Historic 1906 Log Cabin Near Red River Gorge | Views & Trails

Stay in a historic family cabin surrounded by more than 200 acres near Frenchburg, Kentucky, with easy access to the Red River Gorge and Daniel Boone National Forest.

The property has two houses, so please let us know if you are interested in renting both. We are continually working to restore and improve this historic property, originally built in 1906 by my great-grandfather, fiddler and country doctor Dr. Harley B. Northcutt, and lovingly restored by my parents in 1996.

The Property & Trails

The property is just under 10 miles from Nada Tunnel and extends back toward the ledges of the Red River Gorge itself.

Adventurous guests can follow the old pathway behind the house and through the red metal swing gate toward the back of the property. We are currently working to restore and clear this rugged path, so some bushwhacking may be required. Proper shoes, long pants, and appropriate outdoor clothing are recommended.

For easier access to established trails, two nearby trails within Daniel Boone National Forest offer wonderful opportunities to experience the Gorge.

Corner Ridge Trail is approximately 1.6 miles from the property, on the left side of the road just past Egelston Cemetery.

Tarr Ridge Trail is approximately 4.8 miles away, on the left just beyond the Job Corps/Conservation Corps area, with parking in the dirt lot marked Geological Survey Area. This is a personal favorite of ours for a moderate hike close to the cabin. The trail leads to several finger-shaped ledges with beautiful views into the Gorge and often offers a quieter experience than the heavily visited State Park areas.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park is about 16 miles away, offering numerous hiking trails as well as its well-known chairlift.

For another adventure, take Klaber Ridge Road near the Church of God for access toward the Indian Staircase/Step Rock area.

Guests interested in paddling can find canoe and kayak adventures approximately 10 miles away. Cave Run Lake is another wonderful option for boating, fishing and swimming. Scott Creek and Cave Run marinas are approximately 15 miles away and offer boat rentals.

Comforts of Home

After a day on the trails, come back and relax in the cabin.

The house includes a Smart TV with streaming apps—simply sign in with your own accounts. We also provide charging stations, although we recommend bringing your own USB wall adapters for your devices.

The kitchen is stocked with cooking utensils, pots and pans to accommodate most everyday cooking. We provide the basics for hot drinks, including coffee, tea and sweeteners.

The kitchen table seats six, making it a comfortable gathering place for meals, morning coffee, or planning the day’s adventures.

The Story of the Cabin on Tarr Ridge

Tucked into the hills near Red River Gorge, this cabin carries more than a century of our family’s history.

It was built in 1906 by my great-grandfather, Dr. H.B. Northcutt, a country doctor known for traveling the rugged roads of Tarr Ridge on horseback to care for his neighbors throughout the mountain community.

But he wasn’t only a doctor. He was also a fiddler, and music was as much a part of his life as medicine.

Just across the road stood a small one-room schoolhouse. On quiet days, with the windows open, the sound of Dr. Northcutt’s fiddle would drift across the road and into the classroom.

My father, then just a young boy, would hear the music and feel its pull. He would tell his teacher he wasn’t feeling well and needed to go see the doctor.

But the truth was, he wasn’t going because he was sick.

He was going to see his grandfather.

He wanted to sit nearby, listening and learning as his grandfather drew the bow across the strings.

That’s where my father’s love of the fiddle began.

He became known as “Fiddling Jim Day.”

And in 1996, nearly 90 years after his grandfather built the cabin, my father and mother, Jim and Dorothy Day, lovingly restored it—preserving its character, its stories, and the musical heritage that began here.

That love of music carried on from my great-grandfather, to my father, and now to me. It’s part of what makes this place feel alive.

We continue working to preserve and improve this special property while respecting its history and rustic Appalachian character.

When you stay here, you’re not simply visiting a cabin. You’re stepping into a living piece of Appalachian family history—a place where a country doctor once traveled on horseback, fiddle music floated through open windows, and a little boy followed the sound of his grandfather’s fiddle and discovered a lifelong passion for music.Historic 1906 Log Cabin Near Red River Gorge | 200+ Acres & Trails

Stay in a piece of Appalachian history. Built in 1906 by my great-grandfather, Dr. H.B. Northcutt—a country doctor and fiddler—this historic log cabin sits on more than 200 private acres near Frenchburg, Kentucky, bordering Daniel Boone National Forest and close to some of the most beautiful hiking in the Red River Gorge.

The Sheltowee Trace runs along the property, and a rugged private path behind the cabin leads through our land toward the cliffs and ledges overlooking the Gorge. We are currently working to clear and restore this old pathway, so some bushwhacking is still required. Sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing are strongly recommended.

For easier hiking, Corner Ridge Trailhead is only about 1.5 miles down the road. Tarr Ridge Trail is approximately 4.8 miles away and is one of our personal favorites—a moderate hike with beautiful views into the Gorge from several finger-shaped ledges, often without the crowds found in the state park.

The cabin is also conveniently located for exploring the wider Red River Gorge area, including Nada Tunnel, Natural Bridge, Chimney Top, Sky Bridge and the many trails along Route 77.

The Cabin

The cabin has two bedrooms and sleeps families or small groups comfortably, with:

* 1 queen bed
* 2 full beds
* 1 twin bed
* 1 bathroom with shower
* Fully equipped kitchen
* Wi-Fi
* Heating and air conditioning
* Hair dryer

There are two cabins on the property, so please ask if you’re interested in renting both for a larger family or group gathering.

The Story of the Cabin on Tarr Ridge

This cabin carries more than a century of our family’s history.

My great-grandfather, Dr. Harley B. Northcutt, built it in 1906. He was a country doctor who traveled the rugged roads of Tarr Ridge on horseback, caring for people throughout the surrounding mountain community.

But he wasn’t only a doctor. He was also a fiddler.

Across the road from the cabin stood a little one-room schoolhouse. On quiet days, with the windows open, the sound of Dr. Northcutt’s fiddle would drift across the road and into the classroom.

My father, Jim Day, was a young boy attending that school. When he heard his grandfather playing, he would sometimes tell his teacher he wasn’t feeling well and needed to go see the doctor.

But he wasn’t sick.

He wanted to sit with his grandfather and listen to him play the fiddle.

That is where my father’s love of the fiddle began.

He became known as “Fiddling Jim Day,” and decades later, in 1996, my parents, Jim and Dorothy Day, lovingly restored the cabin his grandfather had built ninety years earlier.

That love of music continued through our family—from my great-grandfather, to my father, and now to me.

We continue to restore and care for this historic property today, preserving as much of its character and history as we can.

When you stay here, you’re not simply renting a cabin. You’re staying in a living piece of Appalachian history—a place where a country doctor once traveled on horseback, fiddle music floated through open windows, and a little boy followed the sound of his grandfather’s fiddle and discovered a lifelong love of music.

We hope you’ll enjoy the cabin, the mountains, the trails, and the history as much as our family has for generations.