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Botanical Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Botanical Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn

Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Dining
Exterior
1 bedroom, WiFi, bed sheets

Reviews

9.8 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Outdoor Space
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
  • Dryer

Explore the area

Map
Elkader, IA
  • Spook Cave
    23 min drive
  • Pikes Peak State Park
    29 min drive
  • Wyalusing State Park
    45 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

Room

Harstad Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Air conditioning
5.0 out of 5, Exceptional, (6)
The price is $115
per night
$243 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 9 - Dec 10
Harstad Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn

About the neighborhood

Elkader

With a stay at this vacation home in Elkader, you'll be 17.7 mi (28.4 km) from Mississippi River and 13.9 mi (22.4 km) from Froelich Foundation Museum. .This vacation home is 15 mi (24.2 km) from Spook Cave and 19.6 mi (31.5 km) from Backbone State Park.
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What's nearby

  • Spook Cave - 23 min drive - 15.1 miles
  • Pikes Peak State Park - 29 min drive - 21.5 miles
  • Effigy Mounds National Monument - 30 min drive - 23.9 miles
  • Wyalusing State Park - 45 min drive - 33.4 miles
  • Field of Dreams - 61 min drive - 46.8 miles

Restaurants

  • ‪Johnson's Restaurant - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Fennellys' Irish Pub - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Schera's Restaurant & Bar - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪St Olaf Tavern - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Burger Barn - ‬5 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Botanical Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn

BOTANICAL
Enjoy the Jailhouse Inn’s version of a “honeymoon suite”. The 4 post queen bed and charming antiques welcomes you to your getaway. Enjoy the many pieces of real police evidence that adorn the suite. The real draw for the wildly popular Botanical suite is the luxurious bathroom that is about 3 times the size of the cells the criminals were confined to! Beautiful tile floors and spacious air massage tub, big enough for two, will make it hard to leave at the end of your stay. Don’t believe the rumors you hear about Shelly (the little girl in the painting). Her ghost will leave you alone. Probably.


THE JAILHOUSE

Enjoy your sentence at the historic Elkader Jailhouse Inn. Built 150 years ago to house Clayton County's most dangerous criminals, the recently renovated 5,000+ square foot limestone mansion sits on a 3 acre bluff overlooking the rolling hills of Elkader, Iowa. Enjoy 4 spacious suites that pamper you with luxurious beds and spa-like bathrooms while overflowing with character and historic charm. As an inmate you will have access to the gourmet kitchen, scenic patio overlooking the valley, and of course everyone’s favorite: the cell block. The authentic jail cells, evidence, and paraphernalia make this a stay you won’t soon forget. But don’t worry it won’t stay on your record. Don’t forget to take your mugshot! Entertaining a big group? Rent the whole jailhouse for accommodations of up to 20 inmates! Perfect for all occasions from a weekend getaway to a wedding party. It should be a crime not to stay here!

THE TOWN

The Jail house overlooks the quaint town of Elkader, Iowa, the county seat of Clayton County. Your accommodations are just blocks from the Main street restaurants and boutiques that line the Turkey river. Ample shopping and dining attractions are within walking distance. The town and surrounding countryside of Northeastern Iowa provide plenty of leisure activities from Pike’s Peak and Backbone state Parks, to the historic Effigy Mounds, not to mention abundant trout fishing, including within the nearby scenic Yellow River State Forest. Catch a concert at the Opera House, cut cards at the Casino in nearby Mcgregor, hit the links at one of the area's golf courses or spend a day on the water floating a local river. The natural beauty and historic charm will make you a repeat offender!

Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. There's a private patio. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property manager

Penn Nobis

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Outdoor areas

  • Patio

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • In a rural location

Things to do

  • Casino nearby
  • Golfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Property does not allow children

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

This property does not allow children

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
Botanical Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn Elkader
Botanical Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn Private vacation home

Botanical Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 14 out of 16 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 16 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 16 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 16 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 16 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sheri F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Just Book a Reservation Already!
This unique place has it all: charm, class, comfort, beauty, and fun. When you first walk in, you are greeted with a gorgeous staircase leading to most of the rooms. Our room was spacious, with a luxurious bathroom. The gourmet kitchen is equipped for anything and everything with seating for eight. The adjoining dining room has a large table with additional seating and windows lining two walls. And clean! This VRBO was impressively clean! I have to say the jail was a little eery after dark, but it didn't stop us from watching a football game, playing cards and shuffleboard, and exploring the jail cells. The jail is attached to the back of the main building, so you can actually stay here without even seeing the jail itself, but make sure you don't miss it. Check in was a breeze. Parking was plentiful. The grounds are well maintained and very pretty. This would be a great place to stay for a family reunion or holiday. We found the people of Elkader to be friendly and helpful. The downtown area is easily walkable with old buildings that have been beautifully renovated. Stop in at GEAR for breakfast and a great cup of coffee. We definitely recommend you give the Jailhouse a try!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Julie M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Historic fun place to stay
Nice amenities, would have appreciated instructions for use of TV and hot tub. All TV options had low or no signal. Jets in Hot tub kept coming on after draining - random buttons finally set timer to 0 but have no idea how.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Romelia C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Relaxing
Very beautiful and interesting property. Navigation took us to the back door, so getting in was tricky. I loved the cleanness of the place and the coziness of our bedroom.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sabahudin

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Historical building. Nice room. Amazing bathroom. Beautifully renovated.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dan S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Winter Getaway
My girlfriend and I had the whole place to ourselves and that was a treat. Although, the inn would be wonderful for a murder mystery party setting. The history of the place naturally creates a mild spooky vibe that we adored. Shelly from the portrait was very accommodating, but I could swear she kept moving her faceless doll around. Odd. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. The Botanical's bathroom and tub are dreamy. Bathroom was very clean (although the cleaning fee for two nights was steep) and the kitchen was generously equipped. Elkader is a charming town. Be sure to stop by GEAR Elkader for breakfast, Schera's for dinner, TD's for late night grub, and Turkey River Mall for hours of great antiquing.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Vicki W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice home with many antiques and much character.
I loved the main home n my room. Awesome bathroom. found the jail room interesting but would rather have tv in room. The bed in room was not comfortable since i prefer a firm mattress.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

Elaine B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Review
No elevator so carrying suitcases up steep stairs not good. No one there to answer questions - no breakfast. Three nights I was all by myself which was a tad unnerving. Unable to control temp in my room - cold every night. There 7 days & no housekeeping. This could be a charming place but you need people on property
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice jacuzzi
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Kayla M.

Weekend getaway
My husband and I looked for a weekend getaway and came across this. The home was beautiful as was the surrounding area. We would love to come back again during a different season and see the area when the vegetation is blooming ❤️
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Rashell A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved my stay!
Very relaxing and homily

10/10 Excellent

Christina B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet peace in a piece of history
The Renovated old jailhouse was just what we were looking for. We had 2 goals in our search for a vacation place: a hot tub/ jacuzzi tub and quiet peace without being crowded by people. We enjoyed the room, shuffleboard, history of the building and the small beautiful town. I would recommend this to others and stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Alison M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great central location for NE Iowa
My husband and I had a great stay in Elkader. The property was clean and well stocked on everything you need for a getaway. The check in/out instructions were clear and the hosts were quick to respond to questions. The building itself is full of historical charm and located in a great spot to explore NE Iowa. We will definitely return.

10/10 Excellent

CeCe K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Motorcycle Trip to see the colors!
This place was so amazing. Character, clean and unique. The gourmet kitchen was very unexpected. The large soaking tub is what sold me.. and I got my money’s worth!

10/10 Excellent

Jason F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place
Interesting place to stay. We enjoyed it and will definitely stay again. It would be great with a group of friends and rent the entire place out for a quick weekend trip.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kelly K.

Liked: Cleanliness
lovely surprise
The bathroom was amazing and the bedroom was lovely. The wireless lock set up made it easy to come and go. We ordered pizza and enjoyed it on the sunny and comfortable porch. The remodel of the jailhouse is well done.