Apartment

Orchard Studio: A Peaceful & Serene Retreat Near Hiking & Biking

Photo gallery for Orchard Studio: A Peaceful & Serene Retreat Near Hiking & Biking

Exterior
Property grounds
Private kitchen
Room
Interior

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 151.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Norwalk, WI
  • LaCrosse River Trail
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Wildcat Mountain State Park
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Elroy Sparta State Trail
    ‪21 min drive‬
  • La Crosse, WI (LSE-La Crosse Municipal)
    ‪44 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 1)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

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

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchenette

About this property

Orchard Studio: A Peaceful & Serene Retreat Near Hiking & Biking

IMPORTANT: We hope you choose to stay with us, but please read the full description, and provide the requested information prior to booking. This is a retreat environment and reading all the information and house rules will ensure you have the stay you are hoping for, and neither of us will have unexpected surprises :-)

Orchard Studio is a small apartment associated with a Buddhist retreat center on 70 acres of woods and prairies, overlooking a beautiful valley in the driftless hills of SW Wisconsin. The Elroy-Sparta bike trail is a mile away. The Kickapoo Valley Reserve & Wildcat Mtn are a short drive. This is a retreat environment for adult SOLO travelers, seeking a SILENT RETREAT SETTING. CAUTION, ACCESS requires navigating a short unimproved, unlit pathway down a grassy slope.

The bedroom nook has a queen size bed. The kitchenette is equipped with a two burner stove, a microwave, minifridge, toaster, and coffee. The bathroom features a claw foot soaking tub. The space has plenty of natural light as well as privacy. An open central floor space leaves room for yoga and for meditation. Meditation cushions and yoga mats/blocks provided. In-floor heat keeps the space cozy in winter. The building is newly constructed and very well insulated so the lower level stays quite cool in summer, but an auxilliary window AC unit is available if needed. Safe, sheltered storage for a bike or kayak is available.

As a retreat environment, Orchard Apartment is not suitable for work which requires extensive zoom meetings and phone calls, or for playing music or musical instruments. All audio devices must be used with ear buds. Retreatants encountered on the property should not be engaged in conversation other than brief greetings. We can not accommodate anyone under the age of 18.

There is no cleaning fee and the price is kept as low as possible, in line with Buddhist retreat ethics. In turn, retreatants must care for the space, leaving it in the condition it was found. Please expect to do basic cleaning before you leave and budget enough time to do so. Cleaning instructions and supplies are provided. (We do provide final sanitizing, laundry and maintenance deep cleaning between guests.)

Finally, when booking the apartment, please tell us something about yourself, what brings you to the area, and confirm that you have read the description and rules. We look forward to having you here. Thank You!

Property manager

Jo Thompson

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Air conditioning
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 12:00 PM
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Children

Adults only
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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
Please say hi and let us know something about yourself and your travel plans.
This is a retreat setting and is for solo guests seeking a quiet respite. Audio devices must be used with earbuds.
This space must be left the way it was found. Please leave yourself enough time to carefully clean up after yourself.

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

About the area

Norwalk

Norwalk is home to this apartment. Wildcat Mountain State Park and Elroy Sparta State Trail reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Howard Huff Park and Tom Gomez Park.
Map
Norwalk, WI

What's nearby

  • LaCrosse River Trail - 18 min drive - 21.8 km
  • Wildcat Mountain State Park - 20 min drive - 18.7 km
  • Elroy Sparta State Trail - 21 min drive - 19.7 km
  • University of Wisconsin-La Crosse - 46 min drive - 62.4 km
  • La Crosse Center - 50 min drive - 65.3 km

Getting around

  • Tomah Station - 22 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Lil's Korner Bar - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Hitchin' Post - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Place - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Riley's Bar & Grill - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Lesa T's Cafe - ‬3 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Orchard Studio: A Peaceful & Serene Retreat Near Hiking & Biking pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Orchard Studio: A Peaceful & Serene Retreat Near Hiking & Biking ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Orchard Studio: A Peaceful & Serene Retreat Near Hiking & Biking ?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Orchard Studio: A Peaceful & Serene Retreat Near Hiking & Biking located?

Situated in Norwalk, this apartment building is within 12 miles (20 km) of Wildcat Mountain State Park, Elroy Sparta State Trail and Fishermans Park. Evans-Bosshard Park and Ben Bikin' Park are also within 16 miles (25 km).

Reviews

10

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. 12 out of 13 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 13 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 13 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 13 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 13 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Nikki P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Quiet Serenity

Loved this short weekend getaway to rest and recharge! Property was extremely clean, quiet, well designed, and included all the little details to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable. Beautiful views right outside the window in a picturesque location! Communication with the owner was very prompt and clear. Thank you for sharing your space with us!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bradley B.

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

Relaxing, calmness

Just pulling up to the Orchard Apartment is peaceful in the fall colors of central Wisconsin. Jo was there to greet us and everything was better than the online description. This is a truly special place for those looking for quiet, natural serenity. 5 stars ^ nth :)
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Valerie L.

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

Quiet and Pretty

What a great place to stay and call home base for our Elroy/Sparta cycling weekend. All the comforts you would expect with thoughtful touches. Would love to see the spring wildflowers in bloom here. Next trip :) Of note on our trip: Footjoy Farm restaurant 15 minutes away. Matsumoto Ramen in Sparta, cheese factory in Cashton, just to name a few. Thanks to our host, Jo for sharing the lovely property in beautiful Wisconsin!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mariann

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Lovely Hostess, peaceful and Quiet surroundings.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Arleen B.

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

Beauty in the driftless area

A beautiful spot to stay with Wisconsin driftless vistas, wildflowers, apple orchards. We biked the Sparta-Elroy trail and went to a tractor pull in Norwalk. We met many people and they were so friendly. Almost every car waved at us. The home was neat tidy cute with yoga supplies. The kitchen had everything we needed. What a beautiful moment in time we had at the Orchard Studio.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Candace L.

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

Quiet retreat for cyclists

The orchard apartment fit our needs perfectly. We were in town to bike the nearby Elroy-Sparta trail and wanted a place to rest, read, and refresh. The apartment had everything we needed, had a lovely view of the valley and was located close to lots of fun places to visit while off trail. Jo was a gracious host and the beautiful horses, neighbor cats and lovely wildflowers along the patio were a wonderful bonus. Thank you so much!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Parisa S.

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

Beautiful retreat!

This space was so soothing and beautiful. Highly recommend! The horses and walking paths were calming and exactly with my husband and I needed.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer J.

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

Closed on Our New Home

My wife and I absolutely love staying in the Orchard Studio. It provides the serenity and solitude we seek and value so dearly. The peaceful walking path calms our nerves and rejuvenates us. It's an absolutely breathtaking landscape. The studio itself is incredibly clean and charming. We only hope to turn our new home into something this serene. The host is always warm, incredibly helpful, and is willing to make accommodations if possible. My wife and I will definitely plan more visits to the Orchard Studio.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Reuben W.

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

Cozy lodgings on a beautiful landscape

We had a wonderful stay with nothing but ourselves, the environment, and some light reading. Walked the property a bit, did some birding, and met lots of local cats. 10/10, a wonderful getaway!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anthony G., Beaver dam

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

Getaway

Very quiet and clean place. Found a lot of peace with no tv or other distractions at the place. My wife and I sat on the porch and looked over the land and talked for hours. The place had everything needed for our 3 day stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

John P.

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

Staying in Wisconsin

Overall stay was nice, just a few suggestions to improve the stays for future guests. 1) stairs or some type of better access from parking area to stepping stone door entrance pathway 2) possibly a motion sensor light to said pathway 3) trimming of grass on said pathway
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Allie M.

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

We found serenity here indoors and out.

The apartment is immaculate, comfortable and well-designed. Self check-in was simple. We brought groceries from the amazing food co-op in nearby Viroqua and enjoyed making our meals in the well-appointed kitchen. We appreciated the whimsical artwork throughout, ample space to do yoga, a fun selection of teas, and a great night’s sleep in the quality bed linens. The outdoors here is so inviting, we got up early to enjoy the morning light and bird song. From the streamside walking trails to the gorgeous claw foot tub, there are many inviting opportunities here to find serenity. Jo Marie is wonderful, warm and a great communicator. We took about 100 photos of two kitties who each evening sat side by side together on the bench outside our door to watch the sun set - seems like they enjoy the serenity, too!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rachel B.

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

Wonderful property

Jo Marie was wonderful! The stay was quiet and relaxing, the town nearby was quaint and the rented unit was incredible. I will be returning next time I get a vacation!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

About the host

Hosted by Jo Thompson

Host profile image
My husband and I have lived and worked in this beautiful valley since 2006. We love sharing the contemplative beauty of this land with others. We live in the upstairs unit of the building that houses Orchard Apartment. We enjoy meeting guests briefly when arriving here for the first time, and are always available to answer questions or provide assistance, but we will otherwise leave you to your solitude.

Languages:

English