Dear Camp

08/21/2021

Labor Day Weekend is available due to a last minute cancellation. Looking for a getaway? Message us

07/22/2021

Last minute schedule change at Dear Camp. July 25-29th now open. Please share and contact us if interested.

05/07/2020

Last minute cancellation for this weekend. Spend Mother’s Day at Dear Camp. Special rate of $275/night two night minimum and no cleaning fee. Let us know if you are wanting to book it!

03/20/2020

We know businesses are struggling right now, but we want to use this time to support and encourage business owners. We understand the fears and emotions you are facing right now. You are not alone. 😞

We are using our business to HELP people. We are working to make Dear Camp a dream destination for you to come and relax, because we know you will soon be needing a getaway!

We must support small businesses more than ever right now…and we hope you do, too. How can you help a small business owner? 1. Give them a shout out on social; 2. Refer a friend; 3. Buy a gift certificate; or 4. Write a review/testimonial.

Which small business will you help today? Tag them in the comments below!

And day two of cute dog pics today we wanted them to model with our Dear Camp mugs we have available for purchase 😀🥰

03/19/2020

Calling all stay-at-home workers… Wait, that's most of us, right??

Can I show you a peek at my current work station? Just look at this these cute helpers I let in the "office" today. I decided to do something I love (photography) with Millie and Lucy to bring a smile to all of you. Joella is home, so I recruited her to help. Who doesn't love a cute dog pic?

I'm making the most of this space, the time away from everything and doing my best to see the creativity in it all 😉 Where are you working today?

03/18/2020

I can't believe I'm actually going to admit this: the Corona virus has me feeling anxious and scared because the unknown is downright frightening. It is not the virus itself that has brought these feelings, but the economic impact for so many, including our family. My heart breaks for everyone else that can relate to these feelings. This is my chance to use the time in social distancing to focus on what I can control, and continue to work on Dear Camp plans. Remember we have some exciting plans for Dear Camp this year and we are not giving up on those dreams. If I could only choose 3 emojis to describe how I'm feeling, I'd use: 😭🤬😶. What 3 emojis would you use to describe how you feel during this time?

03/13/2020

Have you had to change or cancel your Spring Break plans? We would LOVE to have you stay at Dear Camp! There’s still availability in March and April. https://abnb.me/uK9wsg77N4

Unforgettable trips start with Airbnb. Find adventures nearby or in faraway places and access unique homes, experiences, and places around the world.

03/11/2020

Time for a few progress photos. We didn't initially share much about Dear Camp - that is until I decided we should let others come experience our home. Travis and I spend so many hours building and creating our home. Our long drives, long hours and exhaustion paid off.

Initially, there wasn't a fireplace in Dear Camp's plans. I knew it needed a huge one and for it to be a focal point of the main floor.

Budget..we had to stay on budget...stone is expensive...Travis doubted me when I said "I will find it on Craigslist"....and that is exactly what I did. Yes, he had to drive a bit to get it, however, for less than $200 we have stone for the fireplace!

Travis made it look AMAZING!

03/11/2020

We have something very exciting in the works...Mid April we will be sharing details! Yes, you might be SHOCKED!

03/09/2020

Happy National Napping Day! How about a nap here?

03/09/2020

We are hoping winter is over and that spring is on its way. We have so much landscaping and outside work we are wanting to complete before the summer guests begin arriving. We are excited to have so many nights already booked. If you are wanting to spend a few nights at Dear Camp, we recommend booking early. Link in the comments.

02/12/2020

Come stay at Dear Camp and experience the Driftless Region!

Get in touch with nature and history in this one-of-a-kind region of the Hawkeye State.

02/01/2020

Trying to get organized this year!

01/30/2020

Teamwork makes the dream work, right? In our case, our team consists of myself and my husband, Travis, and we DO make dreams work around here! Plus, we couldn't run Dear Camp without our incredible neighbor, Terry, either! Who helps make your dreams work?

01/15/2020

We did it again...SUPERHOST status! Looking for a place to get away with your family or friends? Did you know Dear Camp has space to sleep 12? We would love to have you stay.

01/08/2020

I’ve spent hours and hours working on a few things for the website. I’ve managed to completely ruin it once, but Dawson remotely logged in to fix it. I have to add the shop and some additional pages, but run take a peek! While you are at it, we’d love to have you sign up for the email list. Some exciting things for 2020 in the works!

https://ohdearcamp.com

Dear Camp provides a space for entertaining, relaxing, and events. From family reunions, bridal showers, hunting groups and retreats.

01/06/2020

Since Travis rarely has weekends off, we are often times at Dear Camp during the week. There’s not always many events going on during the week so I jumped at the chance to go to a dance with Terry and Alice. Travis was hesitant, but I made him do it. We haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Travis was the youngest person there. And let me tell you those people can dance! We aren’t great at two-step, however, I think we entertained everyone. Don’t worry we won’t make you dance when you come visit, but you might like it! 💃
Alice Ernster

12/31/2019

Dear Camp was born due to Travis’s love for the outdoors - bow hunting is his passion 🏹🦌. We both grew up in rural Iowa, but I was a farm kid that was never exposed to hunting.

Travis thought it might be fun for me to try (even though he’s not sure I can be quiet 🤐 long enough to bow hunt).

I admit I was nervous 😬 just trying it out, however, I think there’s a chance I might be good at it....with some lessons. I’m honestly a bit excited for next fall now.

Ladies keep watching for updates as we will be hosting archery 🏹 events at Dear Camp. And just like me, you can be a newbie. Let’s learn together!

As we start the new year what is something new you are ready to give a try?

12/29/2019

Meet Alice 💕

The greatest part of Dear Camp’s story is the people that have come into our lives because of Dear Camp.

Everyone needs to have an Alice in their life.
🌟She gives from the heart
💕She makes everyone feel loved
🌟She will do anything for anyone
💕She has so many talents
🌟She is the definition of fun and enjoys life to its fullest
💕She has picked me up from the airport, spent and afternoon shopping for furniture, helped sew curtains with me, attended my girl’s weekend, took us on a dancing adventure, helped host a party and the list goes on and on.

Look at the gift she gave us! A sign for Dear Camp!

12/29/2019

So honored to be mentioned in Travel with Sara’s recent post. Check out other unique stops in Iowa as well! Travel With Sara

These are the best Iowa towns to visit and why, from Iowa tenderloins to great hikes and historic societies in Rockwell, Pella, Lansing, Elk Horn, and beyond.

12/18/2019

Is there a single crazier month all year long?! December sometimes seems one big blur of crowded stores, searching for the perfect gifts and eating too many sweets. But help is on the way! Why not take the stress of the holidays off your plate and leave that stress behind in 2019 by looking forward to 2020 with a stay at Dear Camp? We’re here for your relaxation needs! How can we help?

12/18/2019

A guest wrote this in our guestbook ❤️ When you visit the driftless region in Iowa you might be shocked to find its isn’t flat with just a bunch of corn fields 🌽 The rolling hills and bluffs are absolutely incredible! The views go on for miles. We’d love to have you come explore the region!

12/13/2019

I wanted to check out a new place, Coffee on the River, while at Dear Camp this week. I saw posts and was excited to see what the place had to offer. So I convinced Travis and Terry to come along...I mean they love coffee so I figured it was perfect for them...and I LOVE desserts.

When we walked in the front door I knew I found a place I loved. The old building was a mill, and the old charm is still everywhere. Old stone and wood everywhere! You could certainly relax there or catch up on work...casual seating, WiFi. I can’t give a review on the coffee ☕️ or tea 🍵 as I don’t drink either 🙊, but I can say that gingerbread stout cake was incredible!!! We will definitely go back and I highly recommend our friends check it out. Next time I’ll try their lunch, and of course a dessert.

12/10/2019

I can’t be alone when I admit one of the best parts about the holidays is beautiful decorations and giving spirit, right?! This time of year is filled with beautiful lights, decorations and carbs and it is so much fun! Especially when you are a photographer like me or simply love taking photos. Today, I’m going to give you the recipe for capturing great photo memories. Are you ready? 1 cup of great light (secret I don’t use a flash on my camera 🙊), 2 tablespoons of getting in close, a dash of a steady hand. There you have it, a fresh-baked one of a kind memory captured forever. Any questions?! I’d love to see your results.

12/09/2019

Can you blame me for being in the holiday spirit? Dear Camp is ready for the holidays! There are still a few open dates to celebrate the holidays here with family!

12/07/2019

We were pretty quiet when we first began working at Dear Camp and now I wish we had shared updates of all of our work. Did you know I initially refused to go look at the property? I said "it's too good to be true..." Travis kept eyeing the listing on his computer and I decided it would at least make a great date day to drive to the area and check it out. It still feels "too good to be true", but it certainly was meant to be. Check out a before and after image our incredible property in the Driftless Region of Northeast Iowa.

Have you ever had that "too good to be true" experience that really turned out incredible?

12/06/2019

What sparked the idea for Dear Camp? Two words: Love and Relationships. It’s those two things that turned a spark into a fire that continues blazing to this day, one year later. What sparked your passion?

12/05/2019

🍪🍪🍪Happy National Cookie Day! 🍪 🍪🍪

We love baking and chocolate chip cookies are a favorite around our house. What’s your favorite kind of cookie?

12/04/2019

Every now and again I like to share a little about who we are for those who may be new around here—I give myself imaginary bonus points if I can surprise those of you who’ve been here a while! So here’s today’s introduction (holiday style): We are Travis and JoAnn, husband and wife originally from North Central Iowa, currently living in Illinois, and spending any free time at our dream home in Northeast Iowa. This time of year, you are always sure to find Travis dreaming about that Big Buck he wants to find, and I am aiming for a beautifully decorated home for the holidays (key word aiming). We love cooking holiday meals together and there’s no better sight to see than our kids enjoying holiday cookie decorating after being strongly encouraged to participate happily. We always eat plenty of holiday desserts (I love desserts...Travis just eats them to make me happy, I guess), we love to drink a little Jack Daniel's Winter Jack mixed with Apple Cider and champagne, and if we could, we'd make family time with all our kids last forever. Thank you for being here! Now tell us how YOU holiday!