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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 living room with a sofa, armchairs, a coffee table, and a bookshelf.
A living room with a floral sofa, a round patterned rug, a lamp, and framed artwork on the wall.
A room with a wooden desk, a patterned sofa, and a large rug.
A wooden dresser with glass-fronted upper cabinets and multiple drawers.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

Explore the area

View in a map
Shell Rock, IA
  • Place, Benny Gambaiani Public Library
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Shell Rock Historical Museum
    ‪9 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

About this property

The Carter House 1866 also known as the Marriage House

The historic Carter House was built by it's namesake J.H. Carter in 1866. Carter was one of the most prominent and influential residents of Shell Rock. He was a founding father of many of the community's businesses. The House remained in his family until 1952. In 2022, the Carter House was purchased by Star Valley Hospitality and was completely renovated. This stylish single family home boasts 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and is now an inviting short-term rental.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2944351vb
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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Shell Rock

Shell Rock is home to this holiday 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.
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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 is parking at The Carter House 1866 also known as the Marriage House?

On-site 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?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

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

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

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 9 out of 11 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 11 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 11 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 11 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 11 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Josh H.

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

8/10 Good

Ken Z.

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

Quite neighborhood

Work trip
Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

steve m.

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

10/10 Excellent

Alesha N.

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

10/10 Excellent

Leah B.

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

10/10 Excellent

Laura H.

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

10/10 Excellent

Joan L.

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

10/10 Excellent

Patti S.

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

10/10 Excellent

Linda I.

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

8/10 Good

Ann H.

Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cristi S.

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

About the host

Hosted by Cindy Rowland

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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