This rustic Finger Lakes cabin and taxidermy factory on 90 acres could be yours for just $1M

June 20, 2018

Located near the remote Ithaca-area village of Van Etten, NY, is a genuine, authentic, real live (or, mostly not) taxidermy factory for sale, asking $1.05 million. You don’t see a listing for a stuffed fauna foundry every day, but this one, it turns out, is enough to cover all the days. The 90-acre parcel in the heart of the state’s Finger Lakes region includes a 2,927-square-foot classic log-and-stone three-home with hillside views. Also on the property are a tiny cottage overlooking a two-acre pond, 20 acres of fenced pastures, 70 acres of hardwood forest, an orchard, a fenced garden, a pole barn with tack room and an outdoor arena, a garage, and a woodshed–plus a workshop and office (more about those later).

Sharing the rustic woodland cabin with its current owners (and no word about whether they’ll continue to share the space post-sale) are dozens and dozens and dozens of woodland creatures. All shapes, all sizes, all walks of (non-human, though we have no proof of this) life, all deceased and stuffed.

But we’re seriously outnumbered here.

The home itself is quaint and perfectly integrated with its surroundings, equally lovely by day and night.

There’s a cozy kitchen, rustic bedrooms, and what appears to be at least one critter-free bath (there are three bathrooms according to the listing).

This sun porch looks like a great spot for sunset-watching.

The land is vast, verdant and filled with live woodland creatures who we presume pay some kind of mafia-style protection fee in turn for keeping their hides.

There’s a “kids playhouse/fishing camp” by a pond.

The listing tells us that “Single owner pride of ownership is evident throughout the entire property.” We’re not sure what that means, but we could hardly disagree.

According to the listing, the somewhat spooky spread is known as “Oe-Hambla, which means good dreams of the spirit world in Lakota Sioux–a dream land where elders could for see the future and look forward to the journey;” and there are many, many riders on that bus when it stops here.

The business end of this exanimate atelier happens, we’re guessing, in this air-conditioned workshop and office. According to records, the business in residence here is called Visions Unlimited Wildlife Studio. The business owner is one Bob Evans. We’re not going anywhere near that.