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Karen's Country Cottage at Kates Creek, LLC

Cottage in Norman with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for Karen's Country Cottage at Kates Creek, LLC

Our cottage in early fall.
Back of cottage.
Aerial view
Large dining room.
Spacious living room.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 8144.0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View map
Norman, AR
  • Place, Ouachita National Forest
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Queen Wilhelmina State Park
  • Place, Board Camp Crystal Mine
    ‪29 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

Karen's Country Cottage at Kates Creek, LLC

Karen's Country Cottage is located in the heart of the beautiful Ouachita Mountains in west-central Arkansas. This cottage is near the famous Wolf Pen Gap ATV trail complex. Other nearby attractions are: Lake Ouachita, Little Missouri Falls, Shady Lake, Caddo River, Queen Wilhelmina State Park, Crater of Diamonds State Park, and several hiking trails. * 9.5m to EAST Wolfpen Gap Trailhead * 12m to Little Missouri Falls * 23m to Mena, AR * 29 m to Glenwood and the Caddo River * 25m to Mt. Ida More information The space ) Beautiful mountain views from the front porch ) Carport ) Metal carport (soon to be turned into screened-in picnic area with tables and firepit ) Freshly painted inside and out (Oct. 2017) ) Large separate bathroom and 1/2 bath off the master bedroom ) Queen beds in bedrooms and sofa bed in sunroom with additional airbed if needed ) Fully equipped kitchen (electric range, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, toaster, griddle, dishes, bowls, eating utensils, etc.) ) 48 in. TV with dvd player and good selection of family friendly dvds (no cable or satellite yet) ) Board games for family fun ) Great views from the sunroom of the three large ponds and Kates Creek behind the cottage, and yes fishing is allowed. ) Utility room with washer, dryer, and wash basin ) 50 gal. water heater ) Large dining room ) Central heat and air ) Hair dryer and ironing board provided ) Charcoal grill ) Secluded (3 1/2 miles from Big Fork, AR on County Road 675) Guest access At the present time guests will be able to use the cottage and the very large yard that is well maintained. There is plenty of room for several vehicles and trailers, and children have room for outdoor games.

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Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Mountain view

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Property grounds
Remote getaway - secluded in the national forest-Direct access to the ATV trails
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  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
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9.0 out of 10, Wonderful, (14 reviews)
Remote getaway - secluded in the national forest-Direct access to the ATV trails

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 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

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
If you decide to bring more guests than you booked, you must edit your booking to reflect the correct number of guests.

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

Norman

Located in Norman, this cottage is in a rural area and in the mountains. Ouachita National Forest and Caddo River reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Board Camp Crystal Mine and Wegner Crystal Mines. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Norman, AR

What's nearby

  • Ouachita National Forest - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Board Camp Crystal Mine - 29 min drive - 24.9 km
  • Caddo River - 43 min drive - 38.5 km
  • Rich Mountain Community College - 45 min drive - 43.7 km
  • Janssen Park - 46 min drive - 44.1 km

Frequently asked questions

Is Karen's Country Cottage at Kates Creek, LLC pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Karen's Country Cottage at Kates Creek, LLC?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Karen's Country Cottage at Kates Creek, LLC?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Karen's Country Cottage at Kates Creek, LLC?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Karen's Country Cottage at Kates Creek, LLC located?

Situated in the mountains, this cottage is steps from Ouachita National Forest and 12.3 mi (19.9 km) from Board Camp Crystal Mine. Caddo River and Shady Lake are also within 25 miles (40 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. 36 out of 36 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 36 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Miranda P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
AMAZING!! everything, from the views, to the host, everything was perfect. The owners are kind & the property was immaculate! The ponds were nice & I caight a fish!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Justin S.

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

Trail Ride

Housing was as advertised. More than enough space for us and comfortable. Property itself is beautiful, quiet, and relaxing. We had seen rabbits, deer, and cows every morning while we had our coffee. Very lovely place to stay.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Miriam M., Rockwall

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

Wonderful hosts and stay

We had a great time fishing and seeing nature. Clean accommodations, comfy beds and everything you need.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Chad E., Richardson

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

Relaxing getaway

Had a great time with our family getting away from the city. Great hosts! Enjoyed our visit to the cottage tremendously. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

Paul & Emily M.

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

Fantastic

Loved our stay. Best VRBO experience. Will be back.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Zack R.

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

Family getaway

We had the most wonderful time at Karen’s Country Cottage. The house was clean and very comfortable. The scenery was breathtaking and we enjoyed every minute of our stay. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Larry D.

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

Excellent

An absolutely amazing experience. Ray and Karen are excellent hosts, the property is beautiful, and we will be back. We highly encourage you to book this place soon.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

irene o.

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

Disconnecting

Beautiful property. Child friendly. Sweet owners that roll out the welcome wagon! Great place to disconnect from the fast lane.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Greg M.

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

Great Getaway

At first I was a bit let down because of no TV service....but that quickly changed because of the ability to just disconnect from the world while relaxing and spending quality time with my wife for our anniversary and enjoys God's creation
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

tim s.

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

PERFECT, like staying at Grannies Cabin when i was a kid.

Traveling with 3 small kids and my wife to visit family nearby. The grass was mowed the house was super clean. Everything was comfortable and organized. drawers and cabinets were labeled and well stocked. The owners were very nice and our kids even got the chance to play with their grandkids. Really beautiful farm, we felt like we were staying with family. Do not hesitate, book this place, its affordable and about as good as it gets. Go explore Arkansas! My family will be back soon.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Awesome experience!

Karen's Country Cottage is a wonderful place to stay! The house is very clean and comfortable. The scenery around the house is amazing. Karen and Ray could not have been any better hosts. They went above and beyond to help with whatever we needed. Molly is a great host too! Our family can't wait to go back.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lori W.

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

Great place for a couple or family

The cottage and owners were absolutely wonderful. Everything was spotless and in great shape, we had everything we needed from laundry detergent to crock pots. The location was peaceful, quiet and tranquil. The creek behind the property just added to the ambiance. Its only about 10 miles to the East trail head of Wolf Pen Gap which was convenient for us. If your looking for a perfect place to get away for a few days this would be a wonderful place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Brandon U.

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

Country Paradise

Cottage is perfectly located that once you arrive and unload sxs that truck stays parked until time to go home. (As long as you bring groceries on way in of course) Lots of wildlife to watch in mornings when drinking coffee before you head out on sxs. You can ride all day for a week and never have see same trails. So many swimming holes along the unbeaten path and you never have to ride far to find a creek running along the road or crossing it. The Host are wonderful people and there was even a fresh homemade chocolate cake waiting for us when we arrived. Whether you looking for place to ride your atv/utv or just relax and enjoy the wildlife along the creek right behind the cabin, this place is the one.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shawn H.

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

Mini vacation

Our plan was to go to Mena Arkansas for the trails with our side by side and needed somewhere to stay as a last minute book I would have never guessed we find this amazing cottage it was very clean, great host, peaceful atmosphere, plenty of room inside and out. Just minutes from wolfpen where we where headed. Just a heads up you will need to buy your grocery before you get their because your in the middle of no where but that just what we where looking for. And our host let us know all this ahead of time to. I can't say enough about our host thy where great all around. We can't wait to go back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2020

10/10 Excellent

Janice M.

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

Beautiful Property/Excellent Hosts

Ray and Karen have the most wonderful land. Beautiful scenery with lush trees, creeks, ponds, hills and mountains and will be more than happy to show you around. Highly recommend if you wanna unplug and relax and soak in the landscape and make new friends. Exceptionally clean. They went above and beyond any expectations. Very friendly and they helped us plan our days with crystal mining, photo ops, fishing and exploring. Or, as we preferred on one of our days, just grilling and watching the sunset turn into a beautiful starry night. The best vacation we have had in a long time. Would rate them with a perfect 100 stars.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

April M.

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

Great Escape

Quick holiday weekend trip. Karen & Ray (Loyd) were wonderful hosts along with Molly (dog) who greeted us when we arrived late Friday night. They offered suggestions on things to do and directions to get there. The home was even nicer than the pictures showing it online. Very spacious and clean. The beds were very comfortable. We had a great time walking around the property and checking out the three ponds and creek. Some even did a little fishing. Evenings got cool and fire pit came in handy. Enjoyed seeing lightning bugs and checking out the stars. Overall we all had a great time and hated to leave.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer H.

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

The perfect getaway!!

Absolutely loved our stay this is our second time coming here because we loved it so much. If your wanting to getaway and just relax this is the place. There is no wifi and I absolutely love it. You get to unplug and relax. The view from the house is breathtaking and the many deer that where there made it that much better. The house has everything you need and then some. The Millers have went above and beyond to make sure the house is stocked with anything you could need. They where even nice enough to let us use their air compressor when we had a flat on our trailer. We stayed a whole week this time and enjoyed the near by trails at wolfpen gap, dug for Crystal's at board camp mine, enjoyed some beautiful waterfalls and even found a great swimming hole. Over all this has been one of our best vacations.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Danyalle S., KAUFMAN

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

Perfection!

This was a new area for us to stay in and it quickly became our favorite. The property is beautiful with the fishing ponds and Kate’s Creek running through it. The cattle on the pasture were just a bonus along with the deer we saw daily roaming the property. This was the cleanest property we have stayed at and we will definitely be back. The kitchen is stocked with everything you need including a crock pot! The house was spacious and spotless! The sunroom with the sofa sleeper definitely has the best view in the house. The covered patio area was wonderful and the firewood for the fire pit was just another bonus. If you’re looking to get away and just relax or even ride the trails, this is the place for you. It was a quick 15 minute ride and we were headed to the trails of Wolf Pen Gap. A plus is the house is on the Oden Loop so we finally made that loop. If you stay here you just visit Big T’s for amazing food (cash only). I could go on and on about this property because it is honestly perfect for my family. When we checked in there were fresh brownies and cookies on the counter! Karen and Ray were wonderful hosts! Their dog Molly and granddaughter Kaylee were amazing as well. My boys loved getting to fish with their granddaughter and she definitely out fished them. We will be back soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amanda B.

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

This is hospitality like you’ve never seen before.

There are not enough stars in the clear night sky at Karen’s Country Cottage to give as a rating for this property and giving 5 stars almost feels disrespectful. Yes, this slice of Heaven here on earth is just that good. We didn’t just get a property while staying at this location - we got an entire experience. From comfort, to wildlife, to hospitality, this place has it all. When we arrived, we were greeted by Ray who is just the sweetest. Ray and Karen are unbelievable hosts. I am convinced they have never met a stranger. They are kind, welcoming, considerate and just so wonderful. Their hospitality is unmatched. We spent our last night on the front porch of the cottage speaking to them both and it felt like we were just catching up with friends. We fished the ponds in the evening, watched the wildlife out of the sunroom in the morning, played in the creek in the afternoon and star gazed at night. The view of the Milky Way was unreal out there. It is quite a drive to the city; about a half an hour to a Dollar General and over an hour to a Walmart so be mindful of that, but Karen has this cottage stocked full of amenities just in case something you need runs out. She has really just thought of everything. The beds are extremely comfortable; not too hard, not too soft. It was all we could do to get out of bed in the morning to get going. The comfort level was perfect. If you are rockhounds, the Avatar, Wegner and Crystal Vista mines are just over a half hour away. Avant is about 45 minutes away. There is no wifi and cell service can be tricky, but do yourself a favor and just unplug and reset. It’s so relaxing out there. (The best reception we got for AT&T was in the sunroom on the couch.) The only negative thing we had to say about this stay was that it certainly was not long enough. We are kicking ourselves for not staying longer and are already trying to find time on our busy calendar to come back. Ray and Karen are humbly proud of their beautiful property and it’s apparent. They work hard to maintain it and were excited to offer us a tour of their natural springs, adjacent properties and wildlife. We would book this property over and over again. With as much as we gushed about it to our friends one asked if we had a million dollar vacation opportunity given to us in Bora Bora or a quaint trip to Ray and Karen’s what we would do. We’d be packed up and on the road to Arkansas :)
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kelly M.

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

Beautiful!

The property is gorgeous, house is nice, clean, and well furnished. The owners contacted me before, during, and after our visit to make sure we didn't need anything and that our stay was satisfactory. We will be staying here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie M.

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

Beautiful

This was a wonderful place to stay. It was very clean and had everything we needed. The owners were super friendly and accommodating. The only issue we had was the lack of access to WI-FI which made it hard to know what to expect for the weather each day and using online maps to locate other towns nearby to visit. We loved our visit and would highly recommend this home to others that want to ride the ATV trails. This was a very good experience! Thank you to the owners for your hospitality.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jesse E.

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

Paradise Found

The house was immaculate upon arrival and had views for days. Between the clear ponds and fall foliage it made for a relaxing weekend despite the rain. The hosts communicated well and checked on us to make sure we had everything we needed, even brought us a sweet surprise of homemade brownies. So close to the National forest, quaint downtown of Mena and genuine peace and quiet made this stay one of the best we have ever had in Arkansas. We hope to be able to return soon.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Alta M.

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

Absolute Perfection

Our stay was absolute perfection. It was so beautiful, clean, fully stocked, comfortable and peaceful! Hosts were the best and so informative of where to go and what to see.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bryan B.

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

Very nice property!

The property was very nice, super clean, and the hosts were outstanding! Highly recommend this property!! I’d give them 10 Stars if I could.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

carly l.

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

Way better than expected

The cabin I originally had rented fell through last minute and this was one of the only listing available for labor day weekend. It turned out to be the biggest blessing! This cottage was not only much bigger than I thought from the pictures but also perfectly located. The pictures and description do not do this place justice. The owners (and Molly the welcome puppy) were amazing and very helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

About the host

Hosted by Ray and Karen Miller

Host profile image
The owners, Ray & Karen Miller, have spent their entire lives in the Mena & Big Fork area. The cottage is located on their 200 acre cattle ranch in a very rural area of the beautiful Ouachita Mountains. They have been married for 45 years and have three children and eight grandchildren. They are both retired teachers and are now enjoying the quiet life on the ranch (no alarm clocks necessary).

Ray loves to hunt and fish. He doesn't have to leave the ranch to do either. He taught 5th grade at Mena Public Schools and drove a school bus for 28 years. He enjoys the chance to do outside activities with the grand kids such as throwing rocks in the creek, fishing, roasting hot dogs and riding on the ATV.

Karen is a retired 2nd grade teacher. She loves spending time with her grandchildren. Karen is a great cook and enjoys teaching the grands how to bake cookies. She frequently takes them on ATV rides to check the cattle and they all get excited when they discover a newly born calf.

Ray & Karen look forward to welcoming you to their little piece of heaven.

Why they chose this property

This cottage was inherited from Karen's parents. Karen and Ray have spent a lot of time and effort making sure it will be a pleasant place for visitors to relax and unwind.

What makes this property unique

There are several things that you will love about the property. There is a large sun room which overlooks three large ponds and Kates Creek. There are great views from the sun room and from the front porch. It has a carport and a large covered area with a picnic table. A grill and fire pit with wood to burn are next to the picnic area. At night it is very quiet and you can listen to the night sounds of the forest. It is a great place sit back and relax.

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English
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