Q: Where are you located?
A: We’re located outside of Clarksville, Iowa, near Waverly and between Mason City & Cedar Falls/Waterloo. We’re only 2 hours from Des Moines, 4 hours from Minneapolis, and 6 hours from Chicago.
Q: How am going to get to you?
A: You’ll need to drive, but there are lots of great stops on the way! We do live on a gravel road so beware that depending on the time of year it can be helpful to have an AWD vehicle. 90% of the year any vehicle will arrive just fine. If you’re concerned, give us a call & we’ll make sure you arrive! We’re truly in rural Iowa – it’s all part of the experience!
Q: Can I go out and see the cows anytime?
A: For your safety, do NOT enter the barn, calf area, or pastures unless accompanied by an authorized farm tour representative. You can safely cow gaze 24/7 from the loft! During your introductory & farewell tours you’ll meet Rita the Robot, the cows, and the cute calves! If you want even more, try the Be A Dairy Farmer Challenge.
Q: How often can I visit the cows in person?
A: You can view the cows 24/7 from the GuestBarn loft. Each stay only includes one ½ hour Introductory tour & one ½ hour Farewell tour – that’s why each night after your first night is discounted! If you need more cow time, book a “Be A Dairy Farmer Challenge” Tour!
Q: What does my stay include?
A: Every stay includes:
Q: How many people can I bring to the GuestBarn?
The GuestBarn can sleep 9 people total. The Horizon Room & Garden Room each have a queen bed, the SunShine Room has 2 Twin XL (or converted King), plus we have a “flip-flop” couch that can sleep 2 kids and a chair that folds out to sleep one
Bedding provided for both included with extra person charge for over 6 people. If you want bedding for the couch or chair and have under 6 people we do still charge the extra person fee for the bedding usage.
Have more than 9 people in your group? Call to ask us about bringing an RV to park outside the GuestBarn OR our fully furnished 2 bedroom 1 bath full kitchen private basement apartment that sleeps an extra 6 people! Check out a video here.
Q: Is the farm dangerous?
A: Like many things, farms can be dangerous. Animals can be unpredictable, machinery needs to operate, the ground is uneven, we do use some chemicals for cleaning, etc.
This is why we require you to ONLY visit the barn with cows & calf area WITH a farm tour guide who can help ensure your safety. Because we are a working farm and you’ll have the opportunity to join us in the barn with the cows & calves on our tours, we require you to digitally sign this wavier before you arrive. All members of your party/group will need to sign. Thank You.
We do our best to keep ourselves, our family, and you, our guests, safe. Like many activities, there are risks and we want to make sure we and you acknowledge that.
Q: How long can I stay?
Enjoy your time away by spending 2 or more nights sleeping with the cows, you’ll save with each additional night.
We do require a 2 night stay when a Friday or Saturday night are included in the reservation. On Holiday weekends we require a 3 night stay. We are a small family run business and we need to preserve family time with our kids as much as possible.
You can stay a single night on Sunday thru Thursday night. If you want to stay a Friday night you’ll need to also include a Thursday or Saturday night with it. If you want to stay Saturday night you’ll need to book either Friday or Sunday with it.
While you’re here explore the great outdoors, other animal encounters, museums, local restaurants & ice cream shops, and spend more time with the cows by adding our Exclusive “Be A Dairy Farmer Challenge” Hands-On Tour.
Read ALL FAQ’s & Policies by clicking READ MORE.
Q: Aren’t farms noisy & smelly?
A: We are a working farm, which means that #DairymanDan feeds the cows everyday (and uses a tractor for that!), our milkman, Jay, comes in a big truck to pick up our cows’ milk every other day (to turn into cream cheese & Swiss cheese!), and feed for the cows is delivered, crops are planted and harvested, and more. So yes, you will hear (and see!) us at work.
As for the smell, the GuestBarn is (surprisingly so to some) smell free. The actual barn does smell like, well, cows (and their manure – although that gets scraped out every couple hours). On hot sticky HUMID summer days the smell spreads and hangs, much like city smog does on a similar hot humid day. Rarely a cooler humid day in the spring or fall will have a similar effect. Since the GuestBarn is closed up so you can enjoy the A/C anyway, you won’t notice a thing inside while cow gazing. (We lived there for 3 years… so we know!)
Q: How many bathrooms are there?
A: Each bedroom has a bathroom attached to it and both the SunShine & Garden room have bathrooms that can open into the common living spaces if desired when renting with a group or family.
Q: Will there be a TV, Telephone or Wi-Fi in my room?
A: We do not provide landline phones or TVs in our rooms. The loft does have a TV with a ROKU device attached for your streaming needs. A DVD player is also available along with some DVD’s for you to enjoy. Most people have personal cell phones & other devices they travel with. We do provide free fiber optic high-speed Wi-Fi Internet throughout the GuestBarn.
Q: Do your rooms have air conditioning?
A: Yes, all rooms are quite comfortable in summer (A/C) and winter (with in-floor radiant heat & supplemental forced air if necessary).
Q: What can we expect for Breakfast?
A: We provide a great DIY Continental Breakfast that is ready whenever you are! For more information, check out our Breakfast page.
Q: Do you allow pets?
A: No pets are allowed because we are an active working farm and do not want pets to upset the cows (or our sometimes overly friendly farm cats). If you are traveling with your pet, we can recommend a great local pet sitter.
Q: Do you have private parking?
A: Yes, we provide free parking on the property… we’ve got lots of space!
Q: What time is check-in? Check-out?
A: Check-in begins at 3pm, & check-out is at 11 am.
Q: Do you allow children?
A: Since the entire GuestBarn is rented by your family/party/group you can bring anyone you want – young or old!
Q: Do you have non-smoking rooms available?
A: For the comfort and safety of our guests, the entire GuestBarn is non-smoking. Guests may smoke on the grounds away from windows or doors while using provided receptacles for cigarette butts. Violation of this policy will result in a $150 charge to the credit card on file if any type of smoking or burning candles in the rooms occurs while staying at the GuestBarn.
Q: Can I book a room for one night only?
A: Yes, you can book one night, but we would love for you to stay longer. In fact, each night after your first is discounted! Just be aware that there could be restrictions on certain dates.
Q: Can I book the whole GuestBarn?
A: The only way to #sleepwiththecows is to book the entire GuestBarn. You choose who to enjoy your time away with – book 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms – whatever fits your needs best!
Q: Farms are dirty, what do you do about those dirty shoes?
A: That’s right! Please take your shoes off when entering. Dirt is easy to carry in when on the farm. This helps make everyone’s stay more enjoyable.
Q: Do you collect a deposit when I make my reservation?
A: Yes, we ask for a credit card on file at the time of your reservation along with a deposit of 25% of your stay with your full payment due when you arrive. If paying with a different card, please present upon arrival. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and cash.
Q: Can I cancel my reservations at any time?
A: As a small family-run farm & lodging property, the GuestBarn is dearly affected by cancellations. While we are sympathetic to emergencies, we appreciate your understanding of our cancellation policy.
Any changes to a reservation need to be done 7 days in advance of the first night of the reservation. If a reservation is canceled with 7 days’ notice the deposit will be refunded in the form of a gift certificate for a future stay, less a $25 handling charge.
If the reservation is canceled with less than 7 days’ notice, the guest will be charged for all nights specified in the reservation unless we are able to re-rent the GuestBarn. Please note that a late arrival – after the first date specified – or an early departure prior to the end of a reservation is handled as a cancellation, and you will be charged for the nights specified in your reservation unless changes are made to your reservation 7 days in advance of the first night of the reservation.
Please call us as soon as possible if you must cancel your stay with us. We realize that life does happen and plans do change. We will make every effort to re-rent the room(s) for you.
We understand that things happen that may affect your reservation and travel plans. For this reason, we strongly encourage guests to purchase travel insurance: https://www.insuremytrip.com
Reservations paid for with gift certificates are subject to the same cancellation policy.
Q: What about a blizzard?
In the event of severe winter weather to the point that travel is unsafe, you will be charged for your entire reservation and a credit will be issued to be used within one year from date of cancellation. We use your location and our location and the travel area between to determine severe weather that would cause unsafe travel.
Some Policies are covered in our Frequently Asked Questions, but we encourage you to read all of our policies for staying at the GuestBarn. We want everyone to have a great time sleeping with the cows – having and following these policies helps that happen!
Policies
For your safety, do NOT enter the barn, calf area, or pastures unless accompanied by an authorized farm tour representative. You can safely cow gaze 24/7 from the loft!
Check-In: Check-in time is after 3:00 p.m.
Check-Out: Check-out is at 11:00 a.m. Thanks for staying with us. Ask about early or late check-ins or check-outs.
Children: Since you’ll be booking the entire GuestBarn for your family/party/group feel free to bring whoever you’re comfortable with – young or old!
Payment: We ask for a credit card on file at the time of your reservation along with a deposit of 25% of your stay with your full payment due when you arrive. If paying with a different card, please present upon arrival. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and cash.
Cancellation Policy:
As a small family-run farm & lodging property, the GuestBarn is dearly affected by cancellations. While we are sympathetic to emergencies, we appreciate your understanding of our cancellation policy.
Any changes to a reservation need to be done 7 days in advance of the first night of the reservation. If a reservation is canceled with 7 days’ notice the deposit will be refunded in the form of a gift certificate for a future stay, less a $25 handling charge.
If the reservation is canceled with less than 7 days’ notice, the guest will be charged for all nights specified in the reservation unless we are able to re-rent the GuestBarn. Please note that a late arrival – after the first date specified – or an early departure prior to the end of a reservation is handled as a cancellation, and you will be charged for the nights specified in your reservation unless changes are made to your reservation 7 days in advance of the first night of the reservation.
Please call us as soon as possible if you must cancel your stay with us. We realize that life does happen and plans do change. We will make every effort to re-rent the room(s) for you.
We understand that things happen that may affect your reservation and travel plans. For this reason, we strongly encourage guests to purchase travel insurance: https://www.insuremytrip.com
Reservations paid for with gift certificates are subject to the same cancellation policy.
In the event of severe winter weather to the point that travel is unsafe, you will be charged for your entire reservation and a credit will be issued to be used within one year from date of cancellation. We use your location and our location and the travel area between to determine severe weather that would cause unsafe travel.
Reservations paid for with gift certificates are subject to the same cancellation policy. Early departures/late arrivals are considered cancellations and are subject to the same cancellation policies.
PLEASE NOTE: For reservations booked through an online agency, please contact the agency directly for modifications and cancellations.
Noise: Since you’ll be the only ones staying, no one will complain about noises. As long as you don’t get too crazy you probably won’t bother the cows either. They’re use to the feed truck or milk truck as well as the other noises on the farm.
Pets: No pets are allowed because we are a farm and do not want pets to upset the cows (or our sometimes friendly farm cats). If you are traveling with your pet, we can recommend a great local pet sitter.
Room Capacity: Guests are not allowed to exceed the declared room capacity on the reservation page. All rooms are double occupancy (2 people per room) with the Horizon Room allowing for a pack n play plus 3 people sleeping on the flip-flop couch & pull-out chair. Please contact us if you have another question about occupancy.
Shoes: Please take your shoes off when entering. Dirt is easy to carry in when on the farm. This helps make everyone’s stay more enjoyable.
Accessibility: Although we are not ADA compliant, guest with mobility challenges of various levels have enjoyed sleeping with the cows. Some helpful information regarding this is as follows:
- People with Limited Accessibility should be able to enter the first floor of the GuestBarn and move around comfortably.
- The SunShine Room does have a walk-in shower for easier accessibility although not fully ADA compliant.
- All of our showers have grab bars for ease & safety.
- The Cow Gazing Loft is up a set of stairs that has hand railings on both sides.
- We do our very best to make accommodations to allow everyone to go on tours to meet the cows & see them getting milked.
Damage to GuestBarn property: Any guest causing damage to the property will be responsible for its repair or replacement, this includes missing/damaged remotes, bedding, towels, windows, TVs, window screens, appliances, fixtures, furniture, doors, lights, mirrors, etc. We reserve the right to charge individual guests for the cost of rectifying damage which has been caused by the deliberate, negligent or reckless acts of guests to New Day Dairy’s GuestBarn property or structure. If such damage is discovered during the stay, then it will be drawn to the guest’s attention; but if damage is discovered after guests have departed, then we reserve the right to make a charge to the guest’s credit / debit card, or send an invoice for the costs for payment to the registered address. We will, however, make every effort to rectify any damage internally prior to contracting specialists to make the repairs, and therefore will make every effort to keep any costs that guests would incur to a minimum.
Smoking, e-cigarettes, water pipes, candles: For the comfort and safety of our guests, the entire GuestBarn is no-smoking. Guests may smoke on the grounds away from windows or doors while using provide receptacles for cigarette butts. Violation of this policy will result in a $150 charge to the credit card on file if any type of smoking or burning candles in the rooms occurs while in the inn.
Liability Waiver: Because we are a working farm and you’ll have the opportunity to join us in the barn with the cows & calves on our tours, we require you to digitally sign this wavier before you arrive. All members of your party/group will need to sign. Thank You.
We are a small family-run business and work hard to make your stay enjoyable. As we will do our best to serve you, please return the courtesy by respecting our policies.
