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House of Funk - A Cozy & Eclectic Retreat in Des Moines’s Drake Neighborhood

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Exterior
Exterior
Interior
Interior
Room

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
5 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 152048 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 15)

Bedroom 1 - The Salon

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 2 with En Suite - The Whole Funk

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3 - World of Funk

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4 - Funky Finds

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5 - Funkytown Attic with a View

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1 - 1st Floor Water Closet

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet

Bathroom 2 - Walk-in Shower

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

Bathroom 3

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

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

House of Funk - A Cozy & Eclectic Retreat in Des Moines’s Drake Neighborhood

Cozy & Eclectic Retreat in Des Moines’s Drake Neighborhood
Welcome to House of Funk, a clean, convenient, and welcoming home in the heart of Des Moines's vibrant Drake Neighborhood, lovingly known as Dogtown. While it’s not fancy or frilly, this Queer-owned and operated space is thoughtfully curated to ensure your stay is comfortable, fun, and memorable.

Central Location for Exploration
House of Funk is perfectly situated for those looking to explore Des Moines. Located within walking or biking distance to popular spots like local restaurants, bars, the historic Varsity Cinema, music venues like xBk Live and Lefty’s, grocery stores, and Walgreens, you’ll find all the essentials just moments away. Need to venture further? With quick access to I-235, you can be at Wells Fargo Arena in 6 minutes and just about anywhere in Greater Des Moines within 15 minutes. For added convenience, DART Bus Local Route 3 stops right outside the house.

Comfortable Accommodations
This 5-bedroom house comfortably sleeps up to 15 guests with:

1 King bed
2 Queen beds
1 Full-size bed
2 Twin beds
1 Trundle bed
2 Couches
4 Twin Air mattress

The primary bedroom features a king bed and an en suite bathroom with a full bath. A second 3/4 bathroom offers a walk-in shower and vanity. A third bathroom on the main floor is a convenient water closet. The property includes Central AC & heat, WiFi, an iron, and a washer & dryer, making it ideal for quick trips or extended stays.

Intentional & Sustainable
At House of Funk, sustainability is front and center. The home is furnished with thrifted pieces, features on-site composting, and actively supports local ecosystems, artists, and businesses. Whether you’re attending the Drake Relays, hosting a pop-up event, or reuniting with friends or family, this space is designed to accommodate a variety of needs with respect and style.

Extras for Your Stay
Includes off-street parking, bikes, a spacious fenced backyard with a Weber charcoal grill, chiminea fire pit, and patio furniture for outdoor relaxation.

Parking: Two off-street parking spaces are available in the front, with additional space for larger vehicles, such as campers or recreational equipment, available upon request.
Smoking: Smoking is not allowed inside but is permitted outside, with the expectation that waste is disposed of responsibly.
Bikes Included: Explore the neighborhood with two bicycles provided for guest use.

Additional Notes
There is a long-term renter in the basement with their own private entrance through the fenced-in back area, ensuring your privacy while sharing the property.

If you're looking for a place that's practical, clean, and community-centered on, House of Funk is an excellent choice for your stay in Des Moines.

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House Rules

Check in after 12:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 3:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Events Require Prior Approval
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights and lock the doors
Strip sheets only, comforters can remain in bedrooms.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 30
Note from host: Events Require Prior Approval
Long-term renters welcome
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
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

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

About the area

Des Moines

Located in Drake, a neighbourhood in Des Moines, this holiday home is near theme parks and near a water park. Jordan Creek Town Center is worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's popular attractions can visit Iowa State Fairgrounds and Adventureland. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Casey's Center or Knapp Center. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Des Moines, IA

What's nearby

  • Drake University - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Des Moines Community Playhouse - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Knapp Center - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Waveland Municipal Golf Course - 2 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Des Moines Art Center - 3 min drive - 3.1 km

Getting around

  • Des Moines International Airport (DSM) - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Drake Diner - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Habanero’s - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Hugo’s - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪La Mie Bakery & Restaurant - ‬19 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is House of Funk - A Cozy & Eclectic Retreat in Des Moines’s Drake Neighborhood pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at House of Funk - A Cozy & Eclectic Retreat in Des Moines’s Drake Neighborhood ?

As of 27 Mar, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at House of Funk - A Cozy & Eclectic Retreat in Des Moines’s Drake Neighborhood on 24 May, 2026 start from S$382, 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 at House of Funk - A Cozy & Eclectic Retreat in Des Moines’s Drake Neighborhood ?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at House of Funk - A Cozy & Eclectic Retreat in Des Moines’s Drake Neighborhood ?

Check-in begins at 12:00 PM.

What time is check-out at House of Funk - A Cozy & Eclectic Retreat in Des Moines’s Drake Neighborhood ?

Checkout is at 3:00 PM.

Where is House of Funk - A Cozy & Eclectic Retreat in Des Moines’s Drake Neighborhood located?

Located in Drake, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Drake University, Knapp Center and Des Moines Community Playhouse. Waveland Municipal Golf Course and The Wallace Centers of Iowa: Wallace House are also within 2 miles (3 km).

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. 15 out of 18 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 18 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 18 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kiera M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great for our friends birthday party! We very niche enjoyed our stay and recommend to anyone! Rachel was easy to talk to and easy to get ahold of!!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sara D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location. Had lots of fun!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Oct, 2025
Thanks Sara, we appreciate your feedback!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amanda R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house with plenty of space for hosting a small group get together! The location is close to downtown and easy to get to!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Jackson F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Disliked: Location
No TV was very unusual and definitely a negative, old furnishings were unique and functional, but also not appreciated by this group, I understand the price point better now, everything was clean and the property served it’s purpose for us on this trip
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Mar, 2026
Hi Jackson, We do have a TV located on the third floor. With most of the furnishings being thrifted, we know they have been well used over the years; we do this to keep costs down for travelers needing affordable options. Thanks for the feedback.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Denise H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great property with plenty of space for the 10 people we had staying there, plus enough space for a few friends to come and hang out after soccer games. The owner was able to accommodate an extended check out, which was greatly appreciated.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Oct, 2025
Glad y’all found our space and had a wonderful trip.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ava B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My friends and I stayed here for Hinterland music festival and it was perfect! Had a little hiccup with the passcode to enter with check in, but other than that everything was perfect!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Oct, 2025
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. Apologies about the door code, but glad we got it corrected quickly, so you didn’t have to wait long. Appreciate y’all!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeannie R.

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

Good vibes

Great house, lots of room for a large group. Host was very responsive & helpful. Also a great lil pub next door with amazing food!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug, 2025
Thanks for cooking up all those good vibes with us! We appreciate your feedback.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Natalie M.

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

Weekend get together

We had an engagement party, our stay was great we were party of 12. Everyone had a place to sleep the kitchen was great and the house was spotless. Would stay here again
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug, 2025
Yay! We LOVE LOVE! Thanks for staying with us, and are grateful for all the kind words.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane W.

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

Excellent stay

We were in town for a basketball tournament. The house was very comfortable and clean. Location is excellent-amazing little cafe right next door was a bonus. Communication, check in, and overall comfort was excellent.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 20 May, 2025
The University Library Cafe is a great spot and it’s right out the back door! Thank you for your feedback.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Deanna S.

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

Family weekend

We had a great stay. The house was clean and ready when we got there. The manager was easy to get in touch with. We really liked the location, easy to get downtown. A very cute and welcoming home.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug, 2025
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoyed your stay at the Funk!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paige P.

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

Great stay near Drake

We really enjoyed our stay at House of Funk! The home is very large and was perfect for our group of 8 people. It also is in a great location, within walking distance of Drake University and next door to Library Cafe. We would recommend this home!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug, 2025
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and staying with us at House Of Funk! See you next time.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John R.

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

Love the House of Funk!

Rachel is such a cool host and the House of Funk is such a cool place! So grateful for this experience.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug, 2025
Loved getting to meet you folks, and talk stories a bit. Congrats on an incredible showing at the National Speech & Debate Tournament! Cheers to 100 more years of talking it out and debating through the tough stuff!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ben S.

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

Perfect for our large group!

We could not have found a more perfect house for our group! There was plenty of space for the 10 of us, and our host responded instantly whenever we had questions. We will definitely try staying here again when we’re in Des Moines.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Apr, 2025
Thank you for trusting us with your stay! We are so happy to have had you all for our first guests!
Verified

8/10 Good

Liz R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House of Funk was perfect for our family of five able bodied adults (stairs). Very comfortable beds/sheets, plush towels. Clean with funky furnishings. No door on the King bedroom not a problem for us old married people. Lots of parking. Owner, Rachel, was great, available if needed but didn't because all was in excellent order. Would stay again!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Oct, 2025
Appreciate your feedback. We believe you meant, no door on the king bedroom’s connected bathroom; however, there is a door for the bedroom itself. Just want to clarify. Thanks for staying at the Funk!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ann T.

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

Nice, eclectic home

My extended family and I were in town for almost a week for my mom’s Celebration of Life. The property was centrally located to everything we were doing. The owners were awesome to work with and more than accommodating when we needed to use it for as a gathering place for the entire family from out of town. They went out of their way to make things nice for us, including extra towels, chairs for outside seating, and outdoor grilling!The house was eclectically decorated and fun! The beds were so comfortable! I highly recommend this home to anyone visiting DM!Thank you for letting us stay!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug, 2025
So glad our space worked great for y’all! Hope to have you back.
Verified

8/10 Good

corissa c.

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

Softball weekend in IA

The house was clean and had plenty of room for all of us! We were able to make our meals and decompress after a long day at the softball fields. We'd suggest adding a TV to the main living area. Some of us arrived before the rest of our group, so they brought a television for us to all be able to gather and watch movies.There is a tenant that lives in the basement of the home. He was able to get us some assistance when our code reset on the door lock and reset the breaker when we lost power in the attic area.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug, 2025
Great suggestion with the TV accessibility. We will make adjustments, based upon this feedback. Appreciate y’all!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Barry G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Had a great long weekend in Des Moines!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Crystal R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house is a fun, clean, and comfortable place. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

About the host

Hosted by Rachel Gulick

Host profile image
Rachel Gulick, a fifth-generation Iowan and life-long musician is a proud
DMPS alumna of Roosevelt High School and Drake University graduate,
double majoring in Sociology and Anthropology with a concentration in
Women’s Studies. They own three small businesses: House Of Glass, REG
Investments, and Green Peace Collective - The Art of Ag Permaculture
Farm. Rachel serves on the boards of the Iowa Cultural Coalition and the
Drake LGBTQ+ Alumni Association. Rachel was a founding volunteer with Girls Rock Des Moines, aka GR!DSM in 2013, later serving as their Executive Director from ‘20 - ‘25.

Why they chose this property

This neighborhood chose me! I grew up right here, at the Funk! When my parents retired and wanted to move out to the country, I was able to purchase our home from them.
The Drake Neighborhood, aka Dogtown has been an incredible place to grow up. There are tons of amazing activities and amenities within walking distance, a short bike or bus ride, or by car. In DSM we say, you’re never more than 15 minutes away from everything; who doesn’t love that convenience?!
Our neighborhood has tons of character, and arts & culture abounds. We have the annual Greek Food Festival, just around the block; local eats like next door at Library Cafe with tons of local craft brews and great bar food (try their famous, flour nachos), Lzaza Indo-Pak Cuisine, Gursha Ethiopian Grill, Doughco Pizza, Lucky Horse Beer & Burgers, Campbel’s Health Food Store, Louise’s Wine Dive, and more; beautiful Craftsman style homes; xBk Live & Lefty’s for live music and community events; thee Drake Relays… I could go on.
Ask me if there’s something specific you’re looking for, I’ll probably have a recommendation!

What makes this property unique

Location, location, location! This is the heart of the Drake neighborhood, aka Dogtown. You’re never more than a 15 - 20 minute drive from everything Greater Des Moines has to offer.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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