Franklin County Historic Jail Stay

Have an unforgettable night in a historic county jail. Note: Doors are narrow and low, there are uneven floors and steps. The space The Franklin County Jail and Sheriff's house in Hampton, Iowa, is listed as a National Historic Landmark. It was built in 1880 in the Italianate architectural style. This was the most popular Victorian era style in the United States between 1860 and 1890. The building and cells were built by J. Pauly and Brothers. The design of the cell block is an excellent historical example of the first lever locking mechanism for closing multiple cells, an innovation that J. Pauly patented in 1874. The Jail was in use for 108 years. Criminals of every kind were incarcerated in the jail until it closed in 1988. Now you and your family can sleep in the jail without being arrested and locked in. Guest access You will have exclusive access to all of the entire 1,200 square foot jail portion of the building. This includes the intake area, and the main jail and cell block. There is a large walk in shower in the jail, as well as three toilets and two sinks. There are three cells. two of the cells have a pair of concrete slabs with jail mattresses on them. The third cell only has one bed. There is an additional slab with a mattress on the outside of the cell block. Guests are supplied with soap, shampoo, bedding, and towels. They are also allowed to use the laundry room for two loads of laundry maximum. This jail has NOT been converted into a nice and pretty hotel room as many have. Instead, it has been restored to look the way it was when it was operational as the county jail. It is stark and oppressive looking. But it is kept very clean and is air conditioned. This is not the place to go for a luxurious stay, it is a place to experience sleeping in a real jail without having to get arrested and locked into it. Wi-fi is available, but there is no television service at the jail. There is a T.V. that can be used to watch a DVD. I have a collection of family appropriate movies. There are also some board games. This is a chance for your family to have some time to have an adventure together that you will never forget. Other things to note The jail is also available for a realistic jail role playing adventure. The Jail is the only place in the world where selected guests can visit and find out firsthand what being in jail would have been like during the years that this facility was in operation. They can be the inmate in a jail role playing experience where they will step back into time...fifty or more years ago. They are arrested, handcuffed, booked, get their mug shot taken, fingerprinted, issued a jail uniform, and locked in a cell. This is not offered as part of your stay, nor is it offered to the general public. If you are interested in this, please contact me for further details. Guests must meet my application requirements.