MOUNTAIN MAMA VACATION HOMES
Built as a private retreat for busy artists, "Art Docko" does not disappoint! All three levels of this spacious home are surrounded by windows that fill the house with dappled sunlight. The many quiet corners and meditative views make this a serene place to curl up with a book or write your own. Unwind around the fire pit with a glass of wine and panoramic views of the lake, or enjoy a swim from your private dock. WiFi is fast, so it's easy to stream or Zoom.
We are committed to Rent Responsibly standards. This means we follow best-in-class guidelines to ensure you have a peaceful, safe and memorable stay with us. We care a lot about maintaining good relationships with our community, so we appreciate you following these "house rules" during your stay.
LODGING AGREEMENT: The guest booking the property must digitally sign a lodging agreement immediately following the reservation. The most important terms of the agreement are included below, and the guest may cancel a booking penalty free within 24 hours. If the lodging agreement is not completed with 24 hours then the reservation will be cancelled. The agreement will be sent via text message, so please be sure your phone number is correct before booking.
AGE 25 OR OLDER TO BOOK: The guest booking the property must be 25 years of age or older. We reserve the right to request a photo or scan of a government-issued photo ID. The guest who books must stay at the property--you may not book for others if you do not intend to stay at the property.
QUIET HOURS START AT 10 PM: Our property's quiet hours of 10 pm to 6 am are required by county ordinance and enforced by local police. If the police respond to a noise complaint, every individual on the property may face a misdemeanor criminal charge and be subject to a fine by the county of $300. Failure to abide by the county noise ordinance will result in the immediate termination of the stay without refund.
Past noise complaints have always come from groups of 20-somethings. If you are booking for a group of people in their twenties and you think your group may want to play loud music at any time then do not book this property or cancel your reservation if you have already booked. Find another place for your trip so you do not have your trip terminated early and without refund.
NOISE MONITORING AND SECURITY CAMERA: We use devices that measure volume levels throughout the property (like a smoke detector but for noise) and allow us to respond to noise nuisances before the police are called. The devices are triggered primarily by sustained periods of loud music, not things like loud talking or laughter (which is encouraged!). The devices do not record audio and are 100% privacy compliant. We also have a security camera that records the front door and driveway. This allows us to facilitate remote check in and monitor the property between guests.
ACCIDENT FORGIVENESS: Every stay is backed by our accident forgiveness program. Guests will not be held responsible for damage caused during their stay (up to a maximum of $1,500) if 1) the damage is accidental, and 2) the damage is reported as soon as possible, and by no later than the check out time.
POSSIBLE BACKGROUND CHECK: We reserve the right to use a third-party to verify the guest's identity and check criminal databases to finalize the reservation. Complete terms regarding the guest verification are provided in the lodging agreement, and can be provided sooner upon request.
NO MUSIC OUTDOORS: This is a quiet, family-friendly lake community, not a place to party. Residents and guests alike come here to relax amid the peace and quiet of the lake. Because of this, and because sound carries so easily across the lake, we do not allow guests to play any music outdoors. Other reasonable noise, from children playing outside, for example, is no problem.
NO PETS: No exceptions, sorry. Please don't ask whether we can allow your perfectly house-trained, hypoallergenic labradoodle to join because we can't :-)
NEIGHBORS NEXT DOOR: There is a small cabin VERY close by (less than 20 ft from the main house) where a quiet young couple lives full time. The main house shares a driveway with the cabin, and from the back deck of the house you can see right onto the back deck of the cabin. The neighbors are lovely and often not home, but keep in mind that this may not feel like the most private location due to the proximity of the neighboring cabin.
MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR SMALL CHILDREN: Certain features of the house may pose a particular danger to small children, including the rails on the screened porch and the gate-less staircases. No special efforts have been made to “childproof” this cabin. Guests accept the risk of harm to any children we allow on the property. These risks include, but are not limited to, falling down the stairs, falling off the deck, drowning in the lake, and ingesting cleaning supplies and plants on the premises that might be poisonous.
NO BLINDS IN BEDROOM #3: One bedroom has a beautiful large triangle window and skylights, and therefore no blinds on the windows. That means it gets sunlight as soon as the sun rises, although the windows face north and west and the lot has many trees, so the sunlight is not intense. In fact, it's a beautiful place to wake up and almost gives the impression of sleeping in a treehouse! That said, the experience is not for everyone, so please make sure this works for your group.
SNOW-INS: During the winter, there is a good chance that a significant snow storm could restrict access in and out of the cabin. The roads are plowed, but not always promptly. 4 wheel drive is highly recommended in the event of a snow storm, and you need to use good judgement as to whether to cancel a trip before it begins or leave the cabin early.
SMOKING: Smoking is never allowed inside the house. You may smoke outside as long as you clean up after yourself. You may not litter cigarette butts on the deck, in the yard, or anywhere else--butts must go in the trash after they have cooled off. If smoking inside the screened porch, please turn on the fan so that the smoke does not linger and leave a smell.
NUMBER OF GUESTS: It is important to have the correct number of guests on the reservation, so please update accordingly if the number changes after you first book. There are only enough plates, glasses, etc. for a maximum of 8 people, and the septic plumbing cannot handle more than 8 people at once. Only registered guests are allowed to use the home, day or night.
SHEETS: At the end of your stay, please strip the sheets off the beds that were used and leave the sheets on top of the beds.
PARKING: There is room for up to 4 cars in the driveway, but if parking more than 2 cars, you might have to box in other cars by parking behind them.
BRING OR RENT YOUR OWN BOATS: We do not offer kayaks or other boats to guests. The Mountain Lake Club on the lake does rent boats from Memorial Day to Labor Day, including at least one pontoon boat. No gas-powered boats are allowed on the lake--only small electric motors are allowed.
BUGS: This is a cabin in the woods--that means there are lots of bugs, especially in the summertime. Even if you are very careful, some of those bugs will find their way into the house. The best way to minimize the number of bugs inside is to enter and exit through the screened porch as often as possible. You must also carefully clean up the kitchen every night and securely package up all food to keep out bugs and mice. We have had to deal with mice before and no one wants that again!
WAIVER OF LIABILITY FOR USE OF HOT TUB AND/OR LAKE: The hot tub remains open year round. If you use the hot tub it is your responsibility to ensure the water remains chemically balanced and safe to use before you use it. By using the hot tub and/or the lake you agree to follow all house rules associated with it and you release the owner of the property from all liability relating to injuries that may occur while using the hot tub and/or the lake, regardless of whether injuries are caused by negligence.
SEPTIC SYSTEM: This house has a septic system. Grease and oil must never be allowed down any of the sink drains. Feminine hygiene products must be thrown away in a trash can and not flushed down a toilet. Never flush solid trash down the toilet or into a sink drain.
NO FIREWORKS: Fireworks are not allowed.
NO ILLEGAL DRUGS: Guests may not possess or consume any illegal drugs on the property, including cannabis.
ABOUT MOUNTAIN MAMA VACATION HOMES
Mountain Mama is a professional vacation rental company in the Harpers Ferry area. This is not just a side-gig for us--this is our full-time job! Rest assured that you are in the hands of professionals and will receive unmatched service. We are on mission to help family and close friends spend unplugged time together creating memories they will treasure. Harpers Ferry is a still-hidden gem and we can't wait to share it with you!
If you want to explore, the Appalachian Trail is a couple miles away, historic Harpers Ferry is just a 20 min drive away, and Virginia wine country is just next door.
DRIVING DISTANCES
Harpers Ferry (town and national park) - 20 min
River Riders - 20 min
Harpers Ferry Brewing & Adventure Center - 20 min
Loudoun County vineyards - 15 min
Charles Town - 15 min
Mountain Lake Club - 3 min
Keys Gap (A.T. access point) - 10 min
Washington, DC - 1 hr 15 min
Baltimore - 1 hr 20 min
Dulles Airport - 50 min
BEDROOM LAYOUT
Bedroom #1: queen bed, main floor
Bedroom #2: queen bed, top floor
Bedroom #3: top floor, queen bed (note: this bedroom has large triangle windows without blinds that let in morning light)
Bedroom #4: queen bed, lower level
