Entire condo

The Nest - next to bakery and downtown

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December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for The Nest - next to bakery and downtown

Beach
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
2 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Smart TV, books, smart speakers, music library
Terrace/patio

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire condo

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Hot Tub
    Hot Tub
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Gym
    Gym
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Oskaloosa, IA
  • City Square Park
    2 min walk
  • William Penn University
    16 min walk
  • Mahaska Health
    17 min walk
  • Ottumwa, IA (OTM-Ottumwa Industrial)
    27 min drive

Room options

Similar properties

About the neighborhood

Oskaloosa

A stay at this condo places you in the heart of Oskaloosa, steps from City Square Park and a 1-minute drive from William Penn University. .This condo is 0.9 mi (1.5 km) from Mahaska Health and 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Southern Iowa Fair.

What's nearby

  • City Square Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • William Penn University - 16 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • Mahaska Health - 17 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • Southern Iowa Fair - 2 min drive - 1.2 miles
  • Edmundson Golf Course - 4 min drive - 2.0 miles

Getting around

  • Des Moines International Airport (DSM) - 65 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Scotters Coffee - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Taco John's - ‬12 min walk

About this property

Entire place

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

The Nest - next to bakery and downtown

Keep it simple at this peaceful and centrally-located two bedroom two bath nest, stylishly set up with everything you need to make it home as long as you might need or like to.

This downtown location next-door to our famous Dutch bakery, Jaarsmas, home of the Dutch letter and all sorts of baked goods from pies to bean sprout bread and more pastries than you might imagine, is close to everything great in Oskaloosa, with Ride Nostalgia bike rentals right on the property to enjoy a piece or all of our 14 mile paved bike trail.

The space:
Natural light pours into this nest, named so by a friend who walked in and shared, "Wow, it almost feels like you're in a bird nest up here - you can see out from every angle." It's true! Watch the sun come up, be warmed and inspired by it all day and the sun sets behind the town structures out another window at dusk.

Gather all together in the open space from the colorful well lit living room open to the kitchen or hang out on your own in one of the two cozy and comfy bedrooms, also filled with natural light.

For your convenience, we have left the two bathroom concept, as it is super convenient, in that two people can shower simultaneously with hot water and plenty of pressure - wonderful! There is also a spacious area at the top of the steps with a full body mirror for an extra space to get ready and may have a desk area, if the need arises from guests.

The kitchen, connected to the living area and also surrounded with natural light, is stocked with serving ware, pots, pans, cooking and baking utensils, both a stove top tea pot and an electric counter one, a Ninja blender, toaster, Nespresso & Mr. Coffee coffee machines and a French Press. While we give you pods for the first few cups of Nespresso coffee, you may want to preorder more, as the Nespresso varieties surpass the goodness of the grocery store brands. Ground coffee, spices, cooking oil and other pantry items are set up for you. There is seating for 7 and two folding chairs in the closet as needed.

The living room naturally lit with two walls of windows has two couches, a swivel chair, upholstered sitting stool, 70 inch smart tv with roku, fubu and more. Enjoy a book from our varied collection for all ages, a game or simply conversation in this comfortable and spacious room. Most of our games and toys for all ages were purchased at The Work of Our Hands (in our neighboring town, Pella), which carry beautiful and unique handmade treasures made by artisans in developing countries ensuring artisans get a fair price for their products.

The king sized bedroom includes full closet, two bedside tables with lamps, hooks on the wall, an Alexa device for music, other audios and alarm, an overhead fan/light fixture, and a suitcase stand. This room is directly across from both bathrooms.

The full sized bedroom includes two night stands with drawers, lamps, a six drawer dresser, large leather upholstered bench, an Alexa device for music, other audios and alarm, and an overhead fan/light fixture. The large hallway and stairway is between both bedrooms and this bedroom backs to the living area.

There is a brand new full sized washer and dryer for your convenience.

Feel at home all week long for work or school in Oskaloosa or for a weekend visit in this location and enjoy delightful day trips easily within the county and beyond!

Tee up at one of our golf courses, 18 holes with an award-winning restaurant on its premises and the 27 holes with a PGA professional on its premises, and both along our 14 mile trail around Oskaloosa.

Throw discs in the woods, at the park, or on a quicker course, all three along the bike trail and minutes from this home. We have an active frisbee golf community.

Schedule a brewery, winery and cheese making tours and tote your finds in a bike basket to dine under the sky along one of the miles and miles of trails in Mahaska County.

With an active and talented chamber, historical society, arts and conservation board, Mahaska County is a gem for natural learning and adventure.

With an active and talented chamber, historical society, arts and conservation board, Mahaska County is a gem for natural learning and adventure.

Some notable scheduled events for 2022 are just around the corner!

-Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25 & 26
-Merry Little Downtown Christmas and Lighted Christmas Parade on December 2 & 3
- Annual Bluegrass Festival and other live music events at Southern Iowa Fairgrounds.

… and the following repeated events take place at a variety of times throughout the year:
-Thursday night band concerts at the square, 8:00pm, June to mid August, since 1864!
-Laura Days at Nelson Pioneer Farm, Tuesdays - Fridays in July. Sign up through: https://nelsonpioneer.org/np_events/lauras-days/
- George Daily Auditorium offers high quality performing arts from community schools to scheduled professionals.
- Muse Music Monday night open mic or local performer from 6-8 at Smokey Row.
- Outer Space at Oskaloosa Art Center - live music, comedy, and open mics, for scheduled events, check faceofmahaska.com
-Nelson Pioneer Farm will give you guided tours by appointment or take a self guided tour from May through September. They also and have scheduled weekly events on their calendar. https://nelsonpioneer.org/
-Autumn Acres at Stam’s greenhouse Fridays from 12-6 and Saturdays during the day, starting the 2nd week in September through the end of August. Fun for the whole family!

Bike Trails and Bike Rentals:
We have a wonderful 14 mile bike trail that goes all around Oskaloosa through restored prairies, woods, and farm fields and has a good variety of entry and exit points for most of us who may not have time for the whole route. Travel easy and rent a bike from Nostalgic Rides in Oskaloosa, right on this property.. We expect a couple high demand experiences: the Schwinn bicycle built for two and the adult Tricycle, so if those two would be a must for you, let us know and if they are available, we'll be sure to reserve them for you!

All of our guests have a three day pass to our YMCA, just a few blocks from this home. This includes open gym, lap swims, work out equipment, and class options for an extra charge.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned condo, featuring a kitchen with a refrigerator and an oven. A Smart television and smart speakers are provided for your entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Conveniences include a desk and a microwave.
Enjoy recreational amenities such as a spa tub and a fitness center. Additional features at this condo include an arcade/game room and barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property manager

Christian & Melissa Ray

Languages

English

Property amenities

Pool/Spa

  • Spa tub

Internet

  • Available in the condo: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Music library
  • Smart speaker
  • Smart TV
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Porch/lanai

Laundry

  • Washer/dryer

Work spaces

  • Desk

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In the city center
  • Near a hospital

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Bicycles
  • Gym
  • Kayak
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks 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 (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Bicycles

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

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

Children are welcome
Note from host: There are carpeted steps entering this condo.

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 indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
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

The Nest - next to bakery and downtown Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 25 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 25 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Janine S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christina H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice place while waiting for a wedding
We were in the area for a wedding and decided to book a condo instead of hotel. I do not regret our decision. It was so nice and homey. If we are ever back in town I would stay again. There are quite a bit of stairs leading up to the condo so it was a little difficult for elderly mother. It was super nice to have our own room.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pam O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice!
Friendly hosts, nice property!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property is fully outfitted and ready for all your needs! Missy is responsive, helpful and has the cutest most decked out place in the area! We will be booking with her again and we’re so at home in her place.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leslie O.

Liked: Cleanliness
So cute
I loved this property. The decor was really cute and the location was convenient. Loved the bakery next door and the church bells. Owners were very quick to respond to requests. Beds were very comfortable and the Alexa’s in each room was a nice touch. Will definitely stay here again on our next trip to Oskaloosa.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gloria K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Home away from HOme.
Both my daughter and I loved the place. Very comfortable. Loved the view from second floor. Only two issues 1. Water never seemed to get warm enough. 2. the traffic from the cross street often noisy at night.. Aside of these two issues, the stay was great! Might come back again.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Everything we needed for our stay
Melissa and Ray were wonderful hosts, keeping in touch with us and quickly answering all of our questions beforehand. The condo is comfortable and clean (and next door to an institution in town, Jaarsma Bakery!). Thank you for sharing your place with us. We will definitely stay here again when visiting family in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Margaret B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cute place!
The Nest was a perfect spot for us when we were in town for a wedding. The location was easy to find and access. The parking spot right next to the door was good, however if you drive a big farm truck it takes a little bit to get backed in. I loved having a regular size coffee pot! And two clean bathrooms to get ready in was awesome! Thanks for the great space and know where to look when we come back to visit!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ellen P.

Liked: Cleanliness
perfect for us
comfortable, spacious, quiet. all the amenities we could want (thank you for the coffee!)
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brandon C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great communication leads to great stays!
We were in town for an event in Knoxville, IA and had a great stay. There was a little issue that the owners worked on feverishly. The place is pretty small, but great for short stays as a group, or an extended stay with just a few. Amenities were as needed, beds were comfortable, and appliances worked well. The location is in downtown Oskaloosa which made any trips to stores or businesses very convenient. Our hosts went above and beyond with communication, were very friendly, and provided a great stay. We will definitely look them up in the future if we are going to be in the area!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Joan R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Girl’s Trip
We loved the property! It was very cozy and comfortable. We could walk to downtown for restaurants and shopping. The bakery next door was a treat! We went to Pella for Tulip Time and it was nice to be just 15 miles from there. Over all a great time. Missy was very helpful
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Connie Y., Lees Summit MO

Liked: Cleanliness
Family at the Nest
We had a great stay at the Nest ! Property was exactly as depicted in description and pictures. The condo was very clean and well maintained, decorated very nicely. Kitchen was well stocked. Missy was very responsive through texts, though, we had no problems at all. We were in the area for Tulip Time in Pella and this location worked out great for us to get away from the crowds in Pella. If we ever come back to the area, we would definitely want to stay at the Nest again!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Natalie C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful home!
We were in town visiting our son at William Penn. This house is super comfortable and homey! The kitchen was well equipped with everything you could want. The beds were super comfy. It was a great location and the owners were super accommodating! We would DEFINITELY rent this property again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew O., Olathe, Kansas, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Turkey day
Great time with family made all the better with a great place to rest our heads. Beautiful property in a great location.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

JANA S., Joplin

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place to stay
Was a perfect place to stay for what we needed it for. Visiting our granddaughter at college. Had everything we needed to cook her a few homemade meals She loved the homey feel it gave her.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dee P.

Liked: Cleanliness
SE Iowa Road Trip
This was the perfect accommodations for our stay while touring SE Iowa. It is beautifully decorated and no detail was left out. Hosts were very helpful. It is within walking of many restaurants, coffee shop, bakery, etc. in Oskaloosa and within a short driving distance of Pella and other sites. I would definitely recommend The Nest if you’re traveling in this area.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Terry B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Downtown Oskaloosa
We visited our son and daughter-in-law and five grandchildren. Not a fan of Oskaloosa hotels and this place was great! Comfortable beds and furniture. Stylish decor. Walking distance to downtown shops and sites. Well stocked kitchen and bathrooms. Will re-book on future visits if available. Easy check in and checkout.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lucas M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Where do I start
This property was charming, lovely, sensational, cool, nostalgic. Decorated beautifully, space was perfection for our needs with our family. We visited in the middle of a scorcher heat wave. I was nervous being in the top unit that we would roast; we did not! The AC kept us cool when we needed a break from touring the town, visiting the bakery, local shops (amazing too) love the history of this town! Loved that we were in walking distance of it all!! Our main reason for this stay was for the racing at Knoxville and Oskaloosa. We found a lot more to add to our trip with the advice from our host & hostess!! A much needed time away from our busy schedules back home. Every one of us thought this property was just gem!! We hope to stay there again in the future. I also, have to share we stayed at the cottage last year for a long weekend and loved that property as well. We certainly appreciate the time and effort you put into your homes to make our stay safe and memorable. It truly makes it effortless, from the stocked kitchen, bathrooms, supplies, and so much more! Thank you both so much Chris & Melissa for creating exceptional properties and sharing that with your guests!! We truly had an exceptional time!!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mary G., Las Vegas, Nevada

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place to stay while visiting Oskaloosa.
Great place to stay while in Oskaloosa. Centrally located with walking distance to coffee shops, bakery, garden park & more. Very clean & fully equipped kitchen.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

David, Nicholasville

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My daughter and I were there for a friend's graduation party. It had all the amenities we needed to enjoy our stay. The beds and furniture were comfortable, and the bathrooms and kitchens were stocked with enough towels and appliances for our stay. Water pressure was good. It is next to the town square, so it was a short walk to the local scene. We didn't do too much of that, since we were in town for other reasons, but when we wondered around it was cool. My daughter liked the Arcade in the mall, and it was a blast for me too since I grew up with the games in the 80's. It is unlimited play for a whole day for one price. I wasn't any good at them anymore, but it was nostalgic and fun. There are Alexa things in every room. I unplugged them all because I am from the generation that doesn't trust intrusive technology, but I can see the appeal for those who enjoy that sort of stuff. Unplugging them is an easy fix. The disclosed possible "road noise" in the welcome packet from the street out front of the place was not noticed by us. We would stay again, if we were in the area again, but I don't foresee that for another 4-8 years when the next graduation may occur.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Eddie F., Elkhart Kansas USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Rental for a Family
It was great place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melanie K., Canby

Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful and Comfortable
We are on a long road trip, so this location with walking proximity to everything (coffee shop, book store, downtown Park/bandstand, library, restaurants etc) was just splendid! Plenty of space, nice and cool. Our kids loved the toys and books there as well! We hope to be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gina C., Twin Lake

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent location with everything you need.
Super clean, stylish upper unit. Very comfortable and homey. Really enjoyed our time.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gary W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stay Good Location
Our stay was righty after the Pella Tulip Festival, wonder to see all the tulips, so we spent a couple days going back and forth. We also went to the Amana Colonies for a day. We stayed during the hottest week of May with the high each day in the 90s, it was nice come back to a place that was very comfortable because of the air conditioning.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michelle H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wedding weekend
Rented the space for my son & his wife for their wedding weekend. Beautiful, clean apartment with convenient location and very kind and responsive owners. Definitely recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022