Shack Up Inn is a place of lodging that can be found on the edge of Clarksdale, Mississippi, which is a town located next to the Mississippi River. Among the various types of living spaces that guests can rent are hotel-like rooms in a cotton gin, single room freestanding houses, and a farm that was converted into a place for visitors to stay. There are a variety of old trucks that date back to the 50s and older scattered across the property. Juke Joint's Chapel, a full bar and music venue, will often have live music playing during the weekends, provided by both locals and visitors. The property requires that all patrons who make reservations at Shack Up Inn be at least 25 years old.
Shack Up Inn is built on a total of eight acres with a variety of buildings and living arrangements for guests to spend time in. There are 54 units that patrons can choose from when reserving their stay. The Cotton Gin Inn is one building that is two stories tall and has 12 rooms available. There are over 40 independent freestanding houses that are similar to the hotel rooms in that they have a bed, private bathroom, and kitchenette. While they are able to accommodate people that are staying for more than a few days, they cater more towards guests that are staying on the property overnight. There is plenty of space to park on the property, even if the parking lot is full. Gravel pads and grassy areas can be used if there are no spaces available on the pavement.
Among all of the housing that is scattered across the property, there are also various old cars and trucks. These vehicles can be traced as far back as the 40s and 50s. There is even a car with so few markings that many people do not know what brand or model it is. The owner discovered that it is so old, it only has a maximum of ten horsepower. Also located within the business's boundaries is a fire pit in the yard and a gazebo that has a 1949 Chevrolet pickup truck next to it. A screened-in porch can be found on the rear side of the main building, which is available to guests. Two large conference rooms can be reserved for use by visitors as well.
Juke Joint's Chapel is the name of the bar and music venue that can be found in the old cotton gin, complete with an elevated stage. Local musicians may come to the bar and play on stage during the weekend, usually Fridays and Saturdays, which is available to all patrons if they would like. There is often an early show that guests can attend either from 5:00-7:00 or 6:00-8:00 in the evening, depending on the day. This allows guests to spend time on the property for happy hour and then gives them a chance to go out into the town for the rest of the evening to get food or sightsee. The owner highly recommends that visitors spend time in the downtown area.
Outside of the grounds, guests can come across Cotton Picking Blues, which is the name of the closest trail to the property. The Mississippi River flows northwest of the property and town. One company nearby can do tours around some of the land and along the river. Downtown also has a wide variety of establishments and restaurants that guests can explore. One restaurant that the owner recommends to his patrons is called Rest Haven, which is a mom-and-pop Italian eatery. Another name he likes to tell people about is Levon's Bar & Grill.
Shack Up Inn is decorated in such a way as to resonate with the local, southern feel that Mississippi is known for. The owner mentions that this is one aspect of the property that attracts many people to the area, including those from other countries overseas. The goal for the business is to be a place where people can have fun and relax. Since they are much further from the hustle and bustle of the city, they typically will not hear sirens, heavy traffic, garbage trucks, and other loud or disruptive noises in the morning, giving them a chance to get better rest.
While the property often has its own events, including the weekend events at Juke Joint's Chapel for live music, they also hold other events on the premise that are brought in from patrons and other businesses. In the past, Shack Up Inn has also held family reunions, wedding venues, and other events at their compound. Corporate events and group activities like family get-togethers or friend groups are much more common. According to the owner, the company that is known as Red Bull once rented out the entire compound for several days.
One type of event that is held throughout the year are camps that have specific themes or highlight a particular musical instrument. Some of the various camps that guests can attend include guitar camps, singer-songwriting camps, goat fest, which is in June, harmonica camps, and more. The events that are instrument-oriented can teach guests how to play harmonicas, guitars, and others. One thing that the owner notices regarding the culture of his property are that when people come to the camps to learn and to play instruments, they may start out a little timid, but by the end of the camp they usually earn confidence in themselves and have the courage to play what they have learned on stage for others.
The typical demographic of people that visit Shack Up Inn are usually older folk and those looking for lodging that is away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The owner also mentions that upwards of 60% of the people that make reservations at the establishment come from places in Europe. They have also received visitors from Canada and Australia. The best season of operation tends to be April through May and September through October. December and January tend to be slower, but that is also the duck hunting season, so they often see many duck hunters.
The property has a number of policies that potential patrons need to be aware of. The biggest one is that they have a 25 year minimum age restriction due to the fact that they have bars on the property. Shack Up Inn has a ban on fraternities, sororities, and college students due to the adult nature of the business. There are a number of pet-friendly units that guests can choose from as well. There is a 15 dollar fee for bringing an animal overnight to the establishment.
Many people that stay at the property tend to mention the southern style and venues that are on the grounds. One person who spent time at Shack Up Inn writes, "Plenty of down-home touches and details, like a guitar loan to take to your room and play, big barn for parties and concerts, and good info about the surrounding area."
Shack Up Inn first opened its doors to the public in 1998, over 20 years ago. Construction on the house finished in 1995. While the building and business are relatively newer, the land that the buildings are constructed on is significantly older. The property was established in 1852. Initially, it started out as a farm and has maintained that atmosphere ever since. While the property is no longer really used for growing crops, the land surrounding it is still commonly used for farming.
Over time, the land got split amongst a number of different families and, eventually, was abandoned altogether. When the current owner purchased the property, he brought it all back together.
The owner prides himself on recycling and repurposing things on his edifice. It is one thing that makes the property unique. Many of the buildings have interesting aspects about them that come from some of these repurposed materials. The ceiling of Bill's House, which used to be the lobby when Shack Up Inn was first established, is made entirely of doors. Some of the flooring used in creating these shacks is actually material used from the walls of another building. According to the owner, "The word that best describes it is dilapidation. Many things look worn out, but they are not."
001 Commissary Circle Road
Clarksdale, Mississippi 38614
United States
Campground
