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1860's Botanical Paradise

96%

· Bellevue, Jackson, Iowa

2 acres hosted by Jessica O.

1 lodging site · 1 tent site

Best in Iowa: Finalist

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023.

Best in Iowa: Finalist

Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.

Happy to announce we’ve won 2nd best property to visit in Iowa! We hope to keep striving and adding more amenities as we go! Thank you to our wonderful guests and hello to future guests! 👋🏽 Built in 1860 by its first caretaker botanist, this homestead was propagated over its many years of life and is busting at the seams with medicinal and edible herbs. We now run a flower farm and vegetable gardens on our homestead. If you’d like to learn about herbs or gardening/ homesteading, we love sharing our knowledge. If you’d just like some farm fresh eggs for breakfast and enjoy your time alone amongst the songbirds, that's just fine too :) The property is built into the stone hillside allowing for breathtaking views but also stairs to get to the campsites. Please wear comfortable shoes (not flip flops 😉). If you have mobility issues property access will be difficult. Please no children under 5. !CLASSES! We run our small school/business: HOMESTEAD and HAMMER from the property and are bringing classes to YOU! Look in the "EXTRAS" for classes you can partake in on your visit OR for more information on what's included on class weekends check out our website below! Classes include, forAging wild edibles, mushroom identification, homesteading skills, soap making, forging metals and many more! Website: www.homesteadandhammer.com *For guest and host safety property managed 24-7 by video and security services*

Activities

Biking

Boating

Fishing

Hiking

Natural features

Forest

Mountainous

Wetlands

Farm

96%

119 ratings · 95 reviews

Sidney P.doesn't recommend

September 5, 2024

Woodsy Campsite

This was a fine place to stay for the night. The space for a tent is small (my two-person tent was a squeeze) and the walk to it is over slippery tarp. At night, the pathway and camping area gets very dark. There were many mosquitoes (there’s a pond). Jessica offered me coffee in the morning, but my visit and shower felt received as if it was an inconvenience. Maybe it was just a bad day, but Jessica was not the friendliest host.

Jeff W.recommends

August 27, 2024

Bunkie

Excellent hosts. “Bunkie” very clean and comfortable.

Evie V.recommends

August 27, 2024

Woodsy Campsite

Fun Solo Camping Adventure!

I stayed at the Woodsy campsite at Jessica’s house, and I loved it! I came for a nice solo camping trip to relax and unwind for a long weekend and hike at Maquoketa Caves. This spot was perfect for me, and I really enjoyed meeting Jessica and learning more about her homesteading. She is very friendly and offered suggestions about things to do close by. She was very responsive to my messages and made sure I had everything I needed. As a woman, I felt very safe camping here on my own which made the overall trip more enjoyable. I bought some tea and soap too from her and love it! I am definitely coming back to camp here again; I would highly recommend this site and also recommend trying some of her homemade goods!

Caleb F.recommends

August 20, 2024

Bunkie

Jessica was friendly and made sure any request we had was met. She responded back to messages in a timely manner and gave us some ideas to do in Bellevue. The location was great and the house and yard surrounding it was very cute and old time feel. Would definitely stay again!

Kathleen M.recommends

August 16, 2024

Woodsy Campsite

Cute place to stay

Cute place! Jessica was lovely! We didn’t have time for any of the tours she offers but I bet that would have been fun. We did get the brats. They were delicious! Trails on the land had poison ivy so we didn’t use them. And heads up, the area only fits a tent of 4ppl!!! Did not know that until we were well into our drive. Our 6p tent was too big but we found a way to make it work. I did like the spot overall

Joseph A.recommends

August 13, 2024

Bunkie

Homestead and hammer on the hill

Jessica and Pete where kind hosts with a lovely house on the hill at the edge of town. Enjoyed an outside shower after dark with a band playing hotel California off in the distance. Benders grocery store is 4 mins from the house. Good selection of groceries. Enjoy the small town energy and walk Jessica's gardens

Location

Bellevue, Jackson, Iowa, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of oθaakiiwaki‧hina‧ki (Sauk) & Meškwahki·aša·hina (Fox), Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, and Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo) First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking