Cabin

Rare & Authentic in Prime Location, Views, Chef Kitchen & Style

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Built in 1953 and once owned by Dinah Shore and George Montgomery
You won't find too many cabins up here that are sensitively restored like this.
Kitchen is renovated with high end appliances and well stocked for cooks!
On 1/2 acre it gives you a feeling of seclusion while being in a neighborhood.
Living room with wood burning fireplace, tv, game table and seating for 5.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 5139.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA
  • San Jacinto Mountains
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Idyllwild Nature Center
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Idyllwild Park
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Palm Springs, CA (PSP-Palm Springs Intl.)
    ‪78 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Loft - Upstairs Two Room Suite

1 Double Futon and 1 Queen Bed

Main - Downstairs wing

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Rare & Authentic in Prime Location, Views, Chef Kitchen & Style

Once owned by Dinah Shore, this 1953 tastefully restored cabin is located on a 1/2 acre of beautiful forest in prime Fern Valley. Highlights are chef kitchen, central air and heat, fireplaces, views from windows, loads of architectural character and two very separate sleeping areas great for groups or families.

This classic cabin is the perfect place to tuck away for a nature loving, hiking, climbing, cooking, or chilling week or weekend with friends/family/collaborators, in a spacious and tastefully furnished and updated true Idyllwild gem. The house is located in Fern Valley with an elevation near 6000 feet above sea level. Tall pines surround the home and views of trees and peaks are seen from the windows and all points of the property. The neighborhood is quiet and beautiful and makes for a wonderful walk just outside the door, and of course world-class hiking and mountaineering are just minutes away.

This cabin was recently updated with modern amenities while staying true to the original character of the house. Most of the house is original, so it has its nuances too and is suited to guests who appreciate its historic charm.

The kitchen is very well equipped, with new high quality appliances, professional cookware, tableware, lighting and linens and aims to please the professional to the home cook. The 2006 vintage AGA stove is dual fuel with a propane gas range, and electric heat for the 3 ovens (roasting, convection and standard).

The bedrooms are conveniently very separate so that the sound from one will not disturb the other. Two spacious bedrooms are the perfect arrangement for two couples, a group of friends or a family.

Designed around the original cabin, the main living room has a loft above it with another room added on making the upstairs a large open floor plan suite. The bed is Queen sized. There is a balcony off of the room and the bathroom is a half bath. The loft is a lounge/ game/ movie watching area.

The main bedroom is downstairs through a hallway off of the main cabin. It has a California King bed, a fireplace, a full bathroom with tub and radiant floor heat. It also has a porch and a separate non-keyed entry.

The third full bathroom is downstairs and it has a shower.

This living room has couch and lounge chair seating for 4 plus a card table for 4. There is a fireplace here as well.

For hikers, several trail heads are in walking distance (Humber Park (1.1 miles), Ernie Maxwell (1 mile) and Suicide Rock(1/2 mile). For those who want to stay behind, the house is an experience and delight in itself with many windows to gaze from, nooks in which to play games and watch movies, and plenty of table space to read, write or work remotely with the lightning fast internet.

There are sitting and eating areas outside to enjoy the morning light or the late afternoon sunset. No open fires in Idyllwild- sorry. But the house has two fireplaces. One in the main bedroom and one in the living room.

This house is on high speed internet but most cellular service does not work here. Depending on your cell service it is possible to enable Wifi calling on your cell phone. That is how we make and receive calls. There is a landline as well.

The town is walkable (1.5 miles) but you will likely prefer the short drive down to the town. The village tree is lit for the holidays and you might even catch Max the dog Mayor of Idyllwild stumping from his pickup truck. The village has many restaurants, coffee and gift shops and a tiny but awesome movie theater, a climbing shop to gear up for the peaks and great village grocery with organic produce and plant-based options.

We are also available to answer your questions and help you to make the most out of your Idyllwild stay.

We allow pets upon approval. But we will only consider house-broken, well behaved, mature animals with conscientious and tidy human caretakers. Tell us about your friend.

Property manager

Kate Kunath

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Please communicate with owner about safety
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
Well mannered and house broken
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking and NO open flames are allowed on the property. No candles, bonfires, campfires or outdoor cooking with fire
As the renter, you assume responsibility for your entire party. (County ordinance)
Please park your cars in the driveway (unless prevented by snow) and not on the road

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 and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number 71-501, 001298

About the area

Idyllwild

Located in Fern Valley, a neighbourhood in Idyllwild, this cabin is in a rural area and in the mountains. While the natural beauty of Indian Canyon and Palm Canyon can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Travelling with kids? Consider Idyllwild Nature Center, or check out an event or a game at Palm Springs Swim Center. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA

What's nearby

  • San Jacinto Mountains - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Mount San Jacinto State Park - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Idyllwild Nature Center - 4 min drive - 3.3 km
  • Idyllwild Park - 5 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - 65 min drive - 80.2 km

Getting around

  • Palm Springs Station - 68 min drive
  • Palm Springs, CA (PSP-Palm Springs Intl.) - 78 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Mountain Center Cafe - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Idyllwild Brewpub - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Idyllwild Pizza Co. - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Red Kettle - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Lumber Mill Bar & Grill - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Rare & Authentic in Prime Location, Views, Chef Kitchen & Style pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Rare & Authentic in Prime Location, Views, Chef Kitchen & Style?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Rare & Authentic in Prime Location, Views, Chef Kitchen & Style?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Rare & Authentic in Prime Location, Views, Chef Kitchen & Style located?

This family-friendly Idyllwild cabin is located in the mountains, within 1 mi (2 km) of San Jacinto Mountains and Mount San Jacinto State Park. Idyllwild Nature Center and Idyllwild Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 7 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 7 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 7 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 7 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Steven W.

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

Relaxing weekend!

Communication with the property manager was very good for any concern we had. The cabin is really clean and cozy. They have firewood that you can use for 25 per day. The kitchen is easy to cook in! Feels very private even though it is close to a road. We definitely want to return some day!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rose L.

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

Beautiful and relaxing stay

We have stayed in several Idyllwild, Arrowhead, and Big Bear cabins, and this is, by far, one of the most authentic cabin experiences we've had. The timbered cabin is on a beautiful, serene property and has everything you'd need to enjoy your time in the woods. The kitchen is well-equipped and open. There are dining tables here and on the front deck. The primary bedroom is down a short flight of stairs and has its own vintage bathroom and a deck. Bring a couple camp chairs to sit here or on the small balcony upstairs, which is an ideal place to read a book or watch the jays and squirrels in the trees. The loft contains a lovely bedroom that opens up to a hallway. At the other end of the loft is a mattress and TV. There's even a small washroom upstairs. The front deck is spacious and has a wooden swing, a dining table, and space to set up another chair or two. One of my favorite spots on the property was the set of Adirondack chairs, from which you can look up to see the top of Suicide Rock (yes, this name does need changing) or a sunset. The property is not far from town, but the area is at a higher elevation (be aware if you are prone to altitude sickness). The neighborhood is quiet and great for evening or morning walks. Trails are nearby, too. Kate was very responsive and her rules are logical and fair. The only improvement I can think of is to have a larger trashcan outside. But that's a small inconvenience versus the excellent experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Jonathan G., Carlsbad, CA

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

Beautiful old cottage in Fern Valley

This old restored cottage is in a great location in Fern Valley. The owners did a nice job of renovating the kitchen with modern new Appliances. There are two working fireplaces to help warm up the house along with some mini split heaters in the bedroomsThe cottage is surrounded by some large pines for privacy. We enjoyed our time there despite having to leave a day early to escape before the snow got too deep.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Terence A.

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

Idyllwild Cabin

Our stay in Idyllwild was great. The cabin was clean, spacious, and well equiped, and made for a very comfortable place to stay. We can strongly recommend this property.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nelson d.

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

Great escape

We really enjoyed our stay here. Great kitchen for home cooking, and the neighborhood was beautiful for quiet walks in nature. Looking forward to returning someday.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tamara T., San Diego

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

Charming, Comfortable & Stylish

There is so, so, so much to love here -- from the gorgeous cabin, tastefully refurbished without destroying the cozy vintage charm, to the generous and thoughtful amenities and the excellent and welcoming host. Our stay was wonderful, the property especially well-suited to a family of four who love to cook. So many details, from the Aga stove, to the stone fireplaces, stained glass and carved woodwork, picture windows and beautifully redone tongue-and-groove ceilings... a true wow. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

About the host

Hosted by Kate Kunath

Host profile image
We are a filmmaker and an icu nurse with a great love for the outdoors and for this house! Our many passions are expressed here in the design details and in the livability of the space. This is a house that you'll never get bored in. We've maintained throughout the process of restoration that if we think its interesting and love it then our guests will too.

Why they chose this property

We found this house and lovingly became its stewards and caretakers. We love it for its location under these beautiful peaks, the night sky, its architecture, and its character and because its a great place to entertain our friends and family. We hope you will do the same and treat the house with the love and dignity she deserves.

What makes this property unique

This house is original in many of its details which we find aesthetically pleasing in many ways, and as we continue to care for this house we hope to make it more and more efficient and earth friendly. We've started by replacing the appliances with smart and energy efficient models and we are moving towards using clean and sustainable energy only. We believe that it's possible to maintain the character of the house while continuing the make the house smarter and more green. Your rental of the property contributes to that goal.

Languages:

English