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An Artistic retreat in the heart of downtown Galena

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Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue

Explore the area

View map
Galena, IL
  • Place, Grant Park
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Place, Belvedere Mansion
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Place, Grant Home
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Airport, Dubuque, IA (DBQ-Dubuque Regional)
    ‪31 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Queen Bed

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Master Bathroom

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchenette
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

An Artistic retreat in the heart of downtown Galena

Enjoy our unique private studio apartment, near a unique historic stone house and all things downtown Galena. This beautiful and spacious apartment has a kitchenette, stocked for eating in, with a sink, refrigerator and a microwave. It has a private full bathroom, queen bed and comfy furniture. Additional amenities include an outdoor patio, a gas grill and spa room with sauna. It's a lovely space for couples.
An omelet breakfast, served in the historic ice house, is free to guests who stay two nights on the weekend.

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An Artistic retreat in the heart of downtown Galena
Galena
  • Kitchen
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (11 reviews)
An Artistic retreat in the heart of downtown Galena

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
NO PETS
No Smoking

Important information

You need to know

Property # 3803029vb
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Galena

Located in Galena, this apartment is in the city centre and on a river. Horseshoe Mound and Casper Bluff Land and Water Reserve reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Linmar Gardens and Aqua Park. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, snowboarding and skiing, and don't miss out on the sledging.
View more Apartments in GalenaOpens in a new window
Map
Galena, IL

What's nearby

  • Galena-Jo Daviess County History Museum - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Grant Park - 10 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Belvedere Mansion - 10 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Old Market House - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Grant Home - 16 min walk - 1.4 km

Getting around

  • Dubuque, IA (DBQ-Dubuque Regional) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Culver's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Bread & Vine - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Fried Green Tomatoes - ‬12 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is An Artistic retreat in the heart of downtown Galena pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at An Artistic retreat in the heart of downtown Galena?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at An Artistic retreat in the heart of downtown Galena?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at An Artistic retreat in the heart of downtown Galena?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is An Artistic retreat in the heart of downtown Galena located?

Located in the heart of Galena, this apartment building is within a 10-minute walk of West Street Sculpture Park, Linmar Gardens and Galena-Jo Daviess County History Museum. Belvedere Mansion and Washburne House Historic Site are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 21 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

6.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cynthia M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location and clean
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lynn K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very clean and beautiful place to stay. Nice easy walk to downtown area. Would stay again
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brenda R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Galena is a wonderful place to explore and the VRBO was in walking distance. Enjoyed our stay and worth coming back.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

tim g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved the comfortable feeling this unit provided on our snowy visit.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Laura K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Super easy to find. Quiet, large suite really close to downtown Galena. Great price and nice hosts. Definitely would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kaelyn

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
This property was very comfortable, clean and spacious! We had a fantastic time and felt very relaxed.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dennis I.

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

Great Stay

Really enjoyed our stay here. Easy to walk to most attractions. Breakfast on Sunday was incredible.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Logan B.

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

Great place to stay in Galena

Very well located right next to main street Galena. Very spacious studio.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jackie F.

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

Galena Weekend

Very clean and comfortable accommodations that were a convenient walking distance to downtown. The ambiance, delicious breakfast along with a great history lesson generously offered by Charles and Sandy was a pleasant surprise. Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shannon B.

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

Lovely!!

We had a great stay! Charles and Sandy are wonderful hosts! Our room was spacious and very clean! The breakfast in the brewery room was stunning and perfect for our Valentine’s Day getaway! Go for a stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shane R.

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

Perfect escape

Phenomenal stay in a very spacious and updated modern room accompanied by a delectable breakfast in the beer cave on Sunday mornin!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James t.

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

Comfortable Art-filled Rooms Near Main Street

The room was perfect for two. If you stay two nights, make sure to take advantage of Charlie and Sandra’s free breakfast in their renovated brewing cellar for a delicious meal and a fascinated piece of Galena history.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Debbie L.

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

Halloween in Galena

We loved our stay at Abe's Spring Street Guest House. The studio is decorated with beautiful artwork and the location is perfect for walking downtown. The breakfast was unexpected and wonderful - we enjoyed learning about the history of the building and the food was amazing!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robert W.

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

Beautiful space in a charming historic building

Studio apartment with soaring ceilings and skylights, on top of an old Galena brewery, walking distance to downtown. Beautiful artwork in the unit. The host was extremely communicative and easy to work with. The business as a whole is called the Abe's Spring Street Guesthouse if you would like to check them out.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kraig K.

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

Anniversary

Great host. Online information was accurate. Also served a great breakfast on Sunday morning
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Renee W.

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

Highly Recommend

Very nice property! Comfortable, clean and updated. Loved the big windows and natural light. Highly recommended!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Leanne R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The place was clean, laid out nicely, great size and overall beautiful and comfortable. We like to sit outside and have coffee or enjoy a drink in the evening and the property was on a busy street. That was our only drawback. You could not, however, hear the street noise while in the room.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather M.

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

More than I expected!

First of all, this room was about 3x the size I thought it was going to be (bonus!). It was spotless. Walking distance to downtown Galena was awesome because I didn’t have to deal with parking. The breakfast on Sunday morning in the 1850 cellar was divine—I keep telling people it was the best omelette I’ve ever had, in the most beautiful setting with elevated service.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bryan V.

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

Time on a cloud

I had fun with the back bar.Liked that there was a toaster.The studio was only very clean.It was cool to have the window panes facing the sunrise,and the high ceilings make the place spacious.Carpeting is clean,you'll want to walk barefoot.So if you're thinking of going,I say go!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John B.

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

Emma's Corner - A Unique Galena Weekend Retreat

On the second floor of the Artists' Annex overlooking Spring St. in Galena is the most unique vacation rental. Emma's Corner is equipped with two walls of (to the ceiling) windows, skylights and track lighting that provide unlimited options for showcasing the diverse artwork of the proprietor, Charles Fach. The unit was very clean and comfortable and is near the shops downtown. On Sunday we were treated to omlettes for breakfast in a historic room at the back of the Annex that once served as an underground barrel-vaulted limestone brewing chamber. This was truly an amazing experience! We would highly recommend Abe's Spring St. Guest House & Artist Annex to anyone looking for a unique vacation experience in the Galena area.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patricia M.

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

Abe’s Spring House

My wife and I stayed in Emma’s Room, one of four units at Abe’s. It was comfortable, well appointed, and immaculately clean. The carpeting appeared new and the wall of tall windows on the street side displayed a pleasing view while infusing the rooms with a bright, airy environment. Though located on a busy roadway, the traffic noise was minimal and did not detract from our experience.Abe’s is located a short and easy walk from historic downtown Galena, a trip we made each of our days there.Charles and Sandy are top-notch: from the informed conversations, to the recommendations for restaurants and points of interest, to the delicious Sunday breakfast in the candlelit vaulted room that once held vats of fermenting beer at this marvelous collection of buildings that many, many years ago housed a brewery. Our stay at Abe’s made for an exceptionally pleasant visit and one we hope to repeat.Dean M.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

About the host

Hosted by .

Host profile image
In 1983, Artist Charles Fach and his wife Sandy made Galena their home and studio location. At that time they created Abe's Spring Street Inn and have been hosting it ever since. They've recently added a private studio apartment and called it Emma's corner after their spunky canine Emma. Charles is an accomplished artist who's works include pottery, metalwork, woodwork and painting. You may see him below, working in his Artists Annex.

Why they chose this property

Charles and Sandy purchased the stone house and studio because of their affinity for the historic charm and unique beauty of Galena.

What makes this property unique

Built in 1876, Abe’s Spring Street Stone house was once an icehouse for a prominent Galena brewery. The icehouse once stored up to 800 tons of ice harvested from the Galena River for the brewery industry. The building has 27-inch thick walls, which in its time was a great insulating factor. Next door to the icehouse is the Artist Annex, built in 2001, on the footprint of a once 3-story stone building originally built in 1850 as City Brewery. Two vaulted stone rooms are still intact to this day and reside in the back on the ground floor. The Artist Annex is home to 3 of our private suites, PJ's Roost, Oreo's Hide-A-Way, and Emma's Corner.

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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