Elkader JailHouse Inn

"They have done a beautiful job restoring and furnishing the Jailhouse Inn. The only thing I would change are the beds. We didn't find them terribly comfortable. But they also weren't the worst thing I've ever slept on. The building and the rooms are beautiful. The kitchen is massive and the dining room has a perfect size table for friends and relatives to join in for dinner. The shower pressure was fantastic. We all felt really comfortable there. There's plenty of parking. They should note in their instructions that if you come in at night, the parking lot is on the left hand side of the building as you're facing it. The only reason it got 4 instead of 5 stars were the beds, and that's being picky. Watch your footing on the front steps as I believe those are the original steps and they have a larger rise to them than contemporary standards."

"Great spot to have a group! 5 rooms for couples (one can fit 2 couples, so 6 couples if 2 are ok w sharing). 4 jailcells w 5 bunks for singles. 4 areas to hang out- Kitchen, Dining room, bar in the jail common area, and gazebo. ALL area plenty spacious."

"My friends and I rented a room here over the weekend. Instantly walking into the Inn was like stepping back through time. The dining room to the right was large and beautiful. Through there you came to a modern kitchen with a huge island area to use for serving or prep. Upstairs was our suite, a two bedroom that had a shared bathroom across the hall. Every room had its own lock and code, which made us feel secure. We didn’t have access to any other rooms, which was fine, although you can rent the entire inn. The best part was, again, downstairs. The old cell block sat at the back of the hallway, with a bar and a game table on the right, but everything else was set up like a little historic tour and it was great looking at the old cells and reading the history. Highly recommended stay!!"

"This is one of the neatest places I've stayed, and I've traveled A LOT! The outside view of the town is gorgeous, and the Jailhouse itself is stunning inside and out. We stayed in the Harstad room, which is at the top (beware, lots of stairs to that room haha!); it was super cozy and the giant bath was a nice perk. The common area on the main floor def looks like an old jail still, but they've added a TV and such for hanging out. The owner was also accommodating and nice to work with when we had to switch dates. Will definitely stay here again next time we visit Elkader!!"