Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park | Other in Preston

10.0 (95 Reviews) |   4 Bedrooms  1 Bathroom  8 Guests
Preston Other | Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park

4 Bedroom Place in Preston

Find a connection with nature. Enjoy the serenity and beautiful natural scenery while staying in a newly renovated 1890's home, comfortable and modesty appointed in a 1930's farm house style.
Named one of Minnesota's best Farm Stays by Explorer Minnesota 2024!
Schmidt Farm is a visitor friendly family farm with a passion of sharing our experiences with others, bringing you closer to our roots in agriculture.
Located in the beautiful hills of the Driftless Region in Southeast Minnesota, this property is available for you to enjoy a hands on farm experience or a secluded get-away. We welcome families, friend groups and special interest groups looking for a unique rural experience.
We share our farm with a variety of species including horses, donkeys, Icelandic sheep, rabbits, goats, chickens, alpaca & llama, cats & dogs. Each of these animals provide for the farm a specific function helping add to the sustainability of the farming system.
Schmidt Farm tends to be a destination location. Our farm borders the east side of Forestville State Park in an area abundant with wildlife and outdoor recreational opportunities. If you are interested in exploring the local communities, we can also point you in the right direction. Our farm is located just 6 miles from Preston and 12 miles from Lanesboro.
Our guests find we are much more than a farm. You can experience a connection with nature, the forest, the wildflowers, the wildlife, all in a safe and rewarding place. As hosts, we are here to guide you to find that experience and connection.
Guests enjoy dark skies at night, amazing for star gazing. An abundance of fireflies light up the summer evenings. Be sure to end the evening at the sunset bench that overlooks our valley and Forestville State Park. It's an amazing family photo op!
Our guests frequently mention how well stocked the kitchen is for their cooking needs, including a large propane Weber grill. You just need to provide the food, everything else is there. Leave your bottled water behind. Our fresh well water may just be the best tasting water you have encountered. Several of our local restaurants serve our Schmidt Farm produce while in season. We are happy to recommend these great places to eat!
Hosts Paul & Karen live on the home farm which borders the property, a 10 minute scenic walk along the woods and across an organic hay field or short drive from the guest house.
Schmidt Farm is a honored to be recognized as a Century Farm having been continuously farmed by the Schmidt family since 1901, when the first immigrant generation of our Schmidt family moved here.
Miles of well maintained private hiking trails are available for your exploration on your access to 60 acres of woodland and native prairie & wildflower areas of Schmidt Farm. You will also have direct hike-in access to Forestville State Park.
The property is an excellent space for deepening your connection with nature through meditation or Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing). Small group retreats are encouraged.
Learn about organic vegetable growing with our large garlic and asparagus market gardens. Visit with Paul about our experience off-setting electrical usage through our solar panel arrays. Fossil hunting is a rewarding experience on the farm. Wildlife watching doesn't get any easier right out your window.
Karen is a fiber artist and loves to share this passion with guests. Our fiber flock includes Icelandic sheep, llama & alpaca. We do all of the fiber processing on farm from hand shearing our own animals to selling the final product.
Paul is a musician and you are often able to catch him playing at a local venue during your stay.
You choose your level of involvement with the hosts. Animal care always takes priority in our schedule. We will introduce you to the animals that share our farms and teach you about proper animal interaction and appropriate behavior expectations with them. You must provide proper supervision of children. Mistreatment of animals or property will not be tolerated.
We will provide guided tours of the home farm. No two stays at Schmidt Farm will look the same. Experience opportunities vary day to day.
We have a small farm store featuring products we produce here on the farm and also some additional necessities you may find a need for during your stay.
Some of our private trails may be shared with tent campers during the months of May, September and October.
Fall is a great time to enjoy the farm. Experience the beautiful fall colors, watch the harvest activity and sheep shearing, enjoy cool evenings by the campfire & explore the openness of the forest in the fall.
As we move into the fall season, the farm animals will start to move to our home farm as the pasture slows down for the year. All animals are moved to the home farm for winter shelter.
Although we can not allow visiting dogs on our property, we do have a local option for boarding your dog while you visit Schmidt Farm. Carla offers boarding about a mile from our farm. This allows you to take your dog with you on day trips off the farm if you like. www.laddk9.com
Follow us @SchmidtFarm19499 on Facebook to meet the animals see what is going on here this week!
*Open May-October
* Please contact us about potential off season rental
*Full site rental
*This property is not available for hunting.
*Motorized recreational vehicles are not allowed.
*Pets & Service Animals: Unfortunately, our farm is NOT a safe place for guests to bring their animals. We have livestock guardian animals that live with our pastured animals who protect specifically against canine predation. They are only allowed to see our own specifically trained farm dogs and all others are considered predators to these animals. For the safety of our animals and yours, thanks for your understanding.

Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park is located in Preston. Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park provides accommodation, featuring Barbecue/Outdoor Cooking, Parking, Sports/Activities, among other amenities. This Other features Barbecue/Outdoor Cooking, Parking, Sports/Activities, to make your stay a comfortable one.

Schmidt Farm: an interactive farm experience bordering Forestville State Park has 4 Bedrooms , 1 Bathroom, and max occupancy of 8 people. The minimum rental for this property is 1 nights, but this can change depending on the season you plan on staying. Previous guests have given good rated it, and VRBO labeled it a top-rated Other because of the excellent services rendered by the owner or manager of this Other, and has consistently provided great experiences for their guests. Most families or guests that use it recommend it to their friends and some of them are repeat guests. Other has a friendly neighborhood, and the Preston has interesting places to visit. If you want to learn more about the Other in Preston, such as places to visit and things to do nearby, you can check below to learn more.

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Unique Amenities

  • Air Conditioner
  • Parking
  • Balcony/Terrace
  • Security/Safety
  • Sports/Activities
  • Bedding/Linens
  • Fireplace/Heating
  • Entertainment
  • Barbecue/Outdoor Cooking
  • Child Friendly
  • Internet
  • Kitchen
 
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Policies

Check-in Check-in time starts at 4:00 pm minimum check-in age: 21
Check-out Check-out before 11:00 am
Child Policy Children are welcome.
Pet Policy Pets not allowed
Other Policy 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 onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed 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
 
Preston, 55965, United States

What Our Guests say 500 + Reviews

Oct 24, 2024 11:29:25 AM
Summary: We enjoyed our second visit to Schmidt farm with Karen and Paul - they're awesome hosts and it's a super fun experience.
Elizabeth &. Elizabeth &.
Oct 5, 2024 01:37:32 AM
Summary: Truly away from the hustle and bustle. Great to have acres and acres to roam without anybody else but the owners who tended to the animals and shared all kinds of interesting things about the sheep, llamas, goats, horses and the bunny. The kids especially, loved interacting with the animals as much as the animals loved the attention.
Cher K. Cher K.
Sep 15, 2024 06:44:43 AM
Summary: We've stayed at many VRBOs, from mountain cabins to beach houses. But my daughter, who loves animals, said this was her favorite VRBO ever! She loved all the details of the house, and the farm was so beautiful. We're definitely going to make this an annual trip. We only wish we could have stayed longer! Now that we've found this gem, we'll be back for sure!
Loretta B. Loretta B.
Aug 30, 2024 08:45:33 PM
Summary: Our family loved Schmidt farm! It was perfect for our three kids (ages 3-6). They had a great time taking care of the rabbit, feeding the sheep, collecting eggs from the chickens, and petting the donkey. The property is beautiful. We loved walking out into the field at night to see the stars. We hope to be back again someday.
Daniel H. Daniel H.
Aug 17, 2024 08:49:25 AM
Summary: We had an amazing time at the Schmidt farm! From the moment we arrived Karen and Paul treated us like family! Karen took my husband and kids on a 2 hour tour of the land, showed my son how to forage for mushrooms, took my daughter under her wing and showed her everything about caring for the animals. Paul taught us all about their farm and gave us advice on surrounding sights and took time out of his busy schedule to show us all around his farm. The house itself is delightful. A beautiful old farmhouse from 1899 that is perfectly appointed to bring you back in time. We were happy to explore and forage on the 60 acres. The kids just wanted to stay at the farm the whole time. However, we did take advantage of the location's convenient proximity to the Forestville State Park, Mystery Cave, Amish country, and the festivals and fairs in Lanesboro and Chatfield. We even made a trip to the Mississippi river and the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum which is only a little over an hour away! We highly recommend this beautiful farm!
Isaac B. Isaac B.
Aug 16, 2024 08:08:20 AM
Summary: Thank you Karen and Paul for the amazing farm experience! The peace and tranquility of the farm was exactly what we needed. We loved our morning routine: coffee with M.E., feeding the animals, especially Billy the Goat, and petting Shawn the Sheep. We enjoyed learning about the work that you both do and walking the trails as the sun set over the beautiful mountains. This was our first trip to the farm, and we are already planning our next!
Ricci G. Ricci G.
Jul 15, 2024 11:17:09 AM
Summary: We would stay again. The home was as described and very, very clean. It is old-school farmhouse while still being comfortable and accommodating. We appreciated the home's vintage as well as the more modern amenities (AC, renovated bathrooms, etc.). The house is located off the county hwy, down a long winding driveway and tucked up against the woods. There are trails right out the back door. A quick and easy stroll will take you to the wildflower meadow with a great view of the river valley. If you have more time and energy you can keep going into the woods, down into that valley and all the way to the Root River. Our immediate neighbors were a donkey, goats, miniature horses, chickens, and a rabbit. We fed and watered them more than necessary each day. We were also lucky enough to be there when several sheep and two llamas had just been moved into the paddock for a few months. If you're interested in birds, omg. The grocery store in Preston (an easy 15 minute drive) had everything we needed. There are coffee shops, boutiques, and ice cream in other towns nearby. Lastly, meeting and visiting with Karen and Paul made our visit even more engaging. They gave us a tour of their farm, the farm shop and answered all of our questions. Even better - they were just fun to chat with as if we were neighbors over the fence.
Jonathan K. Jonathan K.
Jul 9, 2024 08:01:08 PM
Summary: Our time at the farm was fun for all. We enjoyed exploring the property as well as the local state parks. Would highly recommend for an escape with the family!
Heather B. Heather B.
Jun 26, 2024 01:24:22 AM
Summary: This is our 4th or 5th time visiting Schmidt Farm from halfway across the country, and we could not love it more. It’s the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of our daily, scheduled lives. Our boys love the farm animals, the ability to help care for them, and the hikes around the property and adjacent forest. They built tree forts, played with the goats, created games in the woods, had campfires, looked for fossils, and so much more. The guest house had plenty of room for the 6 of us and was stocked with toys and games, a nice perk for the couple rainy days we had. Karen and Paul are everything you could wish for - welcoming, responsive, always willing to educate us on farm life, and so kind to our kids. We’re already counting the days down until we can return.
Rachel A. Rachel A.
Jun 22, 2024 03:37:13 AM
Summary: We are a family with two 7 year old boys; we have not had any camping experience and were looking for a home base while we visited Mystery Cave. This place was just right! Paul and Karen are hospitable and generous hosts. They share of their time, talent, knowledge (which is extensive) and even of their harvest. We enjoyed delicious fresh asparagus, garlic scapes and grape jelly during our visit. Karen has a gift for connecting—my boys are both a bit unusual and sometimes difficult to understand, but she made us all feel right at home. She helped them (and all of us) learn how to treat animals and the earth with kindness and respect. By the time our short visit of 3 days ended, the boys were fetching water and hay for the animals (goats, mini horses and a donkey).
Amanda R. Amanda R.

FAQ's

Is this Preston other pet-friendly for guests?

No, pets are not allowed at this property. Check the guest reviews to learn what guests had to share.

Does the Preston other have a swimming pool?

No, this Preston other does not have a swimming pool. Check the Facility Overview section for details about the pool and other available facilities.

How much does it cost per night to stay in Preston other?

Best-rates for the Preston other starts from $218 per night with includes Kitchen, Air Conditioner, Balcony/Terrace, Security/Safety, Entertainment, Barbecue/Outdoor Cooking, Parking, Sports/Activities, Bedding/Linens, Fireplace/Heating, Child Friendly, Internet StayAndPlay offers fully equipped golf villas, golf hotels, golf resorts, luxury golf cabins, and exclusive golf retreats, making it easier than ever to find your perfect golf escape — ideal for families, peaceful getaways, or pet-friendly retreats with the whole crew.

Is Preston other a family-friendly place to stay?

Based on the information we have received from the owner or our partner, this is considered to be a family-friendly property. Families have rated this other Good or guests have recommended them suitable for families. As reported by the owner or manager, the other has specified that children are welcome. Please see details about suitability for your family or inquire with the property to learn more.

Is the Preston other wheelchair accessible or offer services for disabled guests?

Based on the information received from our partner, the Preston other has not specified they are wheelchair accessible. Likewise, there is not an elevator specified as being available at the property. Specific accessibility details may be addressed in the property details section of this page.

What is the minimum night stay policy for the Preston other?

Based on the information reported by the owner or manager, the Preston other indicates 1 day stay policy at this other. Guests are cautioned that the minimum stay policy may differ based on seasonality or availability and may be at the discretion of the owner or manager.

What cancellation policy is in place for Preston other?

Based on the information reported by the owner or manager, details for the cancellation policy for the Preston other are as follows: Cancellation policy Guests are cautioned that the cancellation policy may differ based on seasonality, availability, or current travel restrictions. Guests should also be aware that this policy may be subject to change and should be confirmed prior to booking. More details may be available on this page in the property description. However, early check-in or late check-out can sometimes be negotiated between the guest and the owner or the manager of this property.

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