Elegant renovated 5-generation Destination Farmhouse in the beautiful Driftless region of WI, 30 min from Madison. Designed as a peaceful & welcoming escape-perfect for a restorative getaway! Stunning rooms, panoramic views, wildlife, expansive yard, orchard, grapevine, walking paths, wildflower field, firepit, meeting/creativity room, gourmet kitchen & optional guided wood-fired Nordic sauna/cold plunge experience. Create unforgettable memories & feel renewed at Sundance Villa in the Driftless!
The space
"Sundance Villa in the Driftless" was built by European immigrants circa 1890’s on a family farm in the beautiful Driftless Region of southwest Wisconsin. The historic 5-generation farmhouse is decorated in a way that celebrates her iconic beauty while adding carefully curated elegance and modern conveniences. Sundance Villa’s stately presence was built to be proudly perched high upon a Driftless Area ridge, surrounded in all directions by miles of pristine country vistas with gently rolling hills, fertile farm fields, meandering spring-fed streams, rocky outcroppings, and rugged bluffs- an ancient, sculpted topography never touched by glaciers. We are also located within the great “Mississippi Flyway”- the bird migration pathway between South America and Canada. The area is rich with abundant wildlife, and we commonly see unique and colorful birds- a nature lover’s paradise!
Great care was taken to lovingly restore the home’s authentic details and beautiful 1800’s old growth southern pine hardwood floors. The living room showcases a colorful, Venetian hand-blown glass chandelier. Each bedroom has its own inviting decor and is fitted with luxury linens. We also made sure to provide amenities in the bedrooms including individual make-up tables, adjustable LED mirrors, seating, towel/robe hooks, and full length mirrors to provide you with refinements to prepare for a special day.
Our gourmet kitchen is ready for any meal you would like to prepare, along with everything you could want for that perfect cup of coffee or tea. Gather around our spacious farmhouse table with your family and friends, or take in our beautiful sunrise and sunset views from the patio and yard.
Adjacent to the kitchen, the office/sunroom is the home’s original “Summer Kitchen”. This is a lovely area for taking in a quiet moment, enjoying a sunny breakfast with friends, or working remotely. This room features an antique table with 5 more chairs, and a pocket door to allow peaceful separation from the rest of the home. Here, the natural light on 3 sides, vaulted ceiling with exposed original wood ceiling beams, and the relaxing warmth and ambiance of an electric fireplace create an inviting space.
Sundance Villa features two full bathrooms, one downstairs and one upstairs. The downstairs bathroom has heated marble floors, overhead heat and fan, a double vanity, and a tub/shower with custom marble surround. The upstairs bathroom features a golden finish clawfoot tub with shower and custom marble surround, overhead heat and fan, and a large heirloom vanity.
We wanted Sundance Villa’s second living room to provide options for you to create warm memories. This is an interchangeable space with abundant natural lighting, large windows, and 4 wall mirrors to reflect the pastoral surroundings and vivid western sunsets! This space can be set up either as a formal dining room with white linens, an executive meeting area, or as 8 creativity stations for scrapbooking or sewing- all with 8 ergonomic, adjustable chairs. If used as a creative space, there are 8 individual 4-foot tables for projects/scrapbooking/crafting/quilting, each with individual LED lights.
This Spring we planted Wisconsin wildflowers in the attached 3 acre pasture, which gives you a beautiful place to roam and take stunning outdoor photos! We mow walking paths around and thru the wildflower field, so you may savor morning or sunset nature walks when you visit. You may enjoy finding one of the many beautiful spots in the yard for outdoor games or relaxation. Spring, Summer and Fall nights are perfect for cozy campfires, and we have created a large firepit area that seats the whole group! Please notice the hand-chiseled limestone seating benches- they are the home’s original 1890’s front porch steps. The outdoor space provides the icing on the cake for an indulgent retreat from the busy hustle of life- with expansive yards, orchard trees, grapevines, abundant native wildlife, brilliant native and migrating birds, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, all topped-off with starry nights…. Join us for a slice of the sweet life, and watch the sun dance across the sky, at Sundance Villa!
Guest access
Both the main and upstairs level of the home are available to guests. The basement and attic levels are private. We do ask that our guests do not use the washer and dryer.
We are excited to offer an additional, private, turn-key service available to our guests by special arrangement: a Nordic Wood-fired, Cedar Barrel Sauna & Cold-plunge experience for up to 8 guests (on a terrace overlooking miles of scenic Driftless Region views) complete with both cold-plunge immersion tubs and splash buckets. Please message us if you are interested. See the details below if this interests your group:
Please message us if you are interested in the Sauna & Cold-plunge experience, and we will work to schedule a mutually agreeable time. Once coordinated, our sauna master (guide) will arrive 1-1.5 hours in advance to start the wood-fired sauna. As part of the experience, the guide will offer some Scandinavian sauna folklore teaching as well as a discussion of some of the medical benefits of sauna & cold-plunge therapy. The sauna master will check-in with guests during the sauna use and will also tend to the fire during the Sauna & Cold-plunge Experience. Payment for this additional service will be arranged thru the Airbnb website.
The cost for this private, curated "Fire & Ice" experience with a guide, setup, fire-wood, Sauna & Cold-plunge tanks and cold-water buckets is $200 per hour up to 8 guests, available to reserve for 1, 2 or 3 hours. Our sauna overlooks miles of pristine Driftless views and sits just above a native wildflower meadow with walking paths for enjoyment. An in-ground fire-pit is next to the sauna.
Guests must sign a sauna release form to use the sauna, and guests need to bring a water bottle to the sauna for hydration. Attire is shorts and t-shirt, or swimwear. For sanitary reasons, guests are required to sit on a clean towel inside the sauna and must wear clean sauna/swim shoes inside the sauna.
Should you wish to enhance your stay, we would be delighted to welcome you to the Nordic Sauna & Cold-plunge experience.
Other things to note
To protect our original 1800’s hardwood floors, please remove shoes when you enter.
