Milkweed Mercantile Eco Inn
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Free parking
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Non-smoking hotel
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3 Dancing Rabbit Ln, Rutledge, MO 63563-9757
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Kirksville Municipal Airport
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Cedar Rapids Airport
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Where else could you stay in a strawbale bed & breakfast? I'm not sure, but you'll want to do it here at the Milkweed Mercantile at Dancing Rabbit!
Incredibly comfortable rooms (the bed was great, the sheets were to die for - it was like sleeping on a cloud made of silk!). The food, the mercantile, the drinks, the pizza!
Such an incredible place, cant recommend highly enough. P.S. the composting toilets were cool.
Incredibly comfortable rooms (the bed was great, the sheets were to die for - it was like sleeping on a cloud made of silk!). The food, the mercantile, the drinks, the pizza!
Such an incredible place, cant recommend highly enough. P.S. the composting toilets were cool.
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Date of stay: May 2020
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Room Tip:Â All the rooms seemed great, but if its available, I recommend the one room downstairs - it has...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Certainly, a bit of bed and breakfast quaintness in the rolling hills of Missouri. Pleasant staff and community members make you feel a part of the family. Perfect motel/hotel alternative with a great beer selection.
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Travelled with friends
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I recently spent a couple of delightful nights and days at the Milkweed Mercantile eco-inn in windy northeast Missouri. We took the back roads up from St. Louis, Hwy 79 past Clarksville & Louisiana through Hannibal (Hwy 61) admiring all of the green rolling hills and beautiful views of the mighty Mississippi along the way.
Milkweed Mercantile is the lovely B&B which is a part of the Dancing Rabbit Eco-village. Alline & Kurt, along with community members & guests, are gracious and welcoming. The food was DELICIOUS! Hearty breakfasts and great happy hour beer selection to enjoy on the screened-in porch. Highly recommend dinners here too - vegetarian focus with warm chocolate pecan pie for dessert. Wonderful spot to relax and refresh! Cindy G
Milkweed Mercantile is the lovely B&B which is a part of the Dancing Rabbit Eco-village. Alline & Kurt, along with community members & guests, are gracious and welcoming. The food was DELICIOUS! Hearty breakfasts and great happy hour beer selection to enjoy on the screened-in porch. Highly recommend dinners here too - vegetarian focus with warm chocolate pecan pie for dessert. Wonderful spot to relax and refresh! Cindy G
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Date of stay: May 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Room Tip:Â We enjoyed the warm & inviting space of the second floor common space outside the Aldo...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you're at all thinking "Ecovillage?! Compost toilets?!" or that sustainability and a sense of luxury somehow can't go together - then (I'm sorry to say this, but...) you're wrong. The Milkweed Mercantile, located in the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage amid the lush green rolling hills of rural Missouri, is a feast for the eyes and a balm for the body and soul. Imagine the graceful lines of adobe structures and the welcoming feel of a farmhouse - the Mercantile would be the baby of these two architectural styles. The beds are that perfect combination of firm and cloud-like. There are two toilets (that function beautifully and don't smell at all), two showers and a bathtub. The whole place is clean and inviting. And there is a sense of serenity and peace. And the food! Plan your trip to arrive for dinner on Thursday, because you do not want to miss weekly pizza night (you need to order ahead and let them know what toppings you'd like). All of the meals were delicious and wholesome, locally sourced with unique twists. There was always plenty of food and we never left the table feeling bloated and uncomfortable. I brought my 5 year old daughter, who is your typical picky eater and she very much enjoyed the majority of the food - and the chef even made child-sized scones, biscuits and muffins specifically for her. Before arriving I was asked if we had any dietary restrictions and what my daughter liked to eat - and they listened and provided some of her absolute favorites. The staff was warm and welcoming, and abundantly accommodating. I cannot say enough about how lovely our experience at the Milkweed Mercantile was! Perhaps a downside for some would be the very rural location. However, when you think about the "amenities" offered (a pond for swimming in, woods and rolling hills for hiking in, quiet for just relaxing - thinking - and being in, and a warm and welcoming community that is happy to stop and talk - there is plenty to do that eases the soul and restores the body.
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Date of stay: June 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
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Room Tip:Â All the rooms are gorgeous! The "pool" is a pond. And it is a safe and fun...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have stayed in B&Bs all over the world and until my wife and I stayed at the Milkweed Mercantile located on the ecovillage Dancing Rabbit in Missouri the Drummond House in Edinburgh Scotland WAS my most beloved BUT the Milkweed Mercantile is now the current champion. Let me begin by saying the current hosts Alline and Kurt are AMAZING!!! We stayed in the Aldo Leopold room, which I highly recommend you stay in, the bed is so comfortable and the bedding was high quality. The room has a south facing window, which looks towards the front of the ecovillage. The towel linen is amazingly soft, clean and absorbent and they are not cleaned with harsh chemicals and dried on a line giving them a fresh outside smell. No need for plastic cups and drinking from a chlorinated faucet, you get to drink fresh filtered rain water (health inspector tested J) from a wonderful repurposed wine bottle and glass. This is also the first place where we never locked the room door but actually left it open with wallets and money lying about (not that this is recommended but it’s just that amazing of a place). The composting toilet (yes that is what you will use) did not smell whatsoever, even after use the room retained no smell (that’s a first); you will want one in your own home. The shower has HOT water and plenty of it and they offered numerous body and hair cleaning products but I used a bar of soap on site and it felt great on the skin and the fragrance was refreshing (bought a bar to take back home :). NOW the food… if you never had a mother or a grandmother cook great tasting food from scratch for you then expect to be amazed. The chocolate chip cookies were a delight (I do not eat sweets and I ate three in one sitting); and if you are lucky Alline will make a chicken pot pie, which my wife ate four helpings (she rarely finishes what is on her plate – first helping). The Milkweed has a nice small bar but if weather is nice sit outside and enjoy your wonderful beverages. If you are inclined buy a few locals some beers and you will learn some great history about Dancing Rabbit… if you go on one of the tours we recommend Bob as your tour guide (be kind and tip). When staying not to take pictures of the residents, remember you are visiting their home but they are always up for great conversation. I have never given a 5-star rating to anyone but the Milkweed Mercantile and its hosts have earned it… and an extra star for providing me the entertainment of watching my wife eat four helpings of chicken pot pie :) and if you have cats be sure to purchase one of the cattail cat toys... our babies loved it!!!!
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Date of stay: April 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Room Tip:Â Stay in the Aldo Leopold Room
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is our fourth time to the Milkweek Merchantile Eco Inn and once again we were treated like royalty. Mandy the Inn Keeper and her staff Noni, Dee, and Kathryn were just great. They worked so hard to make our visit perfect. We are so pleased that there is a place like the Merchantile, where we can feel at home while visiting our son in Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. They are always so accomodating with my husband's gluten free diet and go out of their way to make things exceptional for everyone. It would be a great experience for anyone.
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Date of stay: May 2012Trip type: Travelled with family
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Room Tip:Â There are 3 rooms on the second floor and one wheelchair access room on the first floor. All...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Inn is wonderfully appointed in every way. It's obvious that considerable thought was given to all aspects of the design and to the way they do business. The layout of the rooms and shared space allows for privacy even as it invites you to get out of your beautiful, spacious room. The shared bathroom layout is the best I've encountered. I felt welcome and cared for every minute of my stay. I can only echo other reviewers' appreciation for the people and the community.
Having the opportunity to tour Dancing Rabbit and meet some of its citizens was a big part of the appeal of Milkweed for me. Yet this space should have a broad appeal to anyone (individual, couples, or families) that wants to get away and be truly cared for. I can't wait to return!
Having the opportunity to tour Dancing Rabbit and meet some of its citizens was a big part of the appeal of Milkweed for me. Yet this space should have a broad appeal to anyone (individual, couples, or families) that wants to get away and be truly cared for. I can't wait to return!
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Date of stay: June 2016Trip type: Travelled solo
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have been planning a trip to the huge and regionally famous Rutledge flea market for years but never took the trip. We like to get away for weekends and stay at B&Bs, so we searched online for one near Rutledge. The Milkweed Mercantile came up. We read about the village, community and inn and decided this sounded like a great experience.
We were not let down. Our room at the inn was just as expected and as in the pictures we had seen. No other rooms had been let, so the common areas were all ours. The composting toilet was nothing to be worried about and turned out to be the most intriguing thing about our stay.
There was a wide variety of books available in the common area which we spent hours perusing.
As a photographer, I was provided plenty of subject material. The most fascinating was the night sky. The stars were in such abundance that unless you are from a rural area, you have probably never seen such a site. The Milky Way was visible with the naked eye.
After breakfast we enjoyed shopping at the Mercantile.
We plan to return. But next time I'll be better prepared for for astrophotography with a tripod and the proper lens.
We were not let down. Our room at the inn was just as expected and as in the pictures we had seen. No other rooms had been let, so the common areas were all ours. The composting toilet was nothing to be worried about and turned out to be the most intriguing thing about our stay.
There was a wide variety of books available in the common area which we spent hours perusing.
As a photographer, I was provided plenty of subject material. The most fascinating was the night sky. The stars were in such abundance that unless you are from a rural area, you have probably never seen such a site. The Milky Way was visible with the naked eye.
After breakfast we enjoyed shopping at the Mercantile.
We plan to return. But next time I'll be better prepared for for astrophotography with a tripod and the proper lens.
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Date of stay: October 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I had been researching the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage and the inn there, the Milkweed Mercantile, for a while so I knew what to expect and was really looking forward to our visit. I knew the inn was constructed from straw bales and the rooms were private but featured a shared bathroom and shower so I wasn't surprised and it was no problem at all. We stayed on a Thursday evening so that we could enjoy pizza night and it was great - the pizza was delicious and one was filling enough for the both of us. We sat outside as the weather was beautiful and were lucky to meet some of the staff at the inn as well as other people working and living at the Ecovillage. All were friendly, interesting, and patient with our questions. We slept in the Aldo Leopold Land Steward Room. It was big and comfortable and cleaner than anyplace I've stayed recently! It was simple with some nice little touches, such as water bottles made from wine bottles with neat cups made from the bottom of another wine bottle, as well as a box of tissues at each bedside table. The king bed was comfortable and we slept great! Showering in rain water in the small but clean shower the next morning was a treat, as was enjoying coffee and breakfast with Kurt and Alline downstairs. The breakfast was simple and satisfying but the conversation with Kurt, Alline, and another guest was the best part! We then enjoyed a quick walk around the village after making sure where it was okay to go without violating the residents' privacy. We saw a lot of cool houses and look forward to visiting at a time that we can take a guided tour the next time. All in all, absolutely a fantastic visit. Worth the drive and the best 10 year anniversary trip we could have devised. We will be back!
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Date of stay: May 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A visit to Milkweed Mercantile at Dancing Rabbit was on our list for over a year and we were so foolish to have waited! It should have taken precedence over other trips because it was like going home to a feeling of security and peace we spend much of life seeking. We are in our early 60's, facing the questions of where do we plan to be for our next chapter, what will we want life to look like when we have more time and freedom? The community at Dancing Rabbit has given us some wonderful ideas to ponder, and the welcoming embrace of staying at the Mercantile with Alline, Kurt and their staff providing for our every need was more than we could have ever anticipated. Accommodations are excellent. The food was perfect - fresh, local, expertly prepared and served with care. Dining at the community table provided for wonderful conversation and great fun. Their own version of the birthday song was touching, as was the cake! If you want to have a break from the usual and experience life in a village where the good of all raises the spirits of each, you'll want to plan a stay at the Milkweed Mercantile. Be sure to arrange to take a tour of Dancing Rabbit village, spend some time with Rabbits around a fire in the evening, and enjoy some quiet time on the swing. Watch free-range children at play and remember the best moments of your own childhood. Peaceful joy is the style of living here and you'll be made to feel welcomed and cared for during your stay.
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Date of stay: May 2015Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Cleanliness
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Room Tip:Â There is no good or bad, here it is all excellent and the most quiet place you can ever imagine.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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"All the rooms seemed great, but if its available, I recommend the one room downstairs - it has direct access to the front porch!"Read full review
"The staff will help you pick the room that best meets your needs. There is a room on the first floor that is ADA accessible."Read full review
LOCATION
United StatesMissouriRutledge
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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Frequently Asked Questions about Milkweed Mercantile Eco Inn
What are some of the property amenities at Milkweed Mercantile Eco Inn?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at Milkweed Mercantile Eco Inn?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Milkweed Mercantile Eco Inn?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Is Milkweed Mercantile Eco Inn located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.3 km away from the centre of Rutledge.
Are pets allowed at Milkweed Mercantile Eco Inn?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.