Relax and commune at our quiet storybook cabin. We are in the Sequoia National Forest- not the Park, fyi. 2 bedrooms and a full bath upstairs, 1 bedroom and a full bath downstairs. A little gas log stove compliments wifi heaters keeping it toasty even as the snow piles high. We are on a 1/2 acre with a lovely meadow just steps from the back porch. A wood burning hot tub next to the fire ring provides a relaxing soak. We are Ponderosa- the sweetest secret in California. Cert #490
The space
We welcome every race, religion, gender, orientation and cultural background with open arms. We don’t cotton to racists or bigots.
4 steps up to the porch leads you to the double door entrance. The living room, kitchen and breakfast “nook” are what others in this app would refer to as an “open plan”. It’s actually my favorite way to play- all in one so I can watch the movie too as I make dinner. Down the short hall, past the kitchen is the downstairs bedroom (queen bed and a large closet)- across from which is one of the two full baths. The end of the house sees you at the washer and dryer and a back door- propane bbq sits on the back porch-
Or at the living room you can go up the stairs to the two other bedrooms- to the immediate right is my favorite room, the A framed peaked roof bedroom with two extra long twins and a large walk in closet. A chest of drawers and two sitting chairs provide a happy place for all. The second full bath sits opposite the master bedroom - another queen bed, bookshelves, a writing desk make this that place for working while away.
We were lucky enough to get Starlink so we have some of the fastest internet speeds anywhere on the mountain. Not that we recommend being on your devices while here but it’s true that I am personally addicted….
As of December 2022 we installed a wood fired hot tub- I am extremely excited about this addition - It can be used year round - seats 5-6 and heats up in 2-3 hours from near freezing. Since it’s wood fired it will require you to build a fire in its stove but it only needs to be tended to once for it to be ready to use. It’s a little more effort than a regular electric spa but this one is tucked in the trees next to the fire pit and I find it SO relaxing & romantic.
Lastly (I would think this would be obvious but you know…) we are in the mountains- meaning if you’re coming in the winter we might have snow, sometimes a lot of snow. If you are not comfortable driving in winter conditions, there are other towns (not at elevation) that do not have icy roads.
Update April 2023-
Well we experienced the historic weather events of Jan-March 2023. The town was flooded and the beloved & historic Ponderosa Lodge was destroyed due to a propane leak which caught and burned it to the ground. 😓😓😓
We ourselves fared much better than many, but we did sustain water damage to the basement which is where our amazing furnace was located- we have subsequently populated the home with space heaters which are connected to the wifi so the house is kept warm constantly- but until it’s fixed (hopefully by summer 2023) that’s what we are dealing with. The biggest loss was experienced by the entire town when we lost the Lodge.
This means there is not another place to eat in “town” other than the cabin’s kitchen- so please plan accordingly. We are a good hour (if not more) to the nearest store as Highway 190 from Camp Nelson is closed - we are fortunate enough that the Great Western Divide is open which is a fantastic route- but it is worth noting.
Also if you plan to sled please be safe and careful. It can be a dangerous activity especially when it is icy.
Guest access
Plenty of parking in our circular driveway for family and friends. If it's been snowing and you need parking for more than 3 vehicles let me know, we will plow the entire driveway!
Other things to note
Just another reminder that there isn’t any trash service in Ponderosa- and no leaving trash outside! (we have beautiful bears in California and we must keep them safe from us). So pack out all your trash, or if you leave it, there will be another $150 charge on top of the cleaning for me to take it to the dump for you. I know it sounds high, but others people’s garbage is a highly specialized career all in itself.
We are completely pet friendly (& have a large dog bed that's as nice as our own) but it must be cleared with me prior to check in and there might be an additional cleaning fee- pet dependent. I’m not looking to gouge anyone, we have pets we love, but depending on the pet, it requires a much deeper cleaning for those who are allergic. Say you have a support goat or an emotional elk- different beasts than a Chihuahua....
I used to have a very liberal cancellation policy and then people maybe took a little bit advantage of it. So I’ve made it more strict, but if you have some deep emergency let me know and I’ll work with you.
Summer 2022 update-
So far in the winter we’ve not ever had a power outage but twice this summer we have lost power for about 4 to 5 hours each time. One was due to a storm but I think Southern California Edison reserves the right to shut power off in a high wind event to prevent forest fires. I just thought it was worth mentioning that that might happen while you’re at the cabin.
