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Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn

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Photo gallery for Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn

Property grounds
Interior
Dining
Exterior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Outdoor Space
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

View in a map
Elkader, IA
  • Carter House Museum
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Pikes Peak State Park
    ‪40 min drive‬
  • Wyalusing State Park
    ‪55 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Elkader

In Elkader .You'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Carter House Museum and 16 miles (25 km) of Froelich Foundation Museum. Spook Cave is within 16 miles (25 km) and Bloody Run Creek Wildlife Management Area is within 20 miles (32 km).
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What's nearby

  • Carter House Museum - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Keystone Bridge - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Spook Cave - 29 min drive - 19.5 miles
  • Pikes Peak State Park - 40 min drive - 27.0 miles
  • Wyalusing State Park - 55 min drive - 40.4 miles

Restaurants

  • ‪Johnson's Restaurant - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Fennellys' Irish Pub - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪The Burger Barn - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪St Olaf Tavern - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Drew's Bar and Grill - ‬11 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn

EMMA BIG BEAR
Need accommodations for a larger group? Emma Big Bear is the suite for you. 2 spacious bedrooms can sleep up to 5 inmates. The master room has a queen bed, while the second, conjoined bedroom has a double bed and twin bed for the kids. Emma Big Bear was a frequent guest of the “Inn” when it was the Clayton County Jailhouse. The last of her tribe Emma was famous for her beaded jewelry, tapestries and rugs. Coming from a very poor area Emma would sometimes overindulge in spirits just to get a warm bed and a hot meal that the jailhouse provided. While your accommodations will be much more comfortable than hers, you can enjoy the same respite in the suite with her namesake. The bathroom is across the hall.

THE JAILHOUSE

Enjoy your sentence at the historic Elkader Jailhouse Inn. Built 150 years ago to house Clayton County's most dangerous criminals, the recently renovated 5,000+ square foot limestone mansion sits on a 3 acre bluff overlooking the rolling hills of Elkader, Iowa. Enjoy 4 spacious suites that pamper you with luxurious beds and spa-like bathrooms while overflowing with character and historic charm. As an inmate you will have access to the gourmet kitchen, scenic patio overlooking the valley, and of course everyone’s favorite: the cell block. The authentic jail cells, evidence, and paraphernalia make this a stay you won’t soon forget. But don’t worry it won’t stay on your record. Don’t forget to take your mugshot! Entertaining a big group? Rent the whole jailhouse for accommodations of up to 20 inmates! Perfect for all occasions from a weekend getaway to a wedding party. It should be a crime not to stay here!

THE TOWN

The Jail house overlooks the quaint town of Elkader, Iowa, the county seat of Clayton County. Your accommodations are just blocks from the Main street restaurants and boutiques that line the Turkey river. Ample shopping and dining attractions are within walking distance. The town and surrounding countryside of Northeastern Iowa provide plenty of leisure activities from Pike’s Peak and Backbone state Parks, to the historic Effigy Mounds, not to mention abundant trout fishing, including within the nearby scenic Yellow River State Forest. Catch a concert at the Opera House, cut cards at the Casino in nearby Mcgregor, hit the links at one of the area's golf courses or spend a day on the water floating a local river. The natural beauty and historic charm will make you a repeat offender!

Property manager

Penn Nobis

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Property grounds

Botanical Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
4.9 out of 5, Exceptional, 16 reviews
$196 nightly
The price is $220
Aug 26 - Aug 27
Total with taxes and fees
Botanical Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Games
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Smoking not allowed

Location highlights

  • In a rural location

Things to do

  • Casino nearby
  • Golfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property
Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn Elkader

Frequently asked questions

Does Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

How much does it cost to stay at Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn?

As of Aug 25, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn on Aug 26, 2025 start from $108.0, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home, but Casino Queen (26-min drive) is nearby.

What time is check-in at Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn have a pool?

This vacation home does not have a pool.

Does Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

How close is Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn to downtown Elkader?

This vacation home is 0.4 mi away from Elkader.

Emma Big Bear Suite at Elkader Jailhouse Inn Reviews

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 9 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 9 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 9 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 9 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 9 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Carin L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Love being in jail

We always enjoy our stay at the Jailhouse Inn. The only request I would have would be updated/new mattresses and an actual headboard for the bed in the Emma Big Bear suite. It's always clean. The shower is wonderful. Tidying up before leaving is never a problem. Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Vicky S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great place to stay

Loved that it was walkable to town, We had the whole house to use. No other guests. It was very comfortable
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michele B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fun experience

Fun place to stay with our friends. The house was clean, well stocked and easy to find!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Donna L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice time in the Jailhouse Inn

Great renovations to a historical jailhouse! Nice quiet stay.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

gail L.

Liked: Cleanliness

Jailhouse Rock

Wasn’t sure what to expect with having some areas of home being common area. Luckily we had the place to ourselves. Very relaxing and fun environment. Great view! Would love to live there! Will be back!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2022

6/10 Okay

Diane B.

Not impressed

First impressions were a bit frightening. The owners don’t seem to be concerned about guest safety. There were no lights on outside so it’s difficult to navigate your way to the front door. Once inside, we had to find the light switch in the dark to light up the entry. Rooms were not very clean despite the very high cleaning fees charged.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dee P.

Get away!

Took a short excursion for a few days to celebrate my husband’s retirement My sister and brother-in-law from Florida were along. This was a fun place to experience and we had a lot of fun! A suggestion would be to have a book with more history and pictures of the previous jail and include guestbook, WiFi password, check out procedures, etc.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Jennifer W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Unique experience

The prison feel was a little eery but, ultimately, a fun experience. My only complaint was that our room was quite hot for sleeping and one of the ceiling fans didn’t work (which would have helped). Elkader is a cute little town and the Inn had a gorgeous view.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kim H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Unique and charming

Very unique with charm. Perfect retreat to get away and disconnect. Comfy beds, good water pressure and many areas at the Inn to relax. Call the town's retail shops and restaurants before heading there, and plan your meals in advance. The town shuts down at 2pm on Saturdays, many are not open on Sundays including the grocery store. Good kayaking on The Little Turkey River.