Point of Interest: Grain Bin Getaway

Grain Bin Getaway

Plan a countryside escape at the Grain Bin Lodge and Retreat near Le Mars.

By Haley Banwart

There is more to a grain bin than what meets the eye. To some, they are iconic fixtures of the heartland, but to farmers, these sturdy units of corrugated steel store their livelihood.

The Grain Bin Lodge and Retreat near Le Mars offers guests a oneof-a-kind experience inside one of the cylindrical structures found on grain farms across the state.

Antique Store to Airbnb

Iowa natives and Airbnb Superhosts, Greg and Ronda Jahn, are the visionaries behind the vacation rental that has been recognized as one of the top ten unique stays in Iowa.

Twenty-seven years ago, the Jahns purchased a 10-acre site that included the farmhouse where the couple resides today, along with other outbuildings and a grain bin that once stored the previous owner’s corn crop.

In 2016, the Jahns renovated the grain bin into an antique store where they sold a collection of historic treasures sourced from local markets and auctions across the Midwest. When the retail industry was disrupted in 2020, the Jahns decided to convert the building into an Airbnb.

“Our neighbors thought we were crazy,” Greg shares. “Even we were a little apprehensive at first since we had moved to an acreage to enjoy the peace and quiet, and here we were about to host guests about 500 yards away from our home.”

Despite the hesitation and work that went into adding a shower and hot water heater, the same qualities that attracted the Jahns to the countryside made their new homestay accommodation a huge success.

“We’re conveniently located 2 miles east of Le Mars on a gravel road where guests can really get away from it all and enjoy the beautiful country scenery,” says Greg. “There is plenty of room to wander and the interior of the grain bin offers a unique aesthetic.”

Greg and Ronda Jahn travel across the Midwest to gather unique antiques to decorate their grain bin.

Rustic Charm, Retro Décor

Inside the rural retreat, the perimeter walls feature reclaimed barnwood saved from a nearby farmstead. Many of the Jahn’s antiques are on display including a buffalo hide scale, vintage signs and a staircase railing made from the wooden handles of scythes – an agricultural hand tool once used for clearing land or cutting hay.

The 700-square-foot main floor includes a full bath, retro kitchenette, seating and a large dining area. Upstairs, guests can make themselves comfortable in one of three beds overlooking the 500-square-foot open loft.

Beyond the covered porch outside, guests can enjoy a stroll through an orchard and garden or gather around a fire pit. Approximately seven acres of trees and shrubs surround the bin and host a variety of wildlife and songbirds.

“We’ve welcomed visitors and repeat guests from coast-to-coast who are drawn by the novelty of staying in a grain bin,” says Greg. “The most rewarding part of the experience has been meeting people and sharing our hospitality to ensure guests enjoy their stay.”