Imagine taking a peaceful drive down Highway 50 toward Elmdale, Kansas. Within an hour and a half, you’re surrounded by open skies, rustling leaves, and golden fields stretching for miles. This tranquil part of West Chase County is a hidden gem where the pace of life slows down, and the beauty of nature takes center stage. It’s here, nestled among soybean fields and a quiet creek valley, that you’ll find one of Kansas’s most unique vacation homes: the Owl’s Nest Silo House.
This isn’t your average vacation rental. It’s a remarkable four-story home built from a former grain silo, transformed into a cozy, rustic escape that now welcomes guests looking for a quiet getaway. The man behind this creative transformation is Gerald Wiens. Originally, he set out to build a traditional log cabin near the silo as a side project—just something simple he could rent out a few weekends each month on Airbnb.
“We decided that we were going to build a log cabin and rent it out for weekends, hopefully like Airbnb. We thought just a couple weekends a month,” Gerald explained.
However, when the pandemic hit, demand for remote escapes soared, and the log cabin—named Paw Print Cabin—quickly became more popular than he ever expected. It was booked for over 180 nights in one year alone. Seeing this, Gerald turned his attention to the old silo standing nearby. It was still in great condition, and that got the wheels turning.
He began thinking: Could a silo become a home? With some serious brainstorming, a few hand-drawn sketches, small architectural models, and a lot of trial and error, Gerald took on the challenge. The biggest hurdle? The circular shape. Designing floor plans to work in a round structure is no easy feat, but Gerald was determined.
“That’s basically what happened. And then, you know, we just looked at many ideas. We had little models drawn. We had different floor plans,” he said in an interview with KSN.
After plenty of planning and hard work, the result was a four-story architectural gem that now stands 45 feet tall. From the moment you step inside, you know you’re in a one-of-a-kind space. The ground floor opens into a rounded living room that makes full use of the silo’s shape.
Here, two soft leather chairs sit side by side, inviting deep conversations or quiet moments with a book. The curved walls create a warm, intimate setting, unlike any traditional living room. A sleek flat-screen TV is mounted above a stunning stone-wrapped gas fireplace, making it an ideal spot for movie nights or just soaking in the cozy ambiance.
For added convenience, a half bathroom is neatly tucked beneath the spiral staircase. It’s a smart design choice that adds functionality without disrupting the silo’s aesthetic.
But the real adventure is climbing the staircase. A winding flight of 45 stairs leads you to the crown jewel of the silo home—the fourth-floor master bedroom. Getting there feels like ascending a tower, each step drawing you closer to a panoramic view and peaceful retreat.
If you’re looking to book a stay, the original log cabin is already available on Airbnb under the listing “Vacation Rentals Chase County.” And good news—the Owl’s Nest Silo House will soon be available as well.
Reflecting on the project, Gerald admits it was far from a quick or easy build, but it was a deeply fulfilling one. “To say it’s been a labor of love, I mean, we spent so much time here. If you had to pay me to do this, I’d hate to say how many hours it took because it’s not your typical construction,” he said.
This transformed silo is more than just a vacation rental—it’s a testament to creativity, craftsmanship, and the beauty of rural living. Whether you’re looking for a quiet retreat or simply want to experience staying inside a beautifully reimagined grain silo, the Owl’s Nest Silo House is a true Midwest treasure.
