Historic Gooding College, Beautiful Building Small Town up to 24Bedrooms, 14Bath
About this castle / palace rental
West Wing: 15 bdrs 9 bathrms (what you are paying for now, through VRBO) East Wing: 9 bdrs 6 bathrms SUMMER ONLY additional $500/night, only pay if you need it, due on arrival not when you book with this website. The Gooding University Inn, the old Gooding College building, is full of history and makes an excellent getaway for 1 person to large reunions. This is not a "cookie cutter" stay, the facility is unique and is full of charm. It was abandoned and neglected for many years and is now being remodeled and updated. There is a lot of work done, but it is "a work in progress", if you are looking for a Marriott like facility this is not it. The environment is open and rustic, with large hallways and rooms and some parts of the building needing finishing touches. We know you will enjoy making treasured memories with us. This beautiful historic building was the Gooding College, built in 1920. It has been restored/modernized and makes a wonderful getaway for family get-togethers and other events. West Wing: The west has 15 bedrooms (each sleeps 2-8 people), 9 bathrooms, and a fully remodeled/modernized kitchen, dining room, game room and more . Currently we have beds for over 60 people, plus cribs and portable playpens. Also the Theater Room with High Definition Surround Sound and 3D movies, and a large play/gathering room (22'x75’) is included. Please take a look at the photos to see how beautiful this building is. East Wing ($500/night, due on arrival) In the summer the east wing will be available for an additional fee. The east wing will add 9 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms to your space. If you need the extra space the east wing sleep 36 additional people in comfort. The additional cost to add the east wing to your rental is only $500/night. THE EAST WING IS ONLY AVAILABLE IF YOU ARE RENTING THE WEST WING. Check In: 4:00 pm (contact us if you need to come or drop stuff off early) Check Out: 11:00 am (let us know if you leave early, so we can get a jump on cleaning) Gooding is a quiet small town but there's lots to do: https://www.goodinginn.com/area-highlights Gooding City of Rocks Gooding City of Rocks is an area of unusual and highly scenic rock formations. Erosion has carved fascinating spires and hoodoos from the underlying deposits of solidified volcanic ash. Excellent hiking, sightseeing and solitude. About 15 miles north of Gooding on Highway 46, turn west at the BLM sign for Little City of Rocks. Follow the signs and travel about 7.5 miles on a generally well-maintained dirt road, which is suitable for passenger vehicles if conditions are dry. For more about the geology of Gooding City of the Rocks Malad Gorge The Malad River Canyon is 250 feet deep and 2.5 miles long. At Malad Gorge State Park, located right off Interstate 84, you can view the canyon and walk along the rim. The highway crosses over Malad Gorge, but the angle of view hides the deep gorge where the river cascades into Devil's Washbowl. Views of the gorge are best from the slender-but sturdy-bridge that arcs across the canyon. Niagra Springs & Thousand Springs State Park The churning, icy blue glacial water is a National Natural Landmark and part of the world-famous Thousand Springs complex along the Snake River. The park provides a great opportunity to drive into the 350-foot-deep Snake River Canyon. Once inside the canyon, you'll find year-round fishing in Crystal Springs Lake, including a handicap accessible site. Waterfowl and other wildlife are abundant. Camping Mountains to the north of town, just a 35 mile drive, offer to local folk or to those traveling through a place to enjoy the beauty of nature as it has been created. Fresh clean mountain air enhances the lives of those who enjoy the excellent camping areas available in the mountains outside of Gooding. Skiing Just miles away are some of the world's most famous winter ski resorts - Sun Valley, and also not far from there is Soldier Mountain. Also enjoy cross country skiing. Snowmobiling Flat lands around the valley add make great snowmobiling. Also, the Gooding County Snow Park at the Gooding-Camas County line, includes 150 square miles of BLM and private land for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and sledding. Gooding Public Pool Enjoy going for a dip at the well maintained and convenient public pool. Cost is $3/person, three and under is free. Hours 1pm-5pm and 7pm-9pm The pool accompanies a park with playground equipment and space to run around. just 5 minutes away. Shoshone Falls and Dierkes Lake Cliff jumping/Swimming/Large playing fields/Sightseeing. Open all year, hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Cost is $3 per vehicle The swimming area has a beach blocked off perfect for younger children and for playing in the sand, lifeguards, kayak and paddle board rentals, picnic areas with shelters, restrooms, playgrounds, swings and fishing available. In addition you can purchase refreshments. There are trails to walk too. The lake is surrounded by reeds and rocky cliffs. Beautiful setting. The amazing Shoshone Falls in also included is the price. Shoshone Falls and Dierkes Lake are a must do for any group. Dinning Zeppes Great hole in the wall pizza joint. Get away for the big chain restaurants and enjoy arcades, air hockey, and pool, and some of the best pizza you will ever have. 5 min away El Toro Truly an amazing authentic mexican treat. Try the Molcajete you won't be disappointed, guaranteed. 5 min away. New China House In the mood for Chines? Try the New China House. Also serves great american breakfast lunch and dinner. 5 minutes away Water Sports: idahowatersports (rental equipment) invertsports (rental equipment) paddlethesnake (rental equipment) riverrattwinfalls Dierkes Lake (cliff diving, swimming and so much more) *highly recommended Horseback riding: idahohighdesertequestriancenter buhlhorsebackriding Others: laser-mania (awesome mini-golf) Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument tandembase (base jumping!) Digital list: https://www.goodinginn.com/area-highlights
Amenities
Pool
Air conditioner
Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony / Patio
Dishwasher
Hot Tub / Spa
TV
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Idaho
Castle / Palace in Idaho
Reasons to book
People love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Includes essentialsGarden, Pool, Kitchen / Kitchenette and more
Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental
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Reviews
4.8/5.0
Outstanding(75 Reviews)
5.0
Utterly Amazing!
Hosts were incredilby acomadating!
Check in was a Breeze!
Worked with us to make the trip magical!
Site was absolulety PERFECT for our needs!
5.0
We had an extended family of 60, and there was room for all with beds to spare. The small children loved it! They found plenty of toys to play with and plenty of room to play. The teenagers loved playing pool, air hockey, and ping pong, plus hours of chess, Risk, and other games. We played games on the lawn, and the older adults had plenty of shade to visit and watch. My only complaint is that there was a musty smell in the basement and some of the bathrooms looked clean, but didn't smell clean. Oh, and we should have had the hosts lock some of the doors in between rooms because they didn't latch. I am sure that if you ask them, they will do that. The hosts were very accommodating. We had a great experience!
5.0
This place is really great. I brought 55 family members. There was enough room for us to spread out with a place to sleep and hang out. The kitchen had all that we absolutely needed.
Everything was clean and pretty much ready for us. We did have to make our own beds upstairs, but it turned out fine. Lots of the kids slept in the basement on the provided cushions. The place has a couple great spots shaded by trees and patio chairs that we could lounge in to enjoy the nice summer breezes. The place was well cooled with AC units. Anyway, overall, many good things to say about the venue and the owners we worked with. Thanks for a great time!
5.0
Great place for a family reunion
5.0
This was our second time there. It was very enjoyable
5.0
We had a great time! All of the toys throughout the building were awesome, our kids really enjoyed it. The kitchen was very useful -- making waffles for everyone was simplified by having four waffle makers and a kitchenaid mixer.
This place is excellent for large groups!
5.0
Had an amazing weekend wedding here. The owner was incredibly easy to talk to and very helpful leading up to our stay and our big day. They let us decorate and provided a lot of amenities for a larger event. It is not the fanciest place in the world, but it was perfect in our eyes. A great spot for budget nuptials.
Truly great. It was a place that was entertaining for all ages of our guests (1.5 years to 77). We enjoyed our time so much our families plan to rent it again for reunions. Everyone had plenty of space, we slept about forty people here and easily could have had more (and had about ninety attend the ceremony). It was easy to relax and feel comfortable here, host a special event, and sing songs by the fire. It is in the process of being renovated, but the owners clearly care about the history and integrity of the building and the area. Seriously a unique and special place.
4.0
This ended up being a great venue for our church's annual women's retreat. It was great to have so many bedrooms so that we only had 2 or 3 ladies sharing a room. The beds were comfortable and it was so great that we did not need to bring our own linens. (Note: Many of the bunk beds are triple bunks, so the bottom bed is at floor level, and not a lot of space for sitting up, those would be better suited for small children.) The kitchen was well stocked with dishes and cooking equipment. The building does sit right in Gooding, but we didn't hear a lot of noise from the town and there were several things to do within 30 minutes during our free time. The floors are very creaky, but it does add to the charm of the 1920's built building. THe basement has a pool table, foos ball, and ping pong table, as well as a nice theatre room. It was a great space to spend a few days.
5.0
We have stayed here for 3 years now as a softball team. It is a fun property, and great for large groups.
5.0
We had an absolutely amazing time at this home. It was family reunion wedding style. Everyone raved about how great it was being together while not being on top of each other. Huge kitchen(s) so much fridge space, everything we needed. There is a great little museum you can walk too!
The host was kind & amazing and let us do our thing. People looked as us funny when we said we were getting married in gooding, Idaho.. we literally just came cause the place was big enough to fit everyone! But wow, what an incredible experience it was for everybody, beautiful & friendly place we will keep on our hearts forever.
5.0
We had a GREAT time!! The space was perfect for our family get together of 32 ranging from ages 2-84yrs young. With lots of room to spare.
The owners were prompt with their communication when we had questions. We would recommend this place to everyone. Memories were made and lots of fun was had. We will be returning.
5.0
Lots of family-friendly space. Not fancy, but homey and comfortable. Plenty of lounging areas, play areas and gathering places. From the game and theater rooms downstairs, to the kitchen/living areas, there was something for everyone. Kitchen has 3 refrigerators and two ovens, so cooking for a crowd is not a problem. And with all the bedrooms and bathrooms, everyone had their own space as well. Our adult kids kept saying we need to come back. Definitely recommend.
5.0
We had an awesome time here for our family reunion.
5.0
This was our second time staying here. We had a large family reunion and there was room to spare! We had a great time.
5.0
This is a wonderful place to gather your family together.
Have you looked at the listing for this property? The photos don't do it justice. The building is HUGE! The kitchen area was large enough for all 58 of us to gather for family events and meals. The basement is even bigger. With a little coordination, the bathrooms were enough for everyone to get showered and ready for church on Sunday morning. The bedrooms are clean and there are beds galore! We were there during a very hot time, but the building stayed nice and cool thanks to all the air conditioners. Outside, there are playsets for the kids and plenty of grassy areas to run and play on. We had room for yard games and large inflatables, which we rented from the owners for a reasonable fee. There is also a fire pit with lots of tables and bench close by so we could all do smores at the same time.
And let me tell you about Daniel and Lana. They are very responsive. We had a few things that needed attention and they fixed them immediately. One of the A/C units in one of the rooms was not working very well, and they completely replaced it as soon as we told them!
Other good things you won't be able to tell from the listing:
The kitchen is very well stocked with cooking implements. They had crockpots, etc., in the pantry, 3 refrigerators, plenty of dishes, and a dishwasher.
Outside has several shade trees so it was nice to be out there even on hot summer days.
The basement is WAY bigger than it looks in the photos. There was a pool table, air hockey table, and ping pong. And then a whole lot of space for gathering. the other side of the basement had a video projector and foosball. There were also two arcade-style game consoles with hundreds of games on them. So, inside or outside, the kids were never at a loss for things to do with their cousins. In fact, the movie projector was only used for two movies over 4 days because of all of the activities available.
Overall, we were 100% satisfied with our rental of this place. All of the adults in our group agreed that it was the perfect place to gather. If you have a large family and you want to get them all in one place, this is the place. We had space for everyone. We could put babies upstairs away from the noise while the rest of us played and visited. And older kids can play outside and inside. The kitchen is great for meal prep for large groups. Plenty of space, 3 fridges, a rolling island in the middle, lots of shelves for storage. And Daniel and Lana are great.
5.0
Perfect for Large Gatherings
We absolutely loved having our family reunion at this house. There was plenty of room for all 70 of us in beds, and the house had everything we needed for cooking bulk meals. The owners were very friendly and available to help with anything. The house is located in a cute small town with lots to do in the surrounding area. We will be back!
5.0
This place was PERFECT!
This place was wonderful for our family reunion of 46 people! Lots of space for everyone. Kids loved the inflatables! Worth every penny. I would totally recommend this place to renters with lots of kids. I didn’t have to worry about them at all
5.0
Lana & her husband were attentive to our needs and everything was as expected for our group of 60. We had 60 family members for our reunion, ranging from 1 month old to 82, and everyone loved the place so much.
4.0
Great Owners and Great Property
There's a lot of great things about this property: 1) the place is huge and comfortably fit the 55 people staying there (with additional rooms if necessary). 2) The owners are great people and really easy to work with. 3) The location is great; 1/2 hour from Twin Falls, 1/2 hour from Shoshone Ice Caves, Gooding is a good town. 4) Kitchen and dining area are well stocked for food preparation.
I gave the overall experience 4 starts because 4.5 stars isn't available. The property is great but it is an old building. While there were some minor inconveniences (because of the age), they were quickly resolved by the owner.
If you're looking for a family reunion venue for a large family, this is your place.
5.0
We had such a wonderful time at this VRBO! It was perfect for our family. All the rooms were so comfortable with nice beds and TV in each room. The weather was chilly, but the kids were never bored with all the games and toys available. The kitchen was well stocked and had 3 refrigerators and 2 stoves. The owner lives there and was there to greet us. We never saw them again unless we asked about something. We had some fun times exploring the area and there was plenty to keep all ages happy. Great reunion place for a crowd!
5.0
Family reunion for Mom's 90th birthday
We had such a wonderful time at this VRBO! It was perfect for our family. All the rooms were so comfortable with nice beds and TV in each room. The weather was chilly, but the kids were never bored with all the games and toys available. The kitchen was well stocked and had 3 refrigerators and 2 stoves. The owner lives there and was there to greet us. We never saw them again unless we asked about something. We had some fun times exploring the area and there was plenty to keep all ages happy. Great reunion place for a crowd!
5.0
Was searching for a place to accommodate our family reunion and came across this place. It had plenty of room for all of us. Owners are very friendly and were available for any of our needs. We had a great time! Really appreciated the character of the place, squeaky floors and all!
5.0
Attentive owners
Lana & her husband were attentive to our needs and everything was as expected for our group of 60. We had 60 family members for our reunion, ranging from 1 month old to 82, and everyone loved the place so much.
5.0
Family Reunion
Was searching for a place to accommodate our family reunion and came across this place. It had plenty of room for all of us. Owners are very friendly and were available for any of our needs. We had a great time! Really appreciated the character of the place, squeaky floors and all!
5.0
The venue was exactly what we expected and was perfect for our large group. The property owner was incredibly flexible and easygoing. We intend to rent it for future get togethers.
5.0
We rented this for a large group gathering. The hosts were great to work with and the site was exactly what we needed!
5.0
Exactly what we wanted
The venue was exactly what we expected and was perfect for our large group. The property owner was incredibly flexible and easygoing. We intend to rent it for future get togethers.
5.0
Thank you, it was perfect!
We rented this for a large group gathering. The hosts were great to work with and the site was exactly what we needed!
5.0
This rental was perfect for our large family reunion. It easily accommodated our group of 50 with plenty of room to spare. The beds were clean and comfortable with a variety of option for sleeping arrangements ie. cribs, bunk beds, queens and kings . There were also plenty of towels for all. The owners were super laid back and so easy to work with. We followed their advice and rented bounce houses one day. It was a huge hit! The kitchen is well stocked with everything you could possibly need to cook and serve a crowd. We look forward to our next stay!
5.0
Wonderful family reunion location
This rental was perfect for our large family reunion. It easily accommodated our group of 50 with plenty of room to spare. The beds were clean and comfortable with a variety of option for sleeping arrangements ie. cribs, bunk beds, queens and kings . There were also plenty of towels for all. The owners were super laid back and so easy to work with. We followed their advice and rented bounce houses one day. It was a huge hit! The kitchen is well stocked with everything you could possibly need to cook and serve a crowd. We look forward to our next stay!
5.0
Great Family Reunion Site
Very clean and well provisioned accomodations. Dan and Lana are excellent hosts who are attentive to their guests but unobtrusive. They have upgraded many of the features since our last visit 2 years ago. Highly recommended for larger groups like family reunions.
5.0
We loved our stay. We have a big family and we all were able to find a place to sleep and we had a wonderful time.
5.0
best vacation
We loved our stay. We have a big family and we all were able to find a place to sleep and we had a wonderful time.
5.0
Such nice hosts. Well stocked kitchen. Lots of cribs, pack n plays and high chairs. Comfortable beds. We loved the big gathering areas. Made it easy to connect with family. Will definitely come again!
5.0
Great Spot for Large Family Gatherings!
Such nice hosts. Well stocked kitchen. Lots of cribs, pack n plays and high chairs. Comfortable beds. We loved the big gathering areas. Made it easy to connect with family. Will definitely come again!
5.0
We held a large family reunion here. We stayed in just the west wing and had more than enough beds for the 50 people in our group. The kitchen is large and has a good layout. The two ovens and two fridges were a major plus. The eating and gathering area off the kitchen made feeding 50 people for every meal relatively trouble free. There were a lot of activities for the kids to do while the adults visited or played games. It is obviously a 100 year old building that the owners are working hard to renovate. But it is clean and comfortable; and we had a great time! Definitely recommend!
5.0
Great for large family gathering
We held a large family reunion here. We stayed in just the west wing and had more than enough beds for the 50 people in our group. The kitchen is large and has a good layout. The two ovens and two fridges were a major plus. The eating and gathering area off the kitchen made feeding 50 people for every meal relatively trouble free.
There were a lot of activities for the kids to do while the adults visited or played games.
It is obviously a 100 year old building that the owners are working hard to renovate. But it is clean and comfortable; and we had a great time!
Definitely recommend!
5.0
We have a large family and this vacation was perfect. The owners were very nice and helpful. We loved the place. It was everything we hoped for and we will be going back next year.
5.0
This is the second year we've stayed at the Gooding Inn for a soccer tournament in Twin Falls. So nice to get away from the crazy of Twin during that weekend! The space was great for the myself, assistant coaches, and some of my players with their families. While I didn't have my whole team, there is more than enought room if I had. We had a great time, thanks!
5.0
great vacation
We have a large family and this vacation was perfect. The owners were very nice and helpful. We loved the place. It was everything we hoped for and we will be going back next year.
FAQs
How much does this castle / palace cost compared to others in Idaho?
The average price for a rental in Idaho is $296 per night. This rental is $1,495 above the average.
Is parking included with this castle / palace?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Historic Gooding College, Beautiful Building Small Town up to 24Bedrooms, 14Bath. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this castle / palace?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Historic Gooding College, Beautiful Building Small Town up to 24Bedrooms, 14Bath. Enjoy the water!
Is Historic Gooding College, Beautiful Building Small Town up to 24Bedrooms, 14Bath pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this castle / palace is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Historic Gooding College, Beautiful Building Small Town up to 24Bedrooms, 14Bath?
We found 13 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, air conditioner, kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, and fireplace.
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