Murphys Retreat
Elevated River Retreat | Sleeps 12, Fireplace & Valley Views
Murphys Retreat is a spacious lodge style home perched on a scenic bend of the Meramec River on our century family farm. With elevated views overlooking the river and valley below, this home offers a peaceful setting where guests can relax, unwind, and enjoy the natural beauty of the Ozarks.
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✨ Home Highlights at a Glance
• Sleeps up to 12 guests comfortably
• Elevated setting with views up the Meramec River and valley below
• Located on a century family farm with the possibility of seeing cattle nearby
• Large wood-burning fireplace as the centerpiece of the living space
• Spacious layout designed for families and groups
• Comfortable living area for gathering and relaxing
• Fully equipped kitchen for group meals and entertaining
• Outdoor space where you can relax and hear the river running below
• Firepit area for evenings under the stars
Murphys Retreat is ideal for guests looking for a true Ozark river setting, combining elevated views, peaceful surroundings, and a comfortable group-friendly layout.
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River Access, Floating & Outdoor Experiences
As a guest of Murphys Retreat, you’ll enjoy access to multiple Meramec River areas managed by 4J Vacation Rentals, offering flexibility for relaxing, floating, and exploring.
✔ Included River Access
• Riverside Pavilion – Covered pavilion with deck overlooking the river, bar area, fireplace, refrigerator, sink with running water, swimming access, shade, and cornhole boards
• Bluffside River Take-Out – Scenic swimming area that also serves as the designated floating take-out point
✨ Optional River Access
• 4J Gravel Bar (Optional) – Optional access to a 13-acre private river property with ½ mile of Meramec River frontage, ideal for relaxing, swimming, kids playing, and short tubing loops throughout the day
Access to the 4J Gravel Bar is available for a per person fee and is not included with the nightly cabin rate.
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Floating & Golf Cart Rentals
Floating and tubing options are available through 4J Vacation Rentals (visit our website and click the Floating tab for routes and current rates). Optional golf cart rentals are also available to make getting around easy and fun.
Please note: Gravel bar access and rentals such as floating equipment and golf carts are optional amenities offered separately and are not included in the nightly cabin rate.
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Farm-to-Table Dining from Our Family Farm
As part of your stay, guests have the option to order farm-raised meats from our family-owned 4J Cattle Farm, including Wagyu and Angus beef and pasture-raised chicken, delivered directly to the cabin.
Many groups enjoy grilling steaks or preparing farm-fresh meals during their stay.
Property Details
Sleeping Arrangements
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed, 2 Single Beds
Bedroom 2
1 Queen Bed, 1 Sofa Bed
Bedroom 3
1 Double Bed
Bedroom 4
1 Double Bed
Amenities
Accommodations
- Massage - Other Services
Attractions
- Museums
- Parks
- Winery Tours
Cleaning Protocols
- All towels and bedding washed in hot water that’s at least 60ºC/140ºF
- Contactless check-in and checkout is available
- Disinfectant is used when cleaning the property
- Enhanced cleaning practices are used
- High-touch surfaces cleaned with disinfectant (like countertops, light switches, handles, and faucets)
Entertainment
- Books
- Games
- Outdoor Play Area
- Television
Features
- Air Conditioning
- Central Heat
- Clothes Dryer
- Fireplace
- Hair Dryer
- Heating
- Internet - Hi Speed
- Internet - Wifi
- Iron and Board
- Linens Provided
- Living Room
- Parking
- Towels Provided
- Washing Machine
Flexcation
- Free wifi
- Kitchen Island
- Smart TV
- Wifi Speed (100+ Mbps)
- Wifi Speed (50+ Mbps)
Kitchen
- Coffee Maker
- Cookware
- Dining Area
- Dining Room
- Dining Spices
- Dining Table
- Dishes & Utensils
- Dishwasher
- Ice Maker
- Kitchen
- Microwave
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- Toaster
Leisure
- Antiquing
- Bird Watching
- Boating
- Horseback Riding
- Shopping
- Water Sports
- Wildlife Viewing
Local
- Laundromat
Location
- Rural
- Water View
Outdoor
- Balcony
- Canoe
- Charcoal Grill
- Deck/Patio
- Fire Pit
Safety
- Carbon Monoxide Detector
- Deadbolt Lock
- Fire Emergency Contact
- Fire Extinguisher
- First Aid Kit
- Medical Emergency Contact
- Outdoor Lighting
- Police Emergency Contact
- Smoke Detector
Sports
- Biking
- Equestrian Events
- Fishing
- Fishing Fly
- Fishing Freshwater
- Golfing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Mountain Biking
- Rafting
- Swimming
- Water Tubing
Themes
- Family
- Luxury
- Romantic
Availability
Policies
Cancellation Policy
Please understand that we are a small property, and cancellations effect us greatly. This is an exclusive property where every guest reservation is both important and special to us. If your travel plans change and you must cancel your reservation, please call us at least 30 days prior to your arrival date to cancel your reservation to receive a full refund minus a 10% processing fee.
In the unlikely event that you must cancel with less than 30 days notice, shorten your stay or check out early, please understand that we must ask you to take responsibility for your entire reservation. If we can rebook your room(s), a full (minus 10%) or partial refund will be made.
Deposit Policy
If your reservation is made earlier than 30 days prior to your arrival, 50% of your total payment is required to hold your reservation. The remaining balance will be charged to your credit card or checking account 30 days prior to your reservation. You should receive a courtesy reminder email 5 days before the final payment is taken.
If your reservation is made within 30 days of arrival, full payment is required.
Guest Reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Based on 20 reviews
Review data
Recent reviews
We had a wonderful time gathering with our far flung children for the holiday in this remote spot. The kitchen had everything we needed for a traditional feast. The views are spectacular!
House was amazing! Beautiful views!! Jessica was very nice and responding to any communication quickly. We got to meet her and her husband and they were both friendly and awesome! Definitely recommend and will hopefully be back soon!
There was a ton of room for guests to sleep (there were 12 of us). The kitchen was spacious and had everything we needed and the river was short walk down the trail.
Perfect place to unwind and relax
Our stay was amazing! Breathtaking views!
Great place to stay!!!
We really enjoyed our stay and it worked out really well with our two toddlers. The kitchen was really well equipped and everything seemed really clean. We only slept in the master bedroom and the basement bed but both were really comfortable. The bathtub was so fun for our toddlers to bathe in and we used it everyday. The only issue we had was that the listing makes it sound like the pavilion is was for our private use, when in fact there are a handful of other cabins nearby that also have access to the pavilion. That being said the pavilion was awesome! It had a refrigerator multiple grills, a Johnny on the spot (that wasn’t awful) and plenty of seating. The gravel road to get down to the pavilion was pretty steep and hard to get up in a minivan but we made it just fine once we got the hang of it. If you have four wheel drive it would be no problem. The spring that is just down the river a bit is so beautiful and was so fun to explore! We did have a few questions for the owner who was super helpful and very polite. We look forward to staying at this cabin again and possibly trying out some other cabins at Murphy’s place.
We stayed here for a weekend float trip on the Bass River. Location was close to both Cuba and Steeleville, MO making it convenient for groceries or anything else you may need from town. Also only a 20 minute drive to the resort for our float. Jessica was always quick to respond and helpful
This is a beautiful home and the views are amazing. Everything was nice and neat.
Great experience! Enjoyed the house, making fires, drinking coffee & soaking up the view, hanging out at the pavilion, hiking, playing corn hole and cards, and baking pizzas in the pizza oven. We also enjoyed a trip into Steelville. Walked around visiting the stores. Enjoyed a burger and ice cream at the Dairy Isle.
Had a great time, place was clean and welcoming, definitely recommend a stay here!!!
Great location yet away from everything!
Upon entering, the air smelled nice and clean. However, there were a few problems with cleanliness. The floors were quite dirty, the fireplace doors black, there was a spoon in the disposal and it smelled bad, and some of the kitchen items were greasy or soiled. Screens on porch have several holes allowing unwanted animals to enter. On the plus side, bedding was clean and there were plenty of clean towels. The furniture is well worn but comfortable. I've rented many apartments, condos and houses in this country as well as in Europe. In my opinion, this house, though very remote with a great view, is not a good value for the money.
Very clean, beautiful view of the river, large screened in porch. We were a group of women that met at Peaceful Bend Winery (right across the street from the property) for a nice lunch and wine prior to check in at our cabin. The cabin had plenty of sleeping space and everything we needed. We spent most of our time on the screened in porch looking at the river below. It is a little hike to get down to the river if you don't have a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Or you can drive a couple of miles to Bird's Nest Landing for river access. We had a great weekend.
Crystal responded quickly. Place was great! Already planning a trip back next year!
Everything was as advertised and the screened-in porch overlooking the river and woods was definitely the highlight of the trip! So relaxing for us, and the perfect place for the dogs to hang out too. Had a couple of issues but Crystal addressed them to our satisfaction. Would definitely return and have already recommended it to others.
This place has a great view and is right on the Meramec River, we went to several vineyard and Missouri Springs. A good place to get away and see the natural beauty of Missouri.
It was a great property. Even though the weather was cold the wood burning fireplace made for great comfort. Very clean and had everything we needed for family fun. Thanks for everything.
Your property far exceeded our expectations. We hiked, ate good meals, talked and laughed and gave thanks for the opportunity to spend time together in a wonderful atmosphere. Thanks, The Darrow Family
Very nice property and wonderful views. Overall the property was clean and comfortable. Kitchen had everything you need. Wish we had brought more meals to eat in. The only negatives is some of the furniture is older and worn and bathrooms are a bit dated. The cabin is very roomy and comfortable. We would definitely stay here again. We enjoyed having a nice dinner out at Sybill’s in St.James. Avoid eating at Hick BBQ in Steelville it was not good.
