The Crooked Cabin - Wood-Fired Hot Tub near RRG

Step into a fairytale at The Crooked Cabin, a one-of-a-kind woodland escape tucked away in the hills of Kentucky. Built with crooked windows, whimsical details, natural wood and imagination, this cozy hideaway feels like another world. Wander the forest, relax by a fire, soak under the stars in a wood-fired hot tub, and listen to the nearby spring. Discover the story of GhondlePop and Doris MossBottom, the mysterious woodland couple who helped bring The Crooked Cabin to life.

Step into a fairytale at The Crooked Cabin by Unplugged Kentucky, a one-of-a-kind woodland cabin rental near the Red River Gorge in Beattyville, Kentucky. Designed especially for couples looking for a romantic and unusual getaway, this handcrafted tiny cabin sits on 25 private wooded acres with two creeks, three ponds and its own private wood-fired hot tub.

Follow winding paths through the woods, sit beside the fire and fall asleep surrounded by nature.

And keep your eyes open.

According to an old tale around here, we can’t take all the credit for building the place.

You’ll meet GhondlePop and Doris Mossbottom soon enough.

THE SPACE

WELCOME TO THE CROOKED CABIN

Hidden in its own private pocket of the Eastern Kentucky woods, The Crooked Cabin is a tiny handcrafted retreat created for slowing down, reconnecting and disappearing into another world for a while.

Crooked windows, weathered wood, handmade details and winding paths make the cabin feel less like something placed in the forest and more like something that might have grown there.

There’s a story behind that.

GhondlePop Mossbottom never understood why people insisted on making everything straight. Trees bend. Creeks wander. Branches twist. Trails rarely go exactly where you expect them to.

So, according to the tale, he believed a proper house in the woods should do the same.

His wife, Doris, mostly tried to keep things under control.

She was only partly successful.

You’ll find pieces of their story scattered throughout the cabin and grounds. Some are easy to spot.

Others aren’t.

A PRIVATE WOODLAND ESCAPE

The Crooked Cabin sits on 25 private wooded acres near the Red River Gorge, filled with creeks, ponds and quiet places to explore.

There are two other cabins elsewhere on the property, but they aren’t visible from The Crooked Cabin. This isn’t a resort or campground with cabins lined up beside one another. From here, it feels like the woods belong entirely to you.

Drink your morning coffee beneath the trees. Follow The Wandering Way through the hollow. Listen for water along Wanderer’s Run. Explore the woods and ponds, find a quiet place to sit, or simply wander until you forget what time it is.

The cabin sleeps up to four guests but is especially suited for couples searching for a romantic cabin near the Red River Gorge that is private, peaceful and delightfully unusual.

The Crooked Cabin is also pet-friendly, and up to two dogs are welcome with a pet fee.

INSIDE THE CABIN

Small, cozy and full of character, The Crooked Cabin is a true tiny-cabin experience.

The downstairs sleeping area has a queen-size memory-foam mattress. A second snug sleeping nook is tucked into the loft with a full-size memory-foam mattress.

One of the cabin’s most unusual handmade features is its distressed copper countertops, with a naturally aged patina that fits perfectly with the crooked, timeworn character of the cabin.

You’ll also find a private bathroom with shower, kitchenette, small refrigerator, air conditioning, Starlink Wi-Fi and the essentials for a comfortable woodland stay.

There is intentionally no television.

If you want to stream something, bring a phone, tablet or laptop.

Or don’t.

Sometimes the best channel out here is the view through a crooked window.

THE WHIMSICAL BACK PATIO

Step outside onto a creek-stone patio surrounded by wildflowers, native plants and the sounds of the forest.

The cabin sits between two natural creeks. When the water is flowing, its gentle sound makes the hollow feel even farther removed from everyday life.

It’s a wonderful place for morning coffee, an evening drink or sitting quietly while the woods carry on around you.

DORIS MOSSBOTTOM’S SOAKING KETTLE

The Crooked Cabin has its own private wood-fired hot tub—but around here, it goes by another name.

Doris reportedly insisted that every proper home needed somewhere to soak tired bones.

GhondlePop disagreed.

Doris won.

On warm Kentucky days, fill the Soaking Kettle early and enjoy the cool water during the afternoon.

Leave the water in, and as evening settles over the hollow, build a fire in the attached stove and gradually turn your cool daytime soak into a warm wood-fired hot tub beneath the stars.

Firewood and fire-starting supplies are provided.

Cool by day. Warm by night.

We think Doris would approve.

THE STORY RING

Nearby is our private firepit—known around the hollow as The Story Ring.

Build a fire, make s’mores, pour an evening drink and stay awhile.

As GhondlePop supposedly put it:

“Keep the fire small and the stories large.”

A UNIQUE RED RIVER GORGE CABIN STAY

If you’re looking for a unique cabin stay near the Red River Gorge, The Crooked Cabin was intentionally created to be something different from a traditional vacation rental.

It’s part fairytale hideaway, part tiny cabin and part woodland story you get to discover for yourself.

The crooked architecture, handmade details, natural setting and story of GhondlePop and Doris Mossbottom are all part of the experience.

EXPLORE THE RED RIVER GORGE

The Red River Gorge and Daniel Boone National Forest are nearby.

The area is known for spectacular hiking, world-class rock climbing, natural arches and unforgettable scenery. You can also enjoy kayaking, fishing, zip lining, disc golf, ATV trails and underground kayaking through a flooded limestone mine.

Spend the day climbing, hiking, paddling or exploring underground—then return to your crooked little cabin, build a fire and soak beneath the stars.

Or skip all of that and never leave the property.

CELEBRATING SOMETHING SPECIAL?

The privacy and fairytale setting make The Crooked Cabin a memorable place for anniversaries, birthdays, honeymoons, proposals or a spontaneous romantic getaway.

With advance approval, small elopements or intimate ceremonies may also be possible for an additional event fee.

Depending on scheduling and conditions, we may occasionally be able to arrange an old-fashioned horse-drawn, carriage-style hayride through the Kentucky countryside. Considerable advance notice is required, so please ask before your stay.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF GETAWAY

The Crooked Cabin isn’t a polished resort pretending to be a cabin.

It is handmade, quirky and intentionally unusual—a place where wildflowers choose where they grow, frogs occasionally ignore personal boundaries and something may rustle through the leaves after dark.

Pack lightly.

Put away the schedule.

Follow a crooked path.

Build a fire.

Soak beneath the stars.

And pay attention to the little things you find along the way.

GhondlePop always said:

“Straight roads are for folks in a hurry.”

The Crooked Cabin is an original Unplugged Kentucky stay created in the hills of Eastern Kentucky near the Red River Gorge.

Welcome to the hollow.

Not everything crooked needs fixing.

GUEST ACCESS

The property is private and sits on 25 acres. While there are two other cabins elsewhere on the property, they aren’t visible from The Crooked Cabin.

Guests are welcome to roam the property, explore the woods and ponds, and follow the paths around the hollow.

OTHER THINGS TO NOTE

PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING

The Crooked Cabin is a genuine tiny cabin in a natural woodland setting. We want every guest to understand the experience and arrive prepared to enjoy it.

LOFT ACCESS

The loft sleeping nook is approximately seven feet above the main floor and is reached by a vertical ladder. It has limited headroom and a full-size mattress placed directly on the floor.

The loft is suitable only for guests who can safely and comfortably climb a vertical ladder and move around in a low-ceiling space. Parents should carefully consider whether the loft is appropriate for their children.

WOOD-FIRED HOT TUB

Doris Mossbottom’s Soaking Kettle is a traditional wood-fired hot tub, not an electric hot tub that remains continuously heated.

Guests fill the tub with the provided hose, build a fire in the attached stove and allow approximately two hours for the water to warm.

During warm weather, guests can fill the tub earlier in the day and enjoy it as a refreshing cool-water soak before heating the same water later in the evening.

The tub must always be completely filled with water before starting the fire. Instructions, firewood and fire-starting supplies are provided, and we’re happy to help if needed.

PARTIALLY OFF-GRID POWER

Much of the cabin’s electricity comes from solar power and a battery system. There is ample power for normal cabin use, including lighting, refrigeration, air conditioning and charging personal devices. However, electricity is not unlimited, so guests should avoid operating multiple high-energy personal appliances at the same time.

NATURAL WOODLAND SETTING

This is not a manicured resort property. The cabin is surrounded by native plants, wildflowers and intentionally natural vegetation.

Depending on the season and weather, guests may encounter insects, spiders, mice, frogs, wildlife, leaves, mud and other normal elements of woodland life.

The two natural creeks depend on rainfall and seasonal conditions. They may flow strongly, gently or occasionally not at all during dry periods.

CHILDREN, PETS & WATER

The property includes wooded terrain, two creeks and three ponds. Children must be closely supervised, particularly around water and while exploring the property.

Neighborhood dogs occasionally wander through the property. They have generally been friendly, but visiting dogs should