Cottage getaway perfect writer's retreat or a couple's haven.

Casey & Jen's place is wonderful! We stayed 3 overnights. It is about an 8-min drive to Simpson College where the Des Moines Metro Opera performs; the purpose of our trip. Although it was JULY, we used the hot tub after the sun went down. It is thee nicest hot tub we've encountered and it is huge. The stand-alone "cottage" is really nice. It is mostly a very large great room with a private bedroom & bath. The concrete floors are guest-proof, a great choice for a VRBO if you get to build it yourself. Kitchen is well-appointed with all the stuff one might need to cook meals. Jen provided pastries for us so breakfast was taken care of. A nice touch. We loved how quiet it is! The light pollution is very minimal so star-gazing was really fun. Venus was staring us right in the face this time of year. Ursa Major straight overhead. The fireflies made for ground-level star-gazing. We just don't see them in the city. We sat on the patio for short time one afternoons. However, it was a little too hot at 91 degrees so we went back inside. Jen responded immediately to messages both before and after our stay. We had no issues with the place and if we did, I know we would have gotten an immediate response. Slightly unrelated but fun none-the-less, we went to A&W in town, a bit if a rare siting these days. We went inside to have a root beer float. It was the cleanest fast food place we'd ever seen! Staff was great. And the float was delish and nostalgic. Book this place for a little R&R now!

This is our 4th year staying here. We stayed here after our wedding and every anniversary since. Ever single time, this one included, the place has been clean, beautiful and the hosts have been wonderful. The hosts are great people who run a perfect getaway spot. My wife and I highly recommend this location to anyone for any occasion looking for a nice, quiet, modern farm setting.

No local news for weather reports!

My wife (fiancee at the time of booking) and I needed a place to stay after our wedding, found this place and thought we'd give it a try. We were far from disappointed. Before even getting there, I was in contact with Jenn and Casey, and they made sure I had the information I needed prior to arrival (how to get in, amenities, etc.) Upon arrival, my wife and I were immediately taken in by how beautiful and clean everything was, they even left the lights on for us as we arrived late. They also surprised us with a very sweet and unexpected wedding present. The stay maintained that level of care and kindness as they worked with us over a minor Wifi snag, stayed in contact whenever needed and just all around did everything to make our stay enjoyable. Mornings were started with wonderful coffee they provided us and I highly encourage people to open the windows and breathe the air in the mornings while you enjoy your coffee. We walked the grounds/ walking loop at one point and found T-Rex as well as two of the cats, made for a beautiful and sweet start to the day. We didn't find Ryder that day BUT on our final day, the Mayor was brought to the Cottage for a personal visit, Frisbee and all. I honestly could go on for a long time about this place but I will simply recommend anyone considering it experience it themselves. My wife and I plan to make it an anniversary/ Iowa visit destination.