With a stay at this vacation home in Ballwin, you'll be on a river, just steps from Castlewood State Park and a 2-minute drive from Meramec River. .This vacation home is 13.3 mi (21.4 km) from Six Flags St. Louis and 5.1 mi (8.2 km) from Flight Range.
St. Louis Union Station - 32 min drive - 26.6 miles
Gateway Arch - 33 min drive - 27.9 miles
Getting around
Kirkwood Station - 19 min drive
St. Louis, MO (SUS-Spirit of St. Louis) - 21 min drive
Restaurants
TJ's Wings - 9 min drive
Meramec Bluffs: Lutheran Senior Services - 9 min drive
Sonic Drive-In - 6 min drive
Lazy River Grill - 6 min drive
Elk's Lodge - 5 min walk
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Cottage of Castlewood
Beautiful custom built 3 story home nestled next to Castlewood State Park. Great for families that love the private outdoor park setting. This home has three large family areas, WiFi, TVs in gathering areas, a game room with a pool table and rooftop deck to enjoy the serene view of the park. Direct access to Castlewood State Park for hiking, mountain biking and outdoor adventures. Conveniently located near restaurants and shops.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a fireplace and a Smart TV. There's a private balcony. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected.
Enjoy recreation amenities such as a water park or take in the view from a garden. Additional features at this vacation home include an arcade/game room and barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like internet access and onsite parking.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Car recommended
Onsite parking options include a garage
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Ice maker
Kitchen island
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
5 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
3.5 bathrooms
Bathtub
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Fireplace
Living room
Entertainment
Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
Video games
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Work spaces
Desk
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoking not allowed
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In a rural location
Near a hospital
Near an outlet shopping mall
On a river
Things to do
Arcade/game room
Billiards/pool table
Kayak
Water park
Birdwatching nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Hunting nearby
Ice skating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Theme park nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
Fire extinguisher
Deadbolt lock
General
Garden
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21
Check-out
Check-out before 9:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Rules
Check Out - Pick up and empty trash. Run Dishwasher. Strip Bedding. Do not remove any items from the house.
Pets
Pets not allowed
Note from host: We love pets, no pets on furniture
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Any event must be pre-approved
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Any event must be pre-approved
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 indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property
Property is also known as
Cottage of Castlewood Ballwin
Cottage of Castlewood Private vacation home
Cottage of Castlewood Private vacation home Ballwin
Cottage of Castlewood Reviews
Reviews
9.2
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 31 out of 42 reviews
10 - Excellent
31
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 42 reviews
8 - Good
8
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 42 reviews
6 - Okay
1
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 42 reviews
4 - Poor
1
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 42 reviews
2 - Terrible
1
8.8/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
theresa g.
Dec 17, 2025
theresa g.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
6/10 Okay
Greg B.
Dec 15, 2025
It was a big house.. very cold out side. Heat couldn't keep up with the temps. Other than that , it was all good !
Greg B.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
10/10 Excellent
Brittany M.
Nov 8, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Great house!
Brittany M.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
10/10 Excellent
maggie r.
Oct 26, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
We loved the spacious space. Loved that it was close to tourist amenities. We also loved the woods.
maggie r.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
10/10 Excellent
Ruth H.
Oct 5, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Our stay at Cottage of Castlewood was wonderful! The home is maintained and filled with conveniences that made us feel at home. The quiet wooded setting was conveniently located to the Castlewood State Park entrance.
Ruth H.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
8/10 Good
Shelli H., Tulsa
Jun 21, 2025
Great location with lots of space
Lovely home right next to Castlewood State Park with plenty of room for everyone to do their own thing. Gameroom on third floor is super fun. We’ve stayed here before and although we enjoyed our stay again this time, the place could use a good deep clean - baseboards, windows, porches, garage - and some insect control indoors.
Shelli H.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
8/10 Good
Kara C.
May 17, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
This was a very pleasant place to stay. It's great for large groups!
We really enjoyed our visit here! We would totally stay here again in the future.
Kara C.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
10/10 Excellent
Mark F.
Mar 13, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Work meeting
Perfect for our needs!
Mark F.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
10/10 Excellent
Ranee R.
Apr 2, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great Family Space
Our family of five, including three teenagers, stayed at this home while visiting family in St. Louis. This is a great property for teens; the game room offers a lot of fun options. It is also a great property for families, there are plenty of bathrooms and beds as well as room to dine together. The outside space is wonderful! The location is a bit of the drive to St. Louis but that also provides a quieter, peaceful environment to relax in after going downtown for all St. Louis has to offer.
Ranee R.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024
10/10 Excellent
Amber B., Fayetteville, AR
Oct 15, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Gorgeous
The home is both gorgeous and spacious, and the kids absolutely loved the game room. We also couldn't have asked for a better location. It feels secluded and surrounded by nature, but it was only a short drive to everywhere we needed to go, including some great restaurants.
Amber B.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
4/10 Poor
Nancy O.
Oct 9, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Mother - daughter weekend
Great location with foliage and hiking trails. Plenty of fridge space and kitchen supplies.
Some recommendations for improvement:
Blow dyers would be a nice just like any hotel and also an upgrade of shampoo and quantity of them.
it could use some cozy interior decor.
Nancy O.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
10/10 Excellent
Ann B.
Aug 24, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Cottage of Castlewood
Beautiful and roomy with lots of amenities. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Ann B.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Christine M.
Jun 29, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Girls’ weekend.
This is a great house for groups. The hiking trails are a huge added benefit.
Christine M.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
David S.
Jun 15, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Wildlife
Great place. Wildlife.
David S.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
10/10 Excellent
Jo M., Where do you live?
May 31, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Great location for families
Large house in lovely setting, ideal for our family of grandparents, parents and 4 year olds. The setting is wonderful and very convenient.
Jo M.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
10/10 Excellent
kurt d., holland, michigan USA
Apr 23, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Graduation Weekend
Gathered with family to celebrate graduation… great home for such a gathering. Beautiful wooded setting near a stream… very spacious home.
kurt d.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
8/10 Good
Carol H.
Apr 2, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful location
The house was nice and spacious. The couch wasn't the most comfortable and no way to put our feet up after a day of exploring. The recliners are old and don't function (can't put the footrest up) which was disappointing. We loved the location being near enough to the typical tourist spots but far enough from the hustle and bustle. Loved listening to the water sounds of the creek. It would have been nice to have a bigger garbage can in the master's bedroom or additional garbage bags. All in all, it was a great place to stay!
Carol H.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023
10/10 Excellent
Allison B.
Feb 19, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful stay in lovely location
Large, beautiful home with immediate access to hiking trails at Castlewood park. The owner was very kind and responsive. Comfortable beds and nice towels. The third floor gameroom was fantastic. The floors were fairly creaky but no significant noise burden. We enjoyed our stay and would love to return.
Allison B.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
10/10 Excellent
Josh R.
Jan 2, 2023
Disliked: Cleanliness
The place is huge, family of five and everyone had there own room.
Over good
Josh R.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
10/10 Excellent
Steve L.
Dec 5, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Meeting friends in Saint Louis
Great location for friends to get together. Hiking trails just outside your door. Good restaurants within a short drive.
Steve L.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
8/10 Good
Jill G.
Nov 28, 2022
Great Family Retreat
Our family celebrated Thanksgiving in this house. There was plenty of space and plenty of things to do between the games at the house and trails just outside the front door. The kitchen could have been better equipped for the size of the house but we made due with what we had. I agree with other posts about the height of some of the beds, be prepared to climb up! Night lights in the hallway would have been nice as well. It is really dark to find a bathroom in the middle of the night. We enjoyed our stay for sure!
Jill G.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
10/10 Excellent
Carol S., Little Rock, AR
Sep 5, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Great for our family
We loved staying at this house while we explored St. Louis. Plenty of space for our family to spread out.
The check out time is earlier than we would prefer, but other than that, we loved everything. Jim was very responsive when we needed help resetting the internet.
Carol S.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022
10/10 Excellent
Michael Z.
Sep 1, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Spacious house in great location
Large house with plenty of room for my family and parents-in-law. Excellent kitchen and appliances, great dining room for family dinners. The kids enjoyed the game room upstairs. We enjoyed the location close to the park for hiking and easy drive to St. Louis.
Michael Z.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
10/10 Excellent
Alicia K.
Aug 9, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Great House
Great house for more than one family to stay at. We had two families which included a total of 4 kids. Other reviews mentioned the tall beds. I underestimated how tall two of those beds were! They were almost as tall as my 6 year old! My kids thought it was fun how tall they were and steps were provided. I loved how dark the rooms were at night without all the street lights and surrounding houses to brighten it up. There was one night light available in the room with twin beds, but if your kids are afraid of the dark you may want to pack another night light for other rooms.
The house was very clean except for the floors. They weren’t visibly dirty nor did they feel bad. However, even with giving my kids baths in the evening, I had to rinse off their black feet after running around inside for another couple hours before bed.
The owners had plenty of entertainment options available. These included a pool table, arcade games, fuse ball table, and an assortment of board games. My kids also loved the creek in the backyard.
I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again. It was a great experience!
Alicia K.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
8/10 Good
Kelly P.
Jul 30, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Super Nice Building
This property is really cool! Great location. If I had a complaint it would be the house feels empty. Needs more furniture and decor. Still a great layover for my family on our way to Chicago. Oh, seeing deer everyday was outstanding!