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1850 Cabin Home, Waterfall, Family Getaway, Corporate Party, Weddings

Photo gallery for 1850 Cabin Home, Waterfall, Family Getaway, Corporate Party, Weddings

Beautiful ancient castle-like stone work waterfall cave and dipping pond.
Beautiful ancient castle-like stone work waterfall cave and dipping pond.
Nice wood home!
Beautiful ancient castle-like stone work.
Exterior

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8139.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Pool
  • Fireplace
  • Washer

Explore the area

Map
East Dubuque, IL
  • National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Diamond Jo Casino
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Dubuque, IA (DBQ-Dubuque Regional)
    ‪14 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1 (2nd floor - 1 Queen bed)

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2 (1 - King Bed)

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3 (living room)

1 Queen Sofa Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Futon

Bedroom 5

1 Single Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Office
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

1850 Cabin Home, Waterfall, Family Getaway, Corporate Party, Weddings

Updated 6-06 -2025

Please read ALL info below, Thank you.

This home is a rustic cabin built in 1850. It sits on a wooded 1 acre lot.

In the home: the first floor master bedroom 1 has a King Bed , it has a window AC, a 44" TV.

Bedroom 2 is the converted living room, which has a door and lock, it has a pull out sofa bed which is in excellent condition and has a good mattress. A blow up mattress can be used in this room since there is enough room. It sports a 55" flat screen Smart TV and dvd player. (1) Roku adapter is available.

The upstairs bedroom 3 has a Queen bed and has a beautiful view of the Mississippi River valley and historic downtown East Dubuque. It has new carpet, new paint, a small closet, 50" TV with DVD player., microwave and mini-fridge with freezer and a window unit AC.

There is a large rustic wood kitchen with plenty of dishes and pans for cooking, electric stove and refrigerator.

There is a dining room area which can be used as a 4th bedroom, it has a futon but a blow up mattress could be used as well.

There's a nice wooden porch which can be used as bedroom 5, if needed. It's large enough for a blow up mattress, but it also has a futon. It has a 55" flat screen TV and DVD player. We do have one high top queen blow up mattress available.

The backyard has a large 22 foot outdoor movie screen which can be used for showing movies, however there is a 30.00 fee for using this, movie hours are dark to 12am. You must bring your own projector,DVD player and Bluetooth speaker. Sound must be kept down if you have a huge speaker (There are neighbors). There is a stand for mounting the projector and Bluetooth speaker in the yard.

The backyard also sports a large incredible waterfall feature with a 8' x 8' pond. Waterfall operation instructions will be shown upon booking. The waterfall is usually operational from May through September. Note: the waterfall pond is not like a swimming pool where it's pristine, the cave is made of limestone and so there is sand present on the bottom of the pool sometimes. There is a pool vacuum and net guests may use to clean the pond more if they so choose. In the event of heavy rain sometimes the waterfall pond is not usable. No refunds if for some reason the waterfall or pond is not usable.

The backyard also has a 35' stage which can be used for events there is seating for 50 people with professional wedding event chairs on location (upcharge for weddings and use of wedding chairs, ask for details).

Yes we allow dogs and cats 15.00 PER PET (The VRBO invoice booking form has a box to check how many dogs you have, add the amount of dogs there. Please brush your dog before you stay, thank you. No dog pooping or peeing in the backyard, dogs must use the side lot (pass the pontoon by the drainage ditch to do their business), we understand this isn't always possible, but do try using the side lot (by the drainage ditch). No un-attended dogs in the house at any time unless they are trained, please bring a kennel if not. Again there is a wooded lot above that's great for dogs, so keep that in mind for letting the dogs run loose and also has a great view. You may hike up to that lot via the north trail if you so choose.

You may access Gramercy Park from the above lot as well. This park also has a great view of the river valley with Dubuque Iowa in the background. There are nice pavilions, restrooms, river overlooks, hiking trails, and new playground equipment free to the public. Park closes at 10pm so do be sure to note that.

Pitching a tent in the yard is permitted but it must be set up after 6 pm and taken down by 9 am each day so it doesn't harm the grass.

All areas are clean and well kept as shown in photos! And bug free!

Note: the King and Queen beds are made, when the guests checkout we will wash the bedding and remake them, if guests use the futons and/or the blow up mattress they can use the extra bedding in the King Bedroom closet and bathroom closet. Sometimes guests bring their own bedding, for instance when booking the home for more than 6 guests.

Smoking is allowed outside.

UP-CHARGES FOR THE FOLLOWING:

* Birthday parties, weddings or corporate events: ASK. private events will be between the hours of 12pm and 8pm. This up-charge is in ADDITION to the booking price. Also overnight guests are usually capped at 8.

Note: The hosts/caretaker stay in a travel trailer home located on the adjoining lot, this area is secluded by a 6 foot privacy fence, as shown in the property photos.

Guests may park in the driveway or in front of the home (not on yellow).

VRBO guests are responsible for cleaning up the yard after using it, and putting the chairs and tables back in place if moved. Cleaning by host only includes the basic duties in the home such as washing bedding and towels, sweeping floors etc. If the guests use dishes they should wash them, there is a dish washer, or dish rack under the sink.

Note (4) outdoor security cameras are in use. Street, Driveway, Back Door, and Skyview (above backyard).

Note: the waterfall pond is not like a swimming pool where it's pristine, the cave is made of limestone and so there is sand present on the bottom of the pool sometimes. There is a pool vacuum and net guests may use to clean the pond more if they so choose.

Final note: Do not book for 2 people then show up with 4. Extra guests cost 30.00 per night (adults or children). The base price includes the person booking plus one guest, any extra guests must pay the additional 30.00 fee. If you are unsure of how many people until the day of, that's ok, we can add more guests and add the fee to the invoice (or the person booking can as well).


Thank you

Cal

(your host)

Property manager

Cal Coohey
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
3 dogs allowed. NO peeing in yard, use side lot
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load the dishwasher
Strip any used beds, gather used towels and store extra beds
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Please clean up any messes and do your dishes or load dish washer.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
* Outdoor QUIET TIME @11PM * NO CLIMBING ON BLUFF
Waterfall is operational May1st - Oct 1st, instructions will be given if you want to run the waterfall. * No people or pets in waterfall pond
* NO EXCESSIVE NOISE after 11pm * NO WORKING ON VEHICLES * Campfires OK, but not huge bonfires, there is a fire pit you may use. 20.00 for wood.

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 40
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

East Dubuque

Located in East Dubuque, this holiday home is in the city centre and on a river. Kennedy Mall and Asbury Plaza are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Mississippi River and Mines of Spain State Recreation Area. National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium and Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
East Dubuque, IL

What's nearby

  • National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium - 3 min drive - 3.2 km
  • Diamond Jo Casino - 4 min drive - 3.6 km
  • Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark - 4 min drive - 3.6 km
  • Grand River Center - 4 min drive - 3.9 km
  • Q Casino - 6 min drive - 6.7 km

Getting around

  • Dubuque, IA (DBQ-Dubuque Regional) - 12 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Pepper Sprout - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Diamond Jo Casino - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Filament Meetery & Eatery - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Dimensional Brewing Company - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does 1850 Cabin Home, Waterfall, Family Getaway, Corporate Party, Weddings have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is 1850 Cabin Home, Waterfall, Family Getaway, Corporate Party, Weddings pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at 1850 Cabin Home, Waterfall, Family Getaway, Corporate Party, Weddings?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 1850 Cabin Home, Waterfall, Family Getaway, Corporate Party, Weddings?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is 1850 Cabin Home, Waterfall, Family Getaway, Corporate Party, Weddings located?

Located in the heart of East Dubuque, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Mississippi River and Julien Dubuque Bridge. Dubuque Museum of Art and Dubuque Art Center are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 18 out of 23 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 23 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 23 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Henry N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent

Cool place, great host, and a really nice and unique back yard. Absolutely would stay again.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay

Wonderful place in an area that makes seeing the Dubuque surrounding area easy.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brook H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

Cal takes great care of his property and was very flexible allowing us to use the property early! The house was clean, as described and has a ton of movies to just relax. We took our family to see caves and this location was great for our trip!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kennan C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Overnight getaway

My wife and I were looking for a place to stay on a bike trip from Madison to Dubuque and we found Cal's VRBO. We could not be happier with the rental. It was private, although we were within walking distance to town. The work Cal has done on the property over time, is extraordinary
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This place is a really cool spot. Perfect for those who want to chill in privacy.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patrick W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property

Wonderful stay, beautiful property, great for events. Excellent property owner
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Tammi M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quaint Getaway

This property had some very unique and interesting aspects. The house was clean and comfortable.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Walter B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short Stay For Golf Outing

The property was great. Very convenient to the downtown area. Beautiful views and the backyard was truly an oasis. Very thankful to pick this place.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

BEAU H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Property was as advertised

The host here is more than helpful and did go above and beyond for me . We will be coming back to stay in the summer
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Noelle H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

nice property

The property was dated, but clean and nice. We loved the outdoor space.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rachel H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Girls Trip!

Great for a girls trip. The backyard and waterfall were definitely the prize features! Better for entertaining outside than in.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Leann H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fall asleep to the lull of trains

Great central location for area site seeing, nice size cabin and yard.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nate K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great weekend

Great outdoor area, very clean place, great communication with host was very appreciated. We had an awesome time and we would never come back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brooke B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property

Very clean. Dope dude. Enjoyed my time!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Julie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy cabin!!

The home was just as advertised. It was very clean and nice. The wood inside the home gives it a cabin feel and smell! They had plenty of amenities for us to use. The waterfall feature is unbelievably awesome. I will definitely stay again when we return.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Shelley A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quirky place with a great backyard

Cal was very responsive and friendly. The backyard was very nice and private. We really enjoyed hanging out by the bonfire at night. The house was comfortable and clean. Very cabin like. You can tell Cal takes a lot of pride in this home.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Renee G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Everything was Amazing. What a Perfect Party Venue!

All was clean and convenient. The beautiful live classical guitar music added a special touch to our celebration. The kitchen was delightfully expansive for our food preparation and storage. The waterfall was impressive and fun for everyone. We want to have all our parties here! The amazing accomodations far exceeded our expectations.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany B., Chicago USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend getaway

We had a great time staying at this house! Comfortable bed and tons of movies to watch. The waterfall and dipping pool was perfect for just getting in and relaxing. We had a fire every night in the fire pit and played music outside with his sweet setup. The house was just steps away from a bunch of great bars with late night food! Quick drive over the river and there’s a bunch to do in Iowa, restaurants, bars, museums! Then I beautiful drive down along the river and many places to hike and kayak! Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Stacey S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stay

Our stay was cut short due to the weather. The location was good for going to Galena and around Dubuque. Were allowed to drop off our personal items early which was nice. Sad the hot tub had leak we were looking forward to using. The bed main floor was comfortable. My daughter stated upstairs was not and she didnt get a lot of sleep.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Toby W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vintage Torque Fest

Was quiet, clean and super comfortable bed. Thank you, deff would stay there again.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janice D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our Dubuque stay

We had a great time around the fire and enjoying the beautiful outdoors associated with this home. The house was the perfect size for our family and friends while we were away from home. There was plenty of firewood for the fire as well.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarah J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quick Stop

Was a great place to stop over night and not be in a hotel
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Nancy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique

This is a cute place to stay with lots of possibilities especially during warmer weather. There were several older DVDs and TVs, otherwise there was no TV reception, which was not a big deal. The location was convenient but noisy due to traffic and trains. It would be a nice location for a private party so that friends and family could stay in the same location.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

About the host

Hosted by Cal Coohey

Host profile image
The stonework, waterfall, stage and cave were built by the host whom is a mason, carpenter, classical and 70's - 80's rock guitarist who performs shows locally and abroad.

More details about the 1850 cabin home:

2009: home purchased
2010: hillside excavation started and garage built
2012: excavation of basement
2013: basement recording studio completed
2015-2018: excavation completed on hillside
2019-21: cave, stage and waterfall/pond built
2021-22: VIP Backyard renovated with stage upgraded
2024: 22' movie screen installed with 3200 lumen projector

The stonework has been done by hand using ancient castle building methods. The stone to do so was quarried from the hillside.

Why they chose this property

Most unique local property on VRBO with many amenities you won't find at a hotel!

What makes this property unique

Huge waterfall with small pond (operational June 15th-Sept 15th) , campsites in woods, hiking, city park nearby, view of river, large yard, professional 35' stage, surreal castle-like stonework.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests