Entire home

See Garden of the Gods; Shawnee National Forest, Illinois Ozarks

Photo gallery for See Garden of the Gods; Shawnee National Forest, Illinois Ozarks

Living area
Exterior
Private kitchen
Dining
Room
Reviews
9.8 out of 10 Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8167 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Elizabethtown, IL
  • Popular LocationShawnee National Forest1 min walk
  • Popular LocationGarden of the Gods Recreation Area12 min drive
  • Popular LocationGarden of the Gods Trailhead19 min drive
  • AirportPaducah, KY (PAH-Barkley Regional)72 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

back bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Front bedroom

1 Queen Bed

twin bedroom

1 Single Bed

2 bathrooms

front bath

Hall bath

Spaces

Deck or patio

About this property

See Garden of the Gods; Shawnee National Forest, Illinois Ozarks

This single family, 3 bedroom, 2 bath home is located just minutes from the famous Garden of the Gods in southern Illinois. The home was completely remodeled summer of 2019 and easily accommodates 8 people. There is a hot tub on the screened in back porch and a large full size kitchen with full size appliances, laundry room with washer and dryer. The living room has a 55" HD TV with Dish TV that includes 250 channels. We also offer free fiber-optic WiFi internet (50mps). There is a desk for those that may need to work a little and air hockey for those that don't. We supply complimentary coffee, coffee filters, cream, sugar packets, salt, pepper, hand soap, dish soap, laundry pods, dishwasher pods, toilet paper, paper towels, firewood and camp chairs and of course, FREE WiFi.

Prairie house is located minutes away from Garden of the Gods, Pounds Hollow Lake, Rim Rock Recreational area, Cave in Rock at the heart of the Illinois Ozarks.

We are pet friendly and do not charge extra for your pets. Although this home sits on 60 private acres, the owners do live on the back side of this property and ask that you respect their privacy. Guests are welcome to walk around the front of this property but are asked to not go beyond the pond. You are welcome to pet the horses if they come up to the fence but guests may not enter the pasture with the horses at any time. This property does boarder thousands of acres of Shawnee National Forest and is only a 1/4 mile off the River to River trail.

Please note, you must include an accurate number of people with your reservation request , regardless of how many nights each person is staying. We do count children as well.

We have been in the vacation rental business for 11 years and live on the back of this 60 acre parcel. We are always available by phone or text to our guests if needed.

Come see what all the fuss is about and go home with memories to last a lifetime!

*** Pets and Kids:***
We are a Pet and Kid Friendly rental. We allow up to two pets per unit for no additional charge, however, we do require a credit card to be on file in the event there is any damage to the unit or its furnishings. To remain a pet friendly rental, pets that are aggressive towards other dogs, cats or people, will NOT be allowed. Pet owners assume ALL liability for their pets. Aggressive animals will be asked to leave immediately.

All pets are required to be current on shots and must be protected with Flea and Tick medicine BEFORE you arrive. All pets must be crated if left unattended in the units. No exceptions please! For your convenience, we do rent crates of all sizes for $8 per visit (not per night) but it is BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket). Please call us in advance if you will need a crate in your unit. Please note, we will automatically charge your credit card for any damages done to the units, furnishings, linens or towels. PLEASE help us remain a pet friendly resort and just let us know if your pet had a bad day and accidentally chewed the towel or corner of the rug. We ask only that you reimburse us for the cost of the damaged item.

Even if your pet typically doesn't jump on the furniture, PLEASE bring thick blankets to cover the furniture with anyway! This goes a long way to helping the cleaning people get all the dog hair up before the next guests arrive. Thanks!

The unit is guaranteed to be ready by 4pm. If you plan to arrive early, you MUST CALL us in advance. We will make arrangements to get you in as soon as it is cleaned and ready for you.

Property manager

Elizabeth
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Pet-friendly
Outdoor space

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Elizabethtown

This vacation home is located in Elizabethtown. Rim Rock National Recreation Trailhead and Garden of the Gods Trailhead are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Shawnee National Forest and Garden of the Gods Recreation Area. Ross Cottom Lanes and The Chocolate Factory are also worth visiting.
Map
Elizabethtown, IL

What's nearby

  • Shawnee National Forest - 1 min walk
  • Garden of the Gods Recreation Area - 12 min drive
  • Garden of the Gods Trailhead - 19 min drive
  • Hitching Post Trailhead - 19 min drive
  • Cave in Rock State Park - 42 min drive

Getting around

  • Paducah, KY (PAH-Barkley Regional) - 71 min drive

Restaurants

  • Trail End Restaurant - 20 min drive
  • The Gap Bar & Grill - 15 min drive

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 44 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 49 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 49 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

6.0/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The property was very spacious and was laid out well, if the configuration was a bit unusual. It was close to local attractions such as Garden of the Gardens and Cave in a Rock. It could have been challenging to find, except that the host provided excellent directions. Two of the bedrooms had doors which were sticky, the bathroom we used lacked hooks or towel racks, and the stove could benefit from a light and fan. Generally, though, an excellent property suitable for more people and/or a longer stay. The air hockey table is a nice extra feature.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leah L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Shawnee Hiking
Great house and location! Had fun hiking in Shawnee
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary S., Yorkville

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet country getaway!
Had a great stay at Prarie House. Lots of room to spread out, comfy beds thick towels,super clean, responsive host, firepit, big sky, quiet-no traffic, everything we needed in kitchen, it was perfect!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

John H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Shawnee Forest vacation
We are usually looking for something secluded when we vacation. This property was prefect for that. It was neat, clean and comfortable. Prefect location for visiting Garden of the gods and other sites close by.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

DawnMarie Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The House in the woods
This property is gorgeous from the time you pull in until you walk through the whole house. The house is close to everything that we wanted to see while we were down in the Shawnee national forest.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Elizabeth

Host profile image
In 2010 Marty & Elizabeth relocated to southern Illinois from the suburbs of Chicago. After a 25-year career building high rises in Chicago, Marty turned his attention to building something unique that would provide a venue for families and couples to make life long memories. In early 2012 they opened Timber Ridge Outpost & Cabins, A treehouse and log cabin resort in the heart of the Illinois Ozarks. In 2017 they opened The Garden of the Gods Outpost, an ice cream and gift store. In the fall of 2022 Marty & Elizabeth sold Timber Ridge and The Outpost but continue to rent their Walnut Hill home and their Prairie House homes thru VRBO and personal connections. When you stay at Walnut hill, you are in good hands with experienced hosts that know how to do it right.

Why they chose this property

For over 10 years your hosts, Marty and Elizabeth have hosted properties that are ranked #1 in our area on TripAdvisor with over 200 FIVE STAR reviews. We have been featured National Geographic book (2022) in Better Homes & Garden (2021), Washington Post (2021), Life & Style in southern Illinois (2016), Chicago magazine, AAA travel magazine, Midwest Traveler magazine, The Saturday Evening Post (August 2016), Chicago Parent Going Places magazine (2012 & 2014 & 2017), on Cruisin' Illinois with Julian Cruz (WGN-TV spring 2013) as well as a long list of various blogs, regional publications and more.

Come see what all the fuss is about and go home with memories to last a lifetime!

What makes this property unique

Enjoy wonderful sunrise and sunsets overlooking the rolling hills of southern Illinois. Relax and hang out around a campfire (firewood supplied). You are just minutes away from the famous Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock, Pounds Hollow Lake and more.

Unlike many vacation rental places, the owners, Marty and Elizabeth live on the same 60 acre property as Prairie House and are available if you need anything during your stay.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

More Holiday Rentals ideas

People also search for