Bellevue, Iowa
WELCOME to THE EMPTY NEST
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Step back in time to the 1800's and unwind in our unique hand-hewn, square log, historic cabin lovely resurrected on our property for another generation to enjoy. We welcome you to share in the preservation of this unique structure and to experience a little glimpse of a bygone era.
Decompress & refocus your thoughts in our peaceful country setting. Slow down, take a breathe, enjoy a leisurely stroll around the ponds, try your hand at fishing in our stocked ponds, or take the row boat out for a spin or bring your water float and sunbathe.
Be there when your young son, daughter, or grandchild catches their first largemouth bass, bluegill, or catfish. Feed the rainbow trout! You won't be sitting there hoping for a bite while your child grows impatient. The stocked ponds have enough fish that it is unlikely you will be waiting too long for a fish to bite.
Want a little more of an exercise challenge Take a hike through the restored prairie grass trails filled with wildflowers and native grasses. Take note of the various wildlife you'll likely discover along the way: white-tailed deer, rabbits, possums, raccoons, coyotes, field mice, squirrels, owls, hawks, and eagles. You will also view several varieties of butterflies and colorful song birds that will be dropping into the prairie grasses and flowers that surround the cabin to feed.
Relax and grab a book, enjoy reading outside under the shade tree on the adirondack chairs overlooking the ponds. (It's also our favorite place for morning coffee.)
Take a nap in the shade on our large cotton sleeping hammocks under the cabin deck
Pick some wildflowers to fill the vase in the cabin. Photograph or request we drop off the portable easel to create a watercolor painting of the various wildflowers and butterflies (including Swallowtails and Monarchs) feeding on the wildflowers.
Play Hide' N Seek with the kids. Go for a swim (at your own risk).
Unwind at Sunset. Sit out by the fire pit. maybe make a little something to eat over the coals. S'mores are fun! Let the kids watch or capture the fireflies as they light up through the prairie grass at night.
Nothing like sitting and talking with family and friends around the fire. Pour a glass of wine, a hot cocoa, herbal tea, a bourbon and a cigar and reminisce around the fire.
The nighttime sky, those stars!!!! The moon seems more prominent here! Lay your head back and gaze at the constellations and the moon in the unobstructed view of the sky. Can you find the big and little dippers
Sweet Dreams!
Leave the windows open and let the little crickets, tree frogs and bullfrogs serenade you to sleep. They are perfectly loud and present during the warm summer months.
Rise and Shine!
Awake to the sounds of songbirds outside your window. Enjoy a sample of some of our fresh roasted upon advanced request Our favorites come from Africa and Central America and we love to share a sample with you as we usually roast a batch weekly for ourselves.
Hungry Pick and eat our seasonal vegetables and fruits on the property such as black raspberries, blackberries, peaches, apples, plums, & apricots.
Do you like chasing a little white ball across green hills The very scenic Bellevue Golf Club is just 1 mile down the road!
For boaters/Fisherman, Spruce Creek Harbor and the mighty Mississippi River is less than a 5 minute drive away. Bring your boat to launch for a relaxing river ride.
Like to jog or run Many like to go for a quick run down the road before breakfast in the morning.
We're excited to share our special little paradise with you and your family! Come stay awhile.
-Sandy & Todd
Additional FAQs are addressed in further detail below:
THE EMPTY NEST Cabin Retreat:
A few things about the cabin retreat itself:
-Our property is nestled in the valley of the scenic limestone bluffs about 5 minutes drive from our quaint little river town of Bellevue, Iowa, located on the banks of the Mississippi River at Lock and Dam 12.
-The cabin is on 20 acres of restored wildflowers and native grass prairie with 3 stocked fishing ponds in a rural setting about 3 minutes from the scenic 9-hole Bellevue Golf Club.
-On arrival:
-IF you want us to greet you:
we will be waiting for you at the cabin blacktop parking pad with a green 4 wheel Polaris to load your supplies and help you get to the cabin a short walking distance from the entrance hidden behind a grove of large trees for privacy.
-We will stay only for a few minutes to get you acclimated to the cabin and the property and to introduce you to the quaint little nuances of staying in an historic log cabin.
-You will also find two luggage wagons to use for taking things back and forth to your vehicle when you do your self-checkout on your departure day. Checkout time is 11:00 am.
We can typically have you do a self check-in/checkk-out: with this option, we can educate you on your cabin stay by either email or text prior to your arrival.
Check-in time is after 4:00 pm (can be pre-arranged for an earlier time, if available).
Check-out time is 11:00 am (can be pre-arranged for a later time, if available).
-On your short walk/ride to the cabin: you will pass two of the stocked, spring water fed ponds where you are able to swim, float, use our paddle boat or kayak or try your hand at catch and release fishing. It's a wonderful way to spend the days while here relaxing! Dogs love it too!
-Approaching the cabin: you will follow a short grassy path around a grove of trees where you'll find the cabin. You'll pass by a beautiful little shade tree that overhangs two adirondack chairs overlooking the main pond; a perfect place for reading or morning coffee!
-The cabin porch/deck: there you'll find a BIG Green Egg Smoker, a Black Stone Griddle, and a small propane grill, a large 2 bench 8 person table, a prep counter/cabinet, 2 large outdoor coolers (dry ice is suggested), 2 folding TV tray tables, a dinner bell to call the kids if they are out exploring, a few accent tables, a large wood bench and a porch swing under a covered porch.
In the evening, sit outside on the covered porch: Plug in the string lights at night for a little ambiance. You will also notice an outdoor pizza oven on the path behind the cabin leading you to the outdoor fire pit and the raised garden beds (help yourself to a few fresh vegetables!).
-Inside the cabin: (*Note, well behaved pets are welcome, but not allowed on the furniture, please.) There is a TV, internet access, a large L-shaped couch, two additional seating pieces, a small table and dining chairs, a kitchenette with a small sink for dishes and cooking/drinking water, a small L-shaped countertop and a countertop island/bar with 2 seats, a counter height mini fridge, a microwave, a small countertop oven with air fryer feature, a toaster, a crockpot, a coffee pot with filters, a coffee press, a popcorn maker, a small blender, silverware, plates, cups, coffee mugs, bowls, serving bowls, strainer, soup pot, tea kettle, cutting boards, knives, etc.
-Electric A/C and heating units are inside the cabin and a seasonally stocked wood burning fireplace for the later fall/winter months.
-The bathroom has a shower, toilet, sink, towels/wash clothes, a small first aid kit, blowdryer, broom/dust pan, a vacuum and basic shampoo/conditioner/body soap. An iron is available on request.
-2 sleeping lofts with ladder access include: beds, bed sheets, blankets, pillows. There are 2 twin beds in one loft and a double/queen in the other loft. A queen pullout bed and linens are also available on the main floor.
-Any and all activities while enjoying your scenic cabin experience are at your own risk. We strongly encourage good hiking shoes for hiking the groomed paths on the guest designated hill behind the cabin - it's great exercise due to the incline!
There is no lifeguard on the premises, pond access is at your own risk. We encourage life jackets if in or around the ponds (we supply some life jackets, but encourage you to bring your own age-appropriate ones to assure proper fit). We have a dog towel in the cabin to use; the outside hose is in back of the cabin.
-Ask about our optional catered dinners choices! (IF we are available during your stay).
We can provide a full course meal for 4 adults of either smoked pork or smoked chicken with 4-5 grilled veggies of your choice or brick oven pizzas (an interactive meal). Cost is $150. to $175. cash, price depending on your chosen options. Meals options can be increased at additional cost. Farm fresh eggs, when available at $4.00/doz.
-A list of things some guests enjoyed bringing:
Avid fishers typically like using their own pole to catch and release the bass and bluegill in our stocked ponds, but we do have a few basic adult and child fishing poles available at the cabin (bring earthworms- can find them in town at Casey's Gas Station), supplies for S'mores (we have skewers for roasting the marshmallows (yum), swimsuits, beach towels, floaties, sunscreen and bug spray or Thermacel devices for sitting outdoors are great, a small child/infant air mattress or PackNPlay for sleeping on the main level, a light jacket for sitting out by fire pit in the evening (we have firewood for you near fire pit), dry ice is great for outside large coolers for extra food supplies, flavored wood chips and lump charcoal if planning on using the Big Green Egg smoker yourself, a guitar or musical wind instrument to play around the fire at night (guitars & sax are a favorite of past guests-keep music on lower side at night, please), a camera, dog supplies (food, leash, bed, tie-out/leash.
1
We had the most relaxing stay at this beautiful property. Very Private and we had a fun time fishing. Would highly recommend if you like the outdoors and need to unwind! Sandy kept in contact, and very easy to work with.
Perfect place to unwind
There are many great things we could say about this property, but I don't belive we can fit it all in. Everything from the amenities, the property natural use, the cabin cleanliness (for it being a cabin) to the check in and check out and communication with the host - Everyting was amazing! Our children fished 6-7 hours straight on both of our days we stayed, they had everything we needed to cook for a great outdoor experience. The natural beauty of the property was breath taking and the fire pit at night was clutch for roasting marshmellows and gazing at the stars. It was one of our best cabin trips we have had with our children near to home. We will definitely be back in the future!
Great location and space for quiet getaway from the city. Owners very good with communication and details. Highly recommend!
A truly bucolic retreat! Lovely property that makes you exhale and relax from the minute you step onto it. A variety of sitting areas. Perfect for reading a book, sipping a beverage or just enjoying the views of the three lakes and rolling hills. We enjoyed fishing (6 fish caught), grilling steaks, sitting by the fire pit, playing Yahtzee, and just hanging out. Highly recommend.
Our stay was everything we could have hoped for when we booked. The property is breathtaking and well cared for. Our teenage kids loved spending most of their time in the boats on the pond. The attention to detail showed how the owners truly want your stay to be the best possible experience. We will book again!
The property is amazing. So well kept up, really beautiful. My husband loved fishing in the 3 spring fed ponds while my dog and I sat on the front porch watching him walk around the ponds catching and releasing lots of fish. Tranquil, peaceful … just what we were looking for. Sandy was a wonderful host. We’ll definitely go back!
We had a few days of heaven. The setting was exactly as described. The host responded quickly and everything was provided. We enjoyed watching our dog run free. Highly recommend!
Cabin is in the perfect location and couldn't have asked for a nicer cabin. There is so much to do on this large property. We will definitely be back!
It was exactly as advertised. Quiet, clean and peaceful. When I walked into the 200+ year old cabin, I was surprised that it smelled as clean as any hotel I've stayed in. The fishing was enjoyable. Two of us caught approximately 50 bass over 2 1/2 days. Most fish were at or under a pound but there were a few 2+ pounders. The fire pit was awesome. The hosts sent a couple of messages the 1st day to make sure we didn't have any questions or need anything. They were great hosts. I left a small bag behind by mistake and they found it and offered to ship it back to me. The location is ideal as well. You are somewhat in the middle of nowhere but 5 minutes from a grocery store, convenience store and restaurants. It was a great getaway for myself and 2 life long friends.
The views are extraordinary- from the porch, the hills, the dock, our faces in the wildflowers. We had a great time cooking- we came prepared and used the gas grill, the green egg, the pizza oven, even the toaster oven. For two writers, this was snuggly and exceptional.
We had a beautiful and relaxing stay.my children loved it and did not want to leave.the hosts of the property were very accommodating and friendly to work with.we will definitely look forward to going back!
This property has mice. I woke up every morning to clean mice feces off the countertop, sinks, dishes, and dish clothes. My child accidentally left the mini fridge open, yes you only get a mini fridge, when I noticed, I closed it. When I opened it back up to get something, a half frozen mouse slowly crawled out of the fridge to go back into hiding. You have neighbors. Yes, this is farm country, but there are surrounding houses and during our stay, one house had very loud parties two nights in a row with kids screaming all evening long. Not what i expected as far as peaceful and worry free retreat.
We had an amazing time and couldn't have asked for better hosts. Todd and his wife were amazing and I would recommend this place to everyone!!
Excellent location and setting!
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Includes taxes and fees