Mirror Villas
A Two-Night Stay at Mirror Villas: A Unique Retreat in Pennsylvania
Mirror Villas promised a secluded, modern retreat in the woods, located directly across from Whitetail Ski Resort in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. Our two-night stay featured some wonderful amenities—like a hot tub under the stars, a cozy fire pit, and a relaxing sauna.
Thoughtful Touches & Relaxing Features
There’s a lot to love about Mirror Villas, especially if you’re looking for a place to unwind. Some of the standout features included:
- Hot tub & sauna – Nothing beats soaking in a hot tub surrounded by nature or stepping into a sauna on a cold evening. I honestly enjoyed the hot tub a lot more than I expected.
- Fire pit – A great spot to relax with some tea and a book. Fire wood is provided and we made sure to bring marshmallows for roasting.
- Luxury bedding, heated floors, and bath robes – Cozy sheets and a warm floor in the morning made the space feel extra comfortable. It was a nice touch to have the robes to go in/out of the sauna and hot tub.
- Rain shower with handheld wand – A nice, spa-like touch in such a small space. They did make good use of this tight space.
- String lights outside added a magical feel.
- There were a few games provided. I would recommend bringing a book, puzzle, or a relaxing activity that is easy to transport with you.
- There are currently only four villas and they are spread out so it really is a relaxing and peaceful stay.
Recommendations
While the setting and design of the villa were impressive, there are a few details you should know before you go.
- Check-in process – Instructions for check-in didn’t arrive until after we were already onsite, which made for a confusing start. However, the text function made it easy for me to get clear instructions quickly. This also could be because they were so new to opening.
- There was no check-out survey and I had hoped I could provide some feedback and information. I did need to report an issue we had the second evening when we were woken in the early morning (starting at 3AM) to a loud banging noise that lasted on and off for hours. I believe there was something loose on the roof/side of the villa because of high winds. I imagine they fixed this pretty quickly so no other guests had this experience. I was also very glad my sister was staying with me for the weekend or I would have been terrified being alerted awake by the noise in isolation.
- Steep driveway – The incline is no joke. If you’re driving a sedan, smaller vehicle, or visiting in winter, be prepared. We had icy weather and I was grateful we had a SUV that could handle the drive.
Functional, Luxury, but Limited
The villa had a sleek, minimalist design, but some of the kitchen and entertainment options felt impractical:
- TV projector setup – A great idea in theory, but having the TV project on the ceiling was not ideal. A pull-down screen behind the curtain would have been a better setup.
- Kitchen limitations – There is no full stove or oven, just a hot plate and an outdoor grill. Cooking for two days requires some adjustments and preparation before you arrive. The refrigerator/freezer combo is the size of a college dorm fridge and did not fit much at all. Making a trip to the grocery store is something you really need to consider in advance and think about this limited space. A toaster or toaster oven would have been a great addition. There is a microwave.
- Coffee & tea setup – There was a French press in our villa, but it was not listed in amenities so we did not know and would have brought our own coffee. The description mentioned K cups for the Keurig which was offered. There was a variety of 4 K cups however, the options were not thrilling. For a luxury villa, I would expect a Nespresso or different coffee offering. An electric water kettle would also be a welcome addition.
Local Resources & Guest Tips
One of the biggest gaps in the experience was the lack of guest recommendations. There was no guest book or online resource with local restaurant suggestions or past guest reviews. Having a book or guide with nearby dining options, hiking trails, or activity ideas would have made exploring the area much easier. When staying at an Airbnb, we always check the app for suggestions, read the reviews, and look at the book onsite if there is one.
We found One North in downtown Mercersburg the next morning for coffee and breakfast. We loved it so much we went back the next day on our way out of town. I would also have liked to try some of the pubs downtown however, the weather provided some challenges for us, while we planned to mostly stay in, we had hoped to either go out for dinner or have some food delivered to us. There really are not food delivery options around this area, especially since the weather was quite bad. Since the drive was so steep, we did not want to risk going down the drive and having to return up a slick slope. It’s the perfect place to get snowed in, just make sure you have a good supply of food items for 2 nights while understanding there is not much refrigerator and freezer space.
Final Thoughts
Mirror Villas offers a unique and beautifully designed escape, but there are a few practical issues that could make or break your stay. If you’re looking for a place to relax in nature and don’t mind a few quirks, you’ll likely enjoy the experience.
Would I return? Maybe. I really enjoyed the stay and we had a great time however, the price of this experience was extremely expensive. I was an original backer to this project which is how I was able to book and stay just weeks after their opening. However, when signing up to support this project, the costs and requirements were not fully stated and left me very frustrated with the entire process and sometimes felt like the backers were taken advantage of. Originally this property was not available on airbnb and the requirement to book two nights in particular order was never mentioned to the original backers. I have been lucky to have stayed in some amazing, unique, and luxurious airbnb’s that were a fraction of the cost of the Villas. Just a consideration if seeking out this adventure.
