Before you go...you should know

Before your stay at our beautiful home on Lake Cushman, please note the following:

YES, THE TAP WATER IS SAFE.
There is additional filtration if you drink the water from the fridge.
THERE IS CURRENTLY NO INTERNET, CELLULAR SERVICE, OR WI-FI.
This is not necessarily a negative thing. We, at Samara, see it as a benefit.
How often do you get to enjoy life without a constant inundation of technology? Some guests find their Verizon phones have service from the top of the main road. Nina's Lake Cushman Café nearby also offers Wi-Fi.

YES, THERE IS ELECTRICITY, HOT WATER, A LANDLINE PHONE AND MOST MODERN AMENITIES.*
This includes a dishwasher, coffee machine, Nespresso machine, washer/dryer, television with DVD player, and a small stereo/two small bluetooth speakers. There is quite a large selection of games and films to enjoy.
* barring unexpected emergencies

THERE IS NO MICROWAVE.
(We aren’t fans.) There is a high-end toaster oven which is fabulous.

WE SUPPLY THE FOLLOWING FOR USE DURING YOUR STAY:
all the basics (towels, sheets, pots, pans, etc.) plus the extras, which include: plush bath robes, life vests (infant through adult sizes), hiking sticks, binoculars, bug spray, an umbrella, some spare outerwear, a selection of books, DVDs and games, basic art supplies, children’s toys, basic emergency supplies, and extra phone chargers of various types. Please enjoy these during your stay ONLY and leave all non-disposables at the home for the future enjoyment of all our guests.
THE LAKE IS COLD & DEEP.
SOME STEEP OR UNEVEN SURFACES EXIST ON THE PROPERTY.
THE DECK IS NOT ONE LEVEL.
THERE ARE 100 STAIRS DOWN TO THE WATER OR YOU MAY TAKE A RELATIVELY EASY 2 MINUTE WALK DOWNHILL, ALONG A DIRT PATH.

PLEASE EXERCISE COMMON SENSE CAUTION & READ THE RULES & POLICIES LISTED HERE.

AND NOW, for the most important HOUSE RULES:

YOUR SAFETY IS IMPORTANT TO US.
Please read the House Rules & Policies and abide by all rules stated therein.
PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION. There are some uneven surfaces on the property, a steep hillside and a deep, cold, glacial lake. Please use basic common sense and exercise caution in all outdoor areas, as well as indoors. Wear life vests (supplied by us or your own) when swimming or near the water is highly advised.
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES: Please make note of fire extinguisher locations in each bedroom, under the kitchen sink, and outside near the barbeque and fire pit.
Basic emergency supplies can be found in the floor level cabinet inside the kitchen, just to the right as you enter.
CHILDREN MUST BE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES.

SAMARA IS A SMOKE FREE PROPERTY (with the exception of our stove, gas grill and fire pit).

As a courtesy to all who enjoy this property and for safety reasons,
NO SMOKING OF ANY KIND IS PERMITTED ON OUR PROPERTY,
INCLUDING ALL OUTDOOR AREAS. *
If you really must smoke, please do so in the driveway and make sure exterior windows and doors are closed for the duration of your smoking AND please dispose of paraphernalia, such as cigarette butts, properly in waste bins and NEVER on the ground.
To help prevent fires, please make sure cigarettes are completely extinguished.
*If there is evidence of smoking on our property (cigarette butts, lingering odor, etc.) you forfeit your $500 deposit (and it’s bad karma to boot!).
ABSOLUTELY NO PETS ON THE PROPERTY without prior permission of the owners.
While we love pets, we cannot guarantee that guests' pets will follow our House Rules. Some guests may have sensitivities to pet dander, so we cannot have them in the home.
Exceptions apply for service animals or special cases. Please contact us with questions.
PLEASE, NO EATING OR DRINKING IN BEDROOMS*.
We want to make sure we don’t attract unwanted guests (and we don’t mean humans!). Keeping food out of bedrooms, helps us ensure our property is kept vermin free.
*Other than water and clear drinks.
USE THE SLIDING SCREENS ON EXTERIOR DOORS, WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
You are welcome to keep exterior doors open for fresh air or for an extended stretch, but please make sure to shut the screens.
These screens are equipped with strong magnetic latches. To open, simply give them a strong tug to disengage the latch. The screen will automatically recess (they are frameless).
Be aware that leaving exterior doors open without screens, even if for only a few minutes, may let in critters, big, and small.

PARKING IS PERMITTED ON SAMARA PROPERTY ONLY. Guests are required to park vehicles in our driveway (a blue arrow sign points out the beginning of our driveway property. It is fairly obvious.). Please refrain from parking in our next door neighbor's parking spots by their rock wall or driving on their gravel drive.
We suggest that, whomever arrives first, turns his/her car around to face uphill and parks adjacent to the garage or propane tank.

TURN VEHICLES AROUND ON OUR PROPERTY OR FURTHER UP THE GRAVEL DRIVE NEAR THE FIRST TWO HOMES ON THE DRIVEWAY (in the shared area near those homes) and NOT on our next door neighbors' property adjacent to our home.* *Our next door neighbors have kindly requested that our guests keep off their gravel drive and do not park by their rock retaining wall. This includes any kind of vehicle or property, including boats and boat trailers.

LOCK THE GATE . Please make sure the main gate at the top of the road is locked every time you enter or exit the property. If you find someone has left it open, just go ahead and shut and lock it, please. It keeps the homes safer and less accessible to passersby.

BEFORE YOU EXIT THE HOME, please make sure all exterior doors and windows are locked and that the house alarm is set whenever you head out.
BEFORE YOU DEPART, PLEASE BRING TRASH TO BINS OUTSIDE THE HOME.
THIS HELPS PREVENT CRITTERS INSIDE THE HOME.
Bins are located behind the house, and at the top of the main drive and are labelled:
     1. Recycling (paper, plastic and tin/aluminum)
     2. Glass
     3. Compost* (big black bin in garden)
     4. Waste/Garbage
*Compost bin is for vegetarian food scraps only! Green compostable bags are okay. PLEASE, NO PAPER PRODUCTS, NO MEATS, NO FATS, NO COFFEE CUPS, CARDBOARD FOOD BOXES, NO LARGE PAPER BAGS, NO PLASTIC BAGS, ETC. IN COMPOST BIN.

You may dispose of your waste in the bins directly behind the home or you may bring your garbage/recycling to the large bins at the top of the driveway. It’s up to you.

Eventually, all waste/recycling must get brought up to the main road by our staff or our very kind guests. Should you wish to go the extra mile, feel free to bring some of your trash to the top for us (it’s not required, just thoughtful).

Hope this information is helpful! Please email us with additional questions or concerns. samaralakehouse@outlook.com