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Beautifully updated cottage right in the heart of Fertile, Iowa!

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Dining
Exterior
Room
Exterior
Room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5116.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View map
Fertile, IA
  • Storre Wildlife Management Area
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Buddy Holly Crash Site
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Surf Ballroom and Museum
    ‪23 min drive‬
  • Mason City, IA (MCW-Mason City Municipal)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area

About this property

Beautifully updated cottage right in the heart of Fertile, Iowa!

Welcome to Memento Vivere, in Fertile, Iowa! Memento Vivere means "Remember you have to Live" and this 122 year old house was completely brought back to life by its owners with modern amenities and a cozy atmosphere, all the while preserving its charm. This 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom cottage is the perfect place to get away from all the hustle and bustle of life. With a separate workspace, dining room, living room, kitchen, coffee/wine bar - this house has everything you need to relax and unwind.

Property manager

Tracy
Premier Host

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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Exterior

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  • Washer
  • Dryer
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10.0 out of 10, (192 reviews)
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House Rules

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

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
We are very proud of this home brought back to lif
No smoking, no parties, no loud noise. Quiet time
If any additional cleaning is required past one ho

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
Long-term renters welcome
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Fertile

Fertile is home to this holiday home. Buddy Holly Crash Site and Surf Ballroom and Museum are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Storre Wildlife Management Area and Mallard Marsh. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and hiking/biking trails.
Map
Fertile, IA

What's nearby

  • Storre Wildlife Management Area - 3 min drive - 1.5 km
  • Buddy Holly Crash Site - 20 min drive - 14.0 km
  • Diamond Jo Casino - 22 min drive - 34.0 km
  • Surf Ballroom and Museum - 23 min drive - 32.9 km
  • Clear Lake State Park - 27 min drive - 37.0 km

Getting around

  • Mason City, IA (MCW-Mason City Municipal) - 18 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cafe Mir - ‬4 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautifully updated cottage right in the heart of Fertile, Iowa! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Beautifully updated cottage right in the heart of Fertile, Iowa!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautifully updated cottage right in the heart of Fertile, Iowa!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautifully updated cottage right in the heart of Fertile, Iowa! located?

Situated in Fertile, this holiday home is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from Storre Wildlife Management Area and within 6 miles (10 km) of Mallard Marsh and Grant Townhall. Winnebago Oxbow and Prairie Pothole Wildlife Area are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

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. 41 out of 41 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 41 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 41 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 41 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 41 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Cindy P.

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

The best kittle VRBO house EVER!

I would recommend this house and town 5 0ut of 5 stars. I love the Cafe Mir' for its big city menu and the beautiful little river town!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeff G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
What a fantastic property. Modern updates, everything you need in a quiet location. Great communication with the owner, easy check in process. Thank you for an enjoyable weekend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Hillary B.

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

Great stay

Nice property, great stay. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

John P.

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

Perfect in every way

Beautifully restored and maintained, this house was the perfect place for us to stay in Fertile. The owner communicated well and was very accommodating. Highly recommend staying here.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Clark C.

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

Great renovation and location!

Very cute property in the small town of Fertile, IA. Location was perfect as it we were in for a wedding at the Winan Creek Barn venue. This was five minutes away vs almost 20 to the nearest hotel. Impressively peaceful on the back patio at night, and just a few blocks down the block from a great little restaurant called Cafe Mir. Definitely recommend if staying in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Diane C.

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

Weekend getaway

Very clean and cozy home!! Bigger than i expected. Tastefully decorated. Comfortable furnishings. Very cute town. We had dinner at the restaurant Mir, and were surprised that they were so busy had to wait for almost an hour. Oddly enough the antique store next door served alcoholism beverages on their patio and had live music. The food was incredible!!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amy B.

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

Beautiful and clean home!

Perfect place to stay. Quaint little town. The house is just as pictured, beautifully decorated, clean and plenty of room to relax.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rachel S.

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

Family Getaway

This Fertile house was a perfect place to spend a few nights. My family of four was able to spread out and my girls especially loved the gorgeous upstairs bedroom. Plus we were within walking distance to our favorite Iowa restaurant, Cafe Mir.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

shannon z.

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

Quick trip to see daughter in college

Excellent. House was clean and updated. Will try to stay here each time we come.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew R.

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

Great

Great to get away to a spot we hadn't been Ate at Cafe Mir and Prime 'n Done, very yummy. Place was very clean and we loved it
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kailtin H.

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

Beautiful place to stay for a long weekend!

The property was recently renovated and as beautiful as it looks in the photos. Would highly recommend this property if you would like to stay in the area.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie M.

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

Great place to stay!!

We loved it. It was perfect. They even put up a Christmas Tree.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christie C.

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

Girls weekend

This was a great place for a short girls weekend away stay. Quiet, beautiful and owner was very accommodating. Would stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Loree V.

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

Perfect

This was our second time staying here and it's just as perfect as it was the first time. It's a great location and very clean. It's so relaxing and just a joy to come "home" to.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kay K.

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

Sisters weekend

We had a wonderful time in this home. It’s beautiful, clean and so comfortable.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Amazing place!

Everything was perfect. Beautiful setting and well stocked for a getaway. Fire pit was an added bonus! Will definitely stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Loree V.

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

Lovely home

The home was absolutely lovely. It was very clean and just had a wonderful feel. It was close to restaurants and activities. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey R.

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

Perfect!

Couldn't have asked for a better experience. The cottage is adorable, spotless, and well stocked for any need that may arise during your stay! We'll definitely be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

John C.

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

Weekend Getaway

My second stay at this location. Quiet, clean and comfortable. A short drive to both Clear Lake and Diamond Jo Casino. I really enjoy staying at this property and it is just like the pictures. I’ll be back again.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Renee M.

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

Beautiful!!

Cute, quaint home in quiet little town! Hosts were super helpful!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anne S.

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

Perfect space for our family.

For our weekend stay it was myself, my wife, our 4yr old and my mother. The bed on the main floor was helpful for my mom (no stairs), and the rest of us slept upstairs. Beds were comfortable.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alicia H.

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

Great Weekend

My husband, best friend, and her husband came down for a wedding in Joice. We loved the idea of having our own space vs staying at the casino. We hung out, played games, and had the best time in this gorgeous small town home.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barb R.

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

Wonderful place to stay

Wonderful place to stay. It is super cute and clean. We had all the comforts of home for far less than a tiny expensive hotel room. Fertile is very close to Mason City and Clear Lake. We can’t wait to stay there again. 😊
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michael N.

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

Daughter

We enjoyed the house getting away from the wedding busyness
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pam C.

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

Absolutely Stunning

Beautiful property. Absolutely everything we needed and LOTS MORE! Lots of comfy blankets and pillows. Comfy beds. Campfire pit. Great communication with host. Easy check-in. Great instructions.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

About the host

Hosted by Tracy

Host profile image
Both my husband and I are Iowa natives. My husband grew up in nearby Mason City and I was raised in the Iowa City area. We have strong family ties still in North Iowa and own property in Clear Lake where we love to spend time.

Why they chose this property

We fell in love with this town having visited a local restaurant called Cafe Mir. We were looking for properties for storage purposes and this fit the bill. The house is 122 years old and was in a sad state after being neglected for many of those years. Our choices were to tear it down or build it back and we chose the latter and didn't look back. We hope our guests enjoy the updated amenities and also enjoy this quaint North Iowa town.

What makes this property unique

In addition to the local restaurant, Cafe Mir, there is also a coffee shop and market open on the weekends .. Fertile Beans and the Fertile Market.

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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