Vacation Rentals by Owner

megsmarti

Guest: megsmarti (Mattoon, IL)
Date of Stay: 04/27/12 Review Submitted: 04/30/12

A big group of 11 people, including myself, rented both units out for our wine trail getaway last weekend, and we had a fabulous time! The Loft is beautifully decorated and uniquely situated along the wine trail in Alto Pass. There is a magnificent scenic view just a short walk from the Loft, and the small town of Alto Pass offers other spectacular views of Southern Illinois as well. Both the caretaker, and the owner of the property were very friendly and extremely hospitable. I will definitely be staying at the Loft again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Alto Wine Trail Loft

Guest: Jen (St. Louis, MO)
Date of Stay: 04/27/12 Review Submitted: 04/29/12

Fabulous accomodations in the middle of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. Very clean and updated loft that sleeps up to 6 in each unit. Two very comfortable bedrooms, a great bathroom, and full kitchen are just a few of the highlights. Customer service was top of the line with very personal attention to anything our group needed. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a place to stay in the area!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Location for visiting wineries

Guest: Shane (IL)
Date of Stay: 04/20/12 Review Submitted: 04/23/12

The alto wine trail lofts are in a great location for visiting several local wineries. The place was immaculate and exactly what we had hoped for. We had some other couples join us and everyone was very impressed with how nice they were. Really had a great time. Look forward to staying there again in the future. Thanks Brian and Julie!

Owner response:THANKS SHANE!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway

Quaint & Charming Meet Modern & Trendy

Guest: Susie E (San Diego, California)
Date of Stay: 04/14/12 Review Submitted: 04/24/12

My experience at the Alto Wine Trail Loft was exceptional on several levels. First, it's close to all the area attractions (wineries, university, parks, lakes, recreational opportunities, etc.). Its location in a historic building (dating back to 1912, when it was a general store and blacksmith shop) in a tiny village made for a laid-back, easy-going atmosphere in which to relax in a more slow-paced environment than most of us are accustomed to, creating a perfect vacation mood. Second, the area is amazingly beautiful, hilly, and green (despite the misconception that all of Illinois is flat farmland), with many opportunities for hiking, swimming, fishing, and wildlife/bird viewing. From the Loft, one can easily embark on any number of outdoor or winery-related adventures, and have a wonderful place to come "home" to at the end of the day. Third, the loft was newly renovated, immaculately maintained, clean, spacious, and well stocked with amenities. There's definitely pride of ownership here. It's very comfortable and easy to settle into for a very relaxing stay. Having stayed in many cookie-cutter hotels, I especially appreciated the wonderfully comfortable beds and pillows! It's easy to cook meals or keep snacks, with a full kitchen -- plus it's also a nice place to hang out with friends and family, with a full living room to spread out in (also unlike in standard hotel rooms). I would recommend the Alto Wine Trail Loft to anyone visiting the Southern Illinois region without reservation. It's a unique sort of vacation rental, and the owner deserves kudos for bringing such a business venture to an area that for many decades was lacking in such services.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Cozy Cabin!

Guest: Betsy (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 12/31/11 Review Submitted: 01/12/12

This place is in a converted storefront in historic Alto Pass and couldn't be cozier! It's beautifully decorated and you can tell someone takes great care of the place. You can walk out your front door and you are steps from a great little hiking path, complete with granite outcrops you can climb on. There is also a scenic lookout that lets you see the beautiful countryside and watch the sunset. Drivng around the area is quite scenic as well with all the little farms and rolling hills. The beds were very comfy and the full kitchen was great for all of our cooking needs. We hiked, cooked, drank wine and had a blast! Can't wait to go back!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfect for us!

Guest: Tlyon (Anna Maria island fl)
Date of Stay: 10/26/11 Review Submitted: 10/31/11

Everything was perfect! The loft was very convenient, clean, well furnished. What a fabulous find, Brian was great to work with, and Julie was the best! We will be back again and again and again! We have family there so it kept us close but gave us our space!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Rental on the Wine Trail

Guest: Perry (Jefferson City, Missouri)
Date of Stay: 10/07/11 Review Submitted: 10/12/11

We recently stayed at the Wine Trail Loft and had a great time! The location was perfect, close to Alto and Hedman wineries, and the propety was clean and perfect for our needs. We had two children with us, and Julie was kind enough to set up an air mattress for them, which worked great. Brian and Julie both had several recommendations as far as things to do and places to eat, and Julie brought us some home-made cookies to enjoy. Brian also recommended Walker's Bluff just east of Carbondale, which is a great place for kids. We really enjoyed Alto Winery, Starview, and Blue Sky, along with a great meal at the Blue Boar. Brian and Julie are wonderful to work with, and we'd love to come back and stay again sometime.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

Best find ever!

Guest: Takina (Murray Ky)
Date of Stay: 09/03/11 Review Submitted: 09/27/11

A few of my friends and I were looking for a place to stay along the Wine Trail when we noticed the Wine Loft had availability. I contacted the owner and he confirmed it was available! When we arrived, we felt like we had hit the jackpot... The place was neatly decorated, perfectly clean and very conveniently located! We enjoyed our stay and will definitely be back! While in Alto Pass, you must stop in Alto Vinyard for a glass of wine and Hedman Winery is a must for lunch.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful lofts in a charming little town

Guest: Kim Egbert (Columbia, Il)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

My husband and I had the opportunity to stay July 1 and 2 in the Front Loft and then July 4 and 5th in the Back Loft. They both were immaculate and very nicely decorated. Very obvious that Julie works very hard and takes alot of time making sure every thing is spotless. Pics on this site are true to actual place. We come to this area many times a year and have stayed in many B&B's, lodges, and hotels, and we absolutely love these lofts for there are in the center of everything that we come to Southern Illinois for: Hiking, Fishing and Wine Trail. Kitchen was very well stocked with every thing that we needed. Julie is a true GEM in so many ways. She warmly greeted us with fresh local peaches and peach syup the first two nights and then with her famous yummy cinnamon rolls the last two nights. She was incredible and has her own local networking for finding any type of specific foods that we requested. You ask and if she doesn't already know the answer, she will have it shortly. We brought our boat and Julie made sure we were able to park it right by where we parked our car. Made my husband very happy keeping it so close and safe. I can not express my total pleasure with our experience iat the Allto Wine Trail Lofts. Brian and Julie are a great team for the Lofts and I dearly loved talking with Brian and Julie. Thank you both for your recommendation on the Blue Boar. We ate there 4 times while we were there. Been down on the wine trail many times and we never heard of the Blue Boar. (Best Prime Rib ever!) Every place (wineries and restaraunts) we were at, people all had wonderful things to say about Brian and said they heard good things about the lofts and we reassured them that what they heard was indeed true. Special Thanks to Julie for being a wonderful person! I am glad we got to know each other and loved our chats!! See you soon, I hope!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wine Trail

Guest: Linda (Meriidian MS)
Date of Stay: 06/08/11 Review Submitted: 06/15/11

Stayed one night for a girls getaway prior to a wedding. The property is basically brand new with nice new furnishings and was more than enough space for the four girls there (two beds and a convertible bed. Very nice private patio for coffee in the morning. Great location, right in the center of the Illinois Wine Trail. Would love to return and stay longer!

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

A Great Experience for SIU Parents

Guest: lola (chicago illinois)
Date of Stay: 04/15/11 Review Submitted: 06/26/11

My husband and I went down to visit our daughter going to school at SIU. We wanted to stay somewhere quiet and near the wine trails, this rental was convenient for our needs. What we liked was the security felt, the keeper lived down the road and was there in a heart beat when we had questions. The town was charming and the rental was very clean. We loved the ambiance of the rental as well, and felt it to be highly relaxing. We were given discounts at various restaurants which was a plus. We were literally a drive away from the wine trail which was so fun for our family.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Perfect getaway

Guest: Suzie&Bryant (Mississippi)
Date of Stay: 11/06/10 Review Submitted: 11/12/10

We absolutely love the loft! Brian, the owner, has done an outstanding job converting an old general store and blacksmith’s shop into two great getaways. We stayed in the front loft and loved the view of the quaint little town. Julie met us upon arrival with delicious cinnamon rolls and directed us to a beautiful walking trail directly outside our door. Great attention to design and detail with the exposed brick wall, good fixtures, hard wood flooring, quality appliances and furnishings… and not to mention, the loft was fully stocked with everything we could possibly need in the kitchen and tons of linens in the bath. While in town, we had lunch at the eclectic Root Beer Saloon and loved it. Centrally located, yet private and quiet, the loft is the perfect romantic getaway. We cannot wait to return! Thanks again for the hospitality!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway.

John and Tammy

Guest: Tammy (Naperville, IL )
Date of Stay: 10/22/10 Review Submitted: 11/24/10

My family was looking for a place other then another hotel room to visit our daughter in S.I.U. We were very impressed with the loft that we found. We arrived late at night, so we were surprised to find out what we woke up too. The night we arrived we were welcomed by Julie, the caretake with a fresh homemade apple pie. In the morning we ventured out and discovered we were right in a middle of a little old fashion town. We walked a small trail right by the loft - there were huge rocks and cliffs to climb on with the family. We went in October, when the leaves were still holding onto their beautiful colors. It was really relaxing and yet had a fun feel of being a new adventure. The loft was clean and very roomy and it allowed for my husband and I time to ourselves while the kids were able to hang out in a family room. The ammenties were readily available and brand new. The owner, Brian was very helpful with directions and in answering questions that we had before and even after the trip. We feel that we need to go back to enjoy everything that was nearby such as the wineries, state parks and resturants. We felt that we ran out of time - guess we will have to go again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great atmosphere and location

Guest: Corey (Austin, TX (native of Southern IL))
Date of Stay: 10/17/10 Review Submitted: 10/21/10

We really enjoyed our stay at the loft. We've stayed in cabins in Southern Illinois, but the loft's location in Alto Pass was a nice change. It's close to everything you'd want to do in the area. It's in town but quiet, and furnished with everything you need. Nice place to stay and hang out. We brought our 5 year old and had plenty of room. If you stay, I would recommend checking out Trail's End Saloon (on Skyline Drive) for dinner or drinks. Rendleman's Orchard and Alto Vineyards (both just north on 127), and the Yellow Moon Cafe (in Cobden) are also worth a visit. We also made the short drive up to Bald Knob, which is nice all year but the view is amazing when the leaves are changing.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Sharon from Naperville, Il

Guest: Sharon (Naperville/ Aurora, Il)
Date of Stay: 10/15/10 Review Submitted: 10/18/10

My family and I stayed at the front loft during SIU parent weekend and were THRILLED with the place! I had 3 kids with me (ages 10 - 14 ), and they really enjoyed it too. Hiking was great for them, and so was walking around in the "downtown" area. The place was very clean, comfortable and inviting, MUCH more than a hotel, which is where I usually stay while visiting my SIU student. The linens were of high quality, and everything we needed for our stay was included, completely furnished!! I would HIGHLY recommend this instead of a hotel while in the area. WAAAY better!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Loved being near everything!!!!!!!!

Guest: Courtney (Naperville, IL)
Date of Stay: 10/03/10 Review Submitted: 10/05/10

Excellent location, great place with super cool things so near. The owner was extremely pleasant to deal with and will do everything to make sure your stay is wonderful. What we liked was the easy in and out of the Alto Pass location. We also checked out Alto Vineyards which has some good wine. **The place was new so that was really nice as well ** Super Clean which we my husband and I always look for!!! ** Wish he had a DVD player for the T.V. ** Great Beds!!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Experience!

Guest: Gretchen (Central Illinois)
Date of Stay: 10/01/10 Review Submitted: 10/11/10

We were looking for adventure and found it in this quaint little town. We didn’t want a hotel experience and wanted to get a true feel for the Shawnee National Forest area. We contacted Brian, the owner, before he was scheduled to open for business, and he did all he could to get the Loft ready for us on the weekend we were traveling. He was super to deal with and went above and beyond to make sure we had a great weekend. The location is perfect. It's just a short drive to biking on the Tunnel Hill State Trail, hiking at Giant City State Park (and many other area hiking trails) and delicious dining. Brian gave us tips on the local restaurants and wineries, which was very helpful since we had never been to Shawnee before. Our only complaint was we didn’t have enough to time to see everything we wanted to see! Our group consisted of two couples and the Loft was very comfortable for us. It was nice to have the two separate bedrooms but have a shared living area. We would highly recommend checking out the Alto Wine Trail Loft if you are looking for something different than the typical hotel experience.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.