We went to ride the train and found a heavenly oasis.
Iâve been to many places that promise solitude but you never really feel it, you DEFINITELY will here. So quiet, so beautiful. I will definitely come back if nothing else just to stay here.
A lovely little cottage on beautiful grounds where mind, body and spirit find rest and renewal. The most hospitable hosts EVER and not a single need unmet. Highly recommended and we WILL return!!
This home is well taken care of by the couple who actually built it for their own use.They have made a lovely property for guests to visit and share its amenities. Our grandkids loved the pond and visiting their chicken coop.
Bird Cottage was the perfect sanctuary for our wedding anniversary! Roland and Susan could not have been more accommodating! We look forward to returning soon!
Bird Cottage is adorable and the owners are friendly. Itâs located on their main home property but we never felt uncomfortable. They are very welcoming. Our kids played ball in the yard, fished the lake, took out the boat and fed the chickens. The cottage is clean and well stocked. The beds are comfy too! Excellent place to stay especially if youâre going to the Texas Railroad.
Roland and Susan are amazing hosts and made us feel like family! The property is beautiful and was so relaxing. The cottage is very clean and updated inside but still feels true to being rustic. Our kids were able to be kids and run around and enjoy the beautiful nature of Texas. We would love to return... top notch VRBO!
Loved this property! The hosts were very friendly and accommodating! This was a great get-away cabin! Hiking at Davey Dogwood park was awesome, and we also hiked in Tyler state part which was about an hour away. Downtown Palestine has some good cafes and a few antique shopping stores. It was a perfect mini-vacation and get away from the big city. Would definitely recommend to family and friends.
Just what we hoped for in a country retreat. All the amenities needed, plenty to see and do but still felt like miles from nowhere. Three kids and two adults fit perfectly with plenty of outdoor space to roam. Our hosts were more than accommodating and added to the experience by suggesting in town restaurants, excursions and even provided the worms for fishing in their pond.
Such a cute little cottage! Lots of attention to details, including a towel warmer. Beds were very comfy, and Roland kept us supplied with wood for the fireplace. It was the perfect setting to get away to celebrate my birthday with my sisters. The hosts put up a birthday banner and left cupcakes. Very sweet and attentive.
Cottage was very clean and had all the amenities needed. We spent most of our time outside in the large green space in the middle of the estate, on the boat, or tractor. My two toddlers loved every bit of it.
Roland and his wife were very friendly and made sure our visit was nothing but top tier. They made sure we had everything we needed and respected our space during COVID19. We will definitely be making a trip back.
We had such a wonderful time during our stay. The property is AMAZING along with it's hosts. There is so much to do we never left the property during the 3 days we were there. The kids loved wondering around and exploring and we felt safe allowing them to do so. The chickens were so much fun, my kiddos loved watching them and following them around. They thought it was so neat to collect eggs. The lake is beautiful and the paddle boat was a huge hit with my kids. I would highly recommend this place and we will definitely be going back. None of us were ready to leave.
Our hosts, Susan and Roland are just amazing. For our second time staying at Bird Cottage, they attended to our special requests and opened up their lovely property to us and our grandchildren. Our grandkids loved fishing and using the paddleboat on the lake, playing soccer on the massive lawn, and eating breakfast on the huge, comfortable porch of the cottage. The beds are comfortable, the kitchen is great for cooking a meal, and the bathroom is huge with a great shower. Even our little pup enjoyed his stay! Thank you again Susan and Roland for another great stay on your beautiful property. See you next year!
My two adult children stayed with us here for Thanksgiving and it was wonderful. The cottage is simply darling and has everything we needed. The kitchen is amply supplied, the living area cozy and comfortable; and we loved using the fireplace that cold weekend. Beds are very comfortable and all the decorative bird touches to make it truly Bird Cottage were charming. It is set on a gorgeous piece of property that is delightful to roam. Our hosts were so welcoming and helpful, even when we had a medical emergency. Also very close to the Texas State Railroad which was so convenient Polar Express was AMAZING . Small note: The spiral staircase to the upstairs sleeping soft is quite small and tricky, but even my hefty adult son managed it. Many thanks to our hosts for a tour of the property and a delightful stay.
We were in town for our 50+ family reunion. I stumbled upon Bird Cottage on Homeaway. What an amazing find! The cottage is adorable and very comfortable. The porch has fans and gliders and is an amazing place to sit and drink coffee or just talk to family. The kids fished in the beautiful pond, played baseball on the gorgeous grounds, and enjoyed the loft in the cabin.
Our host, Roland, is so kind and helpful and left us danish for the morning, orange juice, creamer, as well as a loaded Keurig for coffee. We loved the huge stone shower and all the comfortable beds. We are looking forward to coming back every year!
Everything about this bird's nest cottage is 5 star, including the owners, Roland and Susan. Great communication before, during and after my stay. The moment you drive onto the property, the stress melts away. It's beautiful! The cottage is well equipped with everything you need for a great stay - including a towel warmer in the bathroom and some amazing homemade blueberry bread!! It's perfect for relaxing, watching the cows in the neighboring pasture, or taking a quiet walk down to the pond. Likewise, it's close enough to Palestine where you can grab groceries or a bite to eat, or hit the Piney Woods Wine Trail.
I booked the cottage for a weekend away by myself, and will definitely be back!
Most relaxing place weâve ever stayed! Absolutely beautiful, peaceful, quiet, secluded, cozy, and comfortable. I believe our favorite spot was the porch, which was always nice and breezy. From the moment we arrived, we could tell that Susan and Roland had gone out of their way to make this a special weekend for us. They were very accommodating, from the welcome anniversary flag, champagne on ice, and homemade blueberry bread. The decor inside and out was very meticulous. I can't count how many bird items are on display. The grounds are immaculate, and the fishing was pretty decent too. We would not hesitate to stay here again. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful cabin.
Everyone caught a fish except the wifey poo! she evidently was not holding her rod correctly! lol the girls had a great time and learned to drive! i think !!! bet Roland was tired of seeing my golf cart go by the house all day!
The cottage met our needs. The stairway to the loft needs to be better explained. It is very narrow and steep spiral stairs and older adults cannot use it easily. My daughter and nephew slept there. My wife or I could not fit on it. We were also inundated with inch worms everywhere in the cottage the whole week. But otherwise we enjoyed the quiet and good weather we were lucky to have and the fishing was very good and relaxing. The porch was enjoyed by all of us. Great get away.
They have thought of every detail. Not only is it beautifully designed ( & I'm a registered designer ) but the champagne was on ice, the "Happy Anniversary" flag was flying, the fire was going in the fireplace, water in the coffee maker, and the amazing blueberry bread was in the refrigerator for breakfast! Cleanliness goes without saying,immaculate grounds,beautiful plants, heated towels in the bathroom, on & on ! Roland and Susan were fantastic hosts and it was the most relaxed we've been in months. I want to live there! Since that's not possible, we WILL be back, over & over!
Thank you again and we so look forward to seeing you soon. - Kyle & Allison Russell
My Husband, 8-month old son and I stayed at the Bird Cottage this past weekend and had a wonderful time. My husband is from Palestine so it was nice to be back in his hometown for the weekend to visit with friends and family. The amenities were wonderful, especially with a young baby. We had everything we needed! We especially enjoyed having coffee in the morning overlooking the well-manicured property and seeing the lake just a short distance from the front porch. Our dogs enjoyed chasing each other in the lot and running down to the lake and back. The bed was incredibly comfy, the cabin is decorated beautifully and having a hot towel to dry off with after a shower was a huge treat! My husband and I are already planning to come back in the fall to enjoy the fireplace and outdoor cook area by the lake. Roland and Susan were incredible hosts and we look forward to visiting with them more on our next trip.
Candice
First off, as usual the pictures do not quite capture the beauty of this property. Roland and Susan have done an incredible job not only with this cottage but the entirety of the property. They are two of the nicest, most accommodating people you will meet. The lake is a real amenity that is both serene and full of good sized fish. Kids and I fished there for two days and caught 23 fish in a short amount of time. If you do not have any fishing equipment, don't worry as Roland and Susan have plenty of extra poles and tackle.
As you enter the property, you almost think you are entering an English countryside manor. As for the cottage itself, we had 2 adults and 4 children under the age of 12 and never once felt cramped. The loft is quite large and accommodating and the cottage is very efficiently laid out. Lots of patio/deck space and seating. We will definitely be back for the fishing and the tranquility.
The cabin was perfect in every way and the property was absolutely breathtaking!
Roland and Susan greeted me upon arrival and went above and beyond to make my stay enjoyable. They even added little sweet touches like mini Bundt cakes and orange juice, so I had breakfast the next morning.
The cabin is adorable and has some extra plush amenities such as a resort style extra-large stone shower and towel warmer.
There is a large covered porch that wraps around the cabin so you can sit and look at the extremely well maintained landscape to the front and side of the cabin and the beautiful white cows on the back side.
Susan and Roland allowed me to roam around the property so I walked down to the lake on both days I was there. It was so peaceful and calming. The lake is only a 3 minute walk from the cabin and you can walk through the shade trees and landscape so it truly felt as though I was at a resort but all by myself as it is very private.
I went to Palestine for a family wedding and had never thought of going back but after meeting Susan and Roland and staying at their precious cabin I will for sure go back for some peaceful time as much as I possibly can!!!
Charm and tranquility, but yet close to activities in Palestine
We reviewed over 300 potential vacation rentals across the State of Texas before we found the Bird Cottage. This rustic cottage left no detail to chance. The building was designed especially for a peaceful atmosphere and the furnishings made you feel like you were in the home you always desired but did not live in. The expanse of green grass and beautiful massive trees reminded me of the best parks we had ever visited. The large porch offered wonderful sitting areas that enhanced the cool breezes that continually passed thru the porch. It was 100 degrees but sitting on the porch felt like it was only the upper 70's. For those that are star gazers you will not be disappointed in the view of the heavens from the large open grass areas. You just need to bring a blanket and look up to view the massive number of stars. The property behind the cottage is a rolling pasture that contains white brahma cattle that come near the fence and serenade you and then move on. For the fisherman in you the property contains a large pond that is fully stocked with fish. You are invited to drop a line in and test your skills or teach your children how to fish. You can play badminton, croquet, or horse shoes with equipment provided by your host. The property is located in scenic gated entry that is made of stone and the road is cobble stone made by the owner on site. I can not even begin to describe how special this property is and the immense potential for anyone looking for a vacation rental for adults or families. The charm and graciousness of the property as wonderful as it is comes in second to that of the owners Susan and Roland. They go out of their way to provide a setting for a wonderful stay that ranges from the immaculate condition of the property to heated towels. You will want to get to know them and learn their story of the property and its development. We plan on staying again but next time we will want to stay a lot longer. This will be our "go to place" when we need to escape the craziness of Houston where the loudest sound you will hear at Bird Cottage is from the birds. Thanks Susan and Roland.
Jackie and Arlen Allison
We are retired an live on the property in the main stone lodge/house. I grew up in Palestine, went to the University of Texas, graduated in Radio-TV-Film and have worked for a TV station in Austin before starting my own production company in Houston. We have traveled extensively throughout the world and the US and Canada. We enjoy meeting new people but understand the concept of giving space where needed. I have worked on the property for about 20 years and we love gardening, landscaping, wine and are somewhat foodies..
The 8 acre property has a 4 acre lake, picnic pavilion that can accommodate 50 guests, fruit orchard (figs, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, peaches, persimmon & cherries) a greenhouse, cobblestone circle drive, central manicured yard, extensive landscaping throughout and is in a wildlife viewing area of East Texas.
We are the closest accommodations to the Texas State Railroad depot in Palestine where The Polar Express runs during the fall. The NASA balloon base is about 10 miles away and we are far enough away from Dallas and Houston but close enough to Tyler in case you're in need of something more than Palestine can offer. Lake Palestine is about 15 minutes away and has fishing, boating and other water related sports. Davey Dogwood Park is 5 minutes away should you like to enjoy the Dogwood Festival in the springtime.