The Complete Guide to Pool House Lodge — Hocking Hills Cabin That Sleeps 20

There are a lot of Hocking Hills cabins. Most sleep 6 to 10. A handful push to 14. Very few hit 20 — and most of those are multiple buildings spread across a property, which means your group spends half the trip walking between structures.

Pool House Lodge is one building. Everyone under one roof, 20 guests, with a private heated indoor pool that runs year-round. This guide covers everything: the rooms, the amenities, what's nearby, who it works well for, and what guests actually say after they leave.

The private indoor pool

This is what most guests book for first. The pool is 15 by 28 feet, 3 to 6 feet deep, and held at 82 to 84 degrees year-round. It's inside, which matters more than people initially realize. Rain, cold, January — none of it affects the pool. You can swim in February while snow is on the ground outside.

The pool room is on the lower level with auto-lock doors that use a code. Pool towels, floats, and rescue equipment are provided. There's a picnic table inside the room, a first-aid kit on the wall, and pool depths marked on the side. A pool safety video is available for groups with kids.

It's private to your group. No other guests, no shared hours, no lifeguard schedules. You swim when you want.

The lodge itself — three levels, 7 bedrooms

The main level has the great room, chef's kitchen, a queen ensuite bedroom, and the rear porch. The second level has the loft, two more bedrooms (including the double bunk den), and a shared bathroom. The lower level is where the pool, game room, two more bedrooms, and rear patio sit.

Main level

The great room has a stone fireplace, vaulted log ceiling, leather sectional, and a 55-inch Roku TV. The kitchen has a 10-foot live edge island (seats 6), a 9-foot live edge dining table (seats 9), two dishwashers, a full refrigerator, and a coffee station with a Keurig, Nespresso, and French press. Pots, pans, dishes, and barware for 20 are all there. The rear porch off the main level has a covered outdoor fireplace, antler chandeliers, two dining tables, a hammock, and rolling hill views.

The main-level queen suite is also the most accessible bedroom. It has a roll-in shower, wide doorways, a wheelchair-friendly commode and sink, and direct step-free access from the parking area.

Second level

The loft has a leather sectional and a second 55-inch TV with a safari theme and zebra rug. It overlooks the great room below. Bedroom 2 (River Rock) and Bedroom 3 (Double Bunk Den with 4 bunk beds) are connected through a barn door. Bedroom 4 is the Cow Room, a queen with sunset views from the vaulted loft window. A shared hallway bathroom with dual live edge vanity sinks serves these three rooms.

Lower level

The game room has a pool table, foosball, Mortal Kombat arcade, a 65-inch TV with leather sectional, a bar that overlooks the back of the property, and a kitchenette. Bedroom 5 is a pirate-themed bunk room with 4 bunks and wheelchair-accessible lower beds. Bedrooms 6 (Blue Room — queen plus bunk) and 7 (Timber Room — queen with log furniture) share a hallway bathroom with a washer and dryer. The accessible game room bathroom connects directly to the pool room and has a transfer shower, shower seat, grab bars, and adjustable showerhead. The rear patio off the lower level has the 8-person hot tub, Weber propane grill, dining table, swing chair, string lights, and a wheelchair-friendly path to the fire ring.

The outdoor spaces

The fire ring is a 20-foot stamped concrete area with a 30-inch Breeo smokeless fire pit, 10 Adirondack chairs, and a rocking chair. It sits in a secluded spot with views of the woods, with a wheelchair-accessible path from the rear patio.

The Gnome Trail is a 0.6-mile private trail behind the lodge with 16 hidden gnomes along the path. Walking sticks are at the front door. There are some steep sections and a small seasonal stream crossing. It comes up in a lot of guest reviews, usually from people who weren't expecting it to be a thing and ended up doing it twice.

The Swing Trail starts from the front of the cabin and is shorter and flatter. It's where the lodge's magnet photo spot is.

Parking fits up to 10 vehicles. There are two 50-amp EV charger outlets — bring your own adapter cable.

Accessibility

Pool House Lodge is one of the only large group cabins in Hocking Hills that was designed with accessibility in mind across two levels, not just a token ramp at the front door.

Step-free access runs from the parking lot to the main level, lower level, rear patio, pool room, and fire ring area. The main-level queen suite has a roll-in shower, grab bars, wide doorways, and a wheelchair-friendly commode and sink. The lower-level game room bathroom is fully accessible with a transfer shower, grab bars, adjustable showerhead, and direct access to the pool room. The kitchen has a wheelchair-accessible range and sink. There's a second wheelchair-friendly dishwasher too.

The pool area is accessible. There's no pool lift. Full accessibility details are here.

Who stays here

Most groups fall into one of a few categories: extended families doing a multi-generation reunion, friend groups celebrating a milestone (birthday, bachelorette, anniversary), and corporate or ministry retreats that need everyone under one roof. What they share is size — groups that have tried booking multiple smaller cabins and spent the whole trip shuttling between properties.

The accessibility features bring in a specific subset of multi-gen families: groups with a wheelchair user or mobility-limited grandparent who want the full trip, not a workaround. Ann from Louisville put it plainly in her review: "The first cabin we've ever rented that is TRULY handicap accessible — they thought of everything."

Groups with younger kids tend to claim the lower level bunk rooms (Bedroom 3 on the second floor and the pirate bunk room below), while couples or older guests take the main-level queen suite or upper queen rooms.

What's nearby

Pool House Lodge sits in Hocking Hills' Southern Region, near McArthur. The waterfalls and trails of Hocking Hills State Park are a short drive. Ash Cave is 11 miles away. Old Man's Cave is 15 miles, about 25 minutes. Cedar Falls, often called the most dramatic waterfall in the region, is in that same corridor.

For everyday needs: Campbell's Market is 5 miles away (about 8 minutes). A McDonald's is 4.7 miles out. There's a Marathon market and liquor store at 4.9 miles.

Other things within reach: Moonville Tunnel (a 19th-century railroad tunnel in Zaleski State Forest) is 12 minutes out. Lake Hope State Park is 20 minutes. Uncle Buck's Riding Stable offers guided trail rides in the area. Stella's Mercantile in Creola is 12 minutes for local goods and cinnamon buns that guests mention by name.

What guests actually say

The lodge holds a 4.93-star average across 38 reviews on Airbnb and a 5.0 on VRBO. A few things come up repeatedly: the pool being better than expected in person, the kitchen being genuinely equipped for a large group (two dishwashers and two sinks get mentioned specifically), and the Gnome Trail catching people off guard.

Adrian from Cleveland wrote: "Best Airbnb experience in 20 years. All the photos don't do it justice — it's actually better looking. Our host thought of everything." Jason from Columbus noted that the group ranged from age 6 to 96 and there was something for everyone. Ann's accessibility review above is quoted on the homepage and comes up a lot when accessibility-focused travelers find the listing.

The honest negative: the Southern Region location means it's not walking distance to Old Man's Cave. You're driving 25 minutes to hit the main trail corridor. For some groups that's a dealbreaker. For most, it's a trade worth making for the quieter roads, easier parking, and a property this size.

Booking and pricing

Pool House Lodge is available to book direct at poolhouselodge.com or through Airbnb and VRBO. Booking direct saves money — typically $200 to $500 depending on the stay length — and puts you in direct contact with the owner rather than going through a platform's support system.

Rates start around $800 per night and vary by season, length of stay, and platform. Fall weekends book out months in advance. Summer weekends are next to go. Spring and winter stays tend to have more flexibility.

Cancellation policy: 97% refund if cancelled 30 or more days out. 47% refund for 14 to 29 days out. No refund inside 14 days. A 48-hour free cancellation window applies only if your arrival date is at least 14 days out at the time of booking.

Common questions

Does Pool House Lodge allow pets?

No. Pool House Lodge is a pet-free property. No animals of any kind.

Is there cell service at the lodge?

Yes. The lodge has good cell service and Spectrum Fiber internet up to 1 Gbps.

Can you get a massage at the lodge?

Yes. Hocking Hills Travel Massage provides in-lodge massage services for an additional fee. Call (614) 531-9047 to schedule around your stay.

What coffee machines are there?

A Keurig, a Nespresso, and a drip coffee maker. Coffee grounds are provided. Bring your own pods if you have a preference.

Is the pool supervised?

No lifeguard is on site. The lodge provides rescue equipment, a first-aid kit, pool rules posted on the wall, and a safety video. Groups with young children should review the safety materials when they arrive.

How far in advance should you book?

Most fall weekends and holiday periods book 3 to 6 months out. Summer weekends go nearly as fast. Spring and weekday stays are more available but still move. If you have specific dates, don't sit on it.