Description

Combo Hunting/Recreation & Tillable Iowa Farmland/CRP tract in Union County, Iowa with beautiful southern Iowa hilltop views and income from established vacation lodging rental business. 

Every once in a while you come across a uniquely special property. This is one of those places. 174 +/- total net acres of rolling and beautiful Union County, Iowa land with great Deer & Turkey hunting & habitat, 70 +/- tillable acres with 57 +/- generating current CRP income, 5 ponds/fishing and virgin Oak timber,  and 2 “Turnkey”, fully furnished modern vacation rental lodges with amazing hilltop vista southern Iowa views.  Your opportunities and options as the new owner of this property would be….the sky is the limit!  Personal hunting and fishing vacation getaway, full-time country residence, corporate guest retreat, full time vacation rental business, diversified real estate investment – all of these scenarios and more exist as options for the new owner. Good “A” road access from the east side on Quail Ave and additional “B” road access from the west side. Located 5.5 miles southeast of Afton, and just over an hour from West Des Moines metro area.

The Land is a mix of different habitats, with big, heavily timbered Oak ridges, open meadows, rich bottomland and 74 +/- FSA “Total Cropland” Acres. It is a hunters dream. There are 57 +/- tillable acres currently in CRP with an avg weighted CSR2 rating of 49, with 8.26 acres expiring in 2032 (paying $2,649.74/year), 12.47 acres expiring in 2027 (paying $2,937/year) and 35.78 acres expiring in 2035 (paying $5,830/year). The total annual CRP income is $11,237. There are an additional 13 open acres of high quality tillable with a weighted CSR2 AVG of 75 that aren't currently in CRP. These acres could be cropped or would make fabulous food plots, which is what they are currently used for. Note: The CRP & Tillable Soils maps attached to this listing are hand-drawn and are *approximate*. An outfitter in the area has leased the property on a year to year basis and that lease provided $3,816 of income in 2021. Continuing that lease would be a possible option for additional income, or if you've been dreaming of having a place of your own to hunt southern Iowa's famous big bucks, this would be a great place to do it! 

There is also the possibility of income from timber harvest, as there are some truly huge hardwoods. 

One look at the aerial and you can see that this property sets up very well for Deer hunting with a great variety of different habitats and surrounded by neighbors with a great variety of habitats as well. Big timber, cedars, CRP, South facing slopes, rich bottomland tillable, meandering creekbottom travel corridors. Great history of good bucks, see photos and video. I had a couple of trail cameras running on the property in the last part of February, 2022 but of course by then most bucks had already dropped their antlers. Property is in Iowa Deer Zone 4. There is a good turkey population as well. This property would also be fantastic for horses and horseback riding.

“The Lodge” has been being rented since 2001 and the “Calico Cat Barn” has been being rented since 2010. There is some great fishing in the area at public lakes 3 Mile, 12 Mile, Afton, Green Valley and Summit Lakes, all within 20 miles, and a lot of the lodge rental business is from fishermen throughout the year. There is also a lot of renting for family vacations.  The full past guest list and future bookings would transfer to the new owner if they planned to continue the rental business. The current owner has spent hardly any money on advertising, almost all rental business has been from word of mouth. With a marketing and advertising plan in place, the potential exists to grow the lodge rental business and income by a lot. Inquire for details regarding recent rental income and future bookings on the calendar.

“The Lodge” (built in 2001) is 3,000 sq ft, 2-level with 4 bedrooms and 4 en suite 3/4 baths, fully-finished walk-out basement, kitchen/dining, 2 large living room areas with large gas fireplaces, laundry facilities and a great view. Most of the lumber for the lodge was grown on the farm and milled on site. Unique Hackberry wood kitchen cabinets and custom built Eastern Red Cedar dining table from trees on the farm. There is 1 additional 3/4 bath on the lower level. 

The “Calico Cat Barn” (built in 2009) is 3-level, 5,100 sq ft with 6 bedrooms and 6 en suite 3/4 baths, + 4 additional half baths. Large living room and large kitchen/dining room on main floor, both with large gas fireplaces. Laundry facilities and 2 additional half baths on main floor. 2nd story has 4 bedrooms with adjoining full baths and 2 lovely sitting areas for reading or additional sleeping room for larger groups. Lower level is a fully finished walk-out basement with 2 large bedrooms with adjoining full baths, large living room area and connected room with multi-purpose game table, mini-kitchen, and two half baths.  There is a loft area at the top of the lodge that has not been completely finished and utilized and would make a nice quiet reading area.

Both lodges have lovely indoor sitting areas bathed in natural outdoor light with picture windows that look out over the natural scenic beauty of the property and surrounding area. Each lodge also has an outdoor fire ring, sitting areas, and charcoal grill. The local woods from the property that were used in the construction add a special touch to spacious lodges that have all modern amenities but are very rustic & charming.  Both lodges come fully furnished and “Turnkey” with all furniture, appliances, and decorations included in the sale. Rural SIRWA water service to both lodges. Heat is propane forced air, central air conditioning in both lodges.

There is also a 90×65 heated Machine Shed with concrete floor throughout that would be awesome to use for storage of Tractor/ATV/UTV. It also has several partitioned rooms that could be turned into offices or used as additional storage. Part of the barn is heated with propane. Alternatively, with some renovations, this would serve as a great location for an event venue for weddings or other group gatherings, especially with the 2 lodges nearby and wonderful views in every direction. Please Note: Nothing that is currently being stored in the machine shed will transfer with the property sale, it will all be disposed of separately.

Please contact Land Specialist Joshua Flournoy at (641) 203-9427 for more information or to set up a showing of this amazing property. Showings by appointment only, all serious interested parties will be asked to provide proof of funds or pre-qualification for appropriate financing prior to showings.

Property Features

– Combo Hunting/Recreation & Iowa Tillable Farmland/CRP tract with Lodging rental income

– 174 +/- net acres, rolling terrain with amazing hilltop vistas and scenic southern Iowa views

– 57 +/- tillable acres currently in CRP with avg weighted CSR2 of 49. 8.26 acres expiring in 2032 ($2,649.74/year), 12.47 acres expiring in 2027 ($2,937/year), 35.78 acres expiring in 2035 ($5,830/year). Annual CRP income is $11,237

– Additional 13 open acres high quality tillable with weighted CSR2 Avg of 75 that aren't currently in CRP, could be cropped or would make fabulous food plots

– Great Deer & Turkey populations, hunting and variety of habitats, hardwood ridges, meadows, cedars, rich tillable bottomland, South facing slopes, great connective travel corridors and great habitat on neighbors as well. Iowa Deer Zone 4. Great history of good bucks, see photos and video.

– 3,000 sq ft 2-level lodge built in 2001 w/4 bedrooms & 4 en suite 3/4 baths, 1 additional 3/4 bath, 2 gas fireplaces, great views, has been rented as a vacation rental since 2001

– 5,100 sq ft 3-level lodge built in 2009 w/6 bedrooms & 6 en suite 3/4 baths, + 4 half-baths, 2 gas fireplaces, fantastic views, has been rented as a vacation rental since 2010

– Vacation rental guest list & current/future bookings for both lodges will transfer with sale of property if new owner wishes to continue rental business

– Both lodges are fully furnished and all furniture, appliances, and decorations transfer with sale of property

– 5 ponds on property

– Property would be fantastic for horses and horseback riding

– Just over an hour from West Des Moines metro and 5.5 miles from Afton

– Good “A” road access on the east from Quail Ave, “B” road access from the west

– 90×65 Machine Shed for storing tractor/atv/equipment, includes several partitioned rooms that could be renovated and turned into offices or used as additional storage space. With renovations the space could also be used as a great event venue for weddings, etc.

– 2021 property taxes $9,582