Experience
profound beauty, vibrant history, and rustic luxury in absolute
privacy. Perfect for anniversaries and honeymoons!
Luxury accommodations in an intimate setting. Two miles of
private hiking trails on site. Smoke free. Adults only.
Unique
Opportunity to experience secluded luxury in an exquisitely
restored 1863 log cabin.
- Total privacy and a great view from every window!
- Two stories tall (rare original!)
- Grand front porch (34 feet long)
- Chef’s Kitchen (30’ x 12’),
with top-of-the-line appliances:
- Gas range and oven
- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator with ice maker
- Microwave
- All utensils
- Royal Spa outdoor hot tub
(count the stars!)
- Two massive White cedar beds with Sealy Posturepedic “firm”
mattresses and 100% cotton, 400-thread count sheets
- Two White cedar futons for additional couples or singles
- Two designer baths with oversized showers
- Central heating and A.C. (the latest in eco-friendly
technology)
-
Hand-made
furnishings:
- Windsor chairs
- Amish cherry hutch table
- Hand-forged hinges and handles
- Amish-crafted plank flooring
- State-of-the art Entertainment Center
(sans TV reception or land-line—but equipped with
a weather-radio to check on outdoor conditions, AM/FM radio
with Ipod compatible CD player, and DVD/VCR player)
- Charcoal grill on the patio (bring your charcoal and lighter)
- Located on the Uplands Wine Trail
- Open Year Around
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A
Big Log Cabin in the Clouds stands alone in total
seclusion and privacy on 120 acres of managed woodland
habitat and restored tall-grass prairie. More than two miles
of private hiking trails are available. Birding
and wildlife viewing are excellent. We frequently see Bald
eagles and are located on the migration route for thousands
of Sandhill cranes that pass overhead each spring and fall.
A Big Log Cabin in the Clouds is just fifteen minutes from French Lick Resort Casino in
the heart of the Patoka Lake area. French Lick is also quickly
becoming a golfer's mecca with numerous signature golf courses. Golf packages can be arranged with advanced
notice. Wine lovers will be pleased to know that we are also convenient to several great wineries.
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Sandhill Crane Migrations: Southbound flights daily! Sandhill cranes are visible and audible in their southern migrations that pass over here. Their flights begin in October or November and continue until Christmas time.
Witness the migrations of these magnificent prehistoric birds! Best viewing is from A Big Log Cabin in the Clouds and Blue Prairie Bed & Breakfast.
Northbound, Spring flights begin in late February and continue all through March.
Now that whooping cranes are mixed into the sandhill flocks, whooping crane sightings here are not impossible. How rare is rare? Google whooping cranes.
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The
cabin itself is a richly historic log structure.
Originally built in 1863, from virgin timber already 150 years
old, it was probably a tavern-trading post. We salvaged it
from the original location in Southern Indiana near Lincoln’s
boyhood home. We’d love to say that “Lincoln slept
here,” but he probably didn’t. Nevertheless, it
is larger than the cabin built by Abe’s carpenter father,
Thomas, but hewn from similar timbers. The restoration has
been carefully conducted to preserve the cabin’s rare
and authentic architectural features as well as to incorporate
the best of creature comforts.
Prepare
a sumptuous meal in the huge open kitchen—a favored
natural hangout for conversation and camaraderie with friends.
After dinner, you can enjoy the reclining sofa or Amish rockers
in the sitting room and listen to your favorite music or watch
your favorite movies on the Sony home entertainment center.
Perhaps you would also enjoy a pampering massage on-site by
a Licensed Massage Therapist. No telephone will disturb you
during your stay, but you can check the weather on the weather
radio and if necessary, take refuge in the wine cellar.
A
campfire circle formed out of massive, ancient, hand-chiseled
sandstone rocks, overlooks the awesome view of the Painter
Creek valley. Plus, we provide seasoned firewood for your
evening campfire enjoyment.
The spectacular Southern Indiana landscape is reminiscent
of the Great Smoky Mountains. Nothing spoils your view—you
can see for miles and miles….
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CABIN HISTORY
To
determine the approximate date of construction we took a cross-section
of one of the original logs and sent that to Professor Darrin
Rubino at Hanover College. Darrin is a scientist who studies
dendrochronology. Dendro (Greek for tree) and chronology (the
study of time) ties together weather patterns with tree growth
ring patterns. Darrin has studied tree ring samples and correlated
weather patterns from all over the globe.
Darrin's research has determined that the logs in this structure
were harvested in 1863, 147 years ago, during the third year
of the American Civil War. Even more amazing is the seedling
date of the trees which were harvested to form these logs.
Darrin says the seedling date, or date when these trees began
growing, was 1710. The logs in this historic structure are
now 300 years old. This was before most European exploration
and immigration and from a time period when only Native Americans
ruled. We hope that our guests can feel the reverence of history
which exudes from these logs.
As
you look at the inside of the front door you will see the
hand-forged iron cleats on either side of the door which resemble
giant staples. These iron cleats are the originals. These
were placed so that a large bolt of wood could bar the door
to thwart attacks by intruders. Hence the term, "Katy,
Bar the Door!".
The original cabin stood just ten miles east of what was
Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home in Spencer County, Indiana.
When looking at the history of Spencer County in 1863, located
just a few miles north of the Ohio River, one sees that the
population was very concerned about invasion by the Confederacy
or by Confederate raiders such as General John Hunt Morgan.
Another element of unrest was the large number of Southern
sympathizers in Southern Indiana during the Civil War.
We
have restored the cabin lovingly and with a commitment to
preserve the best of the past by using the best artisans available.
For example, the hand-forged hinges in the cupboard beneath
the staircase were commissioned by Aubrey Williams, the official
blacksmith for the recent "Voyage of Discovery"
which reenacted the Lewis and Clark expedition. Aubrey portrayed
the expedition blacksmith, John Shields, and went all the
way to the Pacific in retracing the historic expedition.
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Please call 812 936-3000 with any questions and to
make your reservations. No online reservations are accepted.
