Hindman House: Historic, restful, fully-equipped

Set back on a quiet road on over half an acre, Hindman House, just 20 minutes north of Owen Sound, invites you to relax and recharge in any season. The house is a cherished historic gem fully-equipped with all the amenities for 21st century comfort and function.

A chef-approved kitchen, comfortable seating areas for relaxing with a book or Netflix, beautiful rural surroundings inviting you out on the porch or for a walk. Close to the Bruce Trail & Sauble Beach and an hour`s drive to Tobermory.

THE SPACE

Rustic on the outside, charming and welcoming on the inside is the best description of this place.

The house can easily accommodate 4 adults, and with the use of the comfortable memory foam sofa bed, up to 6. The efficient and fully equipped kitchen has island seating and an adjoining conversation area. The living/dining room, with windows on three sides, has a comfortable sectional, reading chairs, a TV with streaming services, a Bluray player and assorted games and puzzles. The dining table seats 8.

The stairway opens into the `loft` master bedroom, which has a California king bed and a curtain that can be pulled for privacy. The second bedroom is equipped with a queen bed and a futon that opens into a double bed. Both bedrooms have hutches and dressers for unpacking and good bedside lamps for night-time reading sessions. Each bedroom also has a well-equipped desk for remote work.

The west-facing rustic front porch has Muskoka chairs and a dining set for breakfast or lunch al fresco. A new south-side entrance and 3-season sunroom is a nice spot to read on a rainy day or catch some early spring sun. A patio door opens onto the back deck with comfortable seating, a propane BBQ, a dining table and chiminea for evenings under the stars.

Bird-feeders at both the front and the back of the house draw chickadees, goldfinches, nuthatches, woodpeckers, bluejays and more. During migration season a wide variety of birds can be seen. Sandhill cranes are frequent visitors in nearby fields and often fly over, sounding their distinctive bugle. (It`s a special treat to see hundreds of sandhill cranes gather in the late fall in preparation for migration.)

You will have the entire house and grounds, with the exception of the outbuildings, to yourself.

Ray and I bought this property in 2016 as an unexpected retirement project. Ray`s grandparents raised their six children (the middle child, Norma, was Ray`s mom) in this house so we just couldn`t resist bringing this amazing treasure back into the family. We rent to allow us to continue to improve the property so we very much appreciate your visit.

While we are currently not living locally, we`re available throughout your stay by phone or email as your first point of contact. We have a network of family and friends we can call on should something arise that requires hands-on help.

Situated half-way between Owen Sound and Wiarton, in Georgian Bluffs township, Hindman House is a retreat all on its own or a perfectly situated home base to wander and discover the treasures of Georgian Bluffs and Grey and Bruce Counties. In spring, the surrounding bush is lush with trilliums and migrating birds regularly visit our feeders. Summer brings short trips for bracing swims in Georgian Bay or the pleasures of Lake Huron`s beaches at Sauble or Southampton. Fall ushers in brisk walks and explosive colour fading to winter`s hush. Hindman House will give you a comfortable front row seat on it all.

Georgian Bluffs borders the Bruce Peninsula portion of the UNESCO Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve and is situated between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Nature is at your doorstep here. The area has countless year-round options to explore the outdoors. Hiking, paddling, cross-country skiing, rock climbing, biking ... and that`s just a few.

Hindman House would make an excellent base for annual local events like Owen Sound`s Summerfolk Festival, the Salmon Spectacular Fishing Derby or any of the four area Fall Studio Tours. Looking for something to do on a Tuesday? The Keady Farmer`s Market (with 250 vendors) held between May and October is almost a rite of passage.

Wine? Coffin Ridge Winery has one of most spectacular views to be had and good wine to boot. Craft beer? Mudtown Station in Owen Sound is one of our favourite options. Food? Keep it low key and local at the Gaslight Diner in Shallow Lake or go a bit farther afield to Ted`s Range Road Diner to try wild game as well as traditional fare.

Let us know what you`re interested in and we`ll help you find the information you need to get the most out of your stay.

You`ll need a car for this location.

A 15 to 20-minute drive will take you to your choice of Owen Sound, Wiarton or Sauble Beach for shopping.

The property is rural and the surrounding land is used for cattle grazing and crops. Depending on the time of year, you may see farm equipment plowing, planting and harvesting. The fields are small so these visits are usually short in duration.

The cattle are present starting in the spring and on into the fall. The herd is made up of cows, calves and yearlings. Please give these gentle creatures lots of space; watch but don`t interact. They will wander at will in the fields surrounding the house in their own quiet way.
Rules re. stays during COVID-19 pandemic:
Please don`t visit if you or anyone with you is feeling ill. We understand if this means you need to cancel and we`re happy to work with you to reschedule.

Other rules:

As with all short-term rentals, our guests are governed by municipal by-laws requiring consideration of neighbours, their property and public services like roads. Consideration and respect for neighbourhood is essential.

Respect and care for the property, including all heritage elements (log walls (inside and outside), floors and vintage furnishings). Notify us if something gets broken or damaged.

To protect the floors, do not wear outdoor shoes or boots in the house. Inside slippers or soft-soled shoes are recommended.

Maintain the quiet nature of the neighbourhood, particularly in the evening and at night.

Pets must be supervised and controlled at all times while outdoors. In spring, summer and fall, it is essential that the cows and calves in the adjacent fields not be chased or harassed in any way. Please leave no evidence behind (stoop and scoop!) and discard pet waste with the garbage.

The house is child-friendly but not child-proof. Supervision is required for little ones on the stairs, near the two propane heaters (one in each of the main downstairs rooms) and to prevent damage (i.e. a costly professional restorer would be required to remove a crayon or marker drawing from a log).

No fireworks are allowed on the property at any time or for any reason.

Use of the chiminea for an outdoor fire may not be available during your stay if prohibited by a fire order Georgian Bluffs Township or the Province of Ontario. Check the Township website for the fire conditions during your stay.