Entire home

Once Upon a Stay - Urbandale, Iowa

Photo gallery for Once Upon a Stay - Urbandale, Iowa

Bathroom
Bathroom
Bathroom
Room
Interior

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms3+ bathroomsSleeps 10

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Urbandale, IA
  • Living History Farms
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Jordan Creek Town Center
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Drake University
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Des Moines, IA (DSM-Des Moines Intl.)
    ‪28 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

3 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 3

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 4

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Master Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

About this property

Once Upon a Stay - Urbandale, Iowa

Unwind in this exquisite, book-themed retreat where every chapter of your stay is filled with comfort, relaxation, and entertainment. Whether you're hosting a family reunion, wedding party, work travel, a reading retreat, or just looking for a cozy getaway, Once Upon a Stay is the perfect backdrop for your story.

(This home is under new management! We are experienced hosts with a great track record with guests, just switching up how we do things this year - we look forward to hosting you!)

Thoughtfully designed with soft pastel hues, literary-inspired décor, and cozy nooks, Once Upon a Stay is a haven for book lovers and those looking for a unique, relaxing escape.

Home Highlights:

- Event-Ready: Perfect for special events like family reunions, weddings, and corporate retreats with spacious gathering areas.
- Fully Equipped Kitchen: Has all you need for preparing meals or hosting a dinner party, stocked with all the essentials.
- Living Areas: The open living areas offer comfortable seating, board games, and a library of books to lose yourself in. Let the natural light and luxurious finishes create a space you’ll never want to leave.
- Outdoor Spaces: Relax in the backyard, complete with covered dining table, outdoor furniture, a BBQ grill, and plenty of room for storytelling around the fire or sipping wine on the patio.
- Work-Friendly: A peaceful office space with a desk or comfy chairs, for those mixing business with pleasure.
- Furry Friends Welcome: With a dog door leading to a fenced backyard, your pets can roam freely and enjoy the stay just as much as you do. ($75 non-refundable pet fee; max of 2 pets).
- Electric Car Charging Station: Keep your EV charged and ready to go.
- Garage Parking: 2 spaces in the garage, including 1 electric vehicle charger, plus additional free driveway/street parking.

Nearby Attractions:
Located in the heart of Urbandale, Once Upon a Stay is close to parks, trendy cafes, and shops, offering both city convenience and quiet retreat vibes.

You’re also a short drive from popular attractions like:
- Kollmorgen Park - 2 minute drive
- Barrett Boesen Park - 4 minute drive
- Horizon's Ridge Park - 4 minute drive
- Central Standard - 8 minute drive
- Kue'd Smokehouse - 8 minute drive
- Waukee Triumph Park - 8 minute drive
- Mickey's Irish Pub - 9 minute drive
- Kinship Brewing - 11 minute drive
- Waukee Ice Cream Shoppe - 12 minute drive
- The Brenton Arboretum - 16 minute drive
- Raccoon River Park - 19 minute drive
- Paws and Pints - 20 minute drive
- Downtown Des Moines - 20 minute drive
- Wells Fargo Arena - 20 minute drive
- Grays Lake - 25 minute drive
- Iowa State Fair - 28 minute drive
- Saylorville lake - 30 minute drive

Planning a book weekend with friends? Let us know! We can provide a planning spreadsheet to get you started.

Here's a list of some local bookstores to visit during your stay:
- Wandering Raccoon Books - 11 minute drive (6 miles)
- Half Price Books - 14 minute drive (7 miles)
- Beaverdale Books - 22 minute drive (10 miles)
- Reading in Public Bookstore + Cafe - 20 minute drive (12 miles)
- The Little Book - 22 minute drive (14 miles)
- StoryHouse Bookpub - 22 minute drive (16 miles)
- Plain Talks Books & Coffee - 22 minute drive (16 miles)
- Nos Books - 21 minute drive (14 miles)

Bedrooms:
- BR1: A king bed with ensuite master bathroom
- BR2: A full bed
- BR3: 2 Twin beds
- BR4: 2 Twin beds, one bed can be expanded to a king size if needed
- BR5: A queen bed (lower level)

House Rules:
- No smoking
- Pets allowed for a non-refundable $75 fee (max 2 pets)
- No filming or professional movie shoots
- Must be 25+ to book
- Please report any damages that occur during your stay

Book Now & Begin Your Story:
Whether you're here to relax, celebrate, or embark on a new adventure, Once Upon a Stay is the perfect setting to create unforgettable memories.
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Amenities

Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

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House Rules

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: limit 2 total
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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

About the area

Urbandale

Urbandale is home to this holiday home. Pump It Up and Living History Farms are local attractions and those in the mood for shopping can visit Jordan Creek Town Center and Bridgewood Plaza. Clive Aquatic Center and Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park are also worth visiting.
Map
Urbandale, IA

What's nearby

  • Mercy Medical Center West Lakes - 9 min drive - 8.3 km
  • Living History Farms - 9 min drive - 8.7 km
  • UnityPoint Health - Methodist West Hospital - 10 min drive - 8.7 km
  • Jordan Creek Town Center - 11 min drive - 10.1 km
  • Drake University - 20 min drive - 23.7 km

Getting around

  • Des Moines International Airport (DSM) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Hy-Vee Market Grille - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Casey's General Store - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Once Upon a Stay - Urbandale, Iowa pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total).

Where is Once Upon a Stay - Urbandale, Iowa located?

Situated in Urbandale, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Walnut Creek Hills Park and Brookshire Open Space. Wildwood Park is 2.3 mi (3.6 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

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

8.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Shara L.

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

Here for wedding

Beautiful home, Amazing communication, easy check in! We will definitely see if this is available next time we are in the area with a big group. We ended up having 6 of us instead of the full 10, but that was ok. 5 star rating only a 4 on cleaning because a few dishes put away dirty, but we wahsed them so not a big deal. 1000% recommend. Honestly wish had stayed 1 more day. It's a must see home.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

About the host

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