Find peace and connection at Capon Bridge’s most luxurious mountain getaway.
Standing proud in the wilderness of Capon Bridge, tucked back into a deep curve of the North River, is a log cabin. While not an uncommon sight by any means, with its welcoming aura and natural charm, the structure’s familiar facade conceals something truly special.
Mountainaire Luxury Cabin was built in 2007 by Mary and Stephen Bauer, Maryland residents looking for the perfect family getaway. “We were living in Baltimore, in the city, with two young boys, and we really wanted a place where they could be free to run, experience nature, and find adventure,” says Mary Bauer. “West Virginia was a natural choice.” Capon Bridge, and what is now Mountainaire’s 5-acre lot, checked all of their boxes. “You feel—and are—deep in the wild, but it’s not far from the cities. There’s a lot around, but it’s not right on top of you. Hampshire County itself has become such a great destination and does farm life better than anywhere I’ve seen.”
The couple wanted to build their hideaway from scratch, curating it to their taste and needs. Bauer says her husband, originally from South Africa, has always been interested in the tradition of the American log cabin, so that’s what they built. They designed the space themselves, utilizing their experience and knowledge from designing and manufacturing luxury baby furniture and decor for their company, Bratt Decor. “I had a lot of experience on how space moves and feels,” she says. “I wanted it to be timeless.”
They captured that vision by combining the worn, rustic elements we most often expect from cabins with clean, modern luxury in the appliances, technology, and amenities. The cabin itself is built from 150-year-old reclaimed logs from an old cabin in West Virginia and wood taken from the property after high winds fell many trees. Other repurposed touches made the cabin reflect their taste. The railing on the staircase was refurbished from the balcony of an old European apartment. Mounts decorating the walls came from the couple’s own South African safaris. “I always loved the big red barns you see in West Virginia,” Bauer admits. “Stephen took some boards, painted them red, and propped them up in a field for a year to weather. We put them in the kid’s room.”
The cabin served the Bauer family for many years with many memories made. But as the years passed and the Bauers’ sons grew older and life got busier, trips to the cabin became less and less frequent. Rather than give the home up entirely, they decided to share its beauty with others, and it is now a vacation rental.
When you walk into Mountainaire, you can’t help but pause and take it all in—the tall ceiling and immaculate stone fireplace in the Great Room, the warm red cabinets and gleaming stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, the mix-matched doors and carefully curated decor that brings whimsy, history, and character to the space. Throughout the cabin, you’ll find bright and cozy bedrooms, enough to allow for up to 11 guests. Three and a half bathrooms perfectly blend classic cabin aesthetics with modern elements, ideal for pampering yourself. Heated floors make chilly mornings much easier.
The screened-in porch wraps entirely around the cabin, offering a new experience on each side—and a new view. One side holds four outdoor daybeds, another is the perfect place to host dinner at the 12-person farm table, and a third welcomes good conversations and good times around the indoor / outdoor fireplace. The fourth, of course, is your big welcome.
While there is plenty at the cabin to keep you entertained—a game room, plunge spa, hot tub, and so much more—the surrounding area is rife with opportunity for discovery. The backyard boasts over 800 feet of river for you to fish or float. Kids can escape to the tree house as conversation flows around the fire table. Guests can hike nearby Ice Mountain, the entrance only minutes from the cabin on foot. And, of course, there is always the charming town of Capon Bridge to explore.
Some amenities aren’t directly included, Bauer says, but can be added to your stay to make the experience that much more personalized and luxurious. You can book a massage with a masseuse who comes to you, setting up on one of the porches or by the river. A private chef can also be hired to come out and create meals for you and your family.
One thing guests will not find at Mountainaire is TVs, though there is a smart projector in the entertainment space—just in case. This was purposeful, Bauer says. “We really wanted people to reconnect, whether the connection is to themselves, nature, or friends and family. We want them to leave better than they came.”
948 Twin Flower Court, Capon Bridge, cabin-luxury.com, @mountainaireluxurycabin on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S FALL 2024 ISSUE
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