2010 - Volume #BFS, Issue #10, Page #68
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Grain Bin House Attracts Paying Customers
Most people can't believe their eyes when they get inside this grain bin home built from a 1940's 20-ft. dia. bin. The large, covered front porch and beautiful landscaping has made it a popular bed and breakfast destination for owners Ed and Billie Miles.
  They call their business the "Gruene Homestead Inn" and it consists of a collection of historic houses dating from the early 1850's to the early 1900's. The buildings were moved onto their eight acres near New Braunfels, Texas.
  The family currently offers 23 guest units in 11 buildings, each with its own outside entrance, private bath, cable TV, coffee service, and A/C controls. The property also offers a swimming pool with spa and a tavern featuring live music and a full bar.
  The Miles' purchased, moved and remodeled the 600 sq. ft. grain bin home in 2007. The previous owners, who had also been renting it out for a number of years, purchased the bin from a nearby German farmer who had used it as storage from the early 1940's until the 1990's.
  æMy parents spent a lot of money and indulged a lot of their ideas to make the bin house what it is today," says their son, Ed, who is the operation's general manager. "Including the foundation, the move, the renovation and the furniture, the cost was about $45,000. We did as much of the work as we could as a family and we're lucky that we all have different talents that compliment each other, such as construction, interior decorating, and hotel and tavern management. The project was more a labor of love than a strict business venture."
  Rental of "The Silo," is $210 per night on in-season weekends, and $175 the rest of the time. It has a queen-sized bed, full sofa-bed, stand up shower, two sinks, wet bar, microwave, refrigerator, and a private porch.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gruene Homestead Inn, Ed and Billie Miles, 832 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, Texas 78130 (ph 800 238-5534 or 830 606-0216; fax 830 625-6390; staff@gruenehomesteadinn.com; www.gruenehomesteadinn.com).


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2010 - Volume #BFS, Issue #10