In the heart of Western Massachusetts, where rolling hills meet dense forests, MSNBC’s fiery host Rachel Maddow has carved out a sanctuary that’s as private as it is picturesque. Despite housing prices in the region skyrocketing 2.5 times over the past decade, Maddow, 51, remains steadfast in her refusal to part with the ultraprivate woodland cabin she and her longtime partner, artist Susan Mikula, 66, snapped up for a cool $605,000 back in 2013. This pre-Civil War farmhouse in Cummington, Massachusetts, isn’t just a home—it’s a love story, a retreat, and a bold statement against the chaos of modern life. As Maddow navigates the stormy waters of her career and the recent turmoil at MSNBC, this idyllic hideaway has become her unyielding anchor.
A Rustic Romance Rooted in History
The story of Maddow and Mikula’s Cummington retreat begins in 1999, when the couple first met. Mikula, a talented photographer with a penchant for vintage cameras, hired Maddow to tend to the yard of her newly purchased 1865 farmhouse. Sparks flew faster than a New England autumn breeze, and what started as a practical arrangement blossomed into a romance that’s now spanned over two decades. By 2013, the couple decided to make the property their own, purchasing the six-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom estate that sprawls across 3,966 square feet on an 11.86-acre plot of lush, verdant land.
The farmhouse itself is a slice of Americana, with its wood-paneled walls, multiple cozy fireplaces, and original hardwood floors that creak with the weight of history. Built in the 1800s, it’s a testament to a simpler time, its symmetrical design and preserved architecture a nod to its pre-Civil War roots. Surrounded by towering trees and rolling greenery, the property offers a stark contrast to the frenetic energy of New York City, where Maddow spends much of her time anchoring The Rachel Maddow Show. For Maddow, this retreat is more than a second home—it’s a haven where she can escape the spotlight and recharge.
The Bathhouse: A Quirky Oasis
Perhaps the most intriguing feature of the Cummington property is its bespoke bathhouse, a standalone structure that Maddow and Mikula commissioned to preserve the farmhouse’s historical integrity while adding modern comforts. Designed by architect Nicole Migeon, the bathhouse is no ordinary outhouse. Modeled after the tobacco-drying barns once common in the region, it’s crafted from sustainably grown cedar and features vertical wood slats that allow soft, diffused light to filter through. Inside, a sunken hot tub takes center stage, complemented by a chandelier from Lindsey Adelman, a fireplace, and a cozy seating nook.
But the real pièce de résistance? A television—something conspicuously absent from the main house. “We don’t have a TV in the main house, but I can seal myself in the bathhouse and watch football really loudly without bothering anybody,” Maddow revealed in a 2014 New York Magazine interview. “It’s very satisfying.” For a couple who shuns screens in their primary living space, this TV-equipped bathhouse is Maddow’s guilty pleasure, a place where she can indulge in her love for sports without disturbing the tranquil vibe of their retreat.
The bathhouse was born out of necessity. The farmhouse’s original bathroom required navigating a steep, almost ladder-like staircase—a “vertical challenge,” as Maddow put it. Unwilling to alter the home’s historic structure, the couple opted for a separate building that blends seamlessly with the landscape. The result is a space that’s both functional and luxurious, a “retreat within a retreat” that embodies their commitment to preserving the past while embracing the present.
Defying the Housing Market Boom
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