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Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park

Farm stay in Preston

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Schmidt Farm in Southeast Minnesota's Driftless Region offers authentic farm life or peaceful seclusion. Wildlife abounds, and dark skies are perfect for stargazing. Guests often end their days watching the sunset over Forestville State Park or meditating among the trees.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Parking available
  • Air conditioning

About the neighborhood

Map
Preston, MN

What's nearby

  • Forestville Mystery Cave State Park - 6 min drive - 3.2 km
  • Root River - 8 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Old Barn Resort Course - 29 min drive - 24.7 km
  • Deer Creek Speedway - 43 min drive - 42.6 km
  • Niagara Cave - 44 min drive - 29.3 km

Getting around

  • Rochester, MN (RST-Rochester Intl.) - 58 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪B&B Olympic Bowl - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Sweet Stop & Sandwich Shop - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Trout City Brewing - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Branding Iron Supper Club - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Preston Apple and Berry Farm - ‬18 min drive

About this property

Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park

Farm stay in a rural location
Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park provides amenities like a firepit and a garden. Guests can connect to in-room WiFi.
Additional perks include:
  • Outdoor furniture, games, and barbecue grills
  • Books and smoke-free premises
Room features
All guestrooms at Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park boast comforts such as air conditioning, as well as amenities like dining tables and internet access.
Other conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Children's dinnerware and travel cribs
  • 1.5 bathrooms with showers and shampoo
  • Decks/patios, outdoor lighting, and kitchens

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Lots of charm and only blocks away from the Root River and Bike trails
  • Pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
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9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, 31 reviews
Lots of charm and only blocks away from the Root River and Bike trails

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: WiFi

Things to do

  • Books
  • Games
  • Stereo

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

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

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating
  • Living room

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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Rules

100% refunds given for bookings cancelled due to Covid-19 related reasons
Our farm is NOT a safe place to bring animals. We have livestock guardian animals that live with our pastured animals for canine predation protection.

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
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

Schmidt Farm an Interactive Farm Experience
Schmidt Farm: an Interactive Farm Experience Preston

Frequently asked questions

Is Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park located?

Situated in a rural location, this farm stay is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from Root River and 2.1 mi (3.4 km) from Forestville Mystery Cave State Park. Forestville State Park Office and Ed's Museum are also within 12 mi (20 km).

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Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 95 out of 96 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 96 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 96 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 96 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 96 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Bonnie E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A very unique getaway perfect for families with young children.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nelia H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome farm stay!

We loved staying at Schmidt family farm! It was a perfect unplugged weekend. Thanks for sharing your property with us!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sarah O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun weekend book club getaway

Wonderful weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Great hosts - very attentive - delivered us fresh dry fire wood during a very rainy weekend. Inside of house is charming and authentic - lovely antiques and cute decor. Nearby antique malls and great brewery!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diane S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Farm Stay

Rural, farm area with lots of birds, trails, serenity. Owners are excellent property stewards and welcoming hosts. Farm animals are friendly and the hosts are willing to accomodate tours and informational sessions about how the farm operates. Always available for questions or suggestions. The perfect place to relax.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anne M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun 4th on the farm!

We had a great time visiting with our kiddos and friends over the 4th if July. Karen made sure we had what we needed. Thr kids loved snuggling the bunny and hiking with goats. We picked berries and gathered mushrooms. Overall a great time! Do be prepared that there is very spotty cell coverage, so be ready to navigate "old school".
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth &.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Another great stay!

We enjoyed our second visit to Schmidt farm with Karen and Paul - they're awesome hosts and it's a super fun experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elise K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A magical little farm!

We had a wonderful time! Karen was a fantastic host and generous to include us in her farm and let us enjoy her animals. The house was charming and perfectly disconnected from service for a slow weekend. We enjoyed coffee on the porch with the resident kitty and many visits to see the plethora of animals right outside the guest house. She took us on rides to see the trails and river, and even had my daughter help with a search and rescue training with her dog. The stay was very comfortable and well kept house, like staying at a friends cabin! Right next to Forestville State Park made it easy to spend time seeing the historic town and cave tours. Thank you for a great family weekend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heather B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Time at the farm

Our time at the farm was fun for all. We enjoyed exploring the property as well as the local state parks. Would highly recommend for an escape with the family!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ann E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family trip

We had a wonderful time! The scenery was stunningly beautiful! The animals were d
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cher K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great farm experience!

Truly away from the hustle and bustle. Great to have acres and acres to roam without anybody else but the owners who tended to the animals and shared all kinds of interesting things about the sheep, llamas, goats, horses and the bunny. The kids especially, loved interacting with the animals as much as the animals loved the attention.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Loretta B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The kids loved it!

We've stayed at many VRBOs, from mountain cabins to beach houses. But my daughter, who loves animals, said this was her favorite VRBO ever! She loved all the details of the house, and the farm was so beautiful. We're definitely going to make this an annual trip. We only wish we could have stayed longer! Now that we've found this gem, we'll be back for sure!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Daniel H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Very Special Place

Our family loved Schmidt farm! It was perfect for our three kids (ages 3-6). They had a great time taking care of the rabbit, feeding the sheep, collecting eggs from the chickens, and petting the donkey. The property is beautiful. We loved walking out into the field at night to see the stars. We hope to be back again someday.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thanks Karen and Paul!

Everything exceeded our expectations. You've done a great job with this property.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brad N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Experience

We enjoyed getting to know the owners and to learn about their way of life. My wife really enjoyed Karen. My kids loved the animals of the farm and being able to interact with so many. We enjoyed our stay and look forward to a return visit in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Timothy J. R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Surpassed our expectations

Amazing property and outstanding hosts. The farmhouse was cong and clean. So quiet and beautiful land. Interaction with the animals was a treat. Paul and Karen are such welcoming hosts! We'll be back!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maureen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful farm stay

What an awesome place to spend a few days with little kids! They loved interacting with all of the animals and the hikes with the sweet cats and goats were such a special treat. The property has well maintained trails through meadows, forests, a magical fairy garden and a fun rocky creek. The farm house had comfortable beds and we were able to entertain ourselves inside during the rainiest times. We will be sure to come back again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Ricci G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beauiful Farm Experience

Thank you Karen and Paul for the amazing farm experience! The peace and tranquility of the farm was exactly what we needed. We loved our morning routine: coffee with M.E., feeding the animals, especially Billy the Goat, and petting Shawn the Sheep. We enjoyed learning about the work that you both do and walking the trails as the sun set over the beautiful mountains. This was our first trip to the farm, and we are already planning our next!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

David S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing rural farm and natural woods experience

The house and land are amazing. The woods are filled with native plants and flowers with miles of hiking trails. The house is vintage and comfortable for modern living. The yard is open and has several comfortable seating areas including hammocks and a firepit. The animals are gentle and friendly for kids to interact with. The owners are friendly, helpful, and love their job as hosts! This is our second visit and we will be returning as often as we can!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun experience!

My husband and I brought our 1 year old and had a great time. It’s like having your own petting zoo. Our toddler loved feeding the goats dandelions. We also enjoyed hiking on the property, picking our own asparagus to make fresh and the farm tour! I would highly recommend this place for anyone looking to get away and enjoy some tranquility amongst animals and wildlife.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pat C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Experience a peaceful getaway

We had three generations in the farm house for a long weekend. Everyone loved the animals, the vast area to hike and play, and learning about farm life. It’s a great way to escape the twin cities and learn to appreciate nature, farming, and peaceful solitude. If you want to explore the area there are plenty of things to see in the nearby towns. Paul and Karen were excellent hosts!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Linda H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fourth stay

Karen and Paul are the best hosts and truly genuine people who make our stay with them feel like we’re family. Only better! Every visit we have brought new guests who grow to love this farmhouse as much as we do. Pretty soon we will run out of room to invite all our friends who want to return and we will need to have a lottery to see who gets the chance to return with us. We look forward to next year’s stay with them!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anne H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Schmidt Farm is a true gem!

This was our fourth time at Schmidt Farm and we had a wonderful, restful stay. Karen and Paul are fantastic people and we always learn new things while we are there. Our daughter loves to feed the goats and ponies, play with the bunny, and Karen had even secured two kittens before our stay! Our daughter was in heaven. We also made it to the art festival in Lanesboro and even got to hear Paul's band play. A wonderful time away from our busy lives to recharge and reconnect with nature. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Craig R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Driftless Gem

If your looking at this 5 star review, your probably looking for a getaway to the Driftless area. Well you found it! We have vacationed for many years in the Driftless. This hands down has been the best Driftless experience we have ever had. Karen and Paul’s passion for the land, stewardship of nature, animal welfare, and environmental conservation has left us in awe of our experience here. Of all of the VRBO hosts we have had, and they all have been wonderful. Karen and Paul have been the best of them all. Do stay here, but leave us a time or two for us to come back.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Martha J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Retreat

This was my second stay and this time I came by myself to write, reflect and do some craft work. I took lovely walks with two sweet young kitties and enjoyed the meadow. One day I took a chair out to the meadow and sat and wrote for a few hours. Karen and Paul are lovely hosts. Karen took time to give me a spinning lesson and show me around her workshop! This is a special place and we will return when we can!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maureen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location, perfect family vacation

The location is gorgeous, with beautiful views and a wonderful constant breeze. Lots to do in the area--We rode the nearby bike trails, explored quaint towns and went to alot of different interesting playgrounds with our little kids. On the farm, there are maintained hiking trails, even to a fairy garden! My kids loved seeing the animals everyday (collecting eggs from the chicken, petting the sweetest bunny, walking with the goats). The wonderful owners Karen and Paul were so welcoming and made a point to show us the special things on their farm, like an amazing hummingbird show, a gator ride to play in the Root River, painting shirts on a rainy day and showing the kids the big farm tractors. So many good memories made and we hope to make this an annual trip!
Stayed 8 nights in May 2021