If you are looking for the best place to stay in the Cooperstown area, this is it! The first thing you notice when you arrive is how beautifully landscaped the property is. Once inside, everyone in my party commented on the beauty of the wood and the warmth of the surroundings. The home is nicely decorated and the kitchen has top of the line appliances. It sits right on the lake and the views from both inside and from the outside decks were amazing. The owner/builder obviously has an eye for detail because everywhere you look there are handmade pieces, like the bathroom pedestal sinks and various tables. We visited in October and the pool was heated and it was warm enough to swim!
If you stay at this property, you can use the Boathouse that sits right on the water. It is like a clubhouse and it's near the pool too. The wallpaper inside the boathouse is made of real birch bark - it was awesome. Some of our party used the kayaks available with the rental. The owner, Bill was helpful with all sorts of recommendations.
There was a lot to do in Cooperstown besides the obvious baseball attractions. We visited the Art Museum and a new Vodka Distillery and went for a hike at Glimmerglass State Park.
Plenty of restaurants too. We will definitely be back next year to spend more time in this beautiful, well maintained home and this charming town! What an incredible place! My wife, four year old daughter and I spent a few days at Oneida Lodge and loved every minute of it. The incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail in every fixture, room and aspect of the home complements its incredible location on the lake.
Coffee on the upper deck as the sun rises over the lake is the ultimate way of relaxing and appreciating the beautiful surroundings. The heated pool and boat house added to the experience.
We swam every afternoon of our visit in September after first spending the mornings exploring the wonderful town of Cooperstown and the surrounding areas. We found a few neat, low-key restaurants where the food was excellent and the people were so friendly. A short charter boat trip was a perfect way of experiencing the beauty of the lake. The owners are very friendly and accessible. If you are thinking of a place to spend a few days or a week connecting with family, friends or just relaxing away from the stress of your normal life; this is the place to be! I can't say enough great things about my recent stay at this magnificent home of Bill and Liz.
Located just 6 miles from the Baseball Hall of Fame and other attractions in the heart of Cooperstown, their home was ideal for a quick weekend getaway with my family. Whether you want to be right on the lake for summer activities or sitting by the fireplace in their large log cabin home during the winter months, I highly recommend staying here during any time of the year. The house was extremely clean, well kept, linens and towels were ready for use in all bedrooms, and even the fireplace was set up for instant use if we would have liked. I'm looking forward to my next trip up to Cooperstown, whenever that may be, and certainly staying at Bill and Liz's house again. Thank you for a wonderful weekend!
Pictures of this cabin do not do justice. We went during autumn so the foliage just added to the beauty of it's surrounding. The cabin was amazing! The architecture is incredibly detail-oriented and is rustic, yet luxurious at the same time. Large beams across the ceilings, a polished tree that goes from the first to the third floor in the stairwell, and amazing stone fireplaces are just a few of the Adirondack style details in this cabin.
In addition, the appliances are top notch and the kitchen is well stocked with everything you might need to prepare dinner - including a mixer! Bill Miller was extremely helpful and gave us excellent suggestions on places to eat and things to do. We made use of the boat house during our stay - another gorgeous building. The foosball table at the boathouse was a surprisingly huge hit with our daughters, ages 7 and 9 and the view from there (and our cabin) was fantastic.
We also took kayaks out on the lake - included with the rental. We hope to get back there next year. I walked away feeling like I had become part of one of Norman Rockwell's paintings! The property is absolutely beautiful and not a detail was missed in this one of a kind house. It comfortably accommodated 3 families.
The kayaks & canoe were used on a daily basis, as well as the pool. There was nothing more peaceful than to wake early and read in the boathouse amongst the quiet of the sunrise.
This was one of the best vacations we have taken in years!! We will definitely return in 3 years when our youngest heads to Cooperstown! We had the best vacation possible when we stayed at the uber-luxe lakefront home the week of June 28, 2013. We had been planning this vacation for a couple years and could not have been in a better place. The owner and the maintenance people were attentive and helpful?even just making us acquainted with the property. Not only is it the most beautiful property in Cooperstown, it was close enough to enjoy the baseball and quiet enough to enjoy the lake and family. Mingo's is just down the road and definitely a must see.
There are so many side trips to take and you?re not to far from Albany if you need an airport. The photos and comments don't do justice to the house.
We are already talking about another trip. For the second year in a row, we (6 adults and 6 kids) spent Columbus day weekend at The Treehouse. The house is wonderful, with great views and plenty of room for all of us. It is spotless and very comfortable.
The yard is wooded, private, with a large fire pit, perfect for roasting marshmallows. It leads right down to the beautiful lake. The kids loved the floating 'bouncy' dock and swam, even though it was October.
The adults fished and used the kayaks. It was a magical weekend! Bill, the owner, could not have been more accommodating.
When we called him with questions, he was responsive and beyond helpful. He gave us many recommendations and was so accessible. I would highly recommend renting for any large group. It was a blast! Thank you, Bill! This place was beautiful!! We often vacation at Four Seasons Resorts and this cabin lives up to the quality we experience at those resorts.
Attention to detail is noticed throughout. We stayed there with 2 other couples and had such a nice weekend relaxing and enjoying Cooperstown. There was plenty of room for all of us, the views are beautiful, furniture comfy, kitchen fully stocked with whatever you might need if you want to cook. The owner gave us great restaurant recommendations, directions and suggestions on things to do. I hope to return again. Our week in Cooperstown was the ultimate baseball experience and our stay in this amazing lake house was everything one could ask for and more.
Every detail is exactly the way it is described - these lodges are simply amazing! The property is breath taking, very well maintained and a short 15/20 min drive to the Dreams Park. We had siblings with us that ranged in age from 6-15 who had a great time at the lake, boathouse and pool. The restaurants in the area are extremely accommodating to large groups and the shops and museums are perfect things to do with any down time.
There is no better place to stay in Cooperstown! This house was a fabulous retreat for our two families of four. Our kids aged 9-13 absolutely loved the water trampoline, and we got lots of use out of the two kayaks and canoe. The adults enjoyed morning swims to the end of the little bay and back on the beautiful, clean, and usually very calm lake. We had Time Out Boat Rentals deliver a pontoon boat right to the dock for a fabulous evening cruise, and we rented a powerboat from CJ's with skis and tube that we were able to pick up at the dock 10 minutes away in town and then keep at the house all afternoon as we took turns going out. Another truly amazing romantic getaway at our favorite 'camp' in the Northeast.
This is our 3rd year in a row at Arrowhead Pointe in January (yes, Winter in Cooperstown) but our first stay in 'Oneida' and it was absolutely magnificent. Waking up right next to the lake brought the experience to an entirely new level. Plus, with a full moon Saturday night and temperatures falling below zero (-6!), we slowly fed the beautiful fireplace, absorbing every ounce of warmth it provided while simultaneously gazing out the great room window at the lake and full moon above - so peaceful, serene and rejuvenating. No where, we mean no where, reconnects us to what matters in life like Arrowhead Pointe to nature, to each other and to a deep gratitude for all of God's gifts.
This is why we return year after year. We are eternally grateful for your generosity in sharing your masterpiece.
See you next year. THIS WAS A DREAM COME TRUE!
An amazing experience, this log house is unforgettable. The pictures do not do it justice. This was an ideal getaway for me and even though it snowed 8 inches, we felt like we were in a winter wonderland. The scenery was picturesque and we could not take enough photos. Bill was in contact with me before, during and after my arrival. He was very reliable and always willing to answer any and all questions I had.
The fireplace was perfect and we had a great time cooking in the beautiful kitchen. I am already looking at the calendar to see when I can go back.
I feel fortunate I had the chance to see and stay in such a gorgeous home. THIS IS THE PLACE YOU HAVE ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT. We felt as though we were living in a giant tree house with all the modern conveniences possible. What a masterpiece!
We loved every minute of our vacation at this awesome home and can't wait for the time when we can return again. There were a few days when we never left, but just relaxed, read a book, or tested our culinary skills with the Wolf oven. Although we went at the end of November and the weather was changing; it sure didn't hamper our trip. We had some sun, some rain, and even some snow; but that didn't make a bit of difference. We couldn't use the pool or the kayak on lake, but we still could listen to great music or to the geese squawking out on the lake as they planned their southern route. We loved the morning sun rises, hiking through Glimmerglass State Park, having a fire in the fireplaces inside and out, cooking outside on the grill, taking our time going through the Baseball Hall of Fame without the crowds, going to the Farmer's Museum, sipping a few glasses of wine, playing board games, visiting Cooperstown, or just doing nothing, but RELAXING.
It is a wonderful home with plenty of nooks and crannies to get lost in. There wasn't anything that we lacked. We keep telling all of our friends about it and back up our words with plenty of picutres. Thank you for allowing us the privilege of staying in your great home. We all had such a wonderful vacation! We were looking for a last minute weekend getaway - somewhere for the two of us to relax post Christmas, make some great meals, unwind, relax by the fire and reconnect, decompress. This place was immaculate, perfect, gorgeous.
Stacks of dry wood waiting to be burned in one of the fireplaces. Very comfortable beds, sofas, chairs. Great/functional kitchen. Absolutely stunning space. Remote location, but close enough.! Bill went out of his way to make us feel comfortable.
A few calls to make sure we made it there ok, that everything was in order and if we needed anything. Great recommendations on where to go in Cooperstown, however we didn't leave the house! I cannot recommend this property enough. I've stayed at several other vacation homes and this is hands down, THE BEST. The pictures just can't give you the full beauty of this property.
My loved ones and friends had the pleasure of spending Thanksgiving at Cayuga and it's something we will remember all our lives. As luck would have it, it snowed that Thursday morning and we woke to 2' of powder across the whole property.it was magical to say the least. The views of the lake are fantastic and you could spend hours at the boathouse just watching the wind paint brush-strokes across the surface of the lake. I also want to say that Bill (the owner) went out of his way to make our stay as wonderful as it could be.
My hat is off to you buddy. Great job.and we look forward to staying there again very soon. This was our second stay at Cayuga Lodge and it was just as wonderful as the first time! The decor and architecture of this condo are breath-taking and really made us want to just stay and enjoy it all three days that we were there. Of course, having snow falling outside helped us to want to curl up in front of one of the five fireplaces and just watch the snow fall. It is the perfect spot for relaxing both during the day and at night with the many different sitting areas throughout the condo.
We found the property to be clean and well maintained. The owner was always prompt in answering e-mails and taking care of our concerns. We have definitely recommended this condo to friends and may even have a family wedding here one day. As far as the area is concerned, we have been coming to Cooperstown for many years and have stayed in a variety of different spots around Lake Otsego, but none compares to Cayuga Lodge. We were extremely fortunate enough to spend our Christmas at this wonderful chalet.
It was also during our first winter storm of the year. The entire property is breathtaking, with fantastic views of the lake and the geese. The staff was extremely helpful with any questions we had. There are gas fireplaces in (virtually) every room, but we really enjoyed the wood fireplace the most on the main level.
The architecture, artwork and overall layout of this chalet are just beyond words. The worst part of the trip was leaving. Bill, the owner, responded to our questions and concerns in a timely manner. We also made great use out of the I Home to listen to Christmas music. It's quite evident that Bill truly cares about his visitors.looking forward to returning soon.
This luxury cabin treat is ideal for relaxing or entertaining all seasons of the year. The home is well made, spacious yet cozy, quiet, conveniently located, and accommodating to many different moods or interests. Whether you're a fan of Nature and want to fish/swim/hike/bike at the Glimmerglass State Park, or a Fan of Baseball and want to frequent all that Cooperstown has to offer, Anna's Retreat is the ultimate home base to enjoy both worlds. Our family enjoyed s'mores by fire pit, hanging out in the game room in the split level basement, and reading in the screened-in sunroom hearing nothing but birds and the breeze in the trees. We will only want to visit Cooperstown staying at this local gem!
I have looked at many vacation rentals in search of the perfect house to host my friends from overseas and none of them come close to this magnificent log palace. It's very well designed so that people can enjoy the beautiful surrounding nature, get together to chat in a group, share the experience of cooking, or just hang out and BBQ on the deck. My friends especially loved the floating pontoon and taking the canoes out in the morning. The whole area is magical and seeing the deer roaming in the forest made it even more special. The park nearby was perfect for our group since we loved playing volleyball on the sand court and running along the nearby trails. Our group of friends has been to this home so many times, it feels like our own vacation place, a second home! The views are amazing, no matter what time of year (we go off-season), the house is spacious but welcoming.
We hiked at the park nearby, usually we tube, but not enough snow this year. Some of us toured the local brewery and wandered the quaint town. The thing about the house, is, it makes you perfectly content to just sit, read, drink a nice glass of wine and just 'BE'. We plan to come back again!
Coming from Southern California, this was exactly the lake vacation we were hoping for! House was in excellent condition with fresh, new linens including plenty of new bath towels. Amenities like kayaks, canoe, dock, great large beach with fire pit and of course, the water trampoline were huge highlights.
Location was very peaceful and private. Owner was super helpful, even though we really didn't need much; everything was very much as described. We'll be seeking this or one of the owners other lake properties when we return for our next two rounds of Cooperstown Dreams Park Tournament players. It only took one trip to Cooperstown to know that Lake Otsego was going to be the site for our destination wedding. We rented four of the incredibly crafted homes, including, the Cayuga Lodge, which included our gorgeous Honeymoon Suite and two other heavenly bedrooms Oneida Lodge, outfitted with four bedrooms, for our parents and siblings - the intimately located Treehouse, just across the lake, with five bedrooms - and the adjoining Bird's Nest with 2 bedrooms for our son and his friends. Cayuga and Oneida Lodge included a lakeside, heated swimming pool, which our families really enjoyed, even though it was late September early October.
All homes are directly on Lake Otsego with direct access to the lake and docks, in fact we rented a 16-person pontoon boat to allow our guests to easily commute between the homes, which added another layer of excitement to this memorable extended weekend wedding celebration. Remaining family members and guests stayed at the Otesaga Resort and Hotel, just ten minutes away, at the south end of the lake. All homes were spotlessly clean, immaculately maintained and well outfitted. Our family and friends were elated with their accommodations and remarkable vistas. From the amazing fall foliage and early morning fog rolling across the lake, to the lily pads glistening in the evening twilight and starlit skies, the views were ever changing, tranquil, and extraordinarily beautiful.
Bill Miller's Feedback On The Arrival Of Xpresspads For Mac
Bill, the owner and builder of these spectacular homes, was more gracious and accommodating than you could ever expect, and was able to assist us in finding the best caterer, event, and boat rental companies in the area. He and property caretaker, Ken, took extra measures to ensure that the entire property was in pristine condition for the wedding, and beyond. If all of this wasn't enough, Bill spontaneously arranged a private sailing of his vintage Chris Craft cruiser to secretly chauffer the Bride, our son and Maid of Honor to the ceremony, creating a most unique and unforgettable walk down the aisle. The reviews are in - neither our guests, nor we will ever forget our destination wedding in Cooperstown, NY. We will be forever grateful to Bill, with special thanks to Ken for making our stay a one-of-a-kind experience. We'll be back, soon!
Roget's Thesaurus defines 'stalwart' as 'capable of exerting considerable effort or of withstanding considerable stress or hardship.' According to Webster's, its Old English precedent translates to serviceable, and probably originally meant 'worth stealing.' Peter Lynch didn't have etymology in mind when he discussed 'stalwart stocks' in the 1980s, but his phrase is apt in all its meanings. Given the current market, individual investors might want to get associated with stalwart stocks as well. Stalwarts, according to the former Fidelity Magellan skipper, are bigger companies that are still able to post annual growth rates around 10% to 12%. These stocks tend to offer downside protection during recessions. The key to a decent return is buying them when they are cheap - 'worth stealing.'
They might not double, but you can aim for a double-digit return over a six-month to two-year period. 'These aren't the blow-out stocks,' said David Dreman, the value-conscious manager of the ( ) Scudder Dreman High Return Equity fund. 'In a market waiting for news, the Iraq overlay drowns out most themes - it's not much of a value market or a growth market. If you find solid companies with good finances and a decent yield, that's a better place to be than money market funds.' In the 1980s, Lynch included among his stalwarts Coca-Cola ( ), Procter & Gamble ( ), Colgate-Palmolive ( ), McDonald's ( ) and Bristol-Myers ( ).
Some of the old standards - McDonald's, especially - have many red flags these days. Others - such as Colgate-Palmolive - aren't that cheap anymore. What should investors look for when seeking stalwarts for 2003? 'You should look for better-than-average businesses at a below-average price,' said Donald Yacktman, manager of the ( ) Yacktman fund. Here are a few solid candidates whose earnings should keep growing and whose stocks look cheap.
But first, one more point: Lynch rotated his stalwarts, selling them off after a 30% to 50% gain and scooping up new ones on the cheap. Most companies that fit this bill can be held for the long run, too - just make sure the reasons you like the company remain intact.
MO Dividends, Please Altria ( ), the company formerly known as Philip Morris, has a few clouds swirling around it. Competition from generic brands and increased marketing are pinching the domestic business, leading the company to project 2003 per-share earnings of $4.60 to $4.70 - essentially flat to up 2%. The stock has been beaten down 36% to $37 and change from $57.79 last summer.
Now the good news: Altria shares sport a price-to-earnings multiple of 7 - at the low end of its historical range. Meantime, the dividend yield stands at 6.8%. While this year's growth is negligible, Altria has averaged annual earnings growth of 16.6% the past five years - once it gets past its shorter-term hurdles, the company should return to form. Meantime, it's a classic low-risk holding, sporting a beta of 0.24 (a beta of 1 means a level of risk equal with the market, based on past volatility).
'It is cheap at these levels - we own it,' said Mark Haefele, a Street Insight columnist and portfolio manager at Boston-based Sonic Capital. 'Altria returns money to shareholders in the form of share buybacks and dividends. So even if the business was stationary, the total return to shareholders is great.' Smokin' Altria's P/E levels a good bang for buck 'There's about $24 of Kraft 84%-owned by Altria in every share, and Kraft is about one-third of total earnings,' said Dreman, whose fund has nearly 10% of its assets in Altria, according to Morningstar. 'Investors are assigning a negative number to Philip Morris' domestic earnings.' Ready, Freddie Given its impressive earnings growth rate in the past decade, it might be unfair to call Freddie Mac ( ) a stalwart.
The government-sponsored mortgage lender has posted five-year average annual earnings growth of 33%. Why, with the company's steady record of impressive growth, does Freddie Mac's stock sport a P/E of 6.9? A cocktail of issues that resemble red flags have sent the stock tumbling. Most recently was the news that Freddie Mac would be restating its earnings going back three years.
The uncertainty - coupled with the complexity of Freddie's business and concerns about the inevitable slowdown in the mortgage-refinancing market - has kept investors away. 'Freddie has been hit because of the restatement - but they were conservative in how they recognized things,' said Haefele, who owns the stock. The restatement will actually increase previous earnings, which potentially could pinch future growth if earnings management becomes more difficult for Freddie. Nonetheless, even if earnings growth steadies at low double-digits, Freddie Mac is a consistent grower whose stock is inexpensive.
'It's so cheap relative to its peers,' says Dreman, who also holds a stake in the company. The Real Big Mac When Freddie Mac's P/E dips below 10, good things follow The big caveat for long-term investors: Freddie Mac may not pass a tenet of Buffettology: If you don't understand what the company does, you shouldn't invest in it. The government-sponsored entities, or GSEs, have come under fire for not providing adequate disclosure of their operational performance.
The new rules governing disclosure by Freddie have been a step forward, but they have also sown confusion. 'Ultimately, further disclosure will only help show that Freddie has been far more conservative and is doing much better than Fannie Mae,' Haefele said. There's one last thing in the company's favor that sticks in the craw of many rivals: Unlike other lenders, Freddie enjoys the protection of its former parent the federal government. Talk about downside protection. A Different Home Erstwhile fast-grower Home Depot ( ) is a new arrival in the stalwart category.
The well-run company has had some operation glitches that put the stock at its cheapest level in years. Home Depot dazzled investors in the 1990s with its exponential growth - the home-improvement behemoth managed 23% earnings growth the past five years. The stock has lost more than half its value during the past year as it became clear that the company's salad days of growth were behind it. Fierce competition from Lowe's ( ) has hurt as well. From the Moon to the Earth Home Depot's stock reflects that the company's fast-grower days are over - but the P/E has come down, too Currently, Big Orange - down to $21.84 - sports a P/E of about 14 and earnings are projected to increased by about 10% to 14% this year. 'They are improving their operations, and even as they stumble along earnings should be up by double digits,' Dreman said.
While Jim Cramer and others have said that it may be a little early to buy into the Home Depot recovery story, the company's whistle-clean balance sheet and strong management should inspire some confidence. Why you have to make your own decision whether Home Depot looks good right now, some interesting folks have been buying lately: Legg Mason Value Trust skipper and longtime market-beater Bill Miller and, more importantly, several Home Depot insiders. Drums Along the Mohawk Mohawk Industries ( ), with about $3.3 billion in market capitalization, may be a little small to be a stalwart. But a history of steady growth, excellent management and a recent dip in the stock price make the carpet-and-tile company a worthy candidate. Earlier this month, the stock took a hit after the company warned that first-quarter earnings would be lower as consumers and businesses defer purchases amid geopolitical uncertainty and weak consumer confidence. Mohawk, which had posted earnings growth averaging 29% the past five years, forecast earnings of about 7% for 2003. The forecast - short-term in nature - scared off some on Wall Street, making the stock more of a bargain.
'This is a case where an outstanding, conservative management team is giving the worst-case scenario in their guidance,' said Rich Eisinger, co-manager of the ( ) Mosaic Mid-Cap fund. 'It's a good opportunity to buy a very high-quality company.' (Eisinger does a stellar job running the largely unsung fund; check back for Monday's 10 Questions to hear more on where his Buffett-like approach is leading him.) Magic Carpet Ride Mohawk earnings and stock price have shown steady, solid growth. The stock, trading at $49 and change, sports a P/E below 12.
I'm not sure if Peter Lynch would agree with my four candidates, but I imagine he would concur that finding stalwarts in this market is a tall order. 'It seems like any stock can lose 15% in a month these days,' Haefele said. 'Peter Lynch never invested in a market like this,' joked Dreman.
In my research and in talking with money managers, a few other low-price stalwart contenders cropped up, among them: British-based Cadbury-Schweppes ( ), original stalwart Bristol-Myers, giant General Electric ( ), former fast-grower Best Buy ( ) and even Microsoft ( ). Individuals looking for stalwarts should make sure they do their homework before laying their money down. They could do worse than picking up a copy of One Up on Wall Street, which includes Lynch's theories on investing.