Butler House On Grand
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About
4.5
#1 of 2 B&Bs in Des MoinesLocation
4.7
Cleanliness
4.7
Service
4.7
Value
4.5
We are the oldest B&B in Des Moines. We have been featured in the New York Times, Des Moines Register and many other publications. We enjoy making your stay in Des Moines memorable. Please come and stay!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Non-smoking hotel
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Hidden Gem
Location
4507 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312-2401
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 43 out of 100
43
Des Moines Airport
3.7 mi•
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Rental Cars
12 Restaurants
within 0.75 miles
72Reviews1Q+A13Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
A delightful stay at Butler House on Grand. Comfortable, welcoming, and beautiful. Each had their own en suite bathroom. We stayed in the large upstairs room. There was a small card table with chairs, a comfy sofa and comfy bed. The kitchen and kitchenettes on each floor were well stocked with everything needed. I loved getting to make our own breakfast. On-line reservations were easy to make, and communication was excellent. We were welcomed at the door and even received help with our luggage.
This would be a perfect place for an upscale family or college reunion. Better yet, a family Christmas week.
Easy to find. Simple off-street parking. Easy access to the city.
This would be a perfect place for an upscale family or college reunion. Better yet, a family Christmas week.
Easy to find. Simple off-street parking. Easy access to the city.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
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Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A wonderfully comfortable home away from home, we’ve rented the entire house and sometimes just a few rooms to gather family in Des Moines. Each bedroom has its own bathroom, plus 1/2 baths on the main floor and downstairs in the game room, plenty of space for people to spread out or gather together. The Moore’s do an excellent job managing this special place, and provide everything we need, including a refrigerator and kitchen stocked for breakfasts and lots of snacks. Convenient location, too!
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sachin Kumar, Owner at Butler House On Grand
Responded Jun 19, 2024
Thanksyou for your stay and response.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Butler House was the perfect place for our family to gather and stay for our daughter's wedding nearby at the Salisbury House. We could not have had a better experience. The hosts provided so many special touches to accommodate their guests and gave us a wonderful welcoming and overview of the home. The kitchen was fully stocked with breakfast items, a variety of beverages and snacks. They also had a few special items to help us celebrate. All of the rooms were beautifully decorated and stocked with plenty of linens and personal care items. We wish we could have spent more time there to enjoy the house, our stay was definitely too short.
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I can't express how wonderful our stay was at the Butler House on Grand. Folks this is so much better than going to a hotel. First of all the house itself is amazing with all it's detail. It's profound the amount of detail they put into houses back in the day that is missing today. I loved the decoration which was a mix of antique as well as local shops. It is in an easy to find location, with plenty of parking that is very close to your nearest entrance. We stayed in The Polk Room which had every convenience you might want. A luxurious king sized bed with the softest of linens afforded us a wonderful restful sleep. The spa/tub is one of those sort of things that you think...I want one of these at home too! We had a blast down in the basement playing in the game room. Sheryl and Jeremiah were wonderful hosts as well. They took every opportunity to make us feel welcome and comfortable during our two day stay. Ditch the hotels folks and enjoy the grandeur of Butler House on Grand!!!
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Date of stay: April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was our first visit to Des Moines, Iowa (Oct. 2004) and we had booked a four night stay at Butler House on Grand. Clark and Lauren were extremely nice via e-mail, telephone and in person. When we arrived we were taken to our room. We were very surprised when we saw the windows coated in ladybugs/lady beetles. They seem to have taken over Des Moines in the past few years due to some hybrid the government has brought in to help with the soy crops. We began to notice that the bugs were crawling all over the walls and ceiling also. I asked Clark about the situation and he told me they had a problem with that room (Greenwood) and that they had vacuumed the bugs out earlier and they would do so again that evening. He also stated that the bugs were "harmless". First of all I know different because my father-in-law has been telling me for the past three years how they bite him when he does yard work. Second, regardless of whether they bite, would you like bugs crawling in your ears, nose, and mouth while you sleep. Third, it's way too much money for a room invested with bugs. We did check out immediately and after all was said and done we received a full refund. I highly recommend that you ask about the bugs BEFORE you arrive, so that you are not caught off guard like we were. Let me highly recommend the Radission Des Moines Airport hotel. They were extremely friendly, the rooms were clean and quiet, and the food was good.
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Date of stay: October 2004
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Responded May 2, 2005
We are saddened to see that this response and rating about our property in which we take great pride. For the past two years we do get lady bugs that congregate on the south OUTSIDE of the house for about two weeks early fall. There is absolutely nothing we can do about it. We have called an exterminator in the past and there is nothing that they can do to get rid of Asian lady bugs. Some of the lady bugs do make it into the house. Not as many as the reviwer described. This is unavoidable in a house built in 1923. The reviewer did not spend ten minutes in our house. She saw the lady bugs on the outside of the window and I could tell she was very distressed by seeing them. I encouraged her to stay someplace else. They were supposed to stay four nights. We did not charge her anything, even though our policy clearly states we have the right to. We enjoy our guests and meeting their needs. I hope other readers will ignore the above review and give us a try.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I can't imagine why everyone else enjoyed this so much. We felt the proprieter was strangely rude from the first moments we arrived. Even our kids' eyes got wide watching the bizarrely cold manner of the hostess. This place typefies what a lot of people make fun of about B&Bs: scolding hostess and awkward tension in the air. The accommodations are fine, but we were scared to ask for anything - like enough silverware at breakfast. We are still laughing about it.
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Date of stay: May 2011Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ButlerHouse, Owner at Butler House On Grand
Responded Jul 22, 2011
We are sorry this guest felt uncomfortable. That is never our goal. In fact, it is the exact opposite. However, if we are worried about the safety of our guests we will ask them to stop doing something as was the case here. We enjoy all of our guests, no matter the age. We have learned from this guest interaction and will handle this situation differently in the future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed at Butler House a couple years ago, and enjoyed it immensely. Beautiful home, beautifully decorated, with wonderful service and hospitality. You would pay double the money for the same quality here in the Northeast.
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Date of stay: January 2005Trip type: Traveled on business
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hosts didn't allow my wife in (just to use the bathroom after 6 hours in the car) until the exact check in time which was 45 minutes later. I think they must of been having a bad weekend because they seemed disinterested in running a b&b. We are extremely low maintenance and felt like we were imposing every time we entered or left the house.
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Date of stay: September 2009Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from ButlerHouse, Owner at Butler House On Grand
Responded Dec 14, 2009
We are very sorry this guest had a bad experience. We do have a check-in time but we normally let guests check-in early if the room is ready. If a guest asks to use a restroom we have always let them use our restroom that is just inside our entrance. We honestly don't remember ever turning anyone away that needed to use a restroom! We also encourage anyone reading this to please talk to an owner first about your concerns. We have been open over ten years and know we can always do better. But we do best when guests give us feedback. Obviously we do something right since many of our guests come back to visit again and again. We have asked this reveiwer to tell us exactly what we could do better. We hope they will respond. We feel there is no better place to stay, but we may be a little biased too! We hope you will give us a try. Our guests are never an imposition and we try not to treat them as such! Clark Smith and Lauren Kernan Smith, Owners
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We just came back from a five day stay at the Butler House in Des Moines and can't say enough nice things about it. This is just a gem of a B&B. The rooms are beautiful, the breakfast was great, the location is fabulous, literally minutes from everything. Clark and Lauren were warm, thoughtful hosts who take pride in what they do and provide the small amenities that really distinguish a good experience from a great one. We really couldn't have asked for anything more and will definitely stay there again and recommend it without hesitation.
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Date of stay: June 2005
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From all the reviews, both online and through people I know, this place seemed wonderful. However, it recently became an AirBnB only and while the place was neat, the overall experience was disappointing.
This place is definitely still in transition from being a B and B proper to an AirBnB and as such, it's a bit awkward to stay in. I believe they may only be renting out the full house now, but during my stay, it was room-by-room. The rooms themselves are quirky, but charming, though they could definitely use a bit of refreshing, especially in the bathrooms which seemed a bit dingy.
Despite being an AirBnB now, the rooms were serviced every day. By that, I mean that they bed was made. It seemed like the towels were also being changed daily, but there were definitely a couple days where it seems that they had just refolded my used washcloth and towel instead of replacing them. There were cups in the room, and sometimes they would be taken out of the room if they were dirty, but not cleaned and returned. There was no do not disturb sign and I would have liked that as an option, especially since it didn't seem that the cleaning was extensive and there was no place in the room to lock any sensitive belongings.
They advertise use of the kitchens, but then it seemed like there were actually limits on what in the kitchen could be used (i.e. "Don't use any mugs in that cabinet."). One morning, the owner was cooking breakfast for other guests (he does not live onsite and as it is no longer a regular B and B, this was not a service that was provided anymore), and it was offered only as an afterthought to the other guests.
Also, to enter or exit the building, you can only use the backdoor for some reason, and the lock is keyed on both side, which seems like it would be a safety issue if there was a fire.
Overall, it was a very weird experience and not in a good way. I would not recommend staying in this place unless you are renting the entire place out, which is advertised on AirBnB for $1000 (the place is huge, but that still seems excessively high to me given that it's in Des Moines). The location is convenient to the Art Center, Ashworth Pool, and the parks those two facilities are located in, but not really walking-convenient to anything else. It's a shame that when the owner decided he could not operate it anymore that he sell it as a B and B, or at least find someone to manage it onsite, to continue operating that way because it seems like it would have been lovely.
This place is definitely still in transition from being a B and B proper to an AirBnB and as such, it's a bit awkward to stay in. I believe they may only be renting out the full house now, but during my stay, it was room-by-room. The rooms themselves are quirky, but charming, though they could definitely use a bit of refreshing, especially in the bathrooms which seemed a bit dingy.
Despite being an AirBnB now, the rooms were serviced every day. By that, I mean that they bed was made. It seemed like the towels were also being changed daily, but there were definitely a couple days where it seems that they had just refolded my used washcloth and towel instead of replacing them. There were cups in the room, and sometimes they would be taken out of the room if they were dirty, but not cleaned and returned. There was no do not disturb sign and I would have liked that as an option, especially since it didn't seem that the cleaning was extensive and there was no place in the room to lock any sensitive belongings.
They advertise use of the kitchens, but then it seemed like there were actually limits on what in the kitchen could be used (i.e. "Don't use any mugs in that cabinet."). One morning, the owner was cooking breakfast for other guests (he does not live onsite and as it is no longer a regular B and B, this was not a service that was provided anymore), and it was offered only as an afterthought to the other guests.
Also, to enter or exit the building, you can only use the backdoor for some reason, and the lock is keyed on both side, which seems like it would be a safety issue if there was a fire.
Overall, it was a very weird experience and not in a good way. I would not recommend staying in this place unless you are renting the entire place out, which is advertised on AirBnB for $1000 (the place is huge, but that still seems excessively high to me given that it's in Des Moines). The location is convenient to the Art Center, Ashworth Pool, and the parks those two facilities are located in, but not really walking-convenient to anything else. It's a shame that when the owner decided he could not operate it anymore that he sell it as a B and B, or at least find someone to manage it onsite, to continue operating that way because it seems like it would have been lovely.
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Date of stay: June 2018Trip type: Traveled solo
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your inquiry. For the first weekend of the Iowa State Fair, we still have five guest rooms available, ranging from $135/night plus taxes, upward. In order to hold reservations we do need credit card info., and you can call us with that, or any additional questions, at your convenience.
"Cook's Quarters is budget-friendly, but bathroom is quite small. Otherwise, was perfect for our needs."Read full review
LOCATION
United StatesIowaDes Moines
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Butler House On Grand
Which popular attractions are close to Butler House On Grand?
Nearby attractions include Des Moines Art Center (0.1 miles), Salisbury House & Gardens (0.5 miles), and Brown's Woods (0.6 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Butler House On Grand?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at Butler House On Grand?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Butler House On Grand?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Butler House On Grand?
Conveniently located restaurants include La Mie Bakery, The Cheese Shop, and Manhattan Deli.
Are there any historical sites close to Butler House On Grand?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Valley Junction (1.8 miles), Salisbury House & Gardens (0.5 miles), and Terrace Hill (1.6 miles).