Come sleep in storied logs, remember your birthright as one for whom the simple was perfectly enough. Call it your sanctuary, playground, arts space, or hermitage. It's all of these, and whatever else you’d like it to be!
The space
Welcome to Fern Hollow Cabin, a rustic, a historic log cabin in the lush woods of Northeast Iowa. This is the cabin of our great-great-great grandparents, Norwegian immigrants who came here in 1853. We restored it in 1989, and it's really beautiful...a walk into the simple and quiet past. The electricity is made right here, by our solar panels (in cooperation with a bright and reliable star). Our land is a botanical sanctuary with United Plant Savers and is carpeted with native species that are medicinal and beautiful.
The log house is filled with good energy from all the 165 years that people have lived here. It feels good to be connected to our past. It feels good to visit a place where the surfaces are brown, textured, and storied. And it feels good to remember that even without a phone ringing or email calling, you still know how to enjoy the passing of time.
My ancestors didn't have any modern technology; we've added some but not too much. The solar electric system powers the refrigerator and the lights. There is running water and a simple way to heat it up. There's a modern cooking range, which doesn't fit the decor but works swell! There's a special toilet--ask for details if you're curious. If you want to use a computer, you can use a laptop and charge your battery but to get internet you'll need to drive to town. If you want to make a call, you can use the land line up at our house or take a short walk or drive up the hill to use your cell phone. Here you can experience what life was like before the constant ringing and beeping of now.
In other words, it's simple. That's what you're looking for, right? A chance to get away from the clutter of everyday life, and a chance to step into another time: that's what you'll find at Fern Hollow Cabin. It is good.
The cabin is 6 miles from Seed Savers Exchange and right next door to the Pepperfield Project, dedicated to promoting and teaching hands-on cooking, gardening and agrarian life skills. We're 6.5 miles from the beautiful town of Decorah where interesting things in the arts and outdoor activities are happening all the time.
Whether you are alone or with a partner, bringing children or even a dog, we warmly invite you to come and stay for a day or more. Wrap yourself in the songs of the woods.
We Love Kids and Kids Love it Here!
Remember that time you went to an old museum cabin and wished you could stay all day and play? It’s like that, only this time you CAN stay. And not only do you get to read and play games and fall asleep and wake up in enchanted log house; on top of all that there’s the woods for running around, making forts, catching fireflies, picking flowers, and watching fairies.
Just across the little bridge is a tiny log house, a favorite place for the young ones. It’s just far enough away that they feel brave to go there, but you can see them playing from the front yard of the (not-so) Big Log House.
The tree fort, now sitting on stumps on the woods floor because the tree aged and died, is kinda’ modern-art: it’s pentangular, with a sun roof! Three kids can sleep in there easily during camp-outs from the retreat!
We like to sing and dance with children and their families, and if you ask for a family singalong at the cabin you're almost sure to get one!
Plus: swimming in Canoe Creek, campfires, stargazing, birdwatching, and seasonal events like cider pressing, gardening, black walnut gathering, maple syrup boiling, and maypole dancing.
Our girls grew up in the log cabin, and we’ve left some of their favorite books, games, and art supplies down there for other kids to discover. There’s a small loom, marbles, wooden puzzles, homemade Lincoln logs, blocks, a flower press, and more.
We look forward to meeting you!
Guest access
The whole cabin is yours. The 29 acres where we live is yours to share with us.
Other things to note
July and August can sometimes bring hot sticky spells of weather to the Midwest. The cabin does not have air conditioning, but we do have a system for using the windows and the night air to cool things down. Also there are ceiling fans in each room and a smaller fan that you can move around where you'd like it. And, there's the creek just a short walk down the road!
While you're here, you may also like to check out Luna Valley Pizza, or Little Dipper Sauna Company.
