Former airplane hangar, grain silo offers country-chic Airbnb stay in Butler County
A former grain silo and airplane hangar are two combined apartment-style lodging options offering upscale accommodations at a Butler County farm on more than 200 acres.
Co-owners Jan and Cathy McDonald bought their farm in 1999 and later opened a wedding/event barn-themed venue called the White Barn, separate from the Airbnb.
The former silo was purchased and moved to the farm in Prospect, while the old airport hangar was already there.
“We were just young when we bought the place and there were so many options. It (hangar) literally had purple countertops and a tiny kitchen,” Cathy McDonald said, adding the couple hunkered down, living in the hangar while they remodeled and built up their business.
Guests can book both dwellings together or separately, with rental rates ranging from $450 to $750 per night, for up to 10 guests.
The McDonalds said bridal couples and members of wedding parties at White Barn comprise a large majority of bookings, but anyone over the age of 18 may book a stay.
The renovated spaces feature custom cedar woodwork, a spiral staircase, a pool room, a coffee station, movie theater, outdoor patio, a granite bar sourced from a Pittsburgh-area church, a reclaimed-metal ceiling, a fireplace, recycled roofing, an Amish farmhouse sink and a fire pit.
The former farm owner was an aviation inspector for a major airline and that’s what led to the still-active private grass landing strip on the property.
Three years into operating the Airbnb, the couple noticed folks love to play farmer and find the unusual lodging options fun and memorable.
“We thought people would only want to rent the grain bin,” Cathy McDonald said. “But they love to rent them both together. It’s an experience you won’t forget.”
The couple gained inspiration for converting the spaces into an upscale Airbnb from a former contractor and Cathy’s creative input.
“I’m always thinking creatively and wanted to do something cool with it,” she said.
A memorable booking for the McDonalds included a group of “Swifties.”
“We had people fly in from Washington, D.C., to attend the Taylor Swift Eras concert in Pittsburgh,” Cathy McDonald said.
In all, there are four bedrooms and five beds and 3 full bathrooms and a half-bath.
Transforming the space into an Airbnb has proved costly, but the couple is optimistic that the long-term rental value for the unique space will pay off.
“It’s so unique and it’s kind of a triple-cost build because nothing is built in a square — everything has to be hand-cut — everything is curved and it was all custom,” Cathy McDonald said.
The project cost more than $400,000 in remodeling and building fees.
Jan McDonald is a woodworker and loves the cedar slab spiral stairs.
“I appreciate the handmade craftsmanship,” he said.
Recycled items inside include an old trough from an Amish farm, an 1800s “berry” table and a cow-themed bathroom with an Amish farm sink.
“The barn is rustic elegance, so when we added the grain bin as lodging, it just went well together,” Cathy McDonald said.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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