If you appreciate a rustic country feel and outdoor living, with the company of 2 very friendly donkeys who love snacks and pets, and an adorable little spunky dog, then this is the perfect spot for you. During the sunny mornings we had a great time in the hot tub and sauna followed by a cold plunge into the pool. A lovely, relaxed and casual atmosphere with a scenic trail for peaceful evening walks. Mary was a great host, very sweet and accommodating. We definitely hope to return again.
This place is magical! Totally cozy, beautiful outdoor space and of course, the donkeys! I was here visiting from WI and Ojai is one of my favorite places to visit. Mary and her dog Bonkers are amazing hosts! I would come back anytime!!
This is a cool property with lots of potential and the host was kind and talkative. It has the amenities one would desire, but was not fully functional and could use a lot more upkeep.This is a shared space with the host. The kitchen is accessible to you but the host lives at the property. You have private areas to use, but the host may enter the area to feed the donkeys.No dogs are allowed, but we have a service animal which is always allowed. There was no problem with this except she got fleas from presumably the donkeys. The host has a dog but it is not very well behaved and will jump all over you.The place was not clean like the pictures. It had tools and stored items all around the property, inside and out. It didnât seem like the host had it âreadyâ for us at all. The hot tub water had algae growing in it and needed cleaning. The pool was unusable due to how dirty the water was. The sauna turned on and after it heated it stopped working. Turns out it tripped a breaker on a power strip. I donât have enough space to say how dangerously I think this place is wired. Never should you plug a sauna into a series of extension cords and then into an unrated power strip. Iâm amazed the place didnât have a fire yet quite frankly.The sleeping space was littered with cobwebs and most of the overhead lighting either didnât have bulbs or didnât work. It was very hard to see in there with such little light. The bathroom was growing mold inside the worn out cabinet
Mary is a great host! She has put together a very cool and relaxing property, and has thought of so many things to make the stay comfortable. She gave us a quick rundown of everything when we arrived, and then gave us as much privacy as we wanted. The donkeys were also great hosts. The TV room was very comfortable, the patio furniture was well maintained, and the view is gorgeous. Hot tub was also well maintained and very relaxing. The location is very convenient- we made it downtown Ojai in 10 minutes and Ventura in less than 20. We will definitely come back and recommend Mary's property to anyone looking for a relaxing trip!
We stayed here with our three year old and he absolutely loved it...feeding the donkeys, plunging in the cold pool, and soaking in the hot tub. The trail was great for a morning walk and plenty to do/see nearby. When he's older we would bring our bikes for sure.
My sister and I stayed one night to go to a cincert at the Libbey Bowl in Ojai. The stay was lovely. Mary is very accommodating. I enjoyed the view & the outdoor area, the donkeys, and most of all the beautiful trail accessible just down the street from the house. There is a spiritual accent to the decoration if that is something that intersts you; it does me.
My husband and I stayed here for our 10 year anniversary and what a perfectly located, lush, well-appointed space! Mary greeted us with her extremely friendly pup âBonkersâ and gave us some local tips. The donkeys were such a delight to watch while we had our morning coffee. The spa was always the perfect temperature, and the blue/green firefly lights projected on the giant tree over the backyard produces such a gorgeous effect at night! Inside, the bedroom had comfy beds and were exquisitely decorated. Full bathroom and dressing area gave plenty of space. There are walking trails right by guest parking that can take you to the lake or all the way to the ocean! We spent much of our stay exploring Ojai, Oak View and Ventura but could have easily stayed at the Birdâs Nest the whole time and just relaxed. I imagine this would make a great personal retreat spot, as well. We will save this as a favorite!! Thank you, Mary!
We loved the bedroom and bathroom space and it really was a private little patio. The whole unit was very private. We were told that there was a small issue with the hot tub before we got there and it was already fixed before arrival! The donkeys are absolutely fantastic and I really enjoyed that. If anyoneâs worried about loud braying, that was never an issue while we were there. Just happy tiny donks. I was super excited to see the firefly lights up in the old CA scrub oak that covers the patio. Super cool. The bed was comfy, the shower was great, and we really enjoyed having the space for a home base to come back to. Mary also let us know how to get to the trail with the bridges. It was a really nice paved/ dirt stroll about a mile to the 3 hump bridge and it was really nice to have that so close. We would definitely stay again if we head up that way. Thanks again Mary!
Fantastic serene unique home with magical gardens, crystals, sauna, hot tub, bohemian hangout, overlooking the canyon, complete with 2 pet donkeys, fun dog, direct access to Ojai trail. Fun for families with teens and laid back people up for an experience.
If youâre interested in booking this space and planning to use more than one of the two bedrooms, you should be aware that the second bedroom is a short walk away from the first (outdoors including some stairs) - meaning that if you want access to the bathroom you have to leave the structure youâre in and walk outside down some stairs to to reach the building that has the first bedroom and bathroom. And there is no private indoor dining space (at night when it was cold and we didnât want to eat outside or in the space shared with the host, we ate huddled on our beds). So be sure to read the comments as the listing isnât completely accurate about the space itself. From the thematic decor, to the thoughtful garden scape, to the donkeys - thereâs no doubt Mary has built herself a unique and intentional sanctuary in her home. However, in our interactions with Mary, we were made to feel more like an inconvenience rather than welcome guests. While this was adequate for your stay, we will visit somewhere new next time we stay in the area.