World: United States: North Carolina: Blue Ridge Mountains: Boone Vacation Rentals

Old Farmhouse at Willet Ponds Horse Farm
Single Family w/ 3 Bedrooms - 1 Bathrooms - Sleeps 6-7

More Photos Of This Vacation Rental Below!!!!


 Email this listing to a friend

Vacation Rental Owner/Manager

Vacation Rental Description

More than a place to stay: an Appalachian farm experience.

Welcome to Willet Ponds Horse Farm.  We offer a wonderful place to 
stage your mountain get-away, and much more.  Interact with our farm 
animal favorites: Lucy the pot-bellied pig, 
Solomon the long-eared donkey, several horses and some very friendly 
dogs (voted best animals on the farm by many children!).

A week in the country is worth a month in town.  Treat yourself to 
the simple joys in life, and join us in feeding our flock of three 
dozen chickens, gathering eggs, and waking to the rooster’s crow.  

“This was the best week of my life,” said one 4-year-old guest, 
speaking for most of the children who have experienced our farm and 
fallen in love with the “Little House on the Prarie” style Old 
Farmhouse.  Indeed, what we hear time and time again is that Willet 
Ponds is the perfect vacation spot for any animal lover or country 
romantic who needs a break from the suburbs or city. 

This quaint, century-old farmhouse offers an excellent venue for 
experiencing the Appalachian countryside:  fresh mountain air, 
babbling brooks, nature at your doorstep.  Tucked away on a dead-end 
road, nestled at the base of undeveloped Bald Mountain adjoining Elk 
Knob State Park, the Old Farmhouse takes one back to a slower day, a 
simpler time.  Generous decking wraps around three sides, ending in 
a covered porch from which unfolds the brilliant green valley and a 
pastoral scene that will keep you dreaming wistfully from the porch 
swing.  

The house has been well lived in and well loved for generations.  
It’s authentic—not a log cabin kit popped up on a hillside.  There 
is spirit and character here.  The Old Farmhouse is picture perfect 
in every way your imagination tells you a quaint Appalachian 
farmhouse should be.  Antique furniture, rustic wormy chestnut 
cabinetry, knotty pine and hardwood floors, handmade quilts, and 
vintage photographs will convince you of its Appalachian heritage.  

A spacious, well-equipped kitchen, comfortable family room, and 
attractive sunroom with double French doors give you plenty of space 
to relax inside.  The farmhouse has two charming bedrooms on the 
ground level, each with a double bed, plus an upstairs bedroom (two 
single beds) and attic room that will enchant your children—they 
absolutely love it here.  The upstairs reading nook has its own 
picture window looking out over kids playing in the spacious yard, 
horses grazing just beyond, and mountain ridges in the background.

Willet Ponds, our 16-acre farm, is 5 minutes from historic Todd (the 
famous General Store and Wi-Fi Mercantile bakery), one more skip to 
the scenic New River (tubing, canoeing/kayaking/rafting, fishing, & 
swimming, not to mention easy bike riding along the river), 15 
minutes to Elk Knob State Park, and only 20-25 minutes to either 
Boone or West Jefferson.  From Boone you’ll have easy access to the 
ski slopes, Tweetsie, shopping in Blowing Rock, the Blue Ridge 
Parkway, and Grandfather Mountain.  We’re also conveniently located 
for Merle Fest (30 min. drive). But be sure to schedule in some down 
time to just enjoy the profound serenity of the property and unique 
experience of the farm.  

The adventurous can explore two mountain streams on the property 
that are just the right size to play in, then enjoy the farm pond 
teaming with tadpoles, salamanders, and bluegill (fishing poles 
provided).  There’s a small camping spot with a tent platform along 
the creek, a large bonfire pit, and hiking from the house to nearby 
waterfalls.  Deer and wild turkey abound.  It’s a birder’s delight:  
scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, red-winged blackbirds, 
hummers, and bluebirds galore!  And as dusk falls, the spring 
peepers begin to sing a chorus while countless fireflies rise from 
the pasture, performing a natural light show rivaled only by the 
brilliant night sky that’s so full of stars, it can only be imagined 
from the city.

Cozy in Winter:  While the house does not have a usable fireplace, 
the Toyostove heater features the glow of a fire and keeps the house 
cozy on the coldest nights.

No A/C:  The Old Farmhouse does not have, or, in most cases, need, 
air conditioning.  Keep the windows open and enjoy the babbling 
brook and the breeze.  One recent guest from Florida admitted she 
was a bit worried about staying at a place without A/C in July, but 
afterwords said, "The house was very pleasant.  It's got God's 
central air. I wouldn't change a thing.  Please don't change a 
thing!"  

Bring your horses!
  We can board our guests’ horses for $25.00 per night per horse.  
Please contact us to discuss this opportunity.

Pet Policy:  We do not accept dogs or cats, but will consider other 
animals on a case by case basis.

By Appointment Only:


Horse Rides:  

Kiddie Rides: Young riders will be delighted to sit on a horse and 
have us lead them around the farm.  $25 per family.

Instructional Rides for Beginner & Intermediate Riders:  Learn the 
basics of communicating with a horse.  Start in the riding ring and 
get acquainted with your horse: steering, starting, and stopping.  
We’ll adjust instruction to match your riding competency.  Riding 
the short trails around the farm with a guide may be possible, 
depending on confidence level and competency.  We keep horses at a 
walk.  One hour. $35 per rider. 

Farm Fresh Eggs for Sale:  $3 per dozen.

Live Free-Range Chicken: $5 pc.  Take home a pet, or add to your 
flock.  Or experience where chicken meat comes from—a real bird.  
Move the bird from the barnyard to the dinner table in an afternoon 
you’ll never forget, then enjoy the healthiest, happiest chicken 
meat ever. 

In addition to our horses, friendly dogs, chickens, pot-bellied pig, 
and donkey (to hear him bray will make memories J ), we also live on 
this, our dream farm, in a house across the way.  We personally 
manage the Old Farmhouse, making it clean and comfortable, in hopes 
that you’ll feel that you’re staying in a home, not a generic rental 
cabin.  We make sure to take care that you have everything you need, 
be it a cup of flour or freshly laid free-range eggs (you’re welcome 
to keep the eggs you help us gather, which is a kid’s delight).

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  
We’ve made room for you here, too.

Farm Tours:  If you’re NOT staying at the Old Farmhouse, but would 
like to meet our animals, hear our donkey bray, pet the pig, feed 
the chickens, and gather eggs, please contact us to schedule a farm 
tour.  A $10 fee buys you this memorable experience, plus any eggs 
that you find!

Vacation Rental Amenities

Fresh Eggs in Season, Fully-equipped Kitchen (Microwave, Toaster 
Oven, Coffee Maker, Dishwasher, Refrigerator), XL Bathroom w/ Double 
Sink, Linens provided, Washer, Dryer, Ceiling Fans, Satellite TV, 
Phone, Books, Magazines, Board Games, Toys, Fire Pit, Camping Site, 
Fishing Poles, Easy Winter Access, Very 
Kid-friendly, No Pets, No Smoking.

Activities and Attractions

Favorite Things to Do

On the Property:  
1)	Roast marshmallows at the fire ring.
2)	Walk the nature trail up to the seldom-seen falls.
3)	Feed the chickens and gather eggs.
4)	Horsie rides (subject to owner’s schedule)
5)	Fish in the pond.

Right in the immediate area (Todd, 2 miles):
1)	Float down the New River.
2)	Ride bikes along the New River.
3)	Explore Todd Island Park.
4)	Picnic at Green Valley Park & playground.
5)	Shop at the Todd General Store.
6)	Eat pastries & visit with locals at the Todd Mercantile.
7)	Friday night blue grass jam at the Todd General Store.

On the Todd side of Boone:
1)	Hike in Elk Knob State Park.
2)	Explore the Elk Knob Game Lands.
3)	Bird watch at the Meat Camp Creek Environmental Center.

In the Greater Boone/West Jefferson Area:
1)	Hike/Visit Grandfather Mountain & Parkway area trails.
2)	Take the kids to Tweetsie Railroad.
3)	Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway viaduct & recreate at Cone 
Manor & Trout Lake.
4)	Shop in Boone, Blowing Rock, & West Jefferson.
5)	Play Golf in Boone or West Jefferson.
6)	See the frescoes in West Jefferson.
7)	Visit the Ashe County Cheese Factory in West Jefferson.
8)	Picnic at Valle Crucis Community Park & shop at the Mast 
General Store there.
9)	Ski at any of the High Country ski resorts.

Vacation Rental Rates

Stay a week for ONLY $880! This is a rare bargain rate for a 
beautiful property.
1-4 Nights: $145/night. Thereafter $100/night. Monthly Rate: $2500.
Rates are firm & non-negotiable. 12.75% NC & CNTY tax additional.
Avoid 3% credit card processing fee if paying by check. No 
cleaning/booking fees!
Reservations made less than 30 days before arrival require payment 
in full.
Otherwise, 50% down, balance due 30 days out. Cancellation fee: $50 
or 10%.
You will find no better value for your vacation dollar.  We are 
fair, friendly & easy to work with.  We might barter for time at 
your vacation rental, too.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.

Boone North Carolina Vacation Rentals

Page Views
48	this month.
492	this year.
2384	since listed.

Vacation