A unique property in the country. Sleep in an 1850 log cabin and bathe in the steel tub (the most comfortable bath you'll ever have.) A wedding destination with banquet facilities, rooms for guests, and a wedding chapel. Tour the one room school house, or just enjoy the quiet. A great place for family gatherings, reunions, graduation parties, bachelorette parties, business meetings, retreats, or a weekend getaway. Only 45 minutes from Omaha, Elkhorn with has a Danish Windmill, or Madison Country Bridges. Ask for the map to take a wine tour. Other meals available by reservation only.
We stayed in the log cabin on New Year's eve. The owners had the fire place lit, dinner for us as ordered, and a healthy breakfast. They even found a Yahtzee game for us. We had good conversation, a few laughs, a little competition, and a relaxing time in our room. The log cabin is attached to the house (actually built within the house and right off the kitchen), has no television or phone but it does have its own bathroom with a very large galvanized tub. It is rustic - squeaky bare board floor, exposed logs with chinking, iron bed, a couple rocking chairs and a table for 4. Nothing fancy - but back in 1862, nothing was.
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Date of stay: December 2012
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
Stayed here because we wanted to go to the Walnut Antique Show. Much cheaper than any other accommodations you could find within 50 miles of Walnut, Iowa on Father's Day weekend. The owners, Rob and Kim are the very best people you would ever expect to find at a B&B. Our room was very comfortable, the owners fun to talk to and they will do almost anything to make sure you are happy there. I would give this place an "excellent" if it wasn't for these negatives: The place needs some TLC and cleaning up. The outdoor patio is nice, but is showing decay and weeds are abundant. The guest house where we stayed is attached to their large shed, from the outside not pretty, but the inside is furnished nicely, and the kitchen for everyone to use is huge. The guest house/shed is sided and roofed with metal, so was noisy and rattlely during our stay on a windy and rainy weekend. Had some trouble sleeping with all the noise. The main house is also the owners' living quarters, and there is no separation/distinction between guest areas and their kitchen/living/dining areas. Lastly, when we arrived, there was no sign denoting where to go to check in. We knocked on the main house front door, no answer. I called their phone number and got voice mail. After standing around for over 20 minutes, the owners' daughter drove up and let us in. The breakfasts are spare but tasty and good coffee. I would recommend staying here just for the awesome friendliness alone.
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Date of stay: June 2014
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Guest house rooms #3 or #4
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This July will be the 4th year that my husband, our dog, and I return to Big Grove. Rob and Kim are extremely accommodating. The food is off the charts good. No, that is an understatement. I can't even describe it. They are WONDERFUL cooks! I love breakfast there! The rooms are fair-priced and well-maintained. I love the shared kitchen. We bring a cooler of food for lunches and dinners. We also bring smores to cook over the fire! Rob and Kim give you space but are always willing to help if you need them. Our time there is always relaxing. Their piece of land is a little bit of heaven. It is quiet, serene, and far enough away from the city. I hope we continue our yearly endeavor there for years to come.
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Date of stay: July 2016
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
Pay no attention to the jerks leaving petty negative comments; this B&B is nothing but great! Excellent accommodations (hidden in a machine shed, what?), generous hosts, excellent food, quiet country surroundings, activities like archery, a vintage country chapel, gorgeous scenery. Did I forget anything? Oh yes, the innkeeper is a bona-fide pastor! Hmmm, maybe that's the problem the negative jerks have?!? If I could rate 10 stars, I would!! Returning this year, can't wait.
David H. Wantland
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Date of stay: June 2014Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
We have traveled quite a bit, and stayed at several bed and breakfasts. This was by far the most disappointing. We reserved a room with 2 beds, verified by email. When we arrived they were unsure that we had a reservation. They put us in a room attached to their garage, with one bed and a futon. The grounds needed upkeeping, and the kitchen a major cleaning. A quiet bed and a breakfast, but that was it.
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Date of stay: June 2014
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
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.
If you are looking for a country retreat then this is the place for you. We found the innkeepers very nice and more than willing to do anything to make our stay enjoyable. The rooms are quaint and clean and the food is awesome. Sitting out on the patio with a fire was a great way to relax. We enjoyed the local wineries and local country towns for shopping.
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Date of stay: July 2012
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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.
Several good wineries and antique shopping within 50 mile radius. Really liked the School house winery.
B & B is Located in remote, farm land. Cute; very rustic Log cabin, however was not a cabin, or even separate bulding as the photo indicates, it was a room, attached/door to the main house kitchen, has several broken floor boards, toliet broken and water leaking on floor, gavenized type metal tub, broken window, no locks. No WiFii or cell phone access. Pleasant inn keepers. Cute visiting kitty.
Whirlpool Suite was in a Pole barn, with other bedrooms, not a part of house or in another house on property. Has cement uncoverd floors. Did not use whirlpool tub, appeared to need a good cleaning. No locks. No internet/WiFii or cell phone access. TV in room, but no tv access/reception to local or cable channels . Bring DVD.
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Date of stay: June 2012Trip type: Traveled with friends
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 Kim B, Owner at Big Grove Village
Responded Sep 13, 2012
We would like to thank you for leaving a review on Trip Advisor. We are very sorry that our place was not all that you expected. The log cabin was built in 1850 and moved to this location in 1880, making it 162 years old. We always make our guests aware of the antique rustic nature of the old log cabin and its antique bathroom. It is the main structure the house was built around; therefore it is attached to the rest of the house. Many of our lady guests say they are coming back just to use the antique galvanized steel tub like you would see in an old Western movie (there is no shower). It is a long tub and coveted by many; the taller ladies say they can stretch their legs and shorter ladies say they enjoy the swim. It also stays warmer than a normal tub due to the galvanized steel. The toilet is an old water closet with gravity flow, parts are difficult to acquire and require special attention when something goes wrong. We have never claimed to have whirlpool suites. We have whirlpool tubs in two rooms in the lodge. The lodge is attached to a garage and has stained concrete floors to make it easier to clean up after hunters when they return from their hunting trips. Most guests love the stained floors. This is the first time we have been made aware of anyone being unhappy with it. We do have broadband internet connection in the main house with easy access to use our computer or plug in your own which we have available at all times. Our cell phones work well here as do some cell phone providers, unfortunately, we cannot control which companies provide coverage. All of the rooms in the lodge have local channels on the televisions. Sometimes our guests have difficulty navigating the two remotes. We live on site, and would have been willing to address any problems you may have encountered if we had been made aware of them. We will be certain to explain these things more clearly in the future and apologizing for not explaining them better to you.
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It was pure hell. The so called log cabin is attached to the main house kitchen. The door does not lock. The floorboards are rotted through. The toilet runs and leaks. The window is broken. Every window cell and corner is covered in dead bugs. The Jacuzzi suites??? well first off they are located in a separate pole barn, Yes, pole barn. The Jacuzzi was so full of rust and dead bugs I felt I need a tetanus shot. The kitchen area was open to the rest of the house. The food sat on counters all night, along with dirty dishes. The whole experience was a total nightmare...
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Date of stay: June 2012
Value
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:run away as fast as possible
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 Kim B, Owner at Big Grove Village
Responded Sep 13, 2012
We are very sorry to hear of your disappointment with Big Grove. We realize that is it not a place for everyone. The caption displayed here on trip advisor states that the cabin in hidden within the walls of the house and not a separate structure and that the tub is an antique galvanized steel tub like you would see in an old Western movie. We explain to our guests when they call that it does not include a shower just the antique galvanized steel tub. The log cabin is 162 years old; finding replacements parts for repairs to keep it authentic requires a great deal of searching. We are currently looking for an old barn with the right size boards and square nails to replace the floor boards that broke midsummer. There is a subfloor floor underneath so it is safe. Many guests feel the creaking wood adds to the charm of the cabin. We have been continually making repairs to this property since we bought it last year. Some upgrades have included two newly installed dishwashers that have sani-rinse cycles to meet stricter health codes. These require a longer time to run for the sanitizing cycle to be effective. With large groups this often means running several loads that often run over into the next day. If dishes must sit overnight they are rinsed in warm water until their turn in the dishwasher where they will be sanitized. We follow all the rules of the health department for storing of food, disposing of food and cleaning the dishes. The storage space in the 132 year old kitchen makes meeting some of the storage issues a challenge. We have already begun installing new cupboards in the kitchen and will be slowly remodeling it through the next year. Many of our guests enjoy the open kitchen so they can pull up a chair to sit and chat while drinking coffee as we are prepare their breakfast. The lodge is attached to a garage that has stained concrete floors to make it easier to clean up after hunters when they return from their hunting trips, not a pole barn. We do not have Jacuzzi suites, but Jacuzzi tubs in two of the rooms. We can assure you that all has been cleaned and sanitized under our ownership. All rooms were checked all after receiving this review. I discovered hard water deposits from the well water that only a chisel could remove. We are so contentious about the safety of our guests that we double pillowcase our pillows and regularly wash our bedspreads and mattress pads. It is true that we are in the country and very close to nature. Bugs are a challenge to all around. We regularly have an exterminator who sprays and cares for our property, eliminating most pests. Our exterminator is certified and would be required to report anything inappropriate. Last summer we had no difficulty with nature trying to get inside. This summer due to the heat and dry conditions it has been more of a challenge to keep them out and away from the doors. Our bug man had sprayed both inside and outside during your visit requiring us to vacuum more; however, many of your guests were sleeping off and on throughout the day making this difficult to accomplish. We live on site and would have addressed any of your concerns if we had been made aware of them. We realize that this historic property is not for all of our guests, but we have a log book of many satisfied guests. We were voted “Friendliest Innkeeper” for 2011, and have received many nominations for “most affordable luxury”, “most historical charm” and others. We have received much appreciation for trying to maintain the history of this place for guests to come and visit and we hope to continue doing so for the future.
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LOCATION
United StatesIowaOakland
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
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