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A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad.

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Nice catch!
Front entrance - Spring.
Front yard in spring.
Bird Cottage when entering.
Approaching Bird Cottage

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 683.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Pet-friendly

Explore the area

Map
Palestine, TX
  • Texas State Railroad: Palestine Depot
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Anderson County Courthouse
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Redlands Hotel
    ‪8 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Double Beds

1 bathroom

1 downstairs Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad.

A rustic stone cottage, a quiet retreat, a romantic getaway - whatever you call it, it's a little piece of heaven nestled in the tall trees of East Texas. It's so close to the Texas State Railroad you can hear the gentle call of the steam whistle. A 4-acre lake is just waiting for you to reel in your bass, or perhaps you'd like to help your son or daughter enjoy catching their first sunfish or crappie on a cane pole from the available pier. There's even a mini-pontoon peddle boat for exploring the lake or for another way to catch the "big one"! Bird Cottage is well named because of all the various species of birds native to the area that as bird lovers we often enjoy, so don't forget your binoculars and camera if you are a bird watcher, too. If you just want to escape all the noise, traffic and bustle of the city and need to recharge your batteries, then relax on the soft cushions of the metal gliders under porch fans with a gentle breeze blowing through your hair and with a good book in your hand and a wine glass nearby, or oversleep in the cozy bedroom until the birds wake you to another wonderful day. You'll feel at home when you breathe in the fresh pine scented air should you decide to take a stroll on the grounds or even jog to the end of the 1-mile county road and back. Participating in local activities and festivals, taking a one-hour trip to Canton for First Monday antique and curio shopping, or picking up fresh produce from local farmer's markets may just be what you’re longing to do, and Bird Cottage can be your starting point for those adventures and more. However you decide you’d like to spend your time here, we’ll do our best to make your stay as care free and special as possible. And, if you have a special request, just ask. Now what are you waiting for? Let’s start making memories!

Property manager

ROLAND OR SUSAN HARTZOG
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Picnic pavilion available for additional fee.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
We prefer small to medium pets with 2 as a maximum
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
This is a strict NO SMOKING property.

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 80
Note from host: Picnic pavilion available for additional fee.
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

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Palestine

Located in Palestine, this cottage is in the city centre and on a lake. Anderson County Courthouse and Palestine Community Theatre are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Green Park and Davey Dogwood Park. Discover the area's water adventures with water tubing and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and cycling.
Map
Palestine, TX

What's nearby

  • Texas State Railroad: Palestine Depot - 4 min drive - 2.9 km
  • Anderson County Courthouse - 8 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Redlands Hotel - 8 min drive - 8.6 km
  • Davey Dogwood Park - 10 min drive - 10.2 km
  • University of Texas at Tyler Palestine Campus - 11 min drive - 11.4 km

Getting around

  • Tyler, TX (TYR-Pounds Regional) - 57 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Chick-fil-A - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Whataburger - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A rustic stone cottage on an estate close to the Texas State Railroad. located?

Located in the heart of Palestine, this cottage is 1.8 mi (2.9 km) from Texas State Railroad: Palestine Depot and within 6 miles (10 km) of Anderson County Courthouse and Palestine Community Theatre. Redlands Hotel and Green Park 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. 106 out of 108 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 108 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 108 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 108 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 108 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Tina H.

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

Quiet, peaceful retreat

Beautiful property and wonderful owners. This was a birthday getaway for my parents, and much needed relaxation.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert W.

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

We went to ride the train and found a heavenly oasis.

I’ve been to many places that promise solitude but you never really feel it, you DEFINITELY will here. So quiet, so beautiful. I will definitely come back if nothing else just to stay here.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patti S.

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

Beautiful peaceful relaxing

Clean well maintained and hosts were amazing and friendly
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tiana T.

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

Beautiful stay at this lovely Cottage

We recently stayed at this Cottage in early Springtime when the TX mountain laurel were in bloom. It’s beautiful and the owners have every detail covered for a wonderful stay. Thank you and we are looking forward to another time.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amanda P.

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

Sweet and fun cottage

Bird Cottage is adorable and the owners are friendly. It’s located on their main home property but we never felt uncomfortable. They are very welcoming. Our kids played ball in the yard, fished the lake, took out the boat and fed the chickens. The cottage is clean and well stocked. The beds are comfy too! Excellent place to stay especially if you’re going to the Texas Railroad.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer L.

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

Just Perfect for Thanksgiving!

My two adult children stayed with us here for Thanksgiving and it was wonderful. The cottage is simply darling and has everything we needed. The kitchen is amply supplied, the living area cozy and comfortable; and we loved using the fireplace that cold weekend. Beds are very comfortable and all the decorative bird touches to make it truly Bird Cottage were charming. It is set on a gorgeous piece of property that is delightful to roam. Our hosts were so welcoming and helpful, even when we had a medical emergency. Also very close to the Texas State Railroad which was so convenient Polar Express was AMAZING . Small note: The spiral staircase to the upstairs sleeping soft is quite small and tricky, but even my hefty adult son managed it. Many thanks to our hosts for a tour of the property and a delightful stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Victoria S.

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

Relaxing tranquil getaway

This home is well taken care of by the couple who actually built it for their own use.They have made a lovely property for guests to visit and share its amenities. Our grandkids loved the pond and visiting their chicken coop.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah M.

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

Romantic Cottage!

Bird Cottage was the perfect sanctuary for our wedding anniversary! Roland and Susan could not have been more accommodating! We look forward to returning soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Salinas F., New Braunfels, Texas

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

Beautiful Storybook Cottage

My husband, our boys (5 & 11), and I stayed at this beautiful cottage for our trip to the Polar Express train ride (which is conveniently less than 5 mins away), and had a wonderful time! This cottage reminded me of something you would have found in a storybook! It was just perfect and lovely. The pictures show just the way it is. The cottage was clean and had everything we needed to cook meals. Roland and Susan were such a pleasure to meet and chat with. I thank them for sharing such a wonderful place with others! What a blessing! We enjoyed walking around the estate and our boys got to enjoy the paddle boat. And our boys loved loved the the spiral staircase and the loft bedroom! The first floor bedroom, I didn’t notice in the pics, but the canopy bed frame has beautiful cast iron birds, such a beautiful detail!! All beds were comfy. The bathroom had a towel warmer, nice touch! And we had freshly baked banana muffins on our arrival. I could really go on and on about this beautiful place, but it should be experienced in person! Fall colors were absolutely stunning in this area of Texas, best I’ve seen in the state! We will return :)
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

John H.

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

5 Star Property

Very very impressive property!! You can tell the host aims to please. Will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Pam W.

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

Great Getaway!!

We loved this location. Fishing the lake, walking the property. Hope to be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cealia A.

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

Weekend getaway

Very nice, quite and lovely cottage. Got to fish, ride the train and watch some football—had a great weekend.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy M.

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

Wedding and Honeymoon

This was the perfect place to get ready for a wedding and then the honeymoon. It’s totally cute and cozy, and my daughter absolutely loved it.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tina C.

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

PERFECT CABIN!!!!

The cabin was perfect in every way and the property was absolutely breathtaking! Roland and Susan greeted me upon arrival and went above and beyond to make my stay enjoyable. They even added little sweet touches like mini Bundt cakes and orange juice, so I had breakfast the next morning. The cabin is adorable and has some extra plush amenities such as a resort style extra-large stone shower and towel warmer. There is a large covered porch that wraps around the cabin so you can sit and look at the extremely well maintained landscape to the front and side of the cabin and the beautiful white cows on the back side. Susan and Roland allowed me to roam around the property so I walked down to the lake on both days I was there. It was so peaceful and calming. The lake is only a 3 minute walk from the cabin and you can walk through the shade trees and landscape so it truly felt as though I was at a resort but all by myself as it is very private. I went to Palestine for a family wedding and had never thought of going back but after meeting Susan and Roland and staying at their precious cabin I will for sure go back for some peaceful time as much as I possibly can!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennie W.

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

Fabulous!!!

My granddaughter and I just returned from a visit to Palestine and I stay at Bird Cottage. The setting is so peaceful and beautiful, the hosts are so welcoming and friendly, everything was just perfect.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Edward U.

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

Left our worries at the gate

The bird cottage and property could not have been lovelier. We had everything we needed, and the cottage was spotless. The grounds were absolutely lovely, and the owners were wonderful. We felt as though the rest of the world just melted away, and so did our cares. We really enjoyed sitting on the porch just watching and listening to all of the birds.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gene H.

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

Wonderful . . . hated to leave :-(

We enjoyed the property, cabin, and the surrounding area so-o-o much. The cabin was beautiful, comfortable and so well equipped for our stay. Completely exceeded our expectations which were already pretty high after viewing the picture online.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Aundraea B.

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

Beautiful Property, Relaxing Stay, Hospitable Hosts!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Bird House! In fact, my kids keep asking, “Can we go to the Bird House?!” We had a lovely stay. The property was beautiful! I am a nature lover, so I was captivated by the magnificent trees and stocked pond. We caught a lot of fish, and we were even able to feed the chickens and collect eggs, and pick fresh berries off the vine behind the cottage. The inside of the house was decorated beautifully, and the stylistic, homey, country, and southern charm were the icing on the cake. They even baked fresh muffins and provided fresh-squeezed orange juice! They were scrumptious! 10/10 would recommend visiting! You won’t be disappointed!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bruce Y.

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

Beautiful property

The cottage was enchanting. The only negative would be the narrow spiral staircase getting to the 2 beds . But we loved the property and the host were very nice and helpful..would love to stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ann C., montgomery texas

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

Wonderful time

Our girls weekend couldn't be better. Beautiful property with outstanding hosts. Quiet, relaxing with plenty of space to walk and just enjoy nature.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

rebecca p., Amarillo TX

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

Little Dream Escape in the Pines

We have stayed at a lot of VRBOs, but this was by far the best. Comfortable in every way - quality beds and linens, soft pillows, beautiful views, responsive and friendly hosts and biting fish in the pond. We will be back as soon as possible!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

mike m., LAFAYETTE

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

Beautiful, comfortable getaway

Incredible setting, beautifully landscaped and Roland and Susan were awesome hosts. We were welcomed with fresh OJ and fig/pecan baked goodies in the refrigerator. We will be back for sure. Best, Mile and Melissa
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan C.

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

Excellent get-away

The cottage and property was perfect. In spite of the cold weather the cottage was warm, the fireplace was awesome, the fish were biting, the property is located perfectly as well as very safe. Trust the owners with the restaurant suggestions. Everywhere we ate out was delicious. Will be going back and highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Misty S.

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

Great place to have a weekend away from the city.

Beautiful property! The grounds of this property are very beautiful. We had a great time!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amanda S.

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

Wonderful stay!

Roland and Susan are amazing hosts…and just great people. They were incredibly welcoming. Their property is beautiful. We stayed in bird cottage. Everything about it was perfect. The beds were very comfortable and the cottage had everything we needed and wanted. We look forward to future visits!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2021

About the host

Hosted by ROLAND OR SUSAN HARTZOG

Host profile image
We are retired an live on the property in the main stone lodge/house. I grew up in Palestine, went to the University of Texas, graduated in Radio-TV-Film and have worked for a TV station in Austin before starting my own production company in Houston. We have traveled extensively throughout the world and the US and Canada. We enjoy meeting new people but understand the concept of giving space where needed. I have worked on the property for about 20 years and we love gardening, landscaping, wine and are somewhat foodies..

Why they chose this property

The 8 acre property has a 4 acre lake, picnic pavilion that can accommodate 50 guests, fruit orchard (figs, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, peaches, persimmon & cherries) a greenhouse, cobblestone circle drive, central manicured yard, extensive landscaping throughout and is in a wildlife viewing area of East Texas.

What makes this property unique

We are the closest accommodations to the Texas State Railroad depot in Palestine where The Polar Express runs during the fall. The NASA balloon base is about 10 miles away and we are far enough away from Dallas and Houston but close enough to Tyler in case you're in need of something more than Palestine can offer. Lake Palestine is about 15 minutes away and has fishing, boating and other water related sports. Davey Dogwood Park is 5 minutes away should you like to enjoy the Dogwood Festival in the springtime.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests