Our 80-Acre Farm, Lake, Nature Trail, Bonfires, Starry Nights 2 Miles Grafton

Most places you rent for a weekend.
This one has been loved by a family for over 80 years.

Welcome to our 80-acre family farm just outside Grafton, where mornings start with coffee on the porch, afternoons might mean fishing the spring-fed lake or hiking our half-mile nature trail, and evenings end around a bonfire under a sky full of stars. Since 2004, we’ve been opening our family farm to guests, and because this place means so much to our family, we try to make every guest feel the same thing when they arrive…Like they’re home.

If you’re craving peaceful mornings, wide-open skies, and a place where life slows down for a while, you just might fall in love with the Homestead.

Bring the kids. Bring the dog. Bring the people you love most.
The whole farm is yours to enjoy.

Our cozy 2-bedroom farmhouse guesthouse sits on 80 private acres of our family farm, complete with a spring-fed one-acre fishing lake, a ½-mile nature trail for hiking, and plenty of room to roam.

And when you’re ready for a little river town fun, downtown Grafton is just two miles away with wineries, restaurants, shops, and live music.

The Homestead Hangout

Sometimes the best memories happen when you’re doing absolutely nothing.

Our Homestead Hangout is the perfect place to kick back with ping pong, foosball, and a comfortable couch that’s made for long conversations or afternoon naps.

We also keep a little guest library. Forgot your book? Borrow one. Didn’t finish it? Take it home. Around here, we believe good stories should travel.

Little Things to Discover

The Homestead has a few special places guests love to explore.

Walk out to Hedge Apple Point and snap a photo with “The Three Sisters.”

At night, grab a flashlight and head to Starry Nights, where the sky opens up in a way city lights never allow.

Before turning in, write a wish on a bead and hang it on the Wishing Tree. You never know.

Around the Homestead
Guests enjoy:
• ½-mile nature trail for hiking
• Spring-fed fishing lake
• Dock & pedal boat
• Bonfire pit
• BBQ grill
• Ping pong & foosball
• Huge covered porch
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Complimentary snacks
• Smart TV
• Free fiber Wi-Fi
• DVD player with 100+ movies

Gatherings, Celebrations & Good Times

Standard nightly rates include up to 12 guests.
Larger groups or events can absolutely be accommodated — just reach out and we’ll help plan your stay.

A Little Bit of History

In 1943, my parents purchased this 80-acre farm, farmhouse, and barn for $2,800. The current home was built in 1944 on the site of the original homestead. The white barn—still standing—is over 100 years old.

Because World War II limited building materials, the home was constructed entirely from reclaimed lumber purchased in Brighton, Illinois. There was no basement originally—my dad dug one by hand using a scoop pulled by mules, and my grandpa hand-hewed a massive white oak beam from the farm. That beam still supports the house today.
At first, there was no electricity, no gas, and no running water. We lived by kerosene lamps, cooked on a wood stove, and used rainwater collected in a cistern (still visible behind the house).

In 1964, a living room addition was added, requiring the hand-poured concrete steps to be moved—using my dad’s old John Deere tractor. Those steps still sit nearby.

In 2003, with help from my family, the Homestead Retreat became one of the first guesthouses in Grafton. A new porch, a sunroom conversion, fresh paint, and a few pillows later—we were ready. Mostly, it’s just as Mom and Dad left it…only now with running water and indoor plumbing!

Turning my childhood home into the Grafton Homestead Retreat has been—and continues to be—a true labor of love.

Welcome Home,
Shirley & Patricia
Family Owners & Hosts