Small Business Spotlight: Frank's Country Cottage
Frank Erickson didn’t set out to operate a cottage rental but, as sometimes happens, life unexpectedly brought him down this path to Frank’s Country Cottage. As it turns out, he’s really good at it.
The cottage is located on forty acres in rural Vinton County – close to McArthur and not too far from Lake Hope and the Hocking Hills state parks. Yet, it’s far enough off the beaten path to provide a quiet escape for the weary traveler.
Frank owns and operates a machine shop, is a loving family man and cares deeply about nature and trees. In a single conversation, he can explain metal fabrication 101, tell stories about his family and talk about risks to trees in nature. He also cares about people and recalls stories about some of the many guests who have stayed in his cottage over the last two decades. “I just want people to feel welcome when they stay here. I want them to feel at home and it means a lot when they like it so much they come back.”
The cottage is less than five minutes from McArthur on a county road that sees little traffic. It’s perched above a beautiful pond and has all the comforts folks want when they’re trying to get away from it all. A wrap around porch with a view has a swing and a grill for cooking outside. A steady breeze makes for a pleasant place to sit and let the cares of the world melt away. A lower deck for the hot tub and fire pit opens into a spacious backyard. He made the fire pit himself, using a unique design you won’t find in any store. He even supplies the firewood to make his guests’ stay as easy as possible.
Inside, the vaulted ceilinged living room opens into a spacious kitchen and dining room. A loft area provides sleeping space and the walkout basement does too.
The star of the show at Frank’s, though, is the series of wooded trails that guide visitors away from reality and into acres of beautiful woodland wonder. He loves his trees, noting the ones that are special in some way and noting the few that are struggling. Deep in these woods, there’s even an area he has named “Paradise.”
While many cottage guests come here expecting to hike in area state parks, many choose to forgo their plans in favor of simply exploring the private trails here. “They might make a run to Campbell’s Grocery to get grilling supplies but they don’t leave again. They tell me they have everything they need right here,” Frank said with a smile.
The cottage has seen guests from all over the country and even across the globe. One guest from India marveled at all the trees. She told Frank she had only seen them in books before coming to America and that it was a dream come true to see them in real life for the first time. “That was humbling. To know that something we take for granted every day, a tree of all things, is a dream for someone else to see. It’s truly humbling,” he said.
Frank’s cottage hosts a lot of couples, families with kids, and girlfriends’ getaways. The property has even seen a few small weddings. Many of his guests return year after year, even keeping in touch with letters and cards in between visits. Those personal connections that come with operating this cottage are clearly meaningful to him. “We’ve had some nice people through here and it means a lot when they come back, when we see their kids grow up.”
Visit Frank’s Country Cottage online to book your stay and to learn all about the cottage and amenities.