It started with a forgotten lodge—and a wild, relentless dream.
This storybook setting, once forgotten and overgrown, is now a favorite Airbnb—complete with a hidden waterfall, a secret ceremony spot, and all the magic of a dream destination waiting to be discovered. The story behind this secret spot proves that sometimes, your wildest dream starts where no one else is looking.
Deep in the heart of Ohio’s Hocking Hills, a story was unfolding – not the kind you find in guidebooks or Instagram highlight reels—but the kind you feel when you stand in a place that was meant for more.
Once a Boy Scout lodge, the property had long been swallowed by over grown forest. The roof was caving. The grounds were wild. Most would’ve passed it by. But someone looked deeper.
And that’s when they found it—a hidden rock ledge in the trees, silently guarding its secret: a natural waterfall pool, untouched, unseen, and absolutely breathtaking!
When Vision Meets Grit
With maxed-out credit cards and a wild dream, the creators of The Cliffs House did what few dare to do. They believed.
Not just in the land—but in the story it could tell. In the retreat it could become. In the moments it would one day hold: barefoot vows beneath the trees, stargazing from the hot tub, the kind of stillness that speaks straight to your soul.
And it worked.
What started as a run-down lodge became one of the highest-earning Airbnbs in the world. A global destination. A proof point that seeing what others miss can change everything.
More Than a Stay—It’s a Storybook Setting for your Next Chapter
Whether you’re dreaming of an adventure elopement, a quiet honeymoon, or an intentional wedding day without the noise, Hocking Hills is calling.
Picture this:
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A waterfall pool carved by God and time
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Towering cliffs and forest trails, perfect for elopement portraits
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Candlelit dinners on a deck suspended in the trees
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Luxury meets nature in the most intimate way
It’s no surprise The Cliffs House is booked solid. But that’s just the beginning—now they’re building an entire village. A collection of architectural hideaways. Wildly designed. Deeply intentional. Made for dreamers and doers, just like you.
A reminder for couples dreaming bigger…
If you’re on the fence about eloping or wondering why not just elope? stories like this are a beautiful reminder:
Sometimes the most magical things happen when you take the road less traveled. Or better yet—make your own.
Elopements don’t have to look like courthouse steps or rushed vows. They can look like hidden waterfalls in Ohio, or firelit cabins in the woods, or whatever dream you’ve been afraid to say out loud.
You don’t need permission. Just vision.
Find your own “hidden ledge”
Still searching for that one place that feels like you? Spin the wheel on my website to uncover:
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Hidden elopement locations
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Unique Airbnbs and luxury stays
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Secret ceremony spots
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Adventure-packed honeymoon ideas
Because the best stories are the ones we get to write ourselves. And maybe—just maybe—yours starts in a place like Hocking Hills.
Ready to elope?
Grab your copy of my award-winning book, ELOPE: A Modern Elopement Guide for the Free-Spirited and Adventurous, or start planning your day with the ELOPE Planner—your step-by-step guide to creating a wedding day as wild and wonderful as your love.
