The Gnome Home at Shadow Mountain Ranch!

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Entire home

Come in and enjoy the mountain magic in our most iconic room

You're unique adventure is just this way!

Open the large handcrafted door for an unforgettable stay

Enjoy a movie and the breathtaking scenery in a private sitting room

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2

Popular amenities

Air conditioning

Mountain view

Check out the area

Julian, CA

William Heise County Park5 min drive
Julian Town Hall6 min drive
Lake Cuyamaca17 min drive
San Diego, CA (SAN-San Diego Intl.)86 min drive

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Dining Area

About this property

Looking for a whimsical mountain retreat? Our iconic Gnome Home has you covered. The unique forest gnome motif was inspired by artist and sculptor Tom Clark. Step into this mushroom-shaped abode to discover a charming seating area with panoramic views, a quaint bedroom, and a one of a kind bathroom. The interior of the room contains authentic stonework with breathtaking detailing.

The Gnome Home is one of four lovely rooms located at Shadow Mountain Ranch. It has been a favorite of many guests and continues to be the most requested room after many years. If you are interested in seeing our other unique rooms, please visit our website: shadowmountainranch.net.

Property manager

Shadow Mountain Ranch

Amenities

Mountain view

Air conditioning

Embark on an unforgettable vacation in the Enchanted Cottage

Mountain view

Microwave

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 21

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Adults only

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Julian

Located in Julian, this cottage is in a rural area. Menghini Winery and Milagro Farm Vineyards and Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit California Wolf Center and Laguna Mountain Recreation Area. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Julian, CA

What's nearby

William Heise County Park - 5 min drive
Julian Historical Society - 6 min drive
Julian Town Hall - 6 min drive
Menghini Winery - 11 min drive
Lake Cuyamaca - 17 min drive

Getting around

San Diego, CA (SEE-Gillespie Field) - 68 min drive

Restaurants

Lake Cuyamaca - 17 min drive
Julian Brewing Company - 6 min drive
Julian Pie - 12 min drive
Julian Pie Company - 6 min drive
Julian Station - 8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Gnome Home at Shadow Mountain Ranch! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Gnome Home at Shadow Mountain Ranch!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Gnome Home at Shadow Mountain Ranch!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Gnome Home at Shadow Mountain Ranch! located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is 2.3 mi (3.6 km) from William Heise County Park and within 6 miles (10 km) of Julian Pioneer Museum and Julian Historical Society. Julian Town Hall and Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve are also within 6 miles (10 km).

9.4

Exceptional

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

Learn more

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.2/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

8/10 Good

Eli P.

16 Jan 2024

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

Take The Gnome Pill

Despite having stayed there for three nights, I still can barely believe this place exists. The property is full of whimsical detail and beautiful, custom-woodwork furnishings. It's in a fantastic location, under 15 minutes from Julian and popular hiking trails. We did not have any trouble with the cold, as some previous reviewers did, despite overnight lows around 30 degrees. The only major issue we encountered was that the stunning waterfall shower drained poorly, and we had to mop up some minor overflow. We contacted the property manager and let her know about the issue, so hopefully it may be resolved in the future, but realistically, only sub-5-minute showers were possible without risking flooding in the shower's present state. I recommend asking about this before booking. One other thing to know is that the single bathroom is separated from the bedroom only by a pair of saloon-style swinging doors. Needless to say, anyone in the bedroom will get to fully experience the bathroom soundscape when it is in use. Plan accordingly.

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Denise P.

9 Jan 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique

Such an interesting property and a very quaint town with great shops and restaurants.

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Steven R.

29 Nov 2023

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

There's no place like Gnome.

The owners are nice, and this was a beautiful place to stay.

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff A.

16 Nov 2023

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

Delightful cottage

Gnome Home was an absolute delight. The exterior looks like something from the Hobbit. The building has 2 sections with a mushroom on top of each one. The interior has 2 main rooms, connected by a slightly sloping hallway. You have the feeling that your are underground. The living room and hallway have green carpeting, like grass, and the bedroom has a floor that looks like rock. The consistency is quite impressive. The decor is loaded with gnomes: on top of furniture, carved into doors, everywhere. And there is a towel rack with a leaf design, and a bench with back and arms that look like branches of a tree, and rustic chairs. The sink appears to be made of rock. But the highlight of the cottage is the shower, where water comes pouring out onto a "rock" ledge and then comes down as a waterfall. We loved our stay at Gnome Home!

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kyle D.

9 Oct 2023

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

Charming, One-of-a-Kind Home

This property is positively magical. From the waterfall shower, to the custom woodwork, to the plentiful plaster mushrooms, I cannot wait to return to this beautiful slice of cottage-core!

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

About the host

Hosted by Shadow Mountain Ranch

'FIND A NEED AND FILL IT has been a guiding principle for both Loretta, my wife of 65 years, and myself. When I retired from my career as a teacher and school administrator and she retired from her career as a nurse, rather then have me drive her to work and play golf until time to bring her home, we looked around to see what needs we could find. Loretta quickly saw a need for overnight housing since Julian was rapidly becoming a center for tourism. Bed-and-breakfast was such a new concept in California that our friends asked if we were going to serve breakfast in bed. Nobody knew much about how to proceed so we just opened our doors and started. To say that it was an instant success would be an understatement. There was a very real need, and both of us, having spent most of our lives in professions that served people, were ideally suited to it.

Why they chose this property

This rental has everything one is looking for when searching for a unique getaway. Being situated on ten acres allows for seclusion and privacy, along with the tranquility we often seek. The marvelous details of the room ensures that our guests will receive a remarkable experience.

What makes this property unique

The creative details of this property is what sets it apart from the rest. Our most requested room never disappoints guests with new surprises at every turn. Find peace, serenity, and relaxation at this scenic ranch. When feeling adventurous, embark on various adventures in our nearby towns to see what the country life is about. We invite you to find your dream mountain vacation at Shadow Mountain Ranch.

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