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Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing!

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Interior
Interior
1 bedroom, travel cot, WiFi, bed sheets
Exterior
Property grounds

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 374 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Shelton, NE
  • Place, War Axe State Recreation Area
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Platte River
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Windmill State Recreation Area
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, Kearney, NE (EAR-Kearney Regional)
    ‪18 min drive‬

Room options

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Sandhill Crane viewing experience of a lifetime in Nebraska on the Platte River!
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5.0 out of 5, Exceptional, 22 reviews
Sandhill Crane viewing experience of a lifetime in Nebraska on the Platte River!

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing!

Come relax in the country! The apartment is located inside a newly constructed shed/barn. It has one bedroom, one bathroom (shower only, no bathtub), and a spacious living room and kitchen with all appliances except a dishwasher. We do have a very friendly farm dog on the property, so please take note if this will be an issue for you.

Crane season - perfect location! We typically book very early out for crane season. There is private access to the Platte River which is the perfect setting for bird watching (might be off-limits during hunting season - Fall/Winter - Please contact to check), especially cranes during crane season! The owner will also help you set up on the Platte River for private bird watching during crane season. A private pond is located in the pasture right outside of the barn for fishing and quiet nights relaxing. Our pasture and cornfields are typically filled with cranes during the season. We are conveniently located to the south of Shelton, Nebraska off of Interstate 80. We are within 10-15 minutes of two crane viewing spots - Rowe Santuary and the Crane Trust Nature Center. You will have unlimited access to the Platte River for optimal crane viewing all season long!

Pets are welcome to stay for a $25 fee.

Our customers tell us that they can't get enough of the helpful staff at this holiday home. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Platte River. The holiday home includes amenities such as a kitchen and satellite TV channels.
  • Air-conditioned home with kitchen, living room and satellite TV
  • Just a 5-minute walk from Platte River and 9 minutes by car from War Axe State Recreation Area
Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing! offers its guests a garden. The front desk is open around the clock.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Garden

Work spaces

  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • On a lake
  • On a river

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 800 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Minimum check-in age - 19

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Maximum 2 pets
    • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
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
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

Crane Nature Lovers Dream

Nature Lovers Dream - Fishing and Wildlife Wood River

"Barn" Apartment in the Country with Private Platte River Access

Crane and Nature Lovers Dream - Perfect for Crane Viewing! Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 125 out of 150 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 20 out of 150 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 150 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 150 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 150 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Sara B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Pet friendly, very clean, responsive host, beautiful location. We are repeat guests and love this space.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

Sara B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Everything was wonderful! We’re repeat guests and love this place. Pet friendly and relaxing. Thanks again, the team at Española Humane
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

CJ C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026

10/10 Excellent

Amy M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect location for seeing the Sandhill Cranes. Accommodations were clean and comfortable. Charming small towns nearby for restaurants and groceries. Will definitely consider booking in the future!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

Sara B.

Liked: Cleanliness
We have stayed there 3 times and everything is always wonderful.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Gregg B., Denver, CO USA

Liked: Cleanliness
The kitchen was fairly well stock, HVAC worked great, host was easily reached for questions, and it was quiet. The best thing was going to the blind well before sunrise and listening for the Sandhill Cranes waking up and flying off in many waves of birds. The same at sunset as the birds came back to the river. It was amazing to hear the cranes flying over, the sound of their wings and feeling the air coming off of their wings as the came in very close to the ground. Sunrises and sunsets were very colorful.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026

8/10 Good

April T.

Liked: Cleanliness
This is a truly great spot for crane watching! The owners have a simple blind set up a short drive from the house right by the water. It was the perfect place to sit and listen to the cranes move from the water to the fields. When heading there, be sure to stay to the right of the buildings so you remain on the correct path to the blind.The house itself was perfect for a single traveler: very homey, clean, and comfortable. Just a couple of notes for others: the owner’s dogs are very friendly but quite enthusiastic (they tried to jump in my car, which made it a bit tricky to get my poodle out). Also, the home has a much larger collection of taxidermy than pictured, but it just added to the rustic charm of the stay. Overall, a lovely and peaceful experience
My poodle posing with the blind. It was such a peaceful spot to sit and watch the sun rise and cranes fly over head.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026

10/10 Excellent

Joe B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great place, perfectly located for sandhill crane enthusiasts. Good value for , very clean and everything for your stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026

10/10 Excellent

Kat Y.

Liked: Cleanliness
This was one of the best VRBOs we have ever visited. We traveled to the area to assist our son with housing options for a new job he took in Kearney. This little place was an absolute delight. Spacious. Comfortable. Well equipped. Clean. Comfortable. The decor was so cute and fun! Made me want to build a place just like it somewhere in the quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of daily living. Our hostess was great. Easy to reach. Responded promptly. We were able to drive only a few miles away to see the cranes migrating although that was not the reason for our trip. It was the icing on top. We had to leave early due to a family emergency but we would definitely stay here again when we come to the area to visit our son.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026

8/10 Good

Erin S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Neat place - easy access. Clean and comfortable- lots of space.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Crystal O.

Liked: Cleanliness
This place is any hunter's dream. Location is easy to get to.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shelly N., Fort Calhoun Nebraska

Liked: Cleanliness
Very nice place to call our home base while exploring the area. We spent a considerable amount of time in Gibbon, Kearney and Grand Island. Very cozy and we loved the big farm dogs!! The bed was comfortable and the room was quiet. They only thing would be anybody sleeping in the living room (teenage son) heard the interstate noise most of the night.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Judy M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stunning rural location. Very large home with a well appointed kitchen and bathroom. Excellent giant tv, flawless internet. Perfect countryside area for our dog. Not far from a few tiny towns
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Judy M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Really cute "cabin"..super clean and beautifully decorated. Ceiling fans and lots of wundows kept it very comfortable. Kitchen well supplied with everything necessary.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Darlene L., Omaha

Liked: Cleanliness
Very simple place but comfortable. We enjoyed our stay
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Vicky H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carmon S.

Liked: Cleanliness
A great experience staying here! Beautiful place, super clean, comfortable and well stocked. Would recommend a stay here to anyone with kiddos or just yourself!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

melynda g.

Liked: Cleanliness
just a one night stay on our way to South Dakota, after driving for 8 hours was a nice stay. Very clean and comfortable. would stay again if going that way.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lauren M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet, clean, and well kept. Good location. Would stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dylan S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Thank you.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer B., Red Wing

Liked: Cleanliness
Seamless check in
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Clean, quiet, and very convenient to highway 80.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer B., Red Wing

Liked: Cleanliness

Cows

Country shed-lodging. Rustic with lots of taxidermy. Pet friendly, nice dirt roads to walk on.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laurie B.

Liked: Cleanliness
We had a wonderful stay at this quiet, clean and comfortable country place. I would suggest some new pillows, but otherwise our stay was perfect.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jill S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Nice place for a quick stay with a dog

We were traveling across the country with an older dog that can be grumpy towards other dogs, so a pet friendly hotel wasn't an option. This worked perfectly...clean, comfortable, air conditioning worked great and the Ducks Unlimited decor was great to look at.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

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