Treehouse Rental Adventures - Earthjoy — Hotel in Germantown

Magical Aliyah Treehouse Trip at Earthjoy in Kentucky, May 2025

What an incredible first treehouse experience! We especially loved the Jacob's Ladder trail where past visitors have left wind chimes and the kiddos loved the rope swing at the top. We did the rope bridge across the creek on the Heart Trail – core family memories for sure.

This gorgeous and lovingly tended property is a hidden gem! We even had a double rainbow upon arrival! So serene and dreamlike. (A nap! And I got to wake up in a treehouse on Mother’s Day!) Setting loving limits and having a balance of boundaries and stepping out of our comfort zone worked really well. Hoping for more experiences like this – adventurous, restful family time!

We wish all the Earthjoy visitors safe travels and happy memories! Thank you so much to Shelly and the whole Earthjoy staff for your amazing work creating this magical place for us to enjoy!!! Much love from The Stark Family

• Earthjoy is adding a pollinator garden and a storybook trail - hope everyone who visits next enjoys these lovely features. We’ll try to share some notes below:

Aliyah Great windows, screens, and doors for allowing breeze and gorgeous view up in the trees. We didn’t need the heater or air conditioner. Comfy and so clean. No issues with critters getting in. We had a curious chipmunk visit us on the porch and a turtle hang out under the treehouse. Lots of bird songs! The owner prepared us with supplies in case of a leak; they are working to improve the seal around the tree but as it’s alive and moves; there will never be perfection. It’s a gift to spend time with the tree and swing in the living room. The coolest (and very safe) bridge between the two buildings.

Kitchen & Food We brought a plug in cooler (Bodega) and benefited from doing almost all the food prep at home before the trip.

S’mores Prep We melted chocolate on graham crackers at home, adding sprinkles too. We didn’t have to have so much unwrapping and chance of dropping ingredients around the campfire.

Length of Stay – 5 Nights Staying longer helps accommodate inclement weather and offers opportunity to enjoy features on the property (we didn’t get to do all the trails yet) and have cozy restful time too.

Driving & Parking We recommend daytime driving as the curving country roads do not have lighting and there are steep drops without much shoulder. Our Ford Transit did okay in light rain on the gravel road and we were able to park right at the treehouse. But in heavier rains we would’ve had to park at the entrance. Cell reception is hit or miss. We saved pictures of maps on our phone for reference.

Trails & Ticks Helpful laminated map and well maintained trails and signs. Cute features like fairy doors and fun swings and slides along the way for the kids and adults!!!

Bring your boots, take snacks, and proper precautions for weather/ticks. Recommend using tick/bug repellant. Remember to check bodies/clothes each day, especially if reusing muddy clothes for trails.

Communications The owners provided helpful info in advance of our trip and were available throughout our stay whenever we were up at the front of the property or if we needed anything.

Nearby Attractions The Earthjoy website has recommendations. We took a day trip to visit Carter Caves State Resort Park for a tour of Cascade Cave - gorgeous and great facilities.

Private Bathroom So clean, spacious, and well stocked. Plenty of towels, toilet paper and paper towels. Hot water and safe for drinking. Didn’t taste of well water. There is an outhouse right by the treehouse. We packed our travel potties which were helpful for kiddos during the night – Earthjoy can provide these as well.

Gear We highly recommend walkie talkies (Cobra)!!! Binoculars, telescope and glo sticks too! Test all gear in advance and pack extra batteries.

Traveling with kids We take very frequent stops (every 2 hours at a rest stop, playground if you can manage it) and pack healthy fun snacks so that we feel well on our adventure. Remember to reserve some favorites for...

After reading the many glowing reviews, we had high expectations for this stay. Unfortunately, the couple days we chose to stay in the Love Bus Schoolie was the same time Huricane Helene decided to pay a visit to the area! As a result, we didn't feel we could safely explore most of the grounds, which was highly disappointing, but, of course, out of anyone's control! Also, unfortunately, the weather wasn't the only disappointment. While many of the reviews refer to the attention to detail, that is not exactly what we experienced. Overall, the bus was well kept, but... there was a refrigerator with towels in it as if it had recently been defrosted and forgot about, the gas grill and two burner stove top were both missing, there was a shelf that had a nail sticking out where the side had come off and never replaced, and many of the string light bulbs were were burnt out. There was a binder with suggestions for how to experience the trails/nature and self which was nice, but the pages were oddly out of order and the trail map seemed incomplete, gave no indication of how long the trails were, and the ink had blurred as if it had previously gotten rather wet. The incinerator toilet (located at the entrance of the barn/bus, with very tight accommodations and no door!) had instructions on how to use, including the importance of taking care of the $2500 piece of equipment...but then stated if the flaps got stuck (which they did) to just kick it.

Another feature to the bus stay was the outdoor shower...which wasn't functioning at the time of our stay. When brought to the attention of the manager, we were told that they would come take a look, but also that they were an hour away. We were offered the opportunity to use one of the treehouse facilities as an alternative, which was appreciated, but not the unique experience we were promised. ...And then the electricity went out. No one ever came. No one ever checked in on us. And from the little bit of exploring we did do the first morning, no one else was on the property at all. It looked nearly abandoned, as if they closed and forgot to tell us.

The instructions upon booking indicated you weren't getting a five star hotel, which is fair...it's glampimg! But that doesn't excuse the lack in attention to both the detail and the customer as a whole (they were very responsive, I just wouldn't describe it as welcoming). That said, it wasn't a bad stay, as much as all the little things added up to a bit of...

EarthJoy is a place for rest, relaxation, adventure and exploration. I stayed here for 3 days with friends in mid-May and had an amazing time that I can’t quite put into words. Within a few hours of arrival, time slowed down in that way that it does when you’re surrounded by trees and have no set agenda. There were beautiful butterflies, deer, and my friend even saw a painted turtle. In addition to the three beautiful treehouses, there are 20 miles of hiking trails, all clearly marked. I found EarthJoy to be a place where the exploring never ends…every trail leading to something that made me feel not quite on earth at EarthJoy!

A few of my favorite things from my stay:

Hiking the Jacob’s Ladder Trail – Take the trail slow, close your eyes and listen to the breeze sift between the trees and the chimes on the trees. Maybe add a chime of your own that you bought or made yourself. At the top of the trail is a nice picnic bench to have lunch and continue to enjoy the peace of this sanctuary.

Taking an afternoon nap at the amphitheater off the Heart Trail. This cool little amphitheater tucked into the woods is the perfect place to lie down on one of the many benches and watch the sky for a while.

Having coffee and immersing myself in a good novel while the afternoon sunlight shone through the windows of the Hickory treehouse.

Three days here gave me much-needed relaxation and rejuvenation before heading back to the chaos that is daily life. I will definitely come back...