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Prime Location- 7 min drive to Blue Sky & Star View - Modern Lodge

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Beautiful Lodge situated upon 70 acres.
Great place to unwind and take a nap on the covered front porch.
New for 2024
Terrace/patio
Front Door

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 15241.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning
  • Mountain view

Explore the area

Map
Makanda, IL
  • Blue Sky Vineyards
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • StarView Vineyards
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Giant City State Park
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Marion, IL (MWA-Williamson County Regional)
    ‪32 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 15)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Prime Location- 7 min drive to Blue Sky & Star View - Modern Lodge

Located on 75 secluded acres on the Shawnee Wine Trail, Firefly Valley Lodge offers spectacular views and a peaceful setting for your getaway. The Lodge offers breathtaking views of nature to be enjoyed from the large wrap-around deck. For those cool evenings, a large oversized two-tiered custom fire pit is available to keep you warm after a long day on the wine trail. Located within a few miles of Blue Sky, Owl Creek, StarView and Orlandini wineries, the Lodge is on Rocky Comfort Road, right in the heart of Southern Illinois Wine Country.

Connected to our private property is 140 acres of the Shawnee National Forest. Hunting and hiking possibilities are endless at Firefly Valley. The Lodge is within minutes of Southern Illinois University, Giant City State Park, Devils Kitchen and Little Grassy lakes.

The Firefly Valley Lodge is a 2 story cedar sided Lodge. The 4 bedroom 2 bath house features a open concept living room and kitchen with a magnificent vaulted ceiling and beautiful hardwood flooring.

The Living room features leather couches including a pull-out bed for additional guests. The Kitchen is fully stocked with everything you would need including all stainless steel appliances and a beautiful dining table. The main floor also includes two Guest Bedrooms both beautifully appointed with Queen beds. A full bath completes the main floor. A luxury Master Suite with a King size bed with its own bath are up the stairs for your privacy. The fourth and final bedroom is located in the basement. This bedroom is an oversized room big enough to hold a Queen bed and a full size couch. The living room and all main floor bedrooms and the master bedroom contain 47 inch flat screen TVs with satellite service.

All linens, utensils etc. are included in your rental. The furnishings in the home are stylish and high quality. Each item was chosen for this lodge specifically as if it was our personal home, making the Lodge stand alone in quality

Property manager

Matt and Corene

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Mountain view
Barbecue grill

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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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
The porch daybed is for 2 person max. No horseplay or swinging is allowed on the daybed. Use at your own risk.
A exterior security camera is located in a tree facing the front porch and deck area.

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
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Makanda

Located in Makanda, this cabin is in a rural area. Blue Sky Vineyards and StarView Vineyards are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Shawnee National Forest and Giant City State Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Makanda, IL

What's nearby

  • Blue Sky Vineyards - 7 min drive - 3.6 km
  • StarView Vineyards - 13 min drive - 6.4 km
  • Giant City State Park - 20 min drive - 9.5 km
  • Lake of Egypt - 24 min drive - 24.1 km
  • Stone Creek Golf Club and Resort - 35 min drive - 23.4 km

Getting around

  • Carbondale Station - 37 min drive
  • Marion, IL (MWA-Williamson County Regional) - 32 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Giant City Lodge & Restaurant - ‬31 min drive
  • ‪StarView Vineyards - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Giant City Lodge - ‬29 min drive
  • ‪Orlandini Vineyard - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Lick Creek Public Water - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Prime Location- 7 min drive to Blue Sky & Star View - Modern Lodge pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Prime Location- 7 min drive to Blue Sky & Star View - Modern Lodge ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Prime Location- 7 min drive to Blue Sky & Star View - Modern Lodge ?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Prime Location- 7 min drive to Blue Sky & Star View - Modern Lodge located?

Situated in a rural location, this cabin is steps from Shawnee National Forest and 2.2 mi (3.6 km) from Blue Sky Vineyards. StarView Vineyards and Panther Den Trailhead are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.4

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. 61 out of 82 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 82 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 82 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 82 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 82 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

8/10 Good

Kara B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Cozy and remote

Cabin was adequate. Comfortable and near wine trails. Lady bugs were a little overwhelming but all in all fun.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Great getaway

Firefly Valley Resort is a wonderful place to stay on the Shawnee Wine Trail.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kindra H.

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

Friends weekend

We booked this property for a weekend away with some friends. It was perfect for us (3 couples). The beds and furnishings were comfortable. It would’ve been nice to have another small loveseat or armchairs in the living room for extra seating but we managed. The outdoor area is beautiful, with plenty of seating options. Bring some firewood or be prepared to search the woods if you want to use the fire pit. The only thing that would be nice would be WiFi - but that wasn’t a big deal for us and it was nice to unplug for a while. We would definitely stay here again!!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Clayton R.

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

Great Weekend Getaway

We stayed here with our extended family (10 adults and 2 kids) for a weekend getaway. Everything was great and the hosts were easy to communicate with. We really enjoyed the location and its proximity to two of our favorite wineries.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sue S.

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

Girls trip

Celebrating a birthday. Winery visits were fun. Not a lot of restaurants but plenty of options at the wineries for a light meal. Beautiful property. Lots of deer wild turkeys and other wildlife. House was very nice. 4th bedroom is down stairs. It’s basically in the garage but overall it’s a great place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jamie B.

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

So relaxing!

The home was amazing and clean and comfortable. Had everything you would need. Only complaint would be poor cell reception. Other than that we loved it.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa K.

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

Perfect for family weekend.

This is our second year staying here, and we just love it for our family! It is very comfortable, the location is perfect and communication was quick. We will be back next year!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brian M.

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

Very cool location

Loved the place thanks for everything! Would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amanda W.

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

Great stay

The house was great and clean. The Wi-Fi is the only complaint no service out there. Other than that it was a perfect weekend.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katelyn M.

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

Great place to disconnect

Lovely space that was clean and had plenty of bedrooms for our group to spread out! Beautiful property, very serine and relaxing. I didn’t realize there wasn’t WiFi until last minute which was my fault and I probably should’ve printed out our check in information before we lost service. Otherwise it was great to disconnect and be off grid for a few days (there is service just down the road so it is still easy to get to other places). My only other complaint was that we couldn’t figure out how to turn on some of the light fixtures (specifically the big overhead light in the living room but there was plenty of other lighting to supplement). The kitchen and grill worked great for us and was well stocked with everything we needed!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

2/10 Terrible

Terri O.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication

No WiFi, mouse in Keurig, Found someone else’s shirt and a glow stick In one of the rooms.

The property was beautiful. However, we found a shirt and a glow stick that was not ours in the upstairs bathroom and bedroom. Makes me question how well the property was cleaned. When we got there, the doors were Unlocked and one of them was open. We assume that’s how the mouse got in. We found the mouse in the Keurig in the morning. We notified the owner who did come over right away. However, he came in with an attitude of accusing us. We had to show him pictures and the dead mouse, He took the Keurig with him and never replaced it. The property did have gorgeous views and we did see some forest animals, which was really cool.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer S.

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

Weekend away

Cabin was nice. The air conditioner had a hard time keeping up with the 100+ temperature. We had no cell service at the cabin. That was troublesome when trying to navigate or find a restaurant. Really did unplug for the weekend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Angie W.

Great News Years getaway

We enjoyed our stay at your lodge. The pictures online were exactly what we found when we arrived. Easy directions and booking. Plenty of room to spread out with our family - especially with teenagers. We were very pleased! The basement was a bonus for our wet boots. Could come right into a dry space, dump off the winter clothes and head upstairs. Looking forward to booking again, possibly in the summer. Do you offer repeat customers a slight price break?

8/10 Good

Debra b., Alton Il United States

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Wine trip

Had a great time at the house. Had all the necessities we needed. Arrived after dark and was unable to find the key pad to unlock the house. We did call the owner and found out that it was on the back door. The dishwasher did not work and outside lighting was not nearly enough. I didn’t realize how dark it could be. Had several lady bugs in the upstairs bedroom. The kitchen chairs were wobbly. I realize these were very trivial issues so overall the stay was enjoyable.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

6/10 Okay

Chris B.

Our Stay

The setting was nice and home was nice. However, the dishwasher was broken (owner told us but there was 1/4" of dish soap to do dishes) Only 1 trash bag, the hideaway couch was dirty and had cereal in it and we did not use it. A lot of other small noticeable things. I believe the owner or housekeeping needs to pay closer details for their guests.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019

8/10 Good

Stephen E.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

nice setting

The property is beautiful, note there is a small swampy pond not pictured. Could use some minor maintenance - the lights/fans in first floor bedrooms not working, and perhaps label all switches so guests know which switch turns on what. The upstairs bedroom was difficult to keep cool and the daily high was only 80. Confusion about this being a place to have our small ceremony - original listing posted a wedding cake on the stage (now picture taken down)then we read in rules Not to use the stage, and a large sign by the road that reads weddings, events (Firefly Valley lodge); now it list no parties-events - but as an elderly couple we moved our little wedding with a few family and friends under the trees and it was wonderful. Plenty of kitchenware, bring your own soap, extra toilet paper, paper towels and even towels as minimum is provided. Great views, would be nice for hikers/winers as in perfect location in the beautiful Shawnee Forest wine country.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

lori k.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in

Nice and relaxing

A bit on he back roads , but that's why its nice and quite . Before you get to close to the property , make sure you have the access code . I had no cell service and no code when I got to property . I had to drive a ways to try to contact owner for code , he had never sent it , it was now 40 mins. after check in time . If you plan on a fire outdoors, make sure you bring your own wood .
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Linda D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

Owner, should have relayed more information on what to bring.

When we arrived, there was NO toilet paper in the main bathroom.!!!! According to info & instructions left for the rental when WE ARRIVED—they supply 1 roll of toilet paper per bathroom (2), 1 roll of paper towels, 1 bath towel & 1 washcloth per person.—-that information would’ve been VERY USEFUL in advance. Also no kitchen towels, no hot pads, but we did find a kitchen dishcloth in with the washcloths. It is listed that the couch in living rm & basement were fold out—but we were unable to find sheets or blankets for these. Unit did have extra bed pillows, but no pillow cases. I HAD DONE A LOT OF SEARCHING FOR A VRBO THAT WAS ADA ACCESSIBLE—-so was extremely disappointed when we arrived & the WALK IN shower was located in the UPPER loft —that would require you to climb over 15 steps.!!! It would’ve also have been nice to have a bedside table with lamp, next to the beds. ( beds were very comfortable), It is a great laid back place, but would’ve not rented due to the walk in shower location.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Lindsay O.

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

Overall good place, with just a couple upkeep problems.

Our trip down to Shawnee was for a mother/daughters getaway. There were five of us staying in the cabin and we honestly had plenty of space! The property itself and its location were wonderful. The views, especially in the evening were breath taking! That all being said, there were just a few upkeep items that would have made our stay 5 stars. The outdoor furniture and grill are very “weathered”. The grill was rusted through as well as most the outdoor furniture. The lights around the deck only had about half the bulbs that were working so once it got dark out, you had to move inside or to the fire pit- although firewood is not guaranteed. It was advertised that all bedrooms have TVs, but in fact only one of the bedrooms actually had one. The upstairs bedroom window was open when we arrived, which was nice until we wanted to close it and found the lever was broken and we couldn’t actually close it. One of the bedrooms didn’t have a door knob on the door and another didn’t have a comforter. (All that was on it was a flat sheet) Lastly, there is no WiFi and very limited service once on the property, which in this day in age would be a nice amenity to have. Overall however, we had a great time.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021

8/10 Good

matt s.

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

Great, with a couple issues...

First off, the location is very secluded and close to several wineries, which was great! It was very warm the weekend we stayed, and the A/C was ice cold. Just a few complaints: - Lot: We we’re slightly disappointed that most of the 75 acres listed was impassable by prairie, so our desire for soccer, ultimate frisbee, and exploring was unachievable. About 3-5 acres are actually usable but there are some obstructions. Still, the view was awesome and we still had fun. - Kitchen: the dishwasher didn’t work on our arrival and was coming out of its housing. It ended up being unplugged so we just had to pull it out to plug it back in. Also, bring your own kitchen knife if you want to prep any food as the knives provided are very dull and can’t even cut a tomato without crushing it. - Wasps: There was a family of wasps living along the roofline near the front door that were very aggressive. 3 of us got stung just walking from the front door to the side lot. Being in our 30’s, none of us have been stung in quite a while, fortunately none of use had any major side effects other than swelling and pain. - Beds: The listing stated there were accommodations for 15. We had 13, but there was only enough sleeping space for about 10 when we all doubled up in beds. Fortunately 2 people brought their own air mattresses, but one person was forced to sleep on the floor or on the love seat. Other than that we had a great time and look forward to returning to the area!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Heidi L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jill S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lauren W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

L'Ree F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Lawrence R.

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

As advertised

No Wifi, which is listed. At least with Verizon, almost no cell phone coverage. So if disconnecting with outside world is part of your intent, then perfect.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022

About the host

Hosted by Matt and Corene

Host profile image
Owners of mavoproperty located in southern Illinois

Why they chose this property

The views are incredible. Also, not only is the property large with 75 acres….it borders 140 acres of the Shawnee National Forest.

What makes this property unique

Bordering the shawnee national forest all the hiking you could ever want. Lodge sits on top of Firefly Valley. Incredible views

Languages:

English
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