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Motel

Shady Grove Cabins

Stay at Shady Grove Cabins Motel in Downs, KS with 4.7 rating. Enjoy air-conditioned, pet- and kid-friendly rooms near popular spots like World's Largest Ball of Twine.

1319 Kansas St, Downs, KS 67437, United States View on map
9.4/10
Exceptional Based on 51 recent guest reviews
Air-conditioned Pet-friendly Kid-friendly
What recent guests emphasize

Charming cabins with welcoming hosts and a relaxing atmosphere

Visitors highlight the clean, spacious, and uniquely themed cabins, as well as the outstanding hospitality. The location suits outdoor enthusiasts and groups, with easy access to local attractions and recreational activities.

Guests often praise

  • Friendly, attentive hosts who go out of their way to assist guests.
  • Clean, comfortable cabins with charming decor and functional amenities.
  • Spacious accommodations with full-sized bunk beds, ideal for families and groups.
  • Pet-friendly, family-friendly environment with ample outdoor space for dogs and children.
  • Convenient in-room features like air conditioning, heat control, and mini-fridges.

Worth knowing

  • Cabins offer a rustic, vintage camp feel rather than a traditional hotel experience.
  • Check-in is contact-free, with information communicated via cell phone before arrival.
  • Some cabins feature unique layouts and quirks, such as extendable tables.
  • The town nearby is small with limited dining and shopping options.
  • Guests seeking standard hotel rooms or luxury accommodations should adjust expectations accordingly.

Best for

  • Visitors looking for a cozy, home-like cabin experience with character.
  • Families, groups, and pet owners wanting space and outdoor areas.
  • Outdoor enthusiasts exploring nearby lakes, parks, and unique local attractions.
  • Guests seeking a welcoming, hospitable atmosphere and personal touches.
  • Travelers wanting a relaxed, affordable stopover in a quiet, small-town setting.
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About this property

Welcome to Shady Grove Cabins

Shady Grove Cabins offers a unique lodging experience combining elements of a motel, campground, cottage rental, and log cabins. Located at 1319 Kansas St in Downs, Kansas, this property features individual cabins with their own character, providing a rustic yet comfortable setting. Guests have praised the cleanliness and spaciousness of the cabins, with amenities including air conditioning, pet-friendly and kid-friendly accommodations, as well as in-room climate control and mini-fridges.

The property appeals to visitors interested in outdoor recreation and sightseeing, serving as a practical base for exploring nearby attractions such as the World's Largest Ball of Twine, Glen Elder State Park, and Waconda Lake. Guests often highlight the welcoming, hands-on hospitality of the hosts and the relaxing communal spaces, including adjacent open fields ideal for pets and outdoor events.

With an overall guest rating of 4.7 from 51 reviews, Shady Grove Cabins is well-regarded for its homey atmosphere and helpful staff. Many reviews mention the cabins' vintage charm and the suitability of the accommodations for families, groups, and pet owners. The location offers convenient access by car, roughly an hour and a half from Hays Regional Airport.

This property is best suited for travelers seeking a casual, no-frills stay with a countryside feel rather than a standard hotel experience. It provides a cozy retreat that appeals to those prioritizing a quiet setting near outdoor activities, making it a fitting choice for groups, families, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Summary compiled by GoHotelly editors from verified guest reviews, partner descriptions and editorial notes.
Facilities & essentials

What's on-site and what you should know before you arrive

The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.

Most popular facilities

Air-conditioned
Pet-friendly
Kid-friendly
Verified guest reviews

What recent guests are actually saying

Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.

DW
Diana Watson Apr 19, 2026
10

Awesome! We are in one of nine cabins. Each has its own personality. Men won't care, women and kids will go wild. With a large field adjacent to the cabins, it's a perfect place for everyone and their dogs to run off steam run. Great space for outdoor events. It's an affordable option for groups. Can't imagine a better place to be!! Thanks, Mary and Kip, for hosting our family weekend.

JV
Jessica Vogel Apr 01, 2026
10

Really enjoyed my two night stay at Shany Grove! The room was plenty spacious for three people--I love that the bunk beds are full sized. Decor was fun and themed. The cabin was very clean and in good shape. It was nice to have in-room heat/cool control. The mini-fridge was great to have as well. The owner was friendly, welcoming and gave great tips on sights in the area. I would definitely stay here again!

AC
Amber Clark Mar 29, 2026
10

An absolutely wonderful place to stay! A home away from home! We had our son's birthday here and it was great! The owners are fantastic people and go out of their way for you! Very relaxing...clean cabins! Great location from the lake. We will definitely be returning!

CG
Cade Grigsby Mar 12, 2026
10

I had an amazing experience at Shady Grove. First of all the cabins are comfortable, welcoming, and clean. The couple who runs the cabins are also extremely friendly and will do anything to make your stay better. In fact, my car got stuck in the mud outside of town and the owner drove 30 minutes to come and help me out. We had a big group of people, dogs included and they went out of their way to make us feel welcome throughout the trip. Highly recommended staying here, and I will be returning.

BW
Brenda wiard Feb 12, 2026
10

We LOVED our stay at Shady Grove. Due to COVID we wanted to stay in our own cabin and this place was perfect, plus check in was completely contact-free (check your cell phone for messages before arrival). The cabin (Bear) was definitely rustic and quirky, but completely comfortable and well appointed. This was one of the larger cabins and was perfect for two people and a dog ... nice refuge from a big rainstorm. It is absolutely not a standard hotel room - do not expect that! It is much more like staying in a vintage camp cabin. Note to next guests : You can move the table out from the wall and extend the leaves (underneath the ends) to make it easier to use.

RW
Rob Wittmer Feb 08, 2026
10

This was a fantastic place to stay. Our family of 4 was on our way to Colorado and chose to stay here for the night on our way. The cabin had 2 sets of bunk beds and provided plenty of space for our family. The town is pretty small, but had 2 good restaurants and grocery store. The cabins were very clean and roomy. I would not hesitate to stay here again on my next trip.

AS
Alejandro Salazar Feb 04, 2026
10

I can't say enough good things about Mary and Kip and the lodging at Shady Grove. These are some seriously cute and cozy cabins that have recently been refurbished and the hospitality is first class. Great location as a jumping off point for outdoor enthusiasts. My bride and I went kayaking and Kip even gave us great info as to where to access the Solomon river. We loved that it was located near Glen Elder Reservoir, The Geographic Center of the US, The World's Largest Ball of Twine, Nicodemus, The Garden of Eden on and on. Terrific people, terrific cabins, terrific location. Without a doubt we will be back.

DD
Dixie Divis Jan 10, 2026
10

We stayed in cabin #1 over Memorial Day weekend. The cabin was exceptionally clean (seriously, the cleanest place I’ve ever stayed!!) and the bed was very comfortable. We loved being able to sit outside on the porch and enjoy the weather. The highlight of our stay was spending the evening visiting with our host, Mary. The location is great for proximity to Glen Elder and it was nice to be able to come back to an air conditioned cabin. Highly recommend staying here if you’re in the area. We will definitely stay here again.

Location & neighborhood

Where you'll find Shady Grove Cabins

Downs, Kansas, USA

Based on sightseeing, recreation, and getting around

  • Hays Regional Airport 1 hr 29 Car
Things to do nearby

Worth the walk or a quick ride

Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in Kansas. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.

World's Largest Ball of Twine 1,298 reviews

World's Largest Ball of Twine

719 Wisconsin St, Cawker City, KS 67430, United States

4.6 · Tourist Attraction
Glen Elder State Park 559 reviews

Glen Elder State Park

2131 180 Rd, Glen Elder, KS 67446, United States

4.5 · State Park
Waconda Lake 57 reviews

Waconda Lake

Kansas, USA

4.6 · Lake
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