Blyth - 1868 Stone House Retreat

Huron County has many interesting and diverse vacation opportunities, from rustic cabins to lakefront cottages to luxury hotel suites, and everything in between. However, if you want to experience a truly authentic Huron County holiday, there is nothing quite like an original farmhouse on a working century farm.

On a quiet sideroad just outside Blyth stands The 1868 Stone House Retreat, the home farm of the Taylor family for nearly 175 years. The property is now in the hands of Robert and Nancy (Taylor) Snell.

Nancy is the great-great-granddaughter of John B. Taylor, who purchased the property from the Crown for 62 pounds and 10 shillings in 1852. Nancy and her husband Robert own both of their families’ original century farms, stewarding the agricultural legacies of generations of Taylors and Snells.

Nancy has spent 25 months lovingly renovating the stately farmhouse that was built in 1868. Many of the home’s original features have been preserved, including the original woodwork, the 24-inch-deep windowsills and the cement pillars that welcome guests through the front entrance.

Stepping through the back door feels like entering a portal to a quieter time. Nancy has deliberately selected furniture and decor that replicates the feel of a farmhouse that has evolved over the years, with a blend of vintage, antique and contemporary pieces. The effect is cozy and inviting. Of course, modern amenities have been added to ensure everyone’s comfort, including high-speed wireless internet, smart TVs and updated appliances.

Nancy says her guests are often amazed by the stargazing due to little light pollution out in the countryside. She encourages them to head outside at night on the hillside and enjoy the stars.

When Robert and Nancy purchased the property from her mother in 2019, she knew that she wanted to preserve the legacy. Opening it as a short-term rental has been a perfect way to share a Huron County way of life with guests and to preserve the legacy of her parents, Boyd and Muriel who devoted more than six decades of hard work, steady improvements and raising their family on the land they loved.

The 1868 Stone House retreat makes a great base for exploring all that Huron County has to offer - steps to the G2G Rail Trail, minutes from Cowbell or the Blyth Festival, a short drive to the lake! But once you are wrapped in its bucolic peace, you may just want to sit on the porch and listen to the corn grow.

Find The 1868 Stone House Retreat on AirBnB for more information or to make a reservation.