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jo is a Star Host
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I grew up on a farm and thrilled to be enjoying country living once again! We are not annual campground, but we have space on the property for travelers needing an overnight or two. We can be found on HIPCAMP listed under OLD RUGGED BARN.
We are in central IL near Historic Rt 66, minutes north of Bloomington-Normal with easy access from I-55. The property is a small 3.5 Acre farmstead that includes our event venue, space that can used for campers, and my home.
We offer space for Campers through Hipcamp. We are NOT a campground per se. We do have space on our property to comfortably accommodate up to 8 spaces for Overnight guests.
I moved to the farm in 2010 with the intent to simply enjoy the peace And quiet of country living. Then I realized we Could create a place that could serve as a place for community to gather for special events.
We are making constant strides to utilize Our 3.5 acres highlighted by the Old Rugged Barn venue and welcome the opportunity to host any kind of public and private event! The Old Rugged Barn..... where happy happens!!
The campsite offers a serene and scenic setting, with beautiful views over cornfields and artistic barns. Most campers felt safe and welcomed by the host, Jo, who was often praised for her hospitality. While the campsite was generally clean and quiet, there were occasional concerns about bright lights at night and the cleanliness of the porta potty. The site is ideal for those seeking a peaceful retreat with the convenience of being close to amenities.
This is not an appropriate place to advertise on Hipcamp. I reserved this 1 month in advance and when I arrived, there was a wedding on the 3 acre property. I called the host 6 times and finally was able to speak to her. She led us to a far 0.25 acre part of the property next to the cornfield but very much next to the wedding reception. We were also expected to share this small corner with another camper. The owner was curt when I told her she should have disclosed this event to me. She asked me if I had a problem with the wedding. She also said if we wanted a fire we could go get the fire pit stored near the barn and carry it back to our corner. There were kids running around everywhere and it was awkward being at a private party. The owner did not apologize or offer a refund. It was already 8pm so we had to travel 30 more minutes to find a hotel. I have a video of the wedding next to my “camp site” and screenshot of my attempts to contact the owner. She should not be allowed to advertise this on Hipcamp. I’ve booked through Hipcamp several times and had a great experience. This by far is the worst property and host I’ve had with Hipcamp. I hope this review prevents others from having a terrible experience as there are so many other great hosts to choose instead.
Finding the right spot to camp was tricky. Pitch your tent behind the large red barn in back left corner of the property. There are 2 very bright flood lights back there, but pine trees provide 100% shade from these for about 1/3 of the camping area. The camping area is a nice soft flat grass yard. Firewood was free, but it's just old cut boards you have to dig out of an old bin 60 yards away. Toilet was porta potty. Not clean, no TP. The property hosts events, and there was a wedding the night we were there. It was far enough away not to bother us. Could just faintly hear the music. Jo was helpful and kind. Don't bother stopping at the house, just set up your tent.
We loved camping here! Very safe and quiet. Perfect for our family with three little ones. There was a porta potty on site which also made life easier.
We met our lovely host last night who helped us out with extra water since the other water sources are temporarily not accessible. Would recommend bringing in your own water just in case.
We absolutely fell in love with the property and would highly recommend camping here!
Location
Towanda, Mc Lean, Illinois, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Peoria, Myaamia, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, Kaskaskia, and Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo) First Nations according to