The dacha is located at the heart of a densely wooded birch forest; its defenses included a double-perimeter fence, camouflaged 30-millimeter antiaircraft guns, and a security force of three hundred NKVD (after 1946, MGB) special troops.

[4] The grounds included a small pond, apple and lemon trees, a rose garden and a watermelon patch which Stalin liked to cultivate.

On the right-hand side, the long narrow corridor led initially to two bedrooms (mostly used for accommodating occasional guests) and eventually to a large open veranda.

Stalin spent much time on this veranda; even during very cold winter weather, he would often sit in a chair, wearing a warm sheepskin coat and a fur hat.

Stalin's daughter Svetlana reported that a copy of the famous painting Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks was hung somewhere on the ground floor of the dacha but was not clear on the precise location.

However, the dacha is still preserved in good condition, along with all of Stalin's personal belongings, including his study with the war-time desk and the sofa where he slept.