GUEST INFORMATION
Please note: some of the information found here is outdated. For rentals, go here:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6938951
If you are coming up for the first time, click on the other "Guest Info" menu tabs to learn about what to bring, house rules, pool rules, clean-up checklists and more.
OUR HOUSES
We have two houses available for use by our guests.
The first is the Pool House, built in 1999. It is a two story structure with a spacious living room, a full bathroom, a covered veranda with a fire pit and barbeque station, and outdoor seating for enjoying meals near the pool.
Up the hill from the Pool House is the Main House, sometimes called "the Big House.". This five bedroom house was built in the thirties, and parts are a little bit worse for wear. It has a recently modernized kitchen. There is also a sun room with a full sized pool table (not in good shape, however) and ping pong table.
THE POOL & HOT TUB
Adjoining the Pool House is our pool and hot tub. The pool is treated with salt and ozone, allowing us to use minimal amounts of chlorine, for an exquisite swimming experience. The hot tub is tucked around the corner.
THE TRAILS
For those who want to get a bit closer to nature, a half mile trail loops around the property between the Pool House and the Main House. It's a gorgeous path that is easy for everyone to traverse, and takes you past a 1900's ox cart station and our two natural year round springs and an invited creek. Another trail trail heads up past this creek to the geographic feature, Black Mountain, which happens to be just outside of our property. It's a difficult trail, only fit for the adventurous!
GENERAL NOTES
We cherish our time at Black Mountain and hope that you will too! We have chosen to not bring any television or fast internet service onto the property.
PARKING - Parking is limited. Please pull as far uphill as possible to the Big House, turn the car to face out and park along the road just above the turn around spot, across from the lawn. The turn around space is helpful should a truck arrive or latecomers/caterers needing a quick place to pull in.
SPEED LIMIT - Please drive slow. The driveway is long and their are people who walk along Rio Vista Road so please respect the speed limit.
HIKING SAFETY - If you go for a hike, we highly recommend you bring someone with you (along with a long pair of pants and good shoes). Please stay on the trails and watch for poison oak - there is a lot of it, even when in the Winter dormancy months. We highly recommend washing yourself and your clothes with Tec-Nu if you think you were exposed as poison oak that touches your clothing can leave an invisible oil residue that can give you poison oak weeks later.
PLANT AND WILDLIFE TO BE AWARE OF - As we mentioned, we have lots of poison oak on the trails. Additionally there we recommend you check for ticks if you are around brush areas. Some ticks carry lyme disease. We also have the occasional Mountain Lion in the mountain range so again, it's a good idea to hike with someone.
WATER AWARENESS - Our water comes from our storage tank which is drawn from our spring. We are quite water conscious and ask our guests to be as well - short showers, fewer flushes... We are also on a septic system so please only use biodegradable soaps and shampoos, no non-toilet-friendly or personal hygiene products...
SMOKING - No smoking in the woods. Fires are a huge concern here, as in much of the California forests. If you have to smoke, smoke near the houses and put butts in the trash can.
QUIET HOURS - Noise travels in the canyon so we ask that you bring the entertainment indoors by 11:00pm.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6938951
If you are coming up for the first time, click on the other "Guest Info" menu tabs to learn about what to bring, house rules, pool rules, clean-up checklists and more.
OUR HOUSES
We have two houses available for use by our guests.
The first is the Pool House, built in 1999. It is a two story structure with a spacious living room, a full bathroom, a covered veranda with a fire pit and barbeque station, and outdoor seating for enjoying meals near the pool.
Up the hill from the Pool House is the Main House, sometimes called "the Big House.". This five bedroom house was built in the thirties, and parts are a little bit worse for wear. It has a recently modernized kitchen. There is also a sun room with a full sized pool table (not in good shape, however) and ping pong table.
THE POOL & HOT TUB
Adjoining the Pool House is our pool and hot tub. The pool is treated with salt and ozone, allowing us to use minimal amounts of chlorine, for an exquisite swimming experience. The hot tub is tucked around the corner.
THE TRAILS
For those who want to get a bit closer to nature, a half mile trail loops around the property between the Pool House and the Main House. It's a gorgeous path that is easy for everyone to traverse, and takes you past a 1900's ox cart station and our two natural year round springs and an invited creek. Another trail trail heads up past this creek to the geographic feature, Black Mountain, which happens to be just outside of our property. It's a difficult trail, only fit for the adventurous!
GENERAL NOTES
We cherish our time at Black Mountain and hope that you will too! We have chosen to not bring any television or fast internet service onto the property.
PARKING - Parking is limited. Please pull as far uphill as possible to the Big House, turn the car to face out and park along the road just above the turn around spot, across from the lawn. The turn around space is helpful should a truck arrive or latecomers/caterers needing a quick place to pull in.
SPEED LIMIT - Please drive slow. The driveway is long and their are people who walk along Rio Vista Road so please respect the speed limit.
HIKING SAFETY - If you go for a hike, we highly recommend you bring someone with you (along with a long pair of pants and good shoes). Please stay on the trails and watch for poison oak - there is a lot of it, even when in the Winter dormancy months. We highly recommend washing yourself and your clothes with Tec-Nu if you think you were exposed as poison oak that touches your clothing can leave an invisible oil residue that can give you poison oak weeks later.
PLANT AND WILDLIFE TO BE AWARE OF - As we mentioned, we have lots of poison oak on the trails. Additionally there we recommend you check for ticks if you are around brush areas. Some ticks carry lyme disease. We also have the occasional Mountain Lion in the mountain range so again, it's a good idea to hike with someone.
WATER AWARENESS - Our water comes from our storage tank which is drawn from our spring. We are quite water conscious and ask our guests to be as well - short showers, fewer flushes... We are also on a septic system so please only use biodegradable soaps and shampoos, no non-toilet-friendly or personal hygiene products...
SMOKING - No smoking in the woods. Fires are a huge concern here, as in much of the California forests. If you have to smoke, smoke near the houses and put butts in the trash can.
QUIET HOURS - Noise travels in the canyon so we ask that you bring the entertainment indoors by 11:00pm.