Pets

Potable water

Toilets

Campfires

Showers

Trash

Cooking equipment

Come Enjoy the Beauty

This property has a year round running creek called Bear Creek. They also mined the stone off the property for the State Capital in Des Moines, Iowa. Abundant wildlife and mature beautiful trees.

RV Spots have electric at the site, water to fill your tanks with and we have a dump station on the way out.  

Cabin rental $150.00 night for the first two people.  $10.00 each person after the first two. 

The Tensile site, a tent/hammock hybrid you can sleep in!

The Waypoint

A vanlife destination located at the confluence of I80 and I35. 

18 acres of land featuring a limestone quarry pond, perfect trees for hanging hammocks, flat ground for parking vans and so much space for community. 

If you’re interested, we are happy to coordinate introducing you to our small herd of alpacas and Great Pyrenees dogs. 

Madrid

Saylorville Lake

Ledges State Park

Lake Ahquabi State Park

Springbrook State Park

Looking for lake camping near Madrid? Discover and book the best lake campsites and campgrounds in state parks and national parks, plus on farms, vineyards, and nature preserves.

Lake Camping in Madrid, Iowa, US: 12 Best Lake Campsites 2024 | Hipcamp

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Cabins

Cabins with fishing

Forest cabins

Cabins with hiking

Lakeside cabins

Farm cabins

View from the other side - not as pretty, but you don't have to carry your stuff far at all! You can even leave most of it in the car!

Firefly Creek Ranch

Our property was once the County Home until it was closed due to regulatory changes to the mental health industry. The property sat vacant for 2 years as a deficit for the county and its taxpayers. We had a plan to breathe new life into this property by re-opening as a non-profit Art, Community, and Retreat Center.  We are in the heart of the rolling hills surrounding Guthrie Center & Lake Panorama.  It is simply an amazing place.  Please come and see what makes this experience unique.  Learn more about this land:Peaceful farm setting in the rolling hills of Guthrie County, Iowa. Outdoor rustic camping and indoor simple Bed & Breakfast rooms.  10 Rustic Campsites or 1 with water and electric hook-ups for additional $5 night.  Self contained campers welcome.  Ask about our Gathering & Retreat Center with 8 indoor overnight accommodations available.  Sleeps 8-15.  

Our chosen campsite on some flat ground near the path leading into the building.

The barn and land at sunset. So beautiful and serene!

Sleep in an Iowa Barn @ TLC

Threshold Learning Center is 28 acres of prairie, creek, woods, and our barn dormitory.  Threshold is first, an outdoor learning center for schools during the school year, and a summer camp offering several day camps, family camps, and trips.  As a non-profit, however, we are constantly trying to find a way to  offer our programs to everyone regardless of whether they are able to pay our fees while still making enough money to stay open.  We started renting TLC to the public 5 years ago for weddings, reunions, or just families who are looking to connect to the world around them.  Our motto is "No Child Left Inside" and we want every inner child to enjoy what we have at TLC.  We have 7 bedrooms in our dormitory, 5 camp sites, a large camp fire ring, a mini-golf course, and we are always willing to lead your group in an educational experience or take you on a hayrack ride.

Our barn dormitory with 7 bedrooms, a lounge, men's and women's restrooms with showers, and kitchenette on the lower level.  The upper level has a full kitchen, a large dining hall/dance hall, and a stage.

Each room has two bunk beds and can sleep up to 5 people.

Relax, talk, or read a book in our quiet lounge.

Enjoy a camp fire and gaze up at the stars.

Comfortable Camping near Des Moines

Once a piece of farmland, now this is home to a historic church rectory and a whole lot of chickens (real and fake ones to be clear.)

Learn more about this land:

BEFORE BOOKING - if you are traveling with a dog be sure to message us BEFORE booking to make sure that we can accommodate you.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER BOOKING please send a message introducing yourself and confirming how many are in your group and how large your camping set up is.

We live on just over 3 acres of land.  Some of it is a flat grass area, some is hilly, and some has taller brush.  From any of these camping areas you can see our home but not much else besides fields, brush, and grass - and the sky!  

A train goes by a few times a day/night.  We are located on a paved rural road, so while you will hear cars go by, there is no flow of constant traffic.  We are located an easy two miles from a gas station and an easy 17-30 minute drive to Des Moines if you're looking to go into the city.

The land is former farm land but the house is a historical church rectory that was moved to this location several years ago.


Pitched my tent adjacent to the chicken coop

The BUSS BARN woods.

Learn more about this land:Woods/Timber camping. Fire rings provided. Camp in the woods (tent) or camper in field. Kybo (satellite) toilets provided. Rental of ATV (single) Firewood for purchase on site. Axe throwing targets on site.  Other accommodations can be made as needed. 

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