The Carter House 1866 also known as the Marriage House

Photo gallery for The Carter House 1866 also known as the Marriage House

A living room with two dark blue armchairs, a matching sofa, a wooden coffee table, and a patterned rug.
A kitchen with grey cabinets, a stainless steel stove, and a patterned rug.
A kitchen with a microwave, coffee maker, and tea set on a shelf.
A wooden deck with a railing, a grassy yard, and a house with a porch.
A room with a sliding barn door, a bed with a headboard, and a small table with a picture frame.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Washer
  • Internet
  • Onsite parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Shell Rock, IA
  • Place, Benny Gambaiani Public Library
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, McCauge Park
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Shell Rock County Park
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Airport, Waterloo, IA (ALO-Waterloo Regional)
    ‪26 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub · Toilet

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden

Add dates for prices

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Interior
Beautiful Down Town Flat
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  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
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10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (9 reviews)
Beautiful Down Town Flat

About the neighborhood

Shell Rock

Shell Rock is home to this vacation home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Shell Rock Wildlife Management Area and Shell Rock Bend Wildlife Management Area, while Shell Rock Historical Museum and Neumann Auditorium are cultural highlights.
View more Vacation Homes in Shell RockOpens in a new window
Map
Shell Rock, IA

What's nearby

  • Benny Gambaiani Public Library - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • McCauge Park - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Hoyt Elliot Memorial Park - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Shell Rock Historical Museum - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Shell Rock County Park - 17 min walk - 1.5 km

Getting around

  • Waterloo, IA (ALO-Waterloo Regional) - 24 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪VFW - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Scooter's Coffee - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Carter House 1866 also known as the Marriage House pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Carter House 1866 also known as the Marriage House?

As of Nov 2, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Carter House 1866 also known as the Marriage House on Nov 3, 2026 start from $232, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Carter House 1866 also known as the Marriage House?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Carter House 1866 also known as the Marriage House?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Carter House 1866 also known as the Marriage House located?

Situated in Shell Rock, this vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Benny Gambaiani Public Library, McCauge Park, and Hoyt Elliot Memorial Park. Shell Rock River and Shell Rock Wildlife Management Area are also within 10 minutes.

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 14 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 14 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 14 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 14 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 14 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Cute property with nice amenities.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great property
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quite neighborhood

Work trip
Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great option if staying in Waverly-Shellrock

This home was a great option for my group as we could walk to the Shellrock downtown local pub (very friendly) and a very short drive to Waverly as we were in town for a Wartburg College event. Smooth communication with the property manager.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Iowa Reunion

This house was amazing in its location to town and the history it holds! My kids loved being able to walk to the river. The enclosed porch is perfect for a relaxing afternoon. The house was very well furnished!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful

We had a great stay at this beautiful, recently updated home. Lots of space and a big yard/deck. Very thankful to have an option like this in the Shell Rock area.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in
The first impression was scary. The instructions said enter code on front door, however access to the house is in the back after entering the property by a side alley. This was not clear. The front door on walnut street is covered with spiderwebs and bird nests. When I opened refrigerator/freezer there was food and it was not clean. Also beverage refrigerator was filled with leftover containers and open food, etc. when i attempted to hang up my dresses, the closet was full of clothing- there was no place to hang/put my personal belongings. The same with the other bedroom closets. It appeared that the main areas of floor had been swept or vacuumed but the house needs a deep clean there was dust & debris behind all the furniture. When I removed the sheets before I left it was very apparent the mattress pad was very dirty. At one point I noticed the garage service door was ajar, which startled me, I was concerned there was someone on the property. When I returned from our event late Saturday night I realized the door was still open and there was a key In it. I locked that door and brought the key inside. The bathroom appeared fairly clean, the kitchen counters were clean and the sink was clean.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Oct 2, 2026
Thank you for your feedback. I’m sorry the property did not meet your expectations. I do want to clarify a few points for future guests. The red refrigerator, clothing in the closet, open garage door, and key left in the door were oversights that should have been addressed before arrival. Regarding the lights, I intentionally left them on because I was told you would be arriving around midnight, so I wanted the property to be well-lit and welcoming for a late-night arrival. I appreciate the feedback and will use it to improve the preparation and presentation of the property for future guests.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Graduation Celebration

We enjoyed a relaxing stay! Used the charcoal grill to prepare a cook out and also used the fire pit for s’mores! Home is cozy and quaint. Neighborhood is quiet. It is clear that the owners live here from time to time as the closets were full of things (we wanted to hang some dress clothes so we had looked)… but that didn’t bother us. Home was clean. Owners were easy to communicate with. Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This would be a good place for family with older children. The stairs are a bit steep and have a hand rail but for someone elderly or a small child this would not be a good place unless there would be a gate at the bottom and top for safety. However the lower level has a bedroom and bathroom that made it wonderful for our older couple to stay. The outside deck and screened in porch were a top spot, wonderful!! Had difficulty storing our ice for our travel coolers because the freezer was full of other things. Beds were comfortable but not great, but that is to be expected when it is not your own! It was just right for us to hang out and visit and plan our day excursions to things in Waterloo and beyond. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very peaceful location.Place was very clean.Friendly host.Only thing to know is that upstairs steps are steep and may be difficult to go up if have anyone has trouble with stairs.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Clean rooms. Beds a little smaller then what we we’re thinking. Nice place to stay. Just sorry we missed out renting for next year. We would have stayed again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
OurStay was amazing, the homeWas very clean and we felt welcomed I have already spread the word to family this is the place to stay. Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
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