Lakefront cottage with private deck and dock, amazing porch with sunset views
Vacation lakefront cabin in the midst of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail with a private beach and dock in a wooded setting. Located in Hector, NY, just eight miles north of Watkins Glen, on the east side of Seneca Lake. This four bedroom, plus detached bunkhouse, easily sleeps 7 people spring, summer and fall. This home features an amazing 600+ sq. ft. deck with beautiful lake and sunset views. The private beach, dock and canoe are steps away in front of the house. The living space and one bedroom and bathroom are on the main floor. There are two bedrooms upstairs and a newly renovated master bedroom and bathroom downstairs. There is also a detached room with double bed This is a great location for families with children or for a reunion with friends.
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Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights
Turn off air conditioner in summer and heat down to 55 in winter.
Turn off all lights
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Rentals in July and August require a four night mi
Please no more than 7 people - only 2 bathrooms.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
We should mention
A car is required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Hector
Located in Hector, this cottage is on the beach. Hector Wine Company and Leidenfrost Vineyards are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Watkins Glen State Park and Lodi Point State Park. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Watkins Glen International or Dick Van Dyke Addiction Treatment Center. Fishing and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and hiking nearby.
Sheldrake Point Seneca Lake Tasting Room - 3 min drive - 2.2 km
Watkins Glen State Park - 19 min drive - 21.6 km
Glenora Wine Cellars - 30 min drive - 40.0 km
Getting around
Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional) - 52 min drive
Restaurants
Dandy Mini Mart 13 - 36 min drive
Toni's Diner - 4 min drive
Lakewood Vineyards - 23 min drive
Triple F Diner - 36 min drive
Scale House Brewery - 4 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Lakefront cottage with private deck and dock, amazing porch with sunset views pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Lakefront cottage with private deck and dock, amazing porch with sunset views?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Lakefront cottage with private deck and dock, amazing porch with sunset views?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Lakefront cottage with private deck and dock, amazing porch with sunset views located?
Situated on the beach, this cottage is within a 10-minute walk of Leidenfrost Vineyards and Hector Wine Company. Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and Sheldrake Point Seneca Lake Tasting Room are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.Learn moreOpens in a new window
9.6/10
Cleanliness
10/10
Check-in
10/10
Communication
9.8/10
Location
9.8/10
Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 63 out of 84 reviews
10 - Excellent
63
Rating 8 - Good. 19 out of 84 reviews
8 - Good
19
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 84 reviews
6 - Okay
1
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 84 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 84 reviews
2 - Terrible
1
Reviews
8/10 Good
caitlin m.
26 October 2025
Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy
The house is in a great location and has beautiful lake views! We had a great time staying here with our friends for a long weekend. Close to many state parks with beautiful hikes, no shortage of waterfalls and wineries. The property has private well water so took a little creative showering with our group of 7 and the hot water wasnt working the first night but it was an easy fix and the hosts were quick to respond.
Amazing view! Plenty of room for 6 people. Great communication from the owner. Only thing I think people need to know is how long and steep the stairs to the lake are.
The location was very convenient. Sitting on the deck watching the sunset was so beautiful and peaceful. We took advantage of the lake on our paddleboards.
Our friends had a great time staying in this lakeside cabin! The home was very clean and had a beautiful back porch to sit and watch the sunset (rain or shine!). It was also located in a great spot — with plenty of local wineries and breweries within just a mile or two. Thanks for a great stay!
We had a great time at this property! The layout allowed for one couple on each floor, which was very nice.
The house is very well equipped and furnished very comfortably. We spent most of the time on the spacious deck and on the dock as it was very humid and the A/C never really cooled off the upper and lower floors. Once the humidity broke, it was very comfortable. We would definitely visit again!
A gorgeous property! We sat on the deck that overlooks the lake for hours. We encountered no bugs at night, so watched the sunset from the deck every night.
Our only issue was that the outlets in the lower bedroom didn't work, so we had no bedside lamps. Some light bulbs were out too. The lack of A/C downstairs was okay. The water was clear for swimming, and the dock was great. A very quiet and peaceful place!
Jackie G.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.
8/10 Good
Sarah L.
18 October 2016
Comfortable lake front cottage!
My friends and I celebrated a bachelorette over the weekend and we were very comfortable here. The house was clean and roomy enough for a group of 11 girls. The downstairs was under construction but the host made the extra bathroom available for us. There was also a fire pit that we hoped to use but unfortunately we were rained out. My only complaint is about the water. It had a very strong sulfur smell that was hard to get out when someone showered or ran the sink water. We resulted to opening windows and lighting a candle. Definitely not a deal breaker for us though. I would consider staying here in the future if we ever plan another trip!
Sarah L.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2016
8/10 Good
N. M.
1 August 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Nice Stay
We recently stayed at this beautiful house with our two kids. First off, I want to say that the house was clean and spacious, and the kitchen was well-stocked. The water is crystal clear, the deck was beautiful, and the views were amazing. The hosts were friendly and very responsive.
That being said, here are a few things I wish I had known before booking:
Mobility Issues: If you are traveling with people who have mobility issues, this isn't the place for you. To get to the water, you need to go down a lot of stairs (deck to yard, then yard to water). We traveled with two people who couldn't really do stairs, so they enjoyed the water from afar.
Essentials: Bring foil, plastic wrap, and ziplock bags. The nearest grocery store is 20+ minutes away, so it's a 40+ minute trip if you forget essentials.
Water Supply: It's not until after you book, and it's too late to cancel, that you are given vital information about spacing showers 15-30 minutes apart. Water supply must be an issue because I was awoken from a rare opportunity to nap with multiple calls and an email about the water running for 21 minutes. We later found that a toilet was running. Although they were nice about it, I was off-put by the calls and heavy monitoring.
No Beach: The dock is lovely, but there is no beach, no grass, or sand. You walk down 25+ steps directly to the dock and jump into the water from there (or use the handy ladder provided). I highly recommend water shoes as the water is rocky. Thankfully
This was a great house right on the lake. It is close to many wineries. The owners always responded immediately to any questions I had before the trip and to the minor plumbing problem we had while there.
This house was perfect for our group of 4 friends. We enjoyed sitting on the covered deck overlooking the lake, watching the sunset and listening to the acorns bang off of the roof. We even got serenaded by a screech owl. We would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a peaceful retreat.
It was the perfect cottage for our family group with lots of discrete space for sleeping and socializing. The 2nd floor porch overlooking the lake is as nice as I have ever been on - anywhere. The best thing about this property is the owner. She is extremely responsive to problems that arise.
This trip was planned as a girls getaway to surprise our daughter (who has three sons) coming up from Florida for a long weekend. We had such a fun time we decided to make it a yearly tradition. The house held all 8 of us comfortably, in a beautiful setting right on Seneca Lake, offering a beautiful display of Gods creation from either of the two decks. LOTS of laughter & love!
We were so happy with everything about this property. The location is beautiful, and the house was very clean. We spent so much time on the deck and on the dock. The view is amazing, and the area was so quiet and peaceful. We had family in from California for our reunion who had their own rentals. They loved the area. We would definitely return.
We really enjoyed the cottage - there were 7 people for a family vacation trip. More than enough room to be together/have some privacy if desired. The cottage was well equipped, and perfect for our group. The only negative is the road/driveway in. The property shares an entrance road with the neighbors, and they have made it a very sharp 90 deg corner with large rocks, signs, tree stumps so that turning that final corner while towing a boat is incredibly challenging. The neighbors recommended asking the owners to widen the other side of driveway at the top
This is the second time we stayed here and had a great time! We had a boat this time and thoroughly enjoyed the water. Just a couple of suggestions: ceiling fans on that wonderful back deck would help keep the bugs away at night when we were playing cards and board games. We spent almost all of our time on that deck. Mattresses on the second floor were very soft and didn't offer much support for the adults that slept up there. We cooked pretty lavish meals and the oven didn't want to heat up a couple of times. Turning it off and on several times helped. Overall a very positive experience!
Sharon K.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023
8/10 Good
Steph M.
16 July 2023
Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Wonderful views
The view was wonderful and communication with the owners was prompt. The kitchen was well stocked. Wasnt thrilled with the street access as it was a long steep hill and we were unable to walk anywhere. There were a few things in need of repair such as the railing on the bunk bed and some windows that either wouldnt open or were missing screens and we found a few cockroaches in the bedrooms on the main floor as well as the lower bedroom.
Not fancy, but a nice house for 4 adults and 2-4 kids. Very, very clean. We loved the fact that linens, towels, soaps, etc. were provided - very handy. Close to many wineries. Just think twice if you are planning to bring a boat - tie up facilities are minimal, but far more important, getting into the driveway with a boat in tow is nearly impossible.
Kurt/Heidi G.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
2/10 Terrible
Kelly A.
23 June 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy
No Full Disclosure
We booked this VRBO based on the listing and the sterling reviews. Our actual experience was much less than acceptable. Two days prior to our arrival we were advised that the house had an old septic system and on well water as opposed to a public sewage/water system. They further recommended we space our showers 15-30 minutes apart. At that time it was too late for us to cancel this reservation and get any refund. The four of us were therefore careful to minimize our water use. On day 2 the water heater failed as one of us tried to take an evening shower. The absentee owner had us troubleshoot the boiler system. The gas boiler “re-lit” that evening, but failed again the next day. The showstopper was when we were unable to flush the toilet or wash our hands due to lack of water flow after only 3 people flushed toilets within 30 minutes. This happened on multiple occasions. We didn’t notify the owner concerning the water shortage as we concluded they already knew about the problem as they had already cautioned us 2 days before check-in that they had a water problem. The owner’s response was as follows: “It is an old house in a rural area and the private well is dependent on the amount of rain in the area and usage. Sometimes people have no problems at all but we try to warn them just in case.” All four of us were extremely dissatisfied. Had we realized that there was insufficient water for basic hygiene requirements then we would have stayed elsewhere.
The house had everything we needed and is clean and in excellent condition. Any questions we had prior to arrival were quickly answered by Robyn. There was plenty of space for 6 adults. We didn't use the bunk house, but took a look at it. It's a really nice addition of space it's well designed with a full mattress on the lower bunk.
The back deck was perfect for sitting out at night to see the sunset and relax to the sound of the water. We were relatively close to Corning, Ithaca and Watkins Glen so seeing the sights was easy.
Celeste W.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
About the host
Hosted by Robyn Howard-Anderson
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests