Milford, Pennsylvania
The Forester's Cottage is a historic 19th century French country estate only 1.5 hours from New York City. Designed by architects McKim, Mead and White, the Forester's Cottage was built in 1897, with wide porches, thick stone walls, French windows, intricate ironwork and a slate-roofed tower. The chateau is part of the original Grey Towers Estate, home of Gifford Pinchot, the nation's first conservationist. It was designated by Congress as a National Historic Site in 1990.
The elegant interior of this 6-bedroom, 4-bath house has all the original details. You will feel as though you have stepped back in time. The bedrooms are spacious and comfortable. The old-fashioned kitchen is fully equipped with modern appliances and yet utterly charming. The working fireplace in the living room makes the house cozy and delightful in every season. There is wifi throughout the house.
Due to its sophisticated 19th C environmental design, its location and its thick stone walls, the house maintains comfortable temperatures during very hot weather without requiring air conditioning. Simple instructions for maintaining comfortable temperatures (ie windows closed on hot days, open at night, etc) are provided on the premises.
The Grounds
The stone house sits at the edge of a pine forest within hearing distance of a 60-foot waterfall fed by a mountain stream that courses through a cathedral of ancient moss-covered cliffs. The veranda is the focal point of the house. As you sit on the wicker chairs, you can hear the Sawkill Falls and watch your children as they play on the lawn. The view is breathtaking. In the distance the clouds and sky mingle with the hills of the Delaware Valley. In the middle distance sits the walled garden enclosing boxwood hedges, giant Italian urns, fruit trees, a vegetable garden and open lawns.
Also within the walled garden, discreetly tucked out of sight, is the fenced and beautifully landscaped swimming pool. The pool may be shared with occupants of another, smaller house on the property, The Stable House, also rentable.
Secure behind a wrought-iron electronic gate, the Forester’s Cottage is a private setting for family gatherings and yet only a half-mile from the charming town of Milford, PA, with its shops, art galleries, and restaurants.
History
This property is the privately owned part of Grey Towers, a Richard Morris Hunt mansion commissioned by James Pinchot in 1884. Pinchot’s two sons, Gifford and Amos, inherited the property in 1908 and went on to offer distinguished service to their country. Gifford was one of the nation’s first conservationists and first head of the United States Forest Service (1905-1910). Later, he was a two-term Governor of Pennsylvania. Both Amos and Gifford were founders of the Progressive Party. They spent their summers at Grey Towers until they died. Amos’s children inherited the Forester’s Cottage, and Gifford’s son, inherited Grey Towers, which he later donated to the Forest Service to serve as a center for environmental and natural resource policy. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy dedicated the Pinchot Institute for Conservation Studies as “a living memorial” to Gifford Pinchot’s “practical idealism” in developing “a professional approach to the management of our nation’s resources.”
Grey Towers is open to visitors for tours. But as our guest, you can walk their grounds until dusk as if you were a 19th century guest of the Pinchots, wandering its beautiful gardens and gazing into the “Finger Bowl,” a wisteria-covered dining table where dinner guests floated food on wooden bowls as they sat around the bluestone rim.
We had an amazing time staying at the Forester's Cottage. It was a fun, unique experience that we will all cherish and remember for years to come. Our stay at the Cottage and exploring the grounds truly gave us a sense of peace and respite. It was rejuvenating and reinvigorating. We felt as though we stepped back to a simpler time where we could focus on good conversation. All of us -- including the kids -- enjoyed wandering around the house, the grounds, the pool, the forest, and just sitting on the porch during sunset. The home was much larger than we had expected. The pictures do not do it justice. It was a wonderful time and I hope we will be able to take another trip here again. One thing that we were a little concerned about before our stay was the lack of air conditioning. However, that concern was all for nothing. Even though we stayed in the middle of the summer, the home was quite cool, especially at night; it was well designed for summer use, with its construction and its location up the mountain and next to the forest. I wish my home was anywhere near that efficient with keeping me cool.
Our family had a wonderful time at the Forester’s Cottage. Our stay there was a step back in time, modern comforts but an overall feel of living one hundred years ago. As soon as you pass through the gate, you feel as though the modern world has slipped away, leaving you to fully enjoy family and nature. The falls are spectacular, as are the trails and grounds about the cottage. All in all, a beautiful experience that we hope to have again.
We were transported to a French estate for a week. The Forrester's Cottage was well appointed with antiques and filled with rich history. We all agreed sitting on the porch gazing at the beautiful view of the property was exquisite. We walked to the waterfalls several times which was a great thing to do in the morning or late afternoon. Having access to Gray Towers was an added benefit. The town of Millford is quaint and close to everything you need. Highly recommend this property. Thank you Tammy!
A beautiful chateau with old world charm - we were able to cook every day and just spend the vacation at the house with its private pool and beautiful grounds.
A unique property with a beautiful pool and a short walk to one of the most beautiful waterfalls one could imagine
We were a little worried about the lack of AC but we were shocked to see that it was actually cool in the house without it! The house was perfect for relaxing with friends and when we wanted a bit more excitement we took the short walk to the waterfall which was beautiful! We had one problem while there and the owner and caretaker were very responsive in helping us figure it out. Would highly recommend!
The property is breathtaking and the house is beautiful and very comfortable. It really feels like a world and a century away.
Beautiful old house with great views of the surrounding hillsides. Charming details throughout. Loved the porch and fire pit for relaxing in the evening as a group.
This home was clearly formerly belonged to a family that lived in this home and loved it. It was the most well equipped property I've ever rented and the home was absolutely charming. There was plenty of space for us to relax and enjoy. The grounds are breath taking. Everything is there. Just go and enjoy!
Great house and magnificent property. The pictures don’t do it justice.
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