Unfortunately, this was not a very positive experience. Photos do not accurately depict the property very well. It is a very old site. “Historic” means more like “ruins.” The “ranch” seems more like an artists commune. There’s a lot of junk on the premises reapportioned and turned in to art pieces—and I’m all down for that stuff. I like quirky and offbeat. I could tell that the place would certainly be unique and have lots of character, but this was pretty rough and I never could relax while there with my 10 year old son. The description says it’s good for kids but I would have to disagree.
The interior of the house is okay—tidy overall but lots of dust and cobwebs. Had a big ant problem in the kitchen and living room area. Notified host and he agreed that, yes, there were ants and they were hard to get rid of—and that was it. I’m not confident that strict cleaning measures were taken. I spent a lot of time disinfecting and cleaning ants. The space is eclectic for sure. Ants aside the kitchen was nice and the AC was a blessing.
Outside, the property was not appealing. Lots of junk and other materials stashed away for future use. The pool area was very unkempt. The first day there were people drinking and smoking in there so we stayed away until they were gone. I got glass embedded in my foot walking around the pool. The pool deck is cracked and uneven and a hazard. My son tripped and banged himself up because of that. Host did clean up the area after I complained the first night with the glass so that was good. The actual pool itself is okay. The saltwater is nice but the bottom and sides need some cleaning and maintenance. But like I said the area is still pretty rough.
Elsewhere there were beer empties littered around, cigarette butts here and there. There was a bucket of empties in a common outside area where the residents(?) of the commune would gather (I’m not sure how else to describe it). The goats and pigs on the premises were cute to visit but the llama apparently ran away a month ago and the donkey is not on the immediate property.
Be careful of where you walk on the grounds. On a few occasions I came across rusty screws in the dirt that could easily be injurious.
I think that this site appeals to a certain type of traveler and adventurer—and me and my boy were not it. My son did enjoy his time there because he’s 10 and not big in to detail and issues of cleanliness and safety. It had a pool, pigs, and goats. He was happy. But as a parent I couldn’t really relax and enjoy my time. I’m not a prude or Mr. Clean or anything, and I get no satisfaction out of writing this. I wish the hosts the best of luck and just suggest they do the best they can for future renters.