The Refuge - Perfect Location. Beautiful, private, centrally located, sleeps 14

The perfectly located beautiful home for southern Illinois visitors of all kinds.

Extremely peaceful, located adjacent to the Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, tucked within several wooded areas. Yet only a 60-second drive to the Rt. 13 highway that runs through the heart of Southern Illinois. One second you are in a serene and secluded location. The next second you are within a short drive of anywhere you need to be in amazing southern Illinois. Large pond, basement, secluded, & spacious.

Ideal for families, outdoor lovers, or wine-touring groups!

You cannot possibly find a better location in southern Illinois. Located directly in between Carbondale, Marion, the Shawnee wine trails, the Shawnee National Forest, and much more. Secluded on a beautiful 6-acre property, but 60 seconds away from the primary highway of southern Illinois, Route 13, which takes you directly to Marion or Carbondale.

There are three levels in this home. The ground level includes a kitchen, dining room, living room, and half bathroom. The upstairs includes three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. The basement includes a living room, bar, full bathroom, laundry room, and outdoor walkout patio. The property includes a large front yard and large private pond. The home sits several hundred yards off the road, tucked in between woods on two sides and a large, private pond on the other.

Check-In Time: Any time after 4:00pm
Check-out Time: 10:00am

House Rules:
No parties or events
No unregistered guests or visitors
No illegal activity
No smoking or vaping inside
No pets allowed

Things to Know:

Stairs Notice:
This home includes three levels and multiple staircases. It may not be suitable for guests with limited mobility.

A Note About the Property Layout:
The home is located several hundred feet off the road. Behind the garage, there is a pole barn that contains a private apartment, which is permanently occupied by a long-term tenant. While the apartment shares the same gravel lane, the tenant parks behind the garage, so it does not interfere with your parking or privacy.

Pond Safety:
Guests may enjoy the views of the private pond, but swimming, boating, or entering the water is not permitted. Fishing is allowed. Please supervise children at all times near the water. Use of the pond is at your own risk.

Fire Pit & BBQ Grill Use:
We’re happy to provide both a fire pit and a BBQ grill for your enjoyment during your stay! Please follow these important safety guidelines:

Use both the fire pit and grill only in the designated outdoor areas.
Never leave open flames unattended, and always fully extinguish fires when finished.
Please do not use lighter fluid or accelerants.
Supervise children closely at all times around fire or hot surfaces.
Do not use during high wind conditions or when a local burn ban is in effect.
Only guests listed in the reservation may use these amenities.

Use of the fire pit and grill is at your own risk. By using these amenities, you agree that the host is not liable for any injury, accident, or property damage that may occur as a result of misuse or failure to follow safety precautions.

Note About Yard Maintenance:
The home sits on a large property that requires regular upkeep. During non-winter months, the lawn is typically mowed once per week, and a gardener may tend to plants, flowers, and trees about once a month. We do our best to schedule this maintenance between guest stays, but at times it may be necessary during your visit. If you have specific times when yardwork would be disruptive, feel free to let us know—we’ll do our best to accommodate!

Security Camera Disclosure:
For your safety and the security of the property, we have one exterior security camera that is actively recording and overlooks the front door and driveway area. This camera is equipped with both video and audio recording. It does not monitor or record any interior spaces or private areas.

Décor Note:
This is a new listing and we're still in the process of adding final decorative touches. While the space may feel a bit minimal in some areas, it’s fully stocked for comfort and convenience. Thank you for your understanding as we continue to make The Refuge even better!

Guests have full access to the entire main home, besides two locked storage closets.

Guests also have access to the large front yard and private pond.

Entry to home available via touchpad.

No access: garage and detached pole barn apartment.

Please note: The detached pole barn apartment behind the home is not part of the rental and is permanently occupied.

Driving distance to notable Southern Illinois destinations:

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge – 1 minute
SI Bowl – 2 minutes
Crab Orchard Lake – 4 minutes
Bluegill Bay Campground – 4 minutes
John A. Logan College – 5 minutes
Logan Fitness (Fitness & Aquatic Center) – 5 minutes
Williamson County Airport (Veteran's Airport) – 6 minutes
Marion Oasis – 8 minutes
Crab Orchard Campground – 8 minutes
Crab Orchard Beach – 8 minutes
Pirate Pete's – 9 minutes
Crab Orchard Golf Course – 9 minutes
Interstate 57 – 9 minutes
Mtn Dew Park (Thrillville Thrillbillies) – 10 minutes
White Pines Event Center – 10 minutes
Kokopelli Golf Course – 11 minutes
AMC Movie Theater Carbondale – 11 minutes
Marion Cultural and Civic Center – 12 minutes
VIP Movie Theater Carbondale – 12 minutes
Goofy Golf Marion – 14 minutes
Little Nashville – 14 minutes
Black Diamond Pickleball Courts – 14 minutes
Walker's Bluff Casino and Resort – 15 minutes
Southern Illinois University – 16 minutes
Lake of Egypt – 16 minutes
Carbondale Amtrak – 16 minutes
Devil's Kitchen Lake – 17 minutes
Shawnee National Forest – 17 minutes
Bandy's Pumpkin Patch – 17 minutes
Fern Clyffe Park – 21 minutes
The Patch – 21 minutes
Southern Illinois University Airport – 21 minutes
Touch of Nature – 22 minutes
Giant City Park – 23 minutes
Blue Sky Winery – 24 minutes
Little Grassy Lake – 25 minutes
Shawnee Bluff Canopy Tour (Ziplining) – 27 minutes
Tunnel Hill Trail – 32 minutes
Garden of the Gods – 1 hour 5 minutes