The "Shouse"- Take the road less traveled- for fun & relaxation in the country provides amenities like a garden and a playground. Stay connected with in-room WiFi.
Reviews
9.89.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Pet friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor Space
Parking available
Barbecue grill
Add dates for prices
About this property
The "Shouse"- Take the road less traveled- for fun & relaxation in the country
Take the road less traveled and wind down a peaceful mile long gravel driveway to find our fun and relaxing industrial "Shouse!" The "Shouse" is built next to our main home on 36 acres of quiet country rolling hills near Ossian, Iowa. We are about 20 minutes from Decorah, Iowa. My husband grew up in the main home and it has a lot of family history as his grandfather helped drive the horses and wagons that carried the wood to build it. We built the "Shouse" originally to house our family screen printing business and then to house a small shrimp farming set up. After we got out of both of those the shed sat empty. A couple years ago my husband, Kevin, and I bought a small cabin in Eastman, WI that we rented on VRBO and it was then that we decided the shed should not sit empty but should be loved by others. That is how the "Shouse" came to be. It features a small kitchen and an industrial bathroom that has a shower with corrugated paneled walls, wood tiles, and a relaxing rain shower head! There are two bedrooms. The first is a smaller bedroom with twin/full bunk beds and a desk to provide space to work if need be. The main bedroom has a queen bed and features lots of natural light from the patio doors. The most amazing part of this space is the large open room that provides lots of space to unwind and relax with your loved ones! The living space features a large retro modern couch we like to call "Sherbet." The whole family can snuggle up and watch the 65" TV that is on a rotating wall. When you are ready to go lay down, all you have to do is unhook the wall and spin it so that the TV can be seen in the bedroom. The living space also features a small bar height table and stools and there is a queen sized bed if you have extra guests staying. Outside the kids can have a good time playing on the wooden swing set and with the outdoor farm cats and two dogs. If you are willing to take the road less traveled you will find a fun, rustic, industrial piece of paradise tucked away in the rolling hills of the driftless area!
Located in Ossian, this vacation home is in a rural area. Fort Atkinson State Park and Decorah Bald Eagles reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Decorah Fish Hatchery and Amundsons Clothing. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hunting and cycling. Visit our Ossian travel guide
Is The "Shouse"- Take the road less traveled- for fun & relaxation in the country pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 50 lbs per pet.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at The "Shouse"- Take the road less traveled- for fun & relaxation in the country?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at The "Shouse"- Take the road less traveled- for fun & relaxation in the country?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is The "Shouse"- Take the road less traveled- for fun & relaxation in the country located?
Situated in a rural location, this vacation home is 5.3 mi (8.5 km) from Prairie Farmer Recreational Trail and within 12 mi (20 km) of Fort Atkinson State Park and Goeken County Park. Bily Clocks Museum and St Wenceslaus Catholic Church are also within 12 mi (20 km).
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Reviews
The "Shouse"- Take the road less traveled- for fun & relaxation in the country Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
9.8
Cleanliness
9.8
Location
10
Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 45 out of 50 reviews
10 - Excellent
45
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 50 reviews
8 - Good
5
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 50 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 50 reviews
4 - Poor
0
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 50 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
Reviews
Verified review
10/10 Excellent
Nicholette
26 September 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Wonderful place to stay! Very comfortable and plenty of room. Great location to feel the like you are in the country but a short drive to the surrounding towns. Owners were delightful and provided easy to follow directions. Would definitely stay again!
Our 2nd timing staying and we had just as much fun as the first time. Nice and quiet, close to Decorah and Calmar for hiking & breweries! Looking forward to coming back again.
We had a nice stay - plenty of room for the family. Owners were really helpful and responsive. Close to Decorah which was our main place to visit. Kitchen well stocked with the things we needed for meals and cooking. Plenty of towels and wash cloths.
Truly a "getaway" in a peaceful setting. Host is nearby, if needed, in a beautiful historic farmhouse, but our stay felt quite "private" nonetheless. Very spacious lodgings in The Shouse would easily accommodate larger family groups. TV viewing space and game-playing space for all.
Very nice experience. We had fun. The outdoor griddle thing was convenient and worked well for making bacon, eggs, and other foods without adding heat to interior of the building.
We had a wonderful stay at the Shouse on a beautiful farm near Ossian. Hosts Heidi and Kevin were very welcoming, and the property was everything we could have hoped for, and more. This spacious converted industrial building with incredible views, a small but fully functioning kitchen, a large, inviting gathering space, cozy and comfortable beds, and a roomy bathroom/shower were all greatly appreciated. And because our dog Bindi was also welcome, the Shouse was perfect for us all. We are already looking forward to our next stay! Deb and Brent
Our return stay at the shouse was just as fabulous as the first. This was our 2nd year staying there while we attended the Christmas at Luther College concert. There is so much room to spread out and relax. The large tv is ready to accept your streaming logins and clears them when you leave. The kitchen is well stocked with pots, pans & utinsels for just about whatever you want to cook. The home baked cookies upon our arrival were a welcomed treat! Thank you for the wonderful stay! Dan & Lori
We stayed a few days after the Iowa pheasant opener. Mostly hunted public land. Plenty of bird contacts, but mostly hens.
The radiant floor heat was very comfy during those cold days. Plenty roomy and we used the cool spinning TV. Shower and bathroom were plenty warm. Could have used more places to hang towels and place toiletries.
Kitchen was well appointed. Plenty of dishes and glasses.
Appreciate keeping things sanitary, but the plastic covering over the mattress could have used a cotton mattress cover over the top of the plastic on the mattress. The plastic right under the sheets made for a sweaty sleep. Was nice and quiet, dark and overall comfy. We and the dogs slept well!
Location was very private, quiet, and peaceful. Amenities are simple and functional, property would be best suited for a couple, a family with up to 3-4 kids, or 4 adults. Good communication with the host!
This is an amazing property. So quiet and peaceful. We used the fire pit at night to really relax. We went to decorah. Waterfalls ate at multiple restaurants that were all fabulous. The downtown decorah is acute quaint community. Everything was very clean and fresh.We would highly recommend this place to stay.
The property was perfect for my trip. I found a lot of good hiking around the area, and good foods. Keven and Heidi have thought of everything. I have every intention of returning in the future
This house perfectly met our needs. It was great for our dog. We could take him for walks in the mornings. Kitchen had everything we needed. We only ate breakfast there. Hosts were very welcoming.
Secluded, quiet location with very friendly hosts. Excellent communication and suggestions on local events. Great family getaway- the kids loved the cats, dogs and new friends! We loved it and will be back!