If you're looking for a place to relax in private- this is not the place. This was hands down the…read moreworst place that I've ever vacationed at. The vibe was just creepy from the moment we stepped in the door. The house is gorgeous- but extremely restricted. The basement is guarded by a baby gate as well as a camera-- that faces up into the kitchen area- I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure the owners live in the basement. We basically barricaded ourselves in the bedroom at night- the dead bolt on the front door has been removed. There is a closet in the master bedroom that is locked- as well as a closet in the kitchen. Now, let's talk cleanliness- or lack there of- the floors were filthy. The amount of dust and dirt and trash on the floors and baseboards were impressive. The hair in the master shower was gross- the grill outside is broken and and extremely dirty- not operable-I'm not sure why there is even a cleaning fee. Just more money to be pocketed I guess. There's a drawer in the refrigerator that's cracked and broken- the railing outside on the balcony is broken and wrapped in caution tape- safety is not important apparently. If you want to watch tv or even have it on for background noise like us, you better have unlimited data on your phone bc there is no Wi-Fi but 2 fire TVs that requires Wi-Fi. Bottom line- the place is not worth the price. 225.00 a night- cleaning fee- an extra guest fee- for what? To be watched on their multiple cameras- dirty house- broken porch? If these things aren't important to you... then this is the place for you! The lighting bug show at night is pretty tho! That's all I got. Terrible, expensive experience.

Had a vacation all planned with them and 2 weeks before our trip they cancel telling us their…read morehousekeeper has COVID. While I understand this is a serious disease, I did not understand how they cannot get a cabin cleaned with 2 weeks notice. After several emails of them wanting to mail me a check (I wanted PayPal return) and telling them I would write them a poor review he then threatened me "Stop whining like a child. Our housekeeper is in the hospital with covid. It's two weeks notice. Unbelievably selfish person. I'll blast your name everywhere I can for years along with your emails if I see even a hint of a bad review". I then noticed at least one other poor review where he had cancelled a reservation last minute for a guest. If you book this cabin, just be warned you may get left without a place to stay and the owner is obviously not the nicest person.

This place is fantastic! Highly recommend. Cute, quiet, eco-friendly and a breakfast to die for…read more This was an awesome home base for a four-day hiking trip. Friendly staff, would 100% stay again!

After hearing about Exploring Illinois on Chicago Channel 5 news, I was curious about an Eco lodge…read moredownstate Illinois. After doing some googling, I came across Makanda Inn, in Makanda, Illinois. The website was great! It gave me a lot of insight to the lodge and the whole area of the Shawnee National Forest! This lodge is completely eco friendly. I was looking for a place to celebrate mine and my partners' 3 year anniversary! The drive down is quite long but soo worth it! The accommodations and our room in the lodge itself was lovely! So clean and spacious. It has a stone shower floor with a large shower head. The carpet in the room is so plush and cozy. We loved everything about the Inn. The Innkeepers - Shawna and Greg were so nice and accommodating. They have a cute little bar and a beautiful outside area with a fire going at night. It is a great location so close to trails and exploring too! We highly recommend this lovely little hidden spot!

We used Cabin 1 at Oak Grove Cabins as a base for both moving our 18-year old college freshman into…read moreSouthern Illinois University and a means to explore Giant City and environs. We found: - A clean, comfortable cabin with the kitchen stocked with everything needed - A queen bed in one room and a king in the other - A clean hot tub for relaxing after long hikes - Easy access to U.S. 51 to get into Carbondale to help move the new college attendee - A filled binder with suggestions for sightseeing and getting food - Personal attention from the owner when asked Dorothy, one of the owners, sent me an email afterwards complimenting us on leaving the place clean. We even met the neighbor in the last house before the turnoff to the cabins and she was very helpful on getting our older child acclimated to college. HIghly recommend.

Amazing stay, and all around lovely place. Everything was perfect and the hot tub was amazing…read more glad to have found this small piece of heaven and definitely want to plan a trip here again!

This getaway was a life saver. After some research and comparison on other options in the area, I…read moreset up a reservation online. The pictures of the interior (and exterior) looked amazing. We stayed in the Woodsong cabins. The accommodations were great, and everything was very clean and functional. It was very comfortable - the atmosphere, the furniture, and view. We were lucky to have nice weather in February and used the jacuzzi all weekend as well as sat outside. It was delightful to get full use of the layout and grounds. The location is close to Carbondale so very convenient for food/entertainment or grocery shopping. If you want a weekend getaway that's just close enough to resources and shopping but still rural - Woodland Cabins is the perfect place.

We didn't want to leave. I almost didn't - seriously. If I didn't have so much work to come home…read moreto, we would have spontaneously stayed an extra night. You'll feel like home here. We stayed in the Fern Glen cabin which is a little further away from the other 3 that are closer together and on a pond. We were just there this past weekend (in December), and they had a Christmas tree in the living room! It was a wonderful surprise that really rounded out the experience. The fireplace is awesome. There is a fire pit outside, but we didn't have the chance to use it. We DID have the chance to use the hot tub (twice), which was awesome! There's something about being able to soak in a hot tub outside in the middle of December. It was very clean and a nice hot tub. Inside the cabin, they have everything you need. Full kitchen, huge bathroom, plenty of pillows/blankets, plus a TV and DVD player if you feel like it. Oh, and a grill on the back deck! I grilled steaks our first night there. For ~$155/night, you get a ton of value here. I can't wait to go back! It's a great place to stay if you're heading down for the winery trail.

We came in from Colorado for some outdoor and southern illinois charm. Definitely found it on this…read moreproperty. We rented cabins 3 and 4. They were clean, well equipped with kitchenware and toilet and shower accommodations. Our phone service worked fine. The TV service was a little touchy but we didnt need it. Good parking and road access. The boys loved the catch and release fishing in the farm pond from the owner supplied canoe. The property is close enough to town for shopping but far enough to feel like we were deep in the forest. Highly recommend for a secluded weekend getaway.

We had an amazing weekend here playing in the pond and fishing. There was lots to choose from to…read moredo: pinball machines, board games, canoeing, zip lining, water trampolining, swimming, grilling, fishing, bonfire bash, DirecTV, outdoor hot shower, and hiking in the woods. It was also handicapped accessible and perfect for my elderly parents with a ramp and a lift chair.

Great spot to stay! Exposed brick walls, lots of light, wood floors, up to date, comfortable,…read morewi-fi, awesome! Great location, close to many of the best southern Illinois vineyards. Not far from Giant City State Park and Bald Knob.

We had the front unit for a "girls weekend." The interior is very nice, clean and updated. We…read morereally liked the front unit because we could sit out on the porch and watch what was happening in town. I understand that the rear unit is more private and has a fenced patio. The kitchen area is well stocked with full-size appliances. Most anything you would want is there, glasses, plates, corkscrews, etc. There is one bathroom, and two bedrooms each with one queen-size bed. In the closets there is additional bedding and some inflatable air beds. I was concerned when we made the reservation because the building is the old general store, and some times I find old buildings musty. FEAR NOT! All of the interior walls are new construction and there is a beautiful original brick wall in the common area and bedroom. The owner, Brian, was friendly and helpful. The Loft is located near some of my favorite places on the Shawnee Wine Trail,

This was a great choice for my wife and I to spend an anniversary weekend. The home featured many…read moremodern day amenities in a fantastic country style. There was great craftsmanship in every corner of the house. On top of that, it was perfectly located in the heart of the Shawnee wine trail for. We visited 6 vineyards during our short stay here. We were also able to visit Bald Knob Cross, which I would recommend. The host of the house was very polite and prompt in all of our communication regarding our stay. I would highly recommend the Havisham House to anyone looking to enjoy the area and we can't wait to plan our next stay.