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Grain bin cabins boost tourism in Iowa

Dog Creek Park near Sutherland, Iowa, is home to two modern Grain Bin Cabins that can accommodate up to 14 guests each. -- AP photo

SUTHERLAND, Iowa (AP) –î Two grain bins bask in the sun, catching rays bouncing off Dog Creek Lake outside of Sutherland in northwest Iowa’s rural O’Brien County.

Peek inside and you won’t see bushels of grain, but rather couches, Smart TVs, refrigerators, bathrooms and beds.

Welcome to the Grain Bin Cabins, the newest features at Dog Creek Park, a 160-acre getaway operated by the O’Brien County Conservation Board.

The cabins, which can each house up to 14 guests, are rented for $150 per night, at a two-night minimum.

Terry Boltjes, a director on the O’Brien County Conservation Board, expects a 12-year payback on the $140,000 bins.

Beyond the direct payback, however, there are other things to consider, items difficult to gauge on a profit-and-loss statement. For example, the first guests to stay in the Grain Bin Cabins in August hailed from Texas. A visitor experiencing life at Dog Creek Park and greater O’Brien County might be inclined to return at some point, to invest in the quality of life found in the area.

“We know it’s good for our area restaurants and gas stations as people who come here are spending money,” Boltjes said.

The origin of the twin bins can be traced to Bill’s Cabin, a fixture adjacent to the No. 8 green at the Primghar Golf & Country Club in nearby Primghar, the county seat.

Bill’s Cabin is the brainchild of brothers Kurt and Jim Edwards, who transformed an old grain bin into a two-level suite for those wishing to stay near the golf course. The bin, which opened just over a decade ago, sleeps four to six people.

“My sister . . . stayed at Bill’s Cabin a few years ago,” said Boltjes. “She and all of her friends were so impressed with it.”

Boltjes toyed with the idea of doing something similar at Dog Creek Park, but on a bigger scale.

The O’Brien County Conservation Board worked with CS Asgrow of nearby Calumet, which built the bins that measure 1,200 square feet of living space on two levels. One is named Bean Bin Cabin; the other is Corn Bin Cabin. Both are handicap accessible.

“We directed them toward the south to get solar gain,” said Boltjes.

Radiant floor heat through concrete stain help the units heat and cool efficiently, and the walls have spray foam insulation.

“We did do a lot of the work in-house,” said Boltjes, motioning toward the matching grain bin shelters and fire pits set within sidewalks leading to the cabins.

Cabin guests have more than 1,000 acres of public hunting ground near the county park, a selling point during pheasant and deer seasons.

“Turkeys come within 30 yards of the deck,” said Boltjes of the outdoor area that looks out over a lake that measures 18 feet at its maximum depth. The lake features crappie, large-mouth bass, catfish and bluegills.

The cabins round out a county park that boasts nearly 30 campsites, a playground area and basketball courts.

“It’s a very peaceful setting out here,” said Boltjes. “The people who have stayed here were in awe.”

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