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Beautiful remodeled historic Drake Univ home minutes from downtown and all metro

Photo gallery for Beautiful remodeled historic Drake Univ home minutes from downtown and all metro

Interior
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Exterior
7 bedrooms, desk, travel cot, free WiFi
Smart TV, fireplace, books

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

7 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 20279 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Gym
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Des Moines, IA
  • Drake University
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Knapp Center
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Hoyt Sherman Place
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Des Moines, IA (DSM-Des Moines Intl.)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

Smart TV, video games, ping pong

NEW REMODEL! ARCADE GAMES, PNG PNG, SKEE BALL, ACCESS TO POOLS..WE HAVE IT ALL!

  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
4.8 out of 5, Exceptional, (51)
The price is AU$882
for 1 home
includes taxes & fees
18 Mar - 19 Mar
NEW REMODEL! ARCADE GAMES, PNG PNG, SKEE BALL, ACCESS TO POOLS..WE HAVE IT ALL!

About the area

Des Moines

With a stay at this vacation home in Des Moines (Drake), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Drake University and Wells Fargo Arena. .This family-friendly vacation home is 9.6 mi (15.4 km) from Jordan Creek Town Center and 6.7 mi (10.8 km) from Iowa State Fairgrounds.
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What's nearby

  • Drake University - 6 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Hoyt Sherman Place - 5 min drive - 3.8 km
  • Wells Fargo Arena - 5 min drive - 5.3 km
  • Iowa Events Center - 5 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Hy Vee Hall - 5 min drive - 5.5 km

Getting around

  • Des Moines International Airport (DSM) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Casey's - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Black Cat Ice Cream - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Burger King - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Drake Diner - ‬18 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.

Beautiful remodeled historic Drake Univ home minutes from downtown and all metro

Historic 1895 home completely remodeled with all new bathrooms and kitchen and original hardwood oak floors refinished throughout. Brand new kitchen with island seating and large dining table. Original fireplace with infrared insert. Walking distance to Drake stadium and Knapp center and all facilities. Minutes drive or even bike to downtown and all metro area. So central to almost everywhere in the metro and in a great neighborhood.
Just finishing up this remodel now with final touches so book early to be the first ones to use the beautiful space full of original character and updated features. I plan to continue to add to the property with additional touches as time allows.
This is a great space to entertain large family gatherings or multiple families and more bedrooms than most single family homes. Fun to imagine what life was like in this historic home back in 1895 in its original glory.

Huge dining table sits 8 comfortably and potentially more with provided extra chairs.
Peninsula/island has bar top seating for 3 or 4 more
Brand new appliances
All new paint and flooring throughout
Refinished original oak hardwood floors.
All beds and bedding and bathroom towels etc new.
Main Living room seats 10 comfortably and more room if extra chairs brought into the space.
Upstairs living room seats 4 comfortably and game room with TV and air hockey table and a wall. Mounted infrared fireplace.
Massage/heat powered lift reclining chair upstairs.
3 all updated bathrooms including one tub/shower others are shower only.

Outside enjoy a massive front porch with swing and stone table with chairs around. Also a grill is out front on a brand new patio with furniture.
Small front yard but enough space to play.
Drake University owned open lawn space they use for practice fields etc right across the street for public use to play field games or sports. I also have large portable tailgate tents and some tables and folding chairs that can be rented for $30 if requested before your stay.

Large parking lot in back of house for around 5 cars and another 6 or so can parallel park in the double wide long driveway. Alley access too for convenient entering and exiting or if bringing a trailer.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a fireplace and a Smart TV. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include a desk and a microwave.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as a fitness center, or other amenities including an arcade/game room and barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.

Property manager

Ryan

Property amenities

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • On-site parking

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 7 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathrooms

  • 3 bathrooms
  • Bath or shower
  • Towels provided
  • Shampoo
  • Hairdryer
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Dining room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV
  • Games room
  • Books
  • Games

Outdoor areas

  • Porch or lanai
  • Barbecue
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Things to do

  • Fitness centre

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 installed (host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit

General

  • Unit size: 3000 sq ft (279 sq m)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

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

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Long-term renters welcome
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 indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
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

Beautiful remodeled historic Drake Univ home minutes from downtown and all metro Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 38 out of 41 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 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

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jaclyn B., Elkader

Liked: Cleanliness
State tournament
We came to Des Moines for state wrestling. The house is big, was very clean and accommodating. I had one question about the internet while we were there and the owner was very responsive. Check in and out were very easy. They have games, exercise equipment and plenty of room for everyone to spread out. We would definitely stay there again!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice house
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tammy B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous
We loved this property! It was a lovely, big house for our sports team. The location was great and the neighbors were super friendly.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tami P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Home for Large Group
We had a large group stay in this wonderful home recently for a conference held at the convention center. It was a cozy and welcoming home and it functioned perfectly for all who stayed here. Communication was clear and check-in / check-out was easy. Definitely recommend this home.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Melody S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great amenities, tricky outside stairs
Our family loved the thoughtful and fun amenities provided in this large home. The small Christmas tree was especially thoughtful since we were gathering for the holidays! The host had good communication as well when we had questions. One note - the outside stairs and railings leading into the house are run down and not up to code. The risers are different heights, and the treads are uneven (especially the cement stairs). It was particularly hard to see the cement stairs down to the driveway at night (maybe host could add some solar powered lights?). Our family has some older folks and one family member with visual impairment, so the different height risers was hard. Host offered for us to walk up from the neighbor's driveway, but it was a bit too steep and too far for my older parents. (We appreciated the offer though!) We'd love to stay again for another holiday gathering, especially if the outside stairs are brought up to code.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paul K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great property
Large house and pictures do justice . A lot of bedrooms and great living room
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kurt B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Large Older Home for Family Thanksgiving
Shared this house with my extended family for Thanksgiving - six adults and six kids of all ages. House was spacious enough to spread out in. Decent kitchen and large dining room met our needs. House is older - a lot of interesting nooks and rooms, but heating was inconsistent. Owner noted that heating vents may have been closed to cause that issue. Piano, TVs, air hockey, board games, kids toys were all a hit. Neighborhood is older and fairly quiet, close to Drake University. It met our needs very well.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jody T., San Jose

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect for a group of 10 people
We stayed for a family wedding and the house was very accommodating for 10 people. Anywhere you want to go in Des Moines is only 15 minutes from this location!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Wyatt Y.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great spot!
Good location, lots of space.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Keith C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Stay for the Fair
We had a great stay at this property! It has a great location near Drake with grocery stores and restaurants nearby - some within walking distance. We had a family gathering for the fair (a <15 min drive or <5 min to fair shuttle) and it was great for the kids. We enjoyed having the extra space for family get together. Dinners were easy with the kitchen and large dining table. Highly recommended this place for groups given the size and location!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie D.

Liked: Cleanliness
.
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Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

charlie n.

Liked: Cleanliness
lost jacket
Did you find a jacket in the front downstairs bedroom?
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

kimberly m.

Liked: Cleanliness
Enjoyed our stay!
This is an older home but has been decorated and kept well. The littles loved the bunk beds, game room and many kid friendly extras!! Everyone slept well on comfortable beds and the house was very clean! We loved the amount of space we had and especially loved the large table that allowed us all to sit around it and visit! Our hosts were easy to communicate with and very friendly, I would suggest using the WiFi to communicate from the house if needed as I couldn't count on Verizon from there. Overall, we enjoyed our stay, would recommend it and stay there again!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jody J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
Ryan was a wonderful host. Very helpful and answered quickly. Hose was very clean and nicely remodeled
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Erica N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Loved it
Super house! Very clean, kitchen things were labeled, lots of seating. Loved all the bedrooms and beds available. Host had great communication and very friendly.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bonnie P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great find!
The rambling old home is warm and inviting. The wide open space and windows adds charm to the house and the many rooms afford plenty of space.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

8/10 Good

karen m., Orange City

Liked: Cleanliness
Bed shortage
The place was nice it was clean. The only problem I had was listing said there were two queens in the living space and there was not. There was just two sofas that did not pull out. So I was short beds, and one of our families had to go to a hotel. Bunkhouse occupied the kids, but as for my single adults that I thought I was getting separate beds for that became a problem. By the family leaving and going to the hotel that freed up the bunkhouse for my single adults.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Adam B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great property!
My coworkers and I had a fantastic stay at this house. We each got our own bedroom which was a big plus and there were plenty of bathrooms and amenities for all of us. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lynda G.

Liked: Cleanliness
94 DG Relays Reunion
We were in town for our 30th anniversary, graduating from Drake. The house was perfect for 5 of us - bedrooms were comfortable and bathrooms were clean. Plenty of space to hang out inside and out - numerous Scrabble games on the front porch. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amanda D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Business Trip
My team was in Des Moines working on a project. Their stay was wonderful - clean, accommodating, comfortable. We will definitely be booking again. thank you for your wonderful hospitality.
Stayed 11 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carrie C.

Liked: Cleanliness
State Pool Crew
We had such a great weekend and this was an amazing place to stay. Can’t tell you enough how comfortable the beds and the whole house was. Only thing missing was a pizza cutter but they had plenty of knifes that did the job. I would definitely stay here again. Thanks for a great place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rachael B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Retreat
This was a great well stocked location. Plenty of room for our retreat. It had everything we needed. We would stay there again!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Travis F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very Convenient!!
This is a beautiful home that is located just minutes from downtown and super easy to access in a busy city. We loved the space the home had to offer along with the location. There are some good watering holes and restaurants just a few blocks from the house. My family and friends stayed here while we attended the state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo. We didn't know exactly how many people we were going to have stay at the house but the hosts were very understanding of that and were willing to work with us on pricing. All the adults had their own bedroom's and the kiddos enjoyed the bunk beds they got to share. The host Ryan was very transparent and a joy to work with. I highly recommend this listing if you are planning a trip to Des Moines with a large family or many friends.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andrew R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect for what we needed
It was really close to downtown. The place was great for us, and accommodated all of our needs!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lori K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect for Family Gatherings
We were able to sleep 11 people comfortably and never had to worry about being in each others way in this sizable, remodeled, beautiful house! Ryan has done an amazing job setting up the house to accommodate large groups. We slept 11 comfortably and had 15 over for meals regularly. Everything was provided and we were able to find exactly what we needed. As well, the remodeled bathrooms are beautiful. We had a terrific time and hope to be back. My 95 year old mother enjoyed having her bedroom and bathroom on the first floor very close to all of the action! We set up a small artificial tree in the living room and had a great holiday! Thank you Ryan! It was perfect!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023