The Happy Apple Bicycle Bunkhouse is officially open for its second year of operation. Located at 201 S. Three Street in Marthasville, the bunkhouse is a short-term vacation rental available May through August.

The house, built in 1890, was purchased by Joette Reidy in 1995. Reidy is the owner of Happy Apples, a second-generation family-owned apple orchard and caramel apple company. In previous years, only migrant workers who are hired during the company’s fall harvest were housed here, but Reidy said as area tourist attractions grow along the Katy Trail, more overnight accommodations are needed in the area.

Reidy said renovations on the four-bedroom house were complete in 2021. Walls were torn down, closets were removed and layers of flooring were removed. Accent walls are now covered with salvaged wood from a demolished shed and old license plates ring the ceiling in the family room. A huge map is hung in the entry where visitors can leave a post-it note on their home state.

“In 2016, I did a 500-mile hike across Spain and stayed in bunkhouses,” said Reidy. “We’ve had this house for 30 years and I thought it could be a perfect place for people traveling the Katy Trail or visiting the area.”

The bunkhouse will sleep 23 and can be rented out by the room or can include the entire house for a large group. The common area includes two bathrooms, two kitchens, laundry facilities, a family room and an outdoor grilling and gathering area. The kitchen includes concrete countertops and open shelving.

Most of the furnishings come from area second-hand shops and yard sales. The bathroom facilities include tin doors covered with stickers Reidy has collected on her travels. Antique quilts are spread over many of the bunkbeds. All linens are provided. Reidy has also stocked extra supplies that people might forget such as toothbrushes, shampoo and soap.

Reidy said the bunkhouse is just a block off the Katy Trail and is friendly to bikers in a variety of ways. They can bring their bikes inside for security, hose them off at the car wash across the street and rest comfortably before tackling the rest of their ride. Reidy said the bunkhouse is also pet friendly.

“It’s affordable, safe and comfortable,” said Reidy. “I love the communal aspect of it — meals together, fires outside and meeting people from all over the world that have a common interest.”

Reidy said the bunkhouse has already attracted church groups, men’s groups and families on retreat. People showing dogs at Purina Farms have also discovered her pet friendly bunkhouse.
“I love the people that I meet here,” said Reidy. “It’s a totally different concept to have communal living with shared spaces than a traditional short-term vacation rental.”

Reidy said she thinks the bunkhouse just adds to what is already happening in Marthasville. She said Tyann Marcink, who owns the Bank Haus and the Katy Haus, just walking distance from the bunkhouse, encouraged Reidy to add the vacation rental. Reidy said it’s good for Philly’s Pizza and the KT Caboose, also within walking distance.

To rent by room, the fee is $55 for the first person, $25 for each additional person in the same room, and a $25 cleaning fee. The fee to rent the entire house is $400, plus a $100 cleaning fee.

For more information about booking the bunkhouse, visit its Facebook page at Happy Apples Bicycle Bunkhouse, call 314-323-1151 or email Joette@happyapples.com.