When Barbara and Brian Jager opened their cabin as Airbnb in May 2016, they thought long and hard about what they were going to name. It’s a quiet neighborhood, a secluded piece of land between Bloomington and Nashville where people can reconnect spiritually and with each other. Years after initially wanting to buy the property, the couple’s prayers were answered when they were finally able to purchase it.
Upon reflection, they found “Cabin of Simple Blessings.” Barb and Brian feel like they’ve been blessed with the cabin, so their goal is to make visitors feel the same and “wow” them with a great experience. They also didn’t want to oversell what is a simple place.
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It was recently announced that Barb and Brian are the most hospitable hosts in Indiana, based on reviews from vacation rental marketplace website Airbnb, where after nearly 300 reviews, they haven’t received less than five stars in the hospitality or security categories.
“We just tried to deliver a good product that people will enjoy, keep it as clean as possible, and not disappoint them in any way,” Brian said.
The cabin has two bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms on 16 wooded acres. Its finishes include a hammered copper sink, a large comfortable “cow” chair, log beds, and chandeliers with dimmers.
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Brian said that while the couple do their best to provide people with a great experience, the distinction was “shocking” because between their day jobs and raising four children, they don’t have time to check on their grades.
The experience of their guests is something Barb and Brian focused on when they rebuilt and decorated the cabin. It took them over six months to fix it, and the decorations and details inside were from their own vacation.
“I guess the goal was to make it kind of an experience, because you’re worried about people spending their hard-earned money and limited time going places, so we wanted to make it a place they would enjoy really,” Brian said.
They said the Quiet Zone and Simple Cabin cater to adults looking to get away and reconnect, and the site offers a spiritual component with places to pray along nearby trails. Barb will also be leaving fresh bread and flowers from the garden for their guests.
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“We wanted it to be totally different from your own home,” Barb said. “You know, I don’t want to stay in my own house on vacation, I want it to be special.”
Barb and Brian said they get a lot of IU alumni who come for many reasons: to see their kids at IU over Parents’ Weekend, to shop in Bloomington or even to attend a football match. The couple said returning people are important to them and they estimate that nearly 80% of their guests return after their first stay.
The couple said buying the cabin and fixing it up was a blessing in itself, but so was what he gave them as a result. “It’s really been a blessing for us – it’s helped us send our kids to college,” Barb said.
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