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GENERAL INFORMATION ON OUR SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS SHAWNEE FOREST CABINS
Perfect for a Southern Illinois Family
Reunion
Video of cabins and surrounding area - 12 min
Video
of Garden of Gods Country - 30 min
(Exceptional video on the wonderment of the four county area around our
cabins)
Quick list of "What is there to do?"
Google Map
Bob and I live on the property so are available should you need us.
My neighbor, Linda, is a wonderful cook and will bake you most any
kind of dessert you can think of. Cakes, pies, cobblers....she will
decorate a birthday cake to your specifications. Just call her and make
arrangements at 618-264-5854. Give her plenty of notice. Check
out some of her fantastic desserts
and prices at
Linda Cooks Country.
We also have a wonderful masseuse, Rachael Jones,
who will come right to your cabin. Check out her information at
Natural Blend Massage. Give her plenty of notice.
Rates
| Cabin |
Amount Per Night |
Max Persons |
| Cougar Bluff |
$100 |
4 |
| Bear's Den |
$130 |
6 |
| Deer Run (*2 people see below) |
$150 |
8
|
| Coyote Hollow |
$130 |
5 |
| Eagle's Retreat (*2 people
see below) |
$200
|
9 |
|
Plus 11% bed tax (state 6% county 5%)
*For just two people Deer Run will be $140 and Eagle's Retreat will be $160
33% discount in January and February
Two night minimum (if the calendar shows one night in between bookings we
will book one night)
Large gatherings: Together our cabins sleep a total of 32 plus.
(Ask about the plus)
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE (I will make up a gift
card just for the person and any occasion) Remember, great Christmas
presents and January and February are 33% off.
Reservations require 50% in advance. Can be paid through our
website with a credit card or by sending a check. We are now able to
take a credit card on site for your balance. Checks and cash are fine
too...or, just make your final payment through PayPal as you made your
deposit initially....whichever you prefer. If you make a
payment using a name different than the cabin was reserved in please write
me an email and let me know. Thank you
Check
calendar for availability
If you book dates next year we will not collect a deposit until the first of
the year (unless it's January of course). We will hold the date(s) for
you and then firm up the first of the year of your reservation.
Perfect for a Southern Illinois Family reunion planned in advance.
NOTE: You must reserve your cabin either by email or phone contact
BEFORE you make your payment on line. While I try to keep the availability
calendar up to date it is important you assure the dates are available with
personal contact BEFORE making the deposit. Thank you.
Important: I always send out an
informational postcard when I receive a deposit. Be sure and let me know if
this is a surprise or if you need the postcard sent to a different address
than is on your check or PayPal deposit.
We strongly recommend that you do NOT use your GPS
to find us. (This is getting better) We have great directions on our web site coming
from all directions. If not clear call us for the best directions.
Our address does not show up in the GPS/navigational systems. If it
does, it seems to take the long way around and has caused some people to be
lost for hours.
Cell phone coverage is not the greatest here. Verizon and Alltel seem
to do the best. We do have wifi in
Eagle's Retreat and Deer Run. They both have a phone (no long distance
except calling card). Wifi signal works sometimes in Coyote Hollow and
Cougar Bluff. NOTE: 2013 we are told our
provider will upgrade to fiber. We will work hard to have wifi in all
cabins if this is true.
Amtrak Info: The closest Amtrak station is Carbondale, Il. The
train runs North from Chicago and South from New Orleans. We are only
about 1 hour and 10 minutes from the station. The rental car agency in
the station is www.enterprise.com or
800 rent-a-car.
We now have generators for those rare occasions when the electricity goes
out.
We are on county water here.
Plan on bringing any food type items. There is usually salt and pepper
and other condiments but don't count on it. We do provide coffee and
popcorn. But bring everything else that you require.
We recommend you pick up your food on the way down.
Harrisburg has a Kroger and a Super Wal-Mart. There are some
small markets for items but especially vegetables are limited. There
is a wonderful restaurant in Harrisburg (may be right on your way down) that has great
takeout. Check
www.morellospizzaandgrill.com
. You could pick up a great meal on your way through town. Their
number is 618-252-2300. All types of food...Very good
We do provide DRY wood for the fire, but bring something to start it such as
fire starters, lighter fluid, newspapers, fire log, etc.
We do not provide charcoal for the grills anymore. If you want to
grill out bring your own charcoal and lighter. There is a gas grill at
the pavilion near Deer Run, Bear's Den and Cougar Bluff and there is a gas
grill at Eagle's Retreat, Coyote Hollow and Deer Run. All cabins have charcoal grills and a fire
pit with wood provided. We are working on getting a gas grill at
Bear's Den and Cougar Bluff.
We decorate for Christmas through New Years. Be sure and tell us if you
would rather not have decorations in the cabin.
Cancellation Policy
Refunds given for cancellation if notified 14 days prior to check in. If
something unexpected comes up at the last minute, we are not unreasonable
and will allow you to use your deposit at another time.
Check In / Check Out
Check in 3:00
Check out 11:00 MUST BE OUT BY 11:00
UNLESS OTHER ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE. OUR CLEANING FOLKS DRIVE
A WAYS TO GET HERE AND ARE PAID BY THE HOUR. WE HAVE QUITE A
TURNOVER AND IF YOU ARE NOT OUT IT CAUSES QUITE A PANIC UNLESS OTHER
ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
(if the cabins are empty the day you leave you are welcome to extend your
checkout IF I do not have someone scheduled to clean- if the cabins are empty the night before you arrive you are
welcome to come early if we cleaned previously. Just talk to us about your wishes.
Our cabins are in a private setting with forest all around. Bear's Den,
Cougar Bluff and Deer Run are in the same general vicinity.....far enough
apart not to be intrusive - but close enough to use for family gatherings.
You cannot see our house, but we are nearby on the property. Our guests feel
secure, but have their privacy as well. Coyote Hollow and Eagle's Retreat
are a short distance away from the other three cabins and are close enough to use for family
gatherings, but far enough apart not to be intrusive. We are just off a very
beautiful blacktop which wanders through the Shawnee National Forest. The
only gravel road is our lane to the cabins.
We have a wonderful pavilion with a concrete floor, picnic tables, gas grill
and two charcoal grills. It has lots of plug ins as well. This
pavilion is free for our guest's use. If you want to have a large
gathering, wedding or reception at the pavilion we only ask that all cabins
(especially the three nearby i.e. Bear's Den, Cougar Bluff and Deer Run) be
rented by the party holding the event. That way there won't be an
intrusion on someone else trying to get away to the peace and quiet of the
forest.
Rules & Regulations
Bob and I have lovingly put a lot of effort into making the cabins cozy and
comfortable just for you....Please leave them as you found them. Out of
thousands of guests we have only had a handful leave dirty dishes or trash
the cabins. That says a lot. We thank
you........
We are NOT a party destination. Don't mind people having a little fun
and if you have rented all cabins have at it....but most people come here
for peace and quiet. If you need a place to party better go somewhere
else.
We are extremely pet friendly. We do not charge extra for pets. But, we do
expect pet owners to clean up after their pets - especially pet hair.
Pets should not be left loose or uncrated when you are gone from the cabin.
The most well behaved pet will get upset if left in an unfamiliar place by
themselves. If we continue to receive the wonderful cooperation from pet
owners we will be able to continue our policy of welcoming pets.
As of 9/30/2009 we have a two dog limit. As
always, make sure we know you have pets coming with you. We have one
dog who is quite aggressive with outside dogs (due to one jumping her).
I always lock her up when other dogs are on the property.
For Allergy sufferers: Don't let our pet
friendly policy deter you from coming to stay with us. We do a
thorough job of cleaning and will double clean and disinfect if you tell us
you have allergies....
-No smoking
-No fireworks
-No atv's or dirt bikes. Shawnee Forest does not allow motorized
vehicles but
Williamson Hill
will allow bikes.
-We feel you will not be comfortable if you have more than four in
Cougar Bluff. Cougar Bluff is cute
and wonderfully appointed, but not large. Consider Bear's Den, Deer Run, Coyote
Hollow or Eagle's Retreat if you need more room.
We suggest you bring plenty of bug spray and use it. We keep the cabin
area mowed but
there are insects in the area in the summer time....if you get in the weeds
or bushes while you are hiking or fishing you should protect yourself with
bug spray. Remember, your furry friends will be low to the ground and
may bring bugs to you. We have the old time chiggers and a
nasty little biter called a turkey mite. I call it a mutant chigger.
They really itch when they bite. Just wear bug spray...try to stay out
of the weeds and you should be fine. Ticks are here as well especially
in the Spring and early Summer. Just be prepared.......You are in
and near the woods. |
