Welcome Guidelines

Welcome!
We’re so glad you’re here. We hope your stay is safe, healthy, and relaxing. These guidelines are here to help ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for you—and to make things easier for us as owners, too.

Before you settle in, please take a moment to read through the following:

📋 General Guidelines

  • Please read through the guidelines and resources at the start of your stay.
  • All guests and visitors are asked to adhere to the guidelines.
  • Treat the cabin with the same care you would your own home—or your grandma’s!
  • Remember: Take only pictures, leave only footprints (and clean up muddy ones).
  • Leave the cabin just a little better than you found it 😊
  • Keep things tidy – let’s not feed the mice.
  • No smoking inside the cabin and no illegal substances on the property.
  • Park in front of the cabin.
  • Don’t forget to leave a note in the guest book (typically it is on the desk in the front room)!

🍽 Outdoor Dining

  • There’s a large black metal table (outside the sliding glass door, in the garage, in the grassy area or inside)
  • Six metal chairs 
  • Tablecloths are in a Tupperware container inside the white hutch  and the right side.
    • the black and white one fits the outside table

🌲 Disconnect to Reconnect

  • No Wi-Fi or cable—we encourage you to connect with nature!
  • There’s a quirky collection of movies in the bookshelf.
  • You can still rent DVDs at the Elk Creek Gas Station
  • Cell service is spotty, so plan accordingly.

🚽 Septic System – Be Kind!

Our cabin runs on love, laughter, and a septic system 💚

  • Only flush toilet paper—no wipes, feminine products, or anything else.
  • Do not pour grease, oils, coffee grounds, or food bits down the sink.
    • There is a strainer in the sink to help you remember – please dump it in a trash bag.
  • Use the grease can in the freezer, or freeze grease in a can and toss it when you leave.
  • Please read the signs in the kitchen and bathroom for reminders.
  • Make sure the dish drain board is situated such that there is no standing water on our new wood countertops.
  • All soaps and shampoos provided are septic-safe—feel free to use them!

🗑 Garbage & Recycling

  • There is no trash or recycling pickup at the cabin.
  • Use the white can for trash and the blue bucket (by the stove) for recycling.
    • Extra trash bags can be found in left drawer of the white hutch.
  • Please dispose of trash and recycling on your way out.
    • Take it to the Island Park Dump on Yale-Kilgore Road (Google it).
    • Or take it home with you and toss in your trash bin.
  • Dog owners: Please do a poop patrol before you leave.

🔐 Security, Electricity & Safety

  • Always lock windows and doors when you leave for an extended period of time.
  • If you’re nearby and coming/going, it’s okay to leave windows open and the back door unlocked.
  • Turn off unused lights, fans, and electronics to save energy.
  • Supervise children and pets at all times, especially near the upstairs railing.
  • Lock your car doors – bears have been known to take a look inside.

🛠 Damages

  • Please give us a heads up about any Repairs or Replacements ASAP.
  • It’s much easier to fix things with a heads-up than to find them when we get up there and realize we need to make a supply run back to Rexburg or Idaho Falls!

🛏 Bedding, Towels & Laundry

We have chosen not to run an Airbnb—it’s a shared space for family and friends like you!

  • As a general rule of thumb, we don’t do laundry or make beds unless we’re staying ourselves. This can change a bit depending on who is coming and going when.
  • The washer/dryer is not connected this summer.
  • You have a few options:
    • We may just have you stay and put the sheets in the laundry basket; we may have you bring them back to Poky to be washed, or we may invite you to bring your own sheets (blankets are available) and/or a sleeping bag.
      • Check in with Mary before you head up the country.
  • Towels (bath, hand, washcloths, and kitchen) are available—please feel free to use what is in in the bathroom and kitchen.
    • Dog towels and cleaning towels are in laundry room. Large towels are hanging behind the door and cleaning rags etc can be located on the 2nd shelf in the utility cupboard in the laundry room.
  • After use, toss them in the laundry basket, take them home, wash, and return them to us in Pocatello. Or bring them back to Mary’s house.

🧴 Sundry Items

The cabin is usually stocked with:

  • Cleaning supplies (under the sink and in the laundry cupboard)
  • Insect repellent, garbage bags, sunscreen
  • Paper towels, paper plates, ziplock bags, foil, wrap
  • Limited spices, herbal teas, coffee, toilet paper, paper towels, and other high use items
    • It is not a guarantee that they are plentiful.
    • Feel free to bring some from home and leave what you don’t use – we will use it!
  • Here is list of creature comforts that can be found in the cabin

There may be canned drinks or adult beverages in the fridge or old stove—those are usually reserved for the original owners.

If you find food in the cream cabinet / kitchen bar, you’re welcome to use it—just let us know.

Got books, puzzles, or movies to share? Let’s chat!
And yes—borrow a book if something catches your eye 📚

🔚 Before you Leave

  • Empty and wipe out the fridge
  • Wash, dry, and put away all dishes
  • Take trash and recycling with you
  • Bring towels and laundry back to Pocatello
    • Per our arrangement
  • Make a list of anything that needs restocking
  • Vacuum and clean as needed
  • Reload mouse traps (peanut butter is in the blue Tupperware near the back door)
  • Close all upstairs doors, windows, and curtains
  • Turn off all lights and water faucets
  • Lock all doors
  • Make sure cabin key is in the lockbox
  • Review and follow the instruction on Departure