If a relaxing getaway to the Hocking Hills has been on your mind, you’re not alone.
I had been dreaming of wandering around in the woods and taking in the pure beauty that is Hocking Hills for a while when the perfect opportunity presented itself. I was invited to stay at a new cabin called Dunlap Hollow for a night and it was honestly so amazing that I knew I had to share the experience.
The property is the result of tons of hard work from owners Amy and Bryant Gingerich. The property was originally built in the 1920s and when the couple first saw the cottage nestled on a wooded 40-acres they fell in love. But the house itself was far from homey.
They didn’t see the inside of the cottage until they purchased the property, but they weren’t exactly shocked by the state of the interior.
“After the sale, we found that, as suspected, the inside was in pretty bad shape and had no running water. The neighbors said that no one had used it in the past 15 years,” said Bryant. “Still, the bones were in decent shape and the sandstone fireplace and foundation were begging to be restored.”
Bryant, with the help of some family members and local contractors, got to work on making the home structurally safe while Amy took on the bulk of the interior design.
The couple love the outdoors and Bryant took care in clearing out two incredible trails for guests to hike during their stay at Dunlap Hollow. During our stay, we felt like being ambitious, so we decided to take the .8 mile Overlook Trail.
I’m not going to lie, the beginning of it was tougher than I was anticipating. That’s not really because the trail is all that hard and more because I’m not an incredibly experienced hiker. But let me tell you, the view at the end of the trail was so worth it. At points on the hike, you can see the cottage hundreds of feet below and you cross two small seasonal waterfalls on the way to the overlook.
Once we got back from the hike, it was time to take a nice long soak in the hot tub. The property is so secluded and private and at times, it feels like you’re a whole world away.
When you go to Hocking Hills, it’s natural to assume you’ll be hitting up the tried and true hiking spots like Old Man’s Cave and Conkle’s Hollow, but honestly, the property offers some incredible nature of its own. There are rock formations, craggy hills, waterfalls, and stunning views of the ravine. It’s a world unto itself and totally worth planning in extra time during your trip to explore.
The cottage is available to rent on Airbnb and offers a master bedroom and a lofted-sleeping area. One incredible touch we loved so much was the french press and coffee from Florin Coffee. It was exactly what I needed after a long day of hiking and hot-tubbing.
If all of this is sounding like a dream, it can all be yours. And I don’t just mean to rent. In addition to this cozy cottage, they also have a stunning A-frame and an incredible Cave House on the property.
If you want to book your stay at Dunlap Hollow, either at the cottage or the A-frame, you can visit their website here.
