At the end of a cul-de-sac on the Catskill Creek sits our warm inviting home. Surrounded by wilderness, wildlife and mountain views, the property boasts 100 yards of private river access. Enjoy nature, the fire pit, the wood fired pizza oven, indoor jacuzzi, board games and a curated selection of vinyl records. Recharge, cook, sip wine by the fireplace, or go tubing in the creek.
The space
We decided to call the house The Modern Victorian (#themodernvictorianproject on socials), because although it is a Queen Anne, it is decorated beautifully and sustainably with a mix of mid-century modern and local antique finds. This makes for an inviting, less formal atmosphere.
A Mediterranean inspired herb garden surrounds the house and the cottage. Nestled in the corner of a graveled terrace vegetable garden sits the wood fired pizza oven. The oven is capable of holding 800+ degrees. It is a joy to cook in and to sit by with a glass of wine and friends. Be sure to read how to use it in our House Rules and Manual.
Under the outdoor deck we built an area which we call The Creekside Lounge. It has lounge chairs, a primitive outdoor shower and is comfortably shaded during hot afternoons. It is a good pit stop between river and house.
A small flock of bantam chickens patrol their run during the day, and retire to their on-site coop in the evenings. Their door is automated. Nothing to do but to enjoy them and feed them kitchen scraps and grain (provided in marked bin).
The main floor is made for entertaining. Our kitchen – the natural place to gather – has plenty of space to cook up a storm using the local fresh market finds. Both the kitchen and the adjacent breakfast nook has ornate handmade detailing. From here, French stained glass doors opens up to the sunroom and the veranda, where the charcoal BBQ and dining al fresco awaits.
The dining room combines with the living room, creating one great open space in which to enjoy after-dinner activities. Gather around the arched brick-lined gas fireplace with board games, books or music. There is an upright piano and a turntable complete with an essential collection of vinyl records to play. Or use Bluetooth and Spotify. In the summer, open up the French doors, lie down on the daybed and listen to the creek.
The second floor holds the sleeping quarters. There is the sweeping main wing, complete with a king bed, turret, fireplace, terrace and bright bathroom with jacuzzi, all overlooking the creek; the Blue Room with cathedral ceilings, wall of windows, king bed and soothing view of the towering old pine trees.
By the creek you will find a stone fire pit and plenty of firewood. Use the pit responsibly. If heavy rains are expected, move all river chairs to above the flood line. Always keep the deer gates closed.
Nearby you will also find the river tubes. Please 'park' them in their designated area after use. Adventure awaits both up and down river! Swimming, walking and tubing in the river is wonderful, but strictly at your own risk. The rocks can be slippery, and after rains the river rises and the currents become stronger.
There are games such as badminton, volleyball, archery, corn holes, pickle ball (court on road) and soccer balls.
The Modern Victorian is conveniently located near I-87 and the Taconic. Windham is 20 minutes away and Hunter another 15 from there. 25 minutes to Hudson and the Amtrak train, restaurants, and antiquing. 10 minutes to Catskill, a quintessential town with boutiques and restaurants.
Guest access
The whole house is accessible, except the children's room (marked Private and locked) the basement and the attic. We kindly ask that these spaces be left unused/touched.
Other things to note
Maximum Occupancy: This property accommodates 2 – 4 guests. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate additional guests. If your group exceeds 4 people, please do not book, as our cancellation policies are strict.
Deer protection / forest restoration project: The property is fully fenced to support our forest restoration efforts. There are four access gates, including the main gate at 144 Crystal Point Road, as well as a gated vegetable garden. Please ensure all gates remain securely closed at all times. A single deer can devastate an entire garden in minutes.
Forno Bravo pizza oven: Our wood-fired pizza oven requires careful use to ensure safety and longevity. Guidelines are provided here, in the house manual, and inside the oven itself. Improper usage can permanently damage the oven and may result in a claim with Airbnb.
1 Wood: The oven must be fired for 3–4 hours to reach optimal heat for pizza-making. Use only the designated hardwood stored in the marked shed behind the cottage. Do not use pine, pine cones, or sticks, as they can damage the oven. If experienced with an axe, you may chop wood at your own risk; both an axe and wood are provided.
2 Cooking: Only pizza and bread may be cooked directly on the oven stone. All other foods must be prepared in cast iron cookware provided in the kitchen. Do not use stainless steel cookware in the pizza oven. If you’re unsure, feel free to contact us with questions.
3 Ash Disposal: The oven will be clean upon your arrival. If needed, ashes must be removed only when fully cold to avoid fire hazards. Place cold ashes in the ash bin located under the oven.
4 Risk Acceptance: Use of the oven is at your own risk. It can reach temperatures of up to 900°F, so please exercise caution.
We recommend watching The Wood Fired Oven Chef on YouTube for tips and inspiration.
Child proofing: Two baby gates are available upon request. However, cabinets and power outlets are not secured. Please supervise children and bring any additional safety items as needed.
Water: The house uses a water softener system to provide potable water throughout, as Catskill water is known for its hardness and sulfur content. The kitchen also features a reverse osmosis filtration system for excellent-tasting water. Softened water may feel "slippery" when bathing, which is normal. During certain seasons or after heavy rain, the water may have a sulfur smell. This is safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing.
Insects: The house is located in the country and bugs are an inevitable fact; outdoors but also indoors, as doors often are propped open in the warmer months. Nearly all windows have screens. Read up on ticks and how to protect yourself. We recommend treating clothing ahead of time with Permethrin (available online) which kills ticks and bugs on contact. There are bug sprays available in the sun room, but it's a good idea to bring your own, along with Hydrocortizone and Afterbite.
Wildlife: This house is located in the forest in the Northern Catskills, surrounded by woodland, meadow, wildlife and small critters. We have everything from bears to field mice. Common sense apply. We keep the house sanitary, exterminate for rodents and insects several times a year. However, in the summer when doors are open more often, critters, including field mice, make it indoors occasionally. We do not offer refunds for occurrences of insects or wildlife inside the house. We ask our guests to understand this before they book and accept this risk.
Blinds: The bedrooms do not have blinds to allow for maximum enjoyment of the surrounding nature.
EVs: There are local charging stations in Catskills and Hudson.
Pets/Service animals: If you bring a dog, you may have it off-leash on our property provided you pick up after them and make sure they do not bother the chickens. If we find dog refuse after your pet, we will charge for extra cleanup.
Entertainment: There is a 55 inch 4K Apple TV with Amazon Prime subscription and Netflix.
AC: Only the bedrooms have portable AC units from May - September. Keep bedroom doors closed when using the AC units. If it is un-seasonally warm during your stay in October - April, please let us know so we can accommodate you during your stay. The rest of the house is not cooled.
Swimming: Cooling off in the river is wonderful, but do remember that doing so is strictly at your own risk. By renting our property you the renter assume all liability when entering the river. We do not accept ANY liability. The rocks can be very slippery. Use hands and feet when climbing around on them. Make sure children wear floatation devices. Water shoes are a great idea for all to use to protect feet. Water shoes does not prevent slipping however. After rains the river rises and the currents become much, much stronger. Use your good judgement as to when to enter the river. There are fish, cray fish, river otters, beavers and toads. Please respect the wild life.
