Terra Alta – Incredible River Views and Hot Tub!
MOUNTAIN MAMA VACATION HOMES
A huge hot tub, stunning hilltop views, the sound of rushing rapids below–this place has it all! On 3+ acres of private woodland set high on a hill overlooking the Shenandoah river, this large river house can accommodate many guests and is just 15-20 min from tons of attractions: whitewater rafting, historic Harpers Ferry, Virginia wine country, and more.
Description
MOUNTAIN MAMA VACATION HOMES
A huge hot tub, stunning hilltop views, the sound of rushing rapids below–this place has it all! On 3+ acres of private woodland set high on a hill overlooking the Shenandoah river, this large river house can accommodate many guests and is just 15-20 min from tons of attractions: whitewater rafting, historic Harpers Ferry, Virginia wine country, and more.
The space
Bedroom #1: king bed on the 2nd floor
Bedroom #2: two bunk beds on the 2nd floor
Bedroom #3: queen bedroom on the main floor
Bedroom #4: bunk bed on lower level
Neighborhood
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 – 10 min
Washington, DC – 1 hr 20 min
Baltimore – 1 hr 20 min
Dulles Airport – 1 hr
Cancellation policy
Other things to note
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.
NUMBER OF GUESTS: It is important to have the correct number of guests in the reservation, so please update accordingly if the number changes after you first book. The house comfortably sleeps 8-9 adults, and the number of guests is strictly limited to 11 (including all children over age two). While the maximum number of guests is 11, that assumes that at least some of those guests are children. The place is really just too small for 11 adults, and we will not accept reservations for more than 9 adults. Sleeping 11 people will require 2 people in each king/queen bed, 2 people in the full bed, and 1 in each full/twin bed. There are only enough plates, glasses, etc. for a maximum of 11 people, and the septic plumbing cannot handle more than 11 people at once. Only registered guests are allowed to use the home, day or night.
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 🙂
WIFI/INTERNET: Unfortunately, because the house is so rural we can’t offer fast internet. On the bright side, cellular reception (at least for Verizon) is really quite good at the house as there is a cell tower very close by. I typically get download speeds of 45 Mbps on my Verizon cell phone and use that as a hot spot to stream high definition movies over the TV in the basement with no lag problems at all. If you have a decent cell phone data plan you shouldn’t have any trouble streaming on that.
SNOW-INS: During the winter, four wheel drive, snow tires/chains, and a car with good clearance are HIGHLY recommended in the event of a snow storm or heavy rain, as there is a good chance that a significant snow storm could restrict access in and out of the house. You need to use good judgement as to whether to cancel a trip before it begins or leave the house early.
STEEP/GRAVEL ROAD: The last half mile is accessed by way of a single lane gravel road. Please drive slowly so as not to damage your car and out of respect for the neighbors. Deer will often be seen in the road when it’s dark. The gravel road is relatively flat until the end. The last 100 yards of the road will have you making a hairpin turn to drive up a steep paved road to the top of a hill. When it snows, going up or down this hill will be very difficult to do without four wheel drive, snow tires, and/or chains. Please be prepared! We have had guests in the past who were not able to make it up the hill in a snowstorm.
BUGS: This is a river house in the woods–that means there are lots of bugs, especially in the summertime. Even if you are careful some of those bugs will find their way into the house. The best way to minimize the number of bugs inside is to keep doors and windows closed at all times. Please also carefully clean up the kitchen every night and securely package up all food.
WOOD STOVE: You are encouraged to use the wood stove as long as you do so carefully! Always keep the stove door securely shut unless you are actively putting logs inside the stove. The stove can get very hot, so be sure to keep small children away whenever a fire is burning. We do not guarantee there will be wood or fire starter there, so please plan to bring your own.
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.
SHEETS: At the end of your stay you will be asked to strip the sheets off the beds that were used and leave the sheets on top of the beds.
NO GARAGE: The garage is not available to guests and will be locked during your stay.
NO LANDSCAPING: This is a house in the woods and we intentionally keep it “wild”. Twice a guest has complained that the “yard” is overgrown with “weeds,” but that is the wrong way to think about the place–it does not have a manicured yard with a suburban-style lawn. It does, however, have lots of privacy, unbeatable views of the mountains and the Shenandoah River, and acres upon acres of wild woodlands steps from the front door. Leave the city/suburbs behind and get some real fresh air!
WAIVER OF LIABILITY FOR USE OF THE HOT TUB: By using the hot tub you agree to follow all house rules associated with it and you release the owner of the property and the manager from all liability relating to injuries that may occur while using the hot tub, regardless of whether injuries are caused by negligence.
WAIVER OF LIABILITY FOR USE OF THE BUNK BEDS: This property has bunk beds, which pose a risk of injury. Guests agree to hold owner and manager harmless for any injuries which may occur.
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.
RIVER ACCESS: The river is a difficult 15 minute walk from the house: through dense woods with bugs and critters, down (and then back up) a steep hill. It’s not for the faint of heart!
NO FIREWORKS: Fireworks are not allowed.
NO FIREARMS: Guests may not bring firearms or ammunition inside the house.
NO ILLEGAL DRUGS: Guests may not possess or consume any illegal drugs on the property, including cannabis.
About
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!
Features and Amenities
Rates and Availability
Location
What Our Guests Are Saying
The house could use some freshening up but was very clean.
The house could use some freshening up but was very clean.
My stay at this cozy cabin was absolutely incredible. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with the warmth and charm of the space, which was even more beautiful than the pictures. Nestled in nature, the cabin provided the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The peaceful surroundings, combined with the stunning views, made for an ideal retreat.
My stay at this cozy cabin was absolutely incredible. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with the warmth and charm of the space, which was even more beautiful than the pictures. Nestled in nature, the cabin provided the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The peaceful surroundings, combined with the stunning views, made for an ideal retreat.
The home itself was cozy and well-furnished, with a lovely balance of style and functionality. Comfortable beds, ample storage space, a large hot tub, and a welcoming living area made it feel like a true home away from home.
I would definitely recommend this rental to anyone looking for a cozy getaway or a home-like environment during their travels. We look forward to returning in the future!
The home itself was cozy and well-furnished, with a lovely balance of style and functionality. Comfortable beds, ample storage space, a large hot tub, and a welcoming living area made it feel like a true home away from home.
I would definitely recommend this rental to anyone looking for a cozy getaway or a home-like environment during their travels. We look forward to returning in the future!
Very responsive contact from mountain mama whenever we had a question.
Would stay again!
Very responsive contact from mountain mama whenever we had a question.
Would stay again!
If I had to sum up this place in one word, it would be RELAXING! Everything outside seems to melt away as my wife and I and our three children enjoyed the house, hot tub, and the outside activities. I only wish we could have stayed more than two days!
By the way, take the warning about the drive seriously. For those of us more accustomed to driving a minivan on city roads, this is not that! The private road is barely gravel and very long–typical in my experience for West Virginia, but not so much in other areas. As a resident of Western New York, I can’t imagine this place in the winter time, but I suppose not much snow will really fall in this area, so maybe it is not too bad. This is not a criticism, of course, just an observation.
If I could give more than 5 stars, I would give this place 10, or maybe more. It is a gem and will be a great memory for our family. If we are back in western Maryland and this place is available (except in the winter, maybe), we will certainly be reserving this house again. Absolutely wonderful for our family!
If I had to sum up this place in one word, it would be RELAXING! Everything outside seems to melt away as my wife and I and our three children enjoyed the house, hot tub, and the outside activities. I only wish we could have stayed more than two days!
By the way, take the warning about the drive seriously. For those of us more accustomed to driving a minivan on city roads, this is not that! The private road is barely gravel and very long–typical in my experience for West Virginia, but not so much in other areas. As a resident of Western New York, I can’t imagine this place in the winter time, but I suppose not much snow will really fall in this area, so maybe it is not too bad. This is not a criticism, of course, just an observation.
If I could give more than 5 stars, I would give this place 10, or maybe more. It is a gem and will be a great memory for our family. If we are back in western Maryland and this place is available (except in the winter, maybe), we will certainly be reserving this house again. Absolutely wonderful for our family!
The driveway is steep, but during clear sunny weather I made it easily in a Hyundai Elantra so don’t worry about the travel if you’re in a small vehicle AND the weather is clear!
The driveway is steep, but during clear sunny weather I made it easily in a Hyundai Elantra so don’t worry about the travel if you’re in a small vehicle AND the weather is clear!
The beds were so comfortable and we slept well also with the noise makers provided in each room.
The house is way back in the woods and therefore was a bit dirty around the deck and around the fire pit area and needed to be cleaned to be able to sit and enjoy.
The nearby attractions were amazing and we would love to come back here again to visit. Harpers Ferry is not too far and definitely a must place to explore and visit.