Clarance Gonstead Guest Cottage, Prairie Style, Stone & Tide Water Cypress
About this cottage rental
Nestled in Wisconsin, this lovely cottage for $117 per night is a great choice for your next trip. The Guest Cottage was built for the world renowned Chiropractor, Clarance Gonstead from 1950 - 1952 and designed by Architect, Herb Fritz Jr. in the Prairie Style of architecture made popular by Herb's Mentor, Frank Lloyd Wright. The cottage is centrally located in town on two acres and separated from the main house. The exterior is clad in clay tile and lanon stone and the interior finishes are stone and tide water cypress walls and ceiling with quarry tile and carpet floors. The hilly local terrain, abandoned level rail road trails and off road trails in the state park provide opportunity for all levels of biking enthusiasts. Old farts can bring your own e-bike and use this as your base to explore the drift-less region. We provide descent gravel trail bikes if you are traveling light. Mount Horeb has a village owned public golf course, public pool and almost weekly organized events within walking distance. The radiant floor heating system and the proximity to down ski hills, cross country trails and an outdoor ice skating rink blocks away, make this an ideal winter retreat, unfortunately we have had to fall in line with all the other inns and discontinue use of the wood burning fireplace to satisfy insurance restrictions so we installed a 4K television with a sound bar that provides the visual and auditory ambience of a variety of wood burning fire places and the floor provides the heat. You also have the flexibility of watching a movie on an internet TV. The rear bedroom has been converted into a full blown office with a wrap around view of the gardens, "Uplift" sit/stand desk, comfortable office chair, file cabinet and 4K monitor w/ laptop mount on (2) VESA mount floating arms. USB-C, HDMI and Display port compatible. Keywords: Guest House, cottage, cabin, prairie style, mid century modern, mcm, Taliesin, Architecture, FLW, Frank Lloyd Wright, Herb Fritz, Spring Green, Architect, trail, bikes, driftless, office, monitor, Uplift, sit/stand, desk, extended stay, long term
Amenities
Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony / Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Gym / Fitness Center
Garden
Family friendly
Map of Wisconsin
Reviews
5.0/5.0
Outstanding(248 Reviews)
5.0
Cannot say enough about this cute, fully-functional space located in Mt. Horeb. Phil and Joyce have a wonderful, mid-century modern apartment filled with all the conveniences and decor becoming of such a beautiful space. We stayed during the fall, but there’s no denying how lovely the outdoor space would be in spring/summer. Unit was sparkling clean and the hosts provided an overview of the surrounding town (complete with menus for any restaurant you could possibly want. 10/10 experience, will return when we’re back up near Madison, or when we’re in for the Horribly Hilly race in the summer. Thanks to the hosts!
5.0
The Gonstead cottage was a great weekend getaway. The house itself is a beautiful piece of architecture, and in a good spot in the town. The area is beautiful and has plenty to do with restaurants bike trails, and there is even a cave nearby. Joyce and Phil were more than accommodating giving you some history on the house and in making sure that you had everything that you needed and showing you around
5.0
Stayed the weekend at this awesome little place in a little slice of heaven called Mt Horeb. Wonderful hosts and we will be back!
5.0
Beautiful property- very cool and unique cottage - great history and architecture. All the amenities of home. Fun town to explore with lots of restaurants and great bike trail to hike - all in the beautiful driftless area. Highly recommended
5.0
Beautiful guest lodge. Everything in keeping with its original design and architecture. Comfortable bed, ample towels, convenient kitchen. It was a perfect location for us as we spent time in Madison, visiting the area's Fall Art Tour and Wright's Taliesin.
Lovely hosts. Super helpful and friendly. We've already recommended it to friends.
5.0
If you would have to pick a place to 'groundhog day' this would be it. Wouldn't mind going to bed and waking up to another day at what we called Mount Pleasure. Big, beautiful, best hosts in town
5.0
What a wonderful, completely unique cottage in a fantastic spot for cycling, hiking, and jaunting around downtown Mt Horeb. The most architecturally significant and interesting place we've ever stayed.
5.0
The hosts, Joyce & Phil are very friendly & welcoming. We had a wonderful time & are glad we had the chance to stay at this unique, historical property. It is only a few blocks from downtown & the Military Ridge bike trail. Lots of other attractions nearby in the very scenic driftless area of Wisconsin.
5.0
The Gonstead cottage exceeded our expectations which were high to begin with! Joyce and Phil are wonderful hosts. We had everything we needed during our week long stay, enjoyed sitting in the spacious yard in the Adirondack chairs, taking walks to downtown, and the general ambience of this very special place. We also enjoyed riding the bikes that were available at the cottage (almost daily) on the bike path in the area. The beds were comfortable and it was a very quiet spot to relax. Utterly charming! We will be back!
5.0
Get the full feeling for the prairie architecture in this cottage. The hosts are enthusiastic and welcoming.
5.0
Such a cute quiet town with pubs, good food, and walking streets.
The property itself is adorable place. You’ve got space to spread out, comfy couches to hangout on and if you work remote the standing desk and big monitor is such a huge plus! I have a remote job and I travel with a moderare sized monitor but its always so nice when there's one that comes with a place. They even have an extra computer desk area in the bedroom that you can use.
We went at a nice time of year that the no ac thing was not a big deal at all because we had cool nights and warm days. The stone walls kept the cool air in really nice.
Overall a nice little getaway for the week and only 25 mins to Madison
5.0
This property is a time capsule from an era that will never be duplicated. The home is so unique and built at the time without any budget constraints. If you like unique retro architecture this place will transport you. The owners have given the place a warm comfy feel with modern conveniences but intentionally left the retro look and feel. They welcomed us and made sure we had everything we needed. On top of all that, the location, within walking distance of downtown, is really convenient to grab ample food options, and enjoy the small downtown atmosphere. It’s only a 30-45 minute drive to numerous attractions: caves, Taliesin, state parks, house on the rock. This place serves as an unforgettable hub for a range of activities from active to relaxing.
5.0
I love staying in unique properties and this definitely was such a property. It was the perfect place for me and my husband.
The hosts were helpful and generous. They were available for everything we needed. They provided everything we could have needed for the weekend. I love to cook and had everything I needed for the two dinners I cooked. We brought our own bikes, but there were bikes available for those who don't.
The only drawback is that the home doesn't have air conditioning. But the fans and stone walls kept the rooms cool and comfortable.
I highly recommend this cottage. I hope we have the opportunity to stay here again.
5.0
The cottage was beautiful,clean and comfy.
5.0
Was a lovely stay at a very unique property. Those with an interest in prairie style architecture will love it. Even if you don't, we love the driftless area, with rolling hills & farms & rivers. The drive to New Glarus is short and BEAUTIFUL.
5.0
Wonderful property and wonderful hosts. Admire how the hosts carefully restored their home after the fire. Hosts were very thoughtful making suggestions in regard to local events (concert one evening and the farmer's market another day). House is positioned very close to downtown but yet is in a quiet neighborhood with a nice landscaped yard. A walking/bike trail is just a very short distance away. Mt. Horeb is a quaint, small time well worth exploring.
5.0
It was a unique little guest house to stay in. The hosts were very accommodating. We enjoyed sitting outside for our meals. We were close to town, so we could walk. It was a very nice setting.
5.0
The Gonstead guest cottage is a fabulous, mid-century modern place on beautiful grounds. Stone walls, big eaves, picture windows and angles in walls and windows. Choice of good architecture books as well. No AC, but with shade and cross breeze plenty comfortable even on a warm summer week.
5.0
This is a one of a kind property! Amazing architecture. Our hosts were great. Even took us on a bike ride on the military ridge trail. We had a great stay!
5.0
This gem of a guest cottage has comfort, uniqueness, attentive hosts, great location and architectural elements you will admire. We highly recommend and would absolutely return.
5.0
The property is one of a kind in the prairie style of Frank Lloyd Wright. It had all we needed to be comfortable and the location was close to the bike trails and downtown. The owners had bikes available to ride which was a bonus.
5.0
Such an interesting and enjoyable stay!
5.0
We had a very delightful stay at the Gonstead guest house. The hostess and host were very friendly and accommodating.
5.0
We had a fantastic long weekend in Wisconsin. The guest cottage was wonderful! Fully stocked with everything we could want and more. We really enjoyed the amazing architecture of the guest cottage, so unique! Wish we could have stayed longer!
Joyce and Phil were gracious hosts. The check-in process was great, they explained all the features and amenities, and were very helpful with what to see and do in the area. We visited House on the Rock, Cave of the Mounds and Taliesin, and also explored downtown Mt Horeb.
We'd stay here again!
5.0
We really enjoyed our 3 day stay here. Joyce and Phil are such gracious hosts.
The cottage is a perfect place for 2 people. Everything you need is on hand. The grounds of the property are beautiful and downtown Mt Horeb is walking distance with its restaurants and bars.
I hope we can stay again sometime, and would definitely recommend it to others
5.0
Phil and Joyce were wonderful hosts and the guest cottage was a gem to stay in! The design of the cottage was rich in history and all the amenities were clean and functional. The location is convenient with a short walk to downtown and trails. The stay was absolutely worth it!
4.0
Very unique structure, nice stay, very personable hosts. Mt. Horeb is a very charming small town.
5.0
My mom and I throughly enjoyed staying in this cottage. It was filled with history.
5.0
Delightful experience!
4.0
Our weekend stay was wonderful. From the time we were greeted by Joyce and Phil to the time we departed we felt at home. Lots of technology and ammenities are provided. We didn't use the bikes but if we had a additional day we would have riden on the Military Trail right down the road. Would definitely consider staying here again.
4.0
Very unique structure, nice stay, very personable hosts. Mt. Horeb is a very charming small town.
5.0
Amazing place. Very relaxing. The house itself is a work of art. The grounds are full of gorgeous mature trees of every kind. Places to sit outside in the shade. Joyce and Phil are wonderful people and just fun to talk with. And My Horeb? OMG, so much more than I expected. Next time, we will take time to see the rest of what the Driftless region has to offer.
5.0
If you have any interest in architecture you *need* to stay here. Just incredible example of the style. All restored by the owners (who are the second owners of the property). A stroke of incredible luck and skill for them. I can’t recommend this enough.
5.0
Unbelievable hostsPhil and Joyce! Wonderful property and so close to downtown! Will hopefully visit again!
2.0
The architecture is amazing. Phil and Joyce were very friendly and helpful - loved their bikes !
Place was really dark, mold in bathroom tub and two beetles walked across the rug. Bed was comfy- need new pillows
5.0
Joyce and Phil were awesome, we loved our stay and will be back in the future.
5.0
Really fun to stay in this historic cottage. Enjoyed chatting with the hosts.
5.0
This little apartment is attached to the house separated by a three car garage in between. The architectural style is Prairie Modern with low ceilings and lots of wood and stone. The layout is unusual, with lots of windows.
It is very comfortable, the neighborhood is quiet and walking distance from several nice restaurants(don't miss the mushroom soup at Bistro 101) and the ciders and food at at Brix Cidery were tasty. Mt Horeb is a hilly town so we got some good exercise walking downtown.
Had a nice hike at Blue Mound Park a few miles away and watched baseball team practice across the street. A very pleasant stay indeed.
5.0
We were in Madison area for some graduations and found this gem to stay at. The owners are friendly and helpful and maintain the cottage really well with plenty of amenities. Nice and close to Main Street to walk around easily. The gardens on the property are gorgeous and relaxing to sit in. Would love to stay here again for future visits.
5.0
This unique property is a great home base for exploring other unique places in that part of Wisconsin. My hubby and I went to The House on the Rock and The National Mustard Museum (each about a 20 minute drive), but also enjoyed exploring the cute downtown Mt. Horeb with its trolls and Scandinavian influences. The downtown is super close to the house. If the weather had cooperated we would have ridden the provided bicycles into town, and along the nearby trail. Despite the house being in the middle of a residential area and close to downtown, it’s actually very private. The guest house is attached to the owners house at the garage, but we only saw the owners if they were pulling out of their garage.
The guest house, while unique, is not super fancy, but is priced accordingly. One thing to be aware of is that although the listing says it has a washer and dryer (which it technically does) they were not hooked up. The owner instead said that she would personally do any laundry that needed washing.
The bed apparently had a newer mattress, but it was softer than we were used to. We kept tipping into each other in the middle, and did not sleep well on it. It was a pillow top over a spring mattress, and we are used to a firmer memory foam.
The heated floors were especially nice when walking through the kitchen or using the bathroom. It was nice to not step on cold tiles. Be aware that the bathroom is on the opposite side of the house from the bedroom. It wasn’t an issue for us, but if you wake during the night and need to go, there are nightlights to light your way.
If you need to work during your stay, the desk setup is wonderful! Also, the sound system with access to ITunes was phenomenal! We also enjoyed the ambiance of the YouTube fireplace with sound bar provided since they can no longer allow use of the fireplace. We had a couple cozy evenings on the futon watching movies, or playing games with the “fire” crackling.
The owners are very friendly and personable. You’ll meet them at check in, but then they’ll leave you alone unless you need something. They were very quick to answer my texts.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay. The house is quirky and old, so it had a few minor issues like a leaky bathroom faucet, and sticky, hard to close front door, but it is priced well. The grounds were pretty, even in the snow while we were there, but will probably be gorgeous in spring and summer.
FAQs
How much does this cottage cost compared to others in Wisconsin?
The average price for a rental in Wisconsin is $200 per night. This rental is $83 less expensive than the average.
Is parking included with this cottage?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Clarance Gonstead Guest Cottage, Prairie Style, Stone & Tide Water Cypress. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this cottage?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this cottage. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Clarance Gonstead Guest Cottage, Prairie Style, Stone & Tide Water Cypress pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this cottage is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Clarance Gonstead Guest Cottage, Prairie Style, Stone & Tide Water Cypress?
We found 11 amenities for this rental. This includes kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, parking, and laundry.
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