Close to town, but very private, quiet, and in the middle of Lincoln National Forest. If you are looking for a home that is close to everything (3 miles to Albertson's) but seems to be in the middle of the wilderness, look no further. Sierra Sky Retreat offers you the privacy, the wildlife, and the quietude you need to really get away from it all (but be close enough to order a pizza!) The owner, a frequent traveler, has outfitted this home with everything you need to have a wonderful stay! If you have stayed with us before, you will be surprised at the renovations. We now have two bedrooms upstairs and two full baths upstairs. We also have three cots upstairs that can be set up in the living room. Here are the details… --Master bedroom: queen bed, dresser, television, adjoining bathroom, adjoining small room with a bunk bed (2 twins) --Guest bedroom: full bed, dresser, television. (Guests use the second bathroom upstairs.) --Cots: 2 available and 1 queen air mattress — Loveseat sleeper (full) in living room If you are looking for a home that is surrounded by nature, aesthetically pleasing, and not too far from civilization, Sierra Sky Retreat is your home! Located at the end of Cedar Creek Drive, Sierra Sky Retreat is only minutes from town but feels like you are deep in the forest. Located on a mountainside, the backyard is Lincoln National Forest. If you like to hike, you can walk out the back door and hike the mountain. You'll find Lincoln National Forest trails within a mile, and you can hike from our house to them. In this quiet neighborhood, you will have beautiful views from all sides. Sit on the covered front porch and enjoy a view of the mountains through the pines or watch the Steller's jays and woodpeckers. Or sit on the covered back porch and gaze up through the national forest. Enjoy the deer that you will see almost daily. Elk occasionally come into the yard, too. And turkeys. One summer, there was a mother bear and her three cubs that frolicked within 100' of the back yard all summer. You never know what you'll see here... We've added a driveway that leads to the carport and the back door, providing a level entrance for anyone who has trouble with stairs. (There are two steps in the back, but there are about 10 in the front!) The backyard has been upgraded to be fully enclosed with a gate opening that is sound enough to keep dogs (and children!) in place. The interior of the home is aesthetically pleasing. The soaring pine ceilings will make you feel like you are in a mountain cathedral as the sunlight streams in. Relax in front of one of the three televisions in the house and watch your favorite cable programs, or use the high quality, reliable wifi to connect with friends. Use the apps on the TV to login to your Amazon, Netflix, or other accounts. The home has been upgraded with central heat and air, but it also has an electric fireplace and a wood-burning stove. Also available are a laundry room, front and back porch, and gas grill. (Guests may have to refill propane. If you do, please let us know and we'll reimburse you.) If you like to cook, you’ll appreciate the owners’ investment in kitchenware. The large kitchen is the perfect place to gather with family members and bake or prepare holiday meals. Enjoy the Keurig coffee bar because as all coffee aficionados know, good coffee and a great place to drink it are requirements for a relaxing vacation. Two dining areas—a large bar in the kitchen that seats 4, and a dining table with six chairs—will enable you to serve your masterpieces in style. When you are ready for some entertainment, visit Ski Apache for skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking (they rent them!) and ziplining. Or if you are less adventurous, simply enjoy the drive up to Ski Apache and take the gondola to the top of the mountain. You can see White Sands from the view at around 11,000 feet. The Inn of the Mountain Gods is a great place for dining and gambling, as well. Of course, the quaint village of Ruidoso offers some great dining, and if you like shopping, plan on spending a day walking through the many little shops in the town. Visit the local artisans, wineries, and restaurants. You’ll find a guidebook in the home to help you plan your day. While check-in time is at 4 pm, if no one is checking out the night before (which requires the cleaners to come between 11 am and 4 pm), I will work with you on an early check-in. A vacation at Sierra Sky Retreat will leave you relaxed and ready to plan your return trip! You'll have access to the entire upstairs living area, porches, and yard. Once you have booked, you will be provided with owners' contact information and can text if you have any issues during your stay. The neighborhood is very quiet. It is not densely packed with homes. You will feel like you are in nature. The home is about 1/10 of a mile from Cedar Creek Drive, the main road. In the winter, Jarratt Loop can be tricky because of snow and ice. Take the SECOND entrance to Jarratt Loop, as it's easier to navigate and the house is closer to the second entrance than to the first. Worst case scenario, if you encounter a lot of snow and don't have 4wd, some people park on Cedar Creek and walk to the house. The driveway will accommodate several cars. A new driveway to the back means that there are only two steps to ascend to get into the house via the back entrance. (The front entrance has a one story staircase.) NOTE: If there is significant snow accumulation, you will need AWD or 4WD and/or chains. We do allow pets. Pet fee is $50 per animal. If you will be bringing a pet, please message us and tell us before making your reservation. We will send you a "special offer" that includes the pet fee. We also have a downstairs studio apartment that is not part of the listing but can be used if needed. There is an additional fee of $75 per night plus an additional cleaning cost of $100, which is why we don't just include it in the listing overall. If you want to use it, just let us know and we will change the rates with a "special offer" and give you instructions on getting into it.