$256.31
/ Nightly
Private Vacation Home
Our 80-Acre Farm, Lake, Nature Trail, Bonfires, Starry Nights 2 Miles Grafton
Grafton, Illinois, United States
Most places you rent for a weekend.brThis one has been loved by a family for over 80 years.brbrWelcome to our 80-acre family farm just outside Grafton, where mornings start with coffee on the porch, afternoons might mean fishing the spring-fed lake or hiking our half-mile nature trail, and evenings end around a bonfire under a sky full of stars. Since 2004, we’ve been opening our family farm to guests, and because this place means so much to our family, we try to make every guest feel the same thing when they arrive…Like they’re home.brbrIf you’re craving peaceful mornings, wide-open skies, and a place where life slows down for a while, you just might fall in love with the Homestead.brbrBring the kids. Bring the dog. Bring the people you love most.brThe whole farm is yours to enjoy.brbrOur cozy 2-bedroom farmhouse guesthouse sits on 80 private acres of our family farm, complete with a spring-fed one-acre fishing lake, a ½-mile nature trail for hiking, and plenty of room to roam.brbrAnd when you’re ready for a little river town fun, downtown Grafton is just two miles away with wineries, restaurants, shops, and live music.brbrThe Homestead HangoutbrbrSometimes the best memories happen when you’re doing absolutely nothing.brbrOur Homestead Hangout is the perfect place to kick back with ping pong, foosball, and a comfortable couch that’s made for long conversations or afternoon naps.brbrWe also keep a little guest library. Forgot your book Borrow one. Didn’t finish it Take it home. Around here, we believe good stories should travel.brbrLittle Things to DiscoverbrbrThe Homestead has a few special places guests love to explore.brbrWalk out to Hedge Apple Point and snap a photo with “The Three Sisters.”brbrAt night, grab a flashlight and head to Starry Nights, where the sky opens up in a way city lights never allow.brbrBefore turning in, write a wish on a bead and hang it on the Wishing Tree. You never know.brbrAround the HomesteadbrGuests enjoy:br• ½-mile nature trail for hikingbr• Spring-fed fishing lakebr• Dock & pedal boatbr• Bonfire pitbr• BBQ grillbr• Ping pong & foosballbr• Huge covered porchbr• Fully equipped kitchenbr• Complimentary snacksbr• Smart TVbr• Free fiber Wi-Fibr• DVD player with 100+ moviesbrbrGatherings, Celebrations & Good TimesbrbrStandard nightly rates include up to 12 guests.brLarger groups or events can absolutely be accommodated — just reach out and we’ll help plan your stay.brbrA Little Bit of HistorybrbrIn 1943, my parents purchased this 80-acre farm, farmhouse, and barn for $2,800. The current home was built in 1944 on the site of the original homestead. The white barn—still standing—is over 100 years old.brbrBecause World War II limited building materials, the home was constructed entirely from reclaimed lumber purchased in Brighton, Illinois. There was no basement originally—my dad dug one by hand using a scoop pulled by mules, and my grandpa hand-hewed a massive white oak beam from the farm. That beam still supports the house today.br At first, there was no electricity, no gas, and no running water. We lived by kerosene lamps, cooked on a wood stove, and used rainwater collected in a cistern (still visible behind the house). brbrIn 1964, a living room addition was added, requiring the hand-poured concrete steps to be moved—using my dad’s old John Deere tractor. Those steps still sit nearby.brbrIn 2003, with help from my family, the Homestead Retreat became one of the first guesthouses in Grafton. A new porch, a sunroom conversion, fresh paint, and a few pillows later—we were ready. Mostly, it’s just as Mom and Dad left it…only now with running water and indoor plumbing! brbrTurning my childhood home into the Grafton Homestead Retreat has been—and continues to be—a true labor of love.brbrWelcome Home,brShirley & PatriciabrFamily Owners & Hosts