Gambrella… Cottage in the Woods
By Louise Reyem

It’s always intrigued me how some accommodations, especially B&B’s come up with their unique names. Such is the case for a sequestered place we found called Gambrella.

That name conjured up romantic notions of a place with frilly white bedding and don’t touch things just there for decoration. But after staying at this wonderful little cottage in the woods, we found it to be far from frou-frou as the name implies. We learned the name origin is quite simple in principle and named such for its’ gable style roof.

And because it is somewhat indicative of a cottage style home, the owner kept the moniker of Cottage in the Woods as part of its name to further clarify what Gambrella truly is. 

For us, the drive to a new getaway is half the fun. The anticipation builds long before we start packing as we research about what there is to do in and around the area. Since Gambrella is tucked in the quiet woods of Central PA northeast of Williamsport, our drive took us through the little town of Picture Rocks and northward to another smaller town called Shunk. Though curious about that name too, we decided to save that for a later venture. Following the proprietor’s directions, we drove meandering country roads, some along a creek in route to Gambrella. We actually passed the turnoff since easy to do by newcomers to this rather remote area. When we checked our directions more closely, we quickly turned around and found it immediately. The adventure had begun and we were loving every minute of it.

Gambrella was at the end of a long unpaved drive, our first clue that this place was built for privacy- another, plus in our books. It was just as the owner described it- a modern cottage in the woods on about an acre of grass and a stream behind it. We could clearly hear the soft ripple of the water as we stepped out of our vehicle.  The soft rustle of fall leaves in trees whispered a promise of a wonderful peaceful weekend.

Owner Joel Fisher is a burly happy guy who eagerly welcomed us to Gambrella. Joel likes to be on hand to welcome all his guests even though when you rent Gambrella, you literally have the place to yourself. He books no other people when you are there. This is a different approach than most B&B’s but a perfect anecdote for those seeking a romantic weekend or an escape from the stresses of everyday normal life. Joel promptly gave us a tour inside and since there in cooler weather, showed us how the gas fireplace worked.

There is a combination kitchen/dining area with full size refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, cookware, dinnerware and all the amenities you’ll need, except food of course. A comfy living room flanks one side of the open stairs leading to the 2nd floor; the other an area where games and puzzles beckon you to indulge in pastimes of your childhood.

The 2nd floor features (3) bedrooms and full bath. Being the only guests, we chose the master bedroom with a beautiful half-moon window that lent a perfect view of the moon each night. For those traveling with family or friends, there is also a small single bed in this large room. The room across the hall has a double bed; down the hall is a smaller room with a combination day bed and upper single bunk bed. All rooms have windows that let you listen to the night sounds if you so choose that to be your nighttime lullaby. 

Joel also offered to show us around outside, which we readily accepted. Much of the property is in its natural state blending perfectly with nature. But for the area well tended, there is plenty of area to laze under in the sun or to spend stargazing. At the far end of the property stands what looks to be a glorified tree-house that sits on the banks of the creek. He calls this his “bunkhouse” stating he often sleeps in the 2nd floor single room here. Much work is needed to turn this into a place most people would stay in, but even in its extreme rustic state, it was easy to see the potential.

Our host left us shortly thereafter and we quickly settled into this quiet nature haven for the weekend. We passed our time lounging on the side deck reading by day, talking and stargazing by night. We cooked most of our meals outside on the deck on his charcoal grill with chirping birds under the watchful eyes of scampering squirrels. We visited nearby Buttermilk Falls taking the short hike to the rocks to listen to the rushing waters. We then drove ten minutes to Eagles Mere, known for it’s toboggan slides and after visiting the shops, headed back for one last evening of peaceful rest at Gambrella.

Morning departure is not necessary as there are no hard fast times you need to leave. But given we had a 2-hour drive home we decided to get underway around noon. We took one last walk around the property, vowing to return here again and again.

If you’re interested in learning more about Gambrella, check out their website at www.gambrella.com. Weekend prices for (2) people are $175. And remember, unlike most B&B’s, there is no host on premise so you’re on your own for food.

But being on your own in a place like this was no problem at all for us; I doubt it will be for you either.