Grain Bin Bed & Breakfast
“Ours is the first Canadian all-season bed and breakfast in a grain bin,” says April Anderson, who operates Alive Sky Lodge on her family’s farm near Rosetown, Sask. “I’m addicted to building and decorating and saw a need for new accommodations in our area. We first built a lodge, and then decided to do something unique on the farm.”
She and her husband, Darryl, had seen other grain bin conversions and decided to convert their 2,800-bu. Westeel bin that stands next to the farm’s newer and larger bins.
“We fitted it with some luxury items so people feel like they have the comforts of home,” she says. Those include marble tile floors and countertops, a clawfoot tub and standup shower, and two fireplaces. At the same time she incorporated a country feel - a chandelier hangs from a barnboard false ceiling, and the bed headboard and other furniture is made of Canadian maple.
Having worked on many remodeling projects, Anderson knew it would be more expensive and take longer because of the bin’s round shape. The project took about a year, working mostly in the winter and during slower times on the farm. The building includes a proprietary in-heat flooring system, and Anderson trademarked the design as BINcredible™.
The grain bin B&B was ready for guests in the summer of 2017, complete with heat and AC for year-round use. It has a wrap-around deck with a fire pit, private hot tub, and a view of the farmyard and prairie sunsets.
“Many guests says it’s the best night’s sleep they’ve ever had because it is so quiet and peaceful,” Anderson notes. “Our main goal is agritourism,” she adds. “So we’ve taken people on combine, tractor and even semi-truck rides to the grain elevator. We are revamping our barn and pastures so people can more easily see goats and chickens we will have this summer.”
Country-style breakfasts of French toasts, eggs and home-baked treats are delivered to guests in vintage coolers. The BINcredible has been a popular addition, Anderson says, and is booked into September 2020.
While she loves being a host and running a B&B, she notes that people who are considering doing something similar need to understand the work involved.
“Before you do it, set your alarm every day for 6 a.m., make breakfast for 10, keep enough food on hand always for that many people, wash all the sheets every day, do chores, and do daily bookwork,” she says. “You have to love being with people and being a host. If it’s just for the money, don’t do it.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, April Anderson, Alive Sky Lodge, P.O. Box 816, Rosetown, Sask. S0L 2V0 Canada (ph 306 716-2040; www.alivesky.ca; aliveskylodge@gmail.com).
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Grain Bin Bed & Breakfast BUILDINGS Miscellaneous “Ours is the first Canadian all-season bed and breakfast in a grain bin ” says April Anderson who operates Alive Sky Lodge on her family’s farm near Rosetown Sask “I’m addicted to building and decorating and saw a need for new accommodations in our area We first built a lodge and then decided to do something unique on the farm ” She and her husband Darryl had seen other grain bin conversions and decided to convert their 2 800-bu Westeel bin that stands next to the farm’s newer and larger bins “We fitted it with some luxury items so people feel like they have the comforts of home ” she says Those include marble tile floors and countertops a clawfoot tub and standup shower and two fireplaces At the same time she incorporated a country feel - a chandelier hangs from a barnboard false ceiling and the bed headboard and other furniture is made of Canadian maple Having worked on many remodeling projects Anderson knew it would be more expensive and take longer because of the bin’s round shape The project took about a year working mostly in the winter and during slower times on the farm The building includes a proprietary in-heat flooring system and Anderson trademarked the design as BINcredible™ The grain bin B&B was ready for guests in the summer of 2017 complete with heat and AC for year-round use It has a wrap-around deck with a fire pit private hot tub and a view of the farmyard and prairie sunsets “Many guests says it’s the best night’s sleep they’ve ever had because it is so quiet and peaceful ” Anderson notes “Our main goal is agritourism ” she adds “So we’ve taken people on combine tractor and even semi-truck rides to the grain elevator We are revamping our barn and pastures so people can more easily see goats and chickens we will have this summer ” Country-style breakfasts of French toasts eggs and home-baked treats are delivered to guests in vintage coolers The BINcredible has been a popular addition Anderson says and is booked into September 2020 While she loves being a host and running a B&B she notes that people who are considering doing something similar need to understand the work involved “Before you do it set your alarm every day for 6 a m make breakfast for 10 keep enough food on hand always for that many people wash all the sheets every day do chores and do daily bookwork ” she says “You have to love being with people and being a host If it’s just for the money don’t do it ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup April Anderson Alive Sky Lodge P O Box 816 Rosetown Sask S0L 2V0 Canada ph 306 716-2040; www alivesky ca; aliveskylodge@gmail com
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