year's cousins weekend and are looking forward making more unforgettable lifetime memories. Thank you Heidi for opening your heart and home to us, you are truly a beautiful host! -- The Roger' Family
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike V.

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

Fabulous, warm and welcoming rental property

What a wonderful rental property. We were impressed from the moment we arrived to this beautiful farm, with rolling hills, beautiful meadows, and a lovely house. We opened the door and found a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with fresh baked bread and farm eggs. There was everything you needed to cook, plus coffee and creamers in the drawer. Lovely soaps, shampoos, etc. The property is very well cared for - inside and out. The host was extremely nice and helpful. I cannot say enough about this property and would recommend it highly to anyone.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff E.

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

Weekend retreat

Our family (8 adults) enjoyed a lovely weekend together at this beautiful home. The home is located in a picturesque country setting. We were welcomed with a freshly baked loaf of banana bread and a doz fresh eggs. The house is well appointed and beautifully decorated. We enjoyed coffee on the deck each morning listening to to birds and enjoying the peaceful setting. The kitchen is a wonderful kitchen for those who enjoy cooking with a large farm table in which we were able to share our meals together. The grounds are walkable as well as provided space for outdoor games and a fire pit for s’mores in the evening. We loved it and had a great time!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katherine A.

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

Fantastic Experience!

Multiple families traveled to Hillsboro from Florida to lay to rest our Father/Father-in-law/Grandfather and we wanted to stay all together. We came across this property online and based on the description and photos, we thought it was the best option. As soon as our booking was confirmed, we received very clear and concise instructions on check-in, check-out and overall expectations, which was great! The day of our arrival, we were very pleased that the house was exactly as advertised and were greeted with a fresh baked good - which was delicious! This home was perfectly suited to our needs, it had everything we needed and more. Heidi kept in contact with me throughout our stay and was beyond helpful, hospitable and was just plain lovely. She was very supportive considering the circumstances of why we were there and was very attentive to our needs. During our stay she made us another home baked good (fresh bread) which went fantastic with our sandwich fixings! We could not have had a better experience and a better place for our family to spend time together during this difficult time, and for that we are eternally grateful to Heidi and her family. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lars R.

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

Wonderful!

This was one of our family’s top two favourite VRBO experiences. The house is absolutely beautiful and deceptively large! Every detail has been thought out. We loved the subtle Thanksgiving decorations, the thoughtfully chosen Thanksgiving-themed picture book selection placed in a basket in the living room, the fresh eggs in the refrigerator, and the newly baked sourdough bread delivered to the door on our first day. The list could go on! The property had just the surroundings we were looking for. Our family enjoyed fetching fresh eggs, visiting with the super-friendly farm dogs, and taking a walk on the trails through the woods. We also opted to participate in a baking class over at the main farmhouse with the host family. What fun! The bedrooms were perfect with ample storage and comfy beds. The master bed was so comfortable, we ended up ordering the same mattress for our own bed at home! The kitchen was well stocked and easy to cook and bake in. Our family loved spending our evenings together downstairs in the game room playing table tennis and pool. We also enjoyed time in the library and playing board games. This host has thought of everything and were extremely accommodating. We almost don’t want to tell you about it in case you book here for when we want to return! You will not regret a stay here.
Stayed 9 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tammy B., Xenia, Ohio USA

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

Winter stay while visiting local venue for Daughter's Wedding

Finding this property was an answer to our prayers. The stay exceeded every expectation we had. An early January winter wedding in Southern Ohio at a nearby Church Camp my son-in-law had life long memories at could have been a challenge but weather was great and we stayed at the wonderful perfect local property of Heidi and family. Our family came from Mississippi Chicago Minnesota Georgia and Ohio. From Great Aunt Pam to 4 year old Henry everyone was rested and so happy going into the wedding activity's thanks to this wonderful home. The calm relaxing environment let us rest and prepare for a busy wedding schedule . We walked into the kitchen and found a warm loaf of cinnamon bread on the cutting board ready for delighting our 19 year old Granddaughter and all other family members. The home was spotless clean with amazing decor that provided comfort. The rural property provided an atmosphere that few have the opportunity to experience. The dozen of colorful real farm fresh eggs we found in the refrigerator were delicious. We are so thankful and happy that we found this superior property and had the opportunity to meet Heidi. Heidi was kind and always available. My family and I all believe this one of a kind property is "A Must Visit Again and again!"
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Family Get-together

We spent a delightful long weekend as a family at The Cottage. Communication with our host was excellent before during and even after our stay. Check-in was simple. The Cottage is beautifully decorated and very well equipped. Our family of eight had plenty of space and enjoyed cooking and eating in the spacious kitchen. All amenities we needed were provided and many extras such as charcoal for the grill, everything needed to make s’mores etc. the grounds around The Cottage are as if you are in a park! 15 to 20 minutes to Rocky Fork Lake as well as to the grocery store. An hour and 20 minutes to downtown Cincinnati. The Cottage is a beautiful place-would definitely recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Matthew R.

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

Farm House Charm

Incredible spot, wonderful host. It’s just a beautiful place, the grounds, the home, the interior finishes. Nothing fancy, just well done, and well appointed. Everything you need for a quiet weekend away. Sit on the porch and watch it rain, catch fireflies as the sun sets, sip wine by the chiminea and listen to the frogs croak.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

About the host

Hosted by Heidi Steffen

Host profile image
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.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests