Vandalia Grain Bin Sleeps Two

Published on Friday, December 15, 2023 in Electric

Among the Airbnb app’s remodeled barns, tiny homes, igloos, and windmills is one of southwest Michigan’s newest and most unique hotel alternatives: The Grain Binn, a fully converted silo that features a loft bedroom, king-sized bed, two full bathrooms, and much more. It’s the newest addition to Creekside Cabinns, a collection of Airbnbs owned by MEC customers and Cass-Vandalia community staples Virgil and Dawn Stutzman.

The Stutzmans were seasoned rental managers long before the creation of Airbnb. Dawn’s parents moved a log house from 1836 across the country so they could use it as a bed and breakfast. When Dawn and Virgil married and bought property in Indiana, it had an extra house that they rented to visitors.

After moving to Vandalia, the couple established the immensely popular Farm House Bakery and Restaurant, which they operated for 17 years. The Stutzmans became famous in the community for their food and service. When they were ready to begin a new journey, they sold Farm House to their daughter and son-in-law, who merged it with their own Bullseye Marketplace in Three Rivers.

The next question was what to do with the storage building they had built for Farm House’s needs. The years had been kind to the Stutzmans, gifting them with 11 children, 42 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren—and full-family get-togethers had become a yearly tradition. They decided the best way to use the building would be to turn it into a place their grandkids could stay during their reunions, allowing them to rent out the space for the remainder of the year. This building would become The Cottage, the first of three Creekside Cabinns properties. The success of The Cottage spurred the creation of the second property, a small trailer that would be dubbed The Bungalow.

With two properties listed, the Stutzmans’ attention turned toward a grain bin that had sat on their property since they bought it. They had always wanted to convert it and decided now was the perfect time. In the summer of 2023, The Grain Binn accepted its first customers.

The beautiful two-person getaway is situated by a creek in the woods, well away from the road and from any other homes in the area. Guests love being able to shut off their devices and connect with their companions, sitting in the hot tub or by the fire, watching the woodland critters and gazing at the stars.

Virgil and Dawn Stutzman are southwest Michigan innovators who recognize the importance of looking at old things in new ways to create vibrant, relevant, and sustainable rural communities. That’s our mission here at MEC—when world-class services are brought to the countryside, everyone benefits.

All Creekside Cabinns properties are available to rent on Airbnb and Vrbo. Learn more at CreeksideCabinns.com or find them on Facebook (@Creekside-Cabinns) and Instagram (@creeksidecabinns).