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Entire home

Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing!

Lakefront vacation home in Shelton with kitchen

Photo gallery for Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing!

Exterior
Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Interior
1 bedroom, travel crib, WiFi, bed sheets
Nestled in the countryside, this apartment is located inside a newly constructed shed/barn with private access to the Platte River. Relax by the river for bird watching or unwind at a private pond in the pasture outside your door, perfect for fishing and quiet nights.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 374 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Parking available
  • Outdoor Space
  • Air conditioning

Add dates for prices

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing!

Come relax in the country! The apartment is located inside a newly constructed shed/barn. It has one bedroom, one bathroom (shower only, no bathtub), and a spacious living room and kitchen with all appliances except a dishwasher. We do have a very friendly farm dog on the property, so please take note if this will be an issue for you.

Crane season - perfect location! We typically book very early out for crane season. There is private access to the Platte River which is the perfect setting for bird watching (might be off-limits during hunting season - Fall/Winter - Please contact to check), especially cranes during crane season! The owner will also help you set up on the Platte River for private bird watching during crane season. A private pond is located in the pasture right outside of the barn for fishing and quiet nights relaxing. Our pasture and cornfields are typically filled with cranes during the season. We are conveniently located to the south of Shelton, Nebraska off of Interstate 80. We are within 10-15 minutes of two crane viewing spots - Rowe Santuary and the Crane Trust Nature Center. You will have unlimited access to the Platte River for optimal crane viewing all season long!

Pets are welcome to stay for a $25 fee.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Garden

Work spaces

  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • On a lake
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 800 square feet

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  • Dryer
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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 19

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
2 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Crane Nature Lovers Dream
Nature Lovers Dream - Fishing and Wildlife Wood River
"Barn" Apartment in the Country with Private Platte River Access

About the neighborhood

Map
Shelton, NE

What's nearby

  • Great Platte River Road Archway - 14 min drive - 30.3 km
  • Audubon Rowe Sanctuary - 14 min drive - 16.0 km
  • Classic Car Collection - 17 min drive - 33.2 km
  • Younes Conference Center South - 17 min drive - 36.0 km
  • University of Nebraska Kearney - 22 min drive - 38.9 km

Getting around

  • Kearney, NE (EAR-Kearney Regional) - 28 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Railside Highway Diner - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Rise & Grind - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Sportsmans Bar & Grill - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Bar - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Grammie's Kitchen - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing! pet-friendly?

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

What time is check-in at Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing! ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing! ?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing! located?

Situated on a river, this vacation home is 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Platte River and 2.7 mi (4.4 km) from War Axe State Recreation Area. Windmill State Recreation Area is 10 mi (16.1 km) away.

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Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing! Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 114 out of 136 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 136 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 136 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 136 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 136 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kent T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We love the Kropp Kabin!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sheila

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property was very nice inside and out. The owner was quick to respond to my questions.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maundy D.

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

Barndominium Type Residence

One of our favorite type of homes. Possibly, our next home could be a Bardominium with the home and ample garage in the same type steel building. Excellent design was used on this building. Very spacious! Thanks for sharing this rental on Vrbo.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janice R.

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

Quick and wonderful

I was a one night stay on my way to a family reunion. The place is great and I enjoyed my stay.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Paul M.

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

Overnight stop

Farmland along I-80 on dirt roads. Traffic noise was a muted drone but not disturbing. Property was well landscaped and spotlessly clean. Definitely themed for hunters which we enjoyed. Would have liked to spend more time enjoying the nearby river but had another long drive ahead. Would definitely recommend. Google is a little off; go to last house on dirt road and turn left into parking area.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike M.

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

Barn stay

Great private stay. Nice Dogs on Property so if you have dogs that dont get along with other dogs you should be aware. Nice stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer T.

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

Amazing property

Exactly what we needed for a weekend getaway. Property manager was super accommodating and helpful. Will definitely be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Kelly M.

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

Quick stop

We stopped after 10 and left early in the morning. It was a nice place for a quick stop with two dogs. Quiet.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patricia M., HAGUE, VA

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

Convenient for Cranes!

Great location, convenient for both the Rowe Sanctuary and the Crane Trust. The house was comfy and clean. We and our dog enjoyed playing with the big, friendly dogs.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bin J.

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

Location plus comfort

Well suited for exploring the crane activities on and off the Platte. Alie is super responsive. The property is comfortably decorated and furnished with everything one could need for a short stay. We enjoyed it!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kris K.

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

Wonderful property!

Great experience in Buffalo County! Stayed a couple of nights to photograph the Sandhill Cranes and this place was awesome! Right in the middle of it all! Sunrise and sunset on the river is magical! Thank you for a wonderful stay!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Billie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
There was nothing not to like. The hosts were friendly and promptly responded to any needs. Overall the apartment was comfortable, clean, and well maintained. I definitely would recommend and will stay again if we are in the area in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Don-Dorothy

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This was an excellent place to come and view the sand hill cranes. Nearby drive saw hundreds of bird both daytime and evening and early am. Place was very clean and comfortable. Kitchen was nice to do a little meal making on our own. Recommend this with 5 stars.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly S.

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

Perfect hideaway

Perfect location and well stocked property. Great communication with Alie .... extremely clean and easy check in/out. Cool projector tv. Cozy set up.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

8/10 Good

Renee R., Maryville

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

Barndominium guest house

This barndominium guest house is as-advertised, clean and comfortable. Only four stars because the owners have two friendly, but exuberant outdoor dogs which made it somewhat difficult to unload our travel bags and coolers while trying to keep them from jumping on us or climbing in our vehicle.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lizann F.

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

Nebraska life

Perfect respite when traveling across I-80 to get a taste of Nebraska life. Just off the Interstate, nicely decorated in hunting motif, pasture view from bedroom window. Owners & 2 farm dogs very welcoming, barn is very pet friendly. Owners will contain their dogs if they bother, but we found them fun & part of the Nebraska life theme!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Michelle E.

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

Best Seats in the House

It's a little off the beaten path ... but that's exactly what my husband & I wanted. The barndominium has been beautifully updated and we loved the decor. The kitchen has lots of counter space and all of the necessary appliances in perfect working order. And the water tastes great!We had everything we needed and very much appreciated the restaurant recommendations. Be mindful of the two family dogs - they are friendly when introduced by the owner but one does not like vehicles, so please drive slowly. But the coup de grace is the river access! We absolutely loved sunset in the blind and watching the Crane gather by the Platte River before they roost for the night! Our souls were refreshed. If you're a bird watcher, this is the place for you!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Peggy W.

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

Weekday Getaway

This property is just as advertised. We did not come at a time to hunt or view the cranes. Instead we chose this property because of its quiet countryside and distance from cities. It is just that. It is spacious and comfortable. The kitchen is well-stocked with dishes and pots and pans. We enjoyed bringing some meals from home since we were going to be a distance from towns. Very relaxing place to unwind after both days touring the Pioneer Village in Minden.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rod R.

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

Perfect

Thank you for a relaxing time! Clean rental; kitchen more stocked than most places! Hosts were quickly responsive! I was concerned we'd hear the interstate traffic at night--but no problem! Definitely recommend! Just a note: had to re-adjust our original dates we'd booked, and property owners were accommodating! Thank you.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kayla S.

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

Loved it but…

It faces towards their property and the highways right there, which you can hear really well at night because there’s nothing blocking the sound which made it a little difficult for me to sleep. However, that is a personal preference. I just wish that I had known it was that close to the highway. Other than that I really enjoyed it in the bed super comfortable.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

2/10 Terrible

Jake T.

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

Do not bring an injured dog, elderly, or short people

While there was 1 “friendly farm dog” there were two surprise not so friendly other very large dogs. These dogs were not friendly to either of our dogs, one who had an infected gash and was heavily investigated by these not so friendly dogs. The dogs will leave permanent scratches on your car, temporary scratches on your short wife and overall will make it so you cannot even stay the night on the property. Please be aware that these dogs will be all over everything in your life. This can be ok if you are just two humans but your dogs will probably not be ready for this.additionally when you try to drive away to go to a different hotel, one pitbull-esque dog will chase after your car and bite your tires even if you honk at him so many times. Please do not come here with dogs, injured dogs, elderly, short people as the at least 3 very untrained dogs will terrorize and vandalize your bodies and car.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer B.

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

Cows

Country shed-lodging. Rustic with lots of taxidermy. Pet friendly, nice dirt roads to walk on.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laurie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay at this quiet, clean and comfortable country place. I would suggest some new pillows, but otherwise our stay was perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jill S.

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

Nice place for a quick stay with a dog

We were traveling across the country with an older dog that can be grumpy towards other dogs, so a pet friendly hotel wasn't an option. This worked perfectly...clean, comfortable, air conditioning worked great and the Ducks Unlimited decor was great to look at.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My daughter and I needed a place to meet 'halfway' between Mpls and Denver. We have become familiar with many NE towns and their hotels and decided to check on VRBO options. I can't speak to the crane viewing benefit of this listing. The rural road the property is on provided a peaceful dog walk, so that was as far as we ventured. The location is extremely convenient for those traveling I-80, was priced in a range comparable to hotel with much more privacy , pet friendly, and full kitchen. The hosts communicated with us when needed , and were sure to allow us privacy otherwise. The property is visually and audibly close to I80 , but still has a private feel with quick access to get back on the road. I will certainly considering using this property again.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025