You're going to love it here but you are going to cry a lot. at least I did. You don’t realize the burdens that you carry in daily life until someone physically takes those burdens off your shoulders.

Just something as simple as not having to plan or prepare a meal was so relaxing. And having someone care for you and think of your needs and wants first? Heaven.

What they don’t mention is that grandma’s house is literal therapy. It heals your soul.

Kris M.

The thought of coming to Rockford Illinois made me hesitate. All I know about Rockford is it’s a good place to get shot. I’m glad to say that is a stereotype about Rockford.
The only sounds I heard were the sound of birds singing, and wind blowing through the leaves of the trees.
I had forgotten what peaceful felt like. I slept like a baby every single night.

I drove all around Rockford on the way here and the way home. At no point did I feel unsafe. It is a wonderful safe home in a wonderful old neighborhood.

Casey J.

This place filled with love is a national treasure!
I have never been to a place where I genuinely believed I was living in a different decade. everything you can think of from your childhood is here, and without giving any surprises away, everything works!
Grandma’s grandchildren and great grandchildren did a fantastic job making sure the tiny details are here. And those details don’t come cheap. I have stayed here at least a dozen times now and every time I come here I tell Grandma she needs to raise her prices. PS, I travel here from Nebraska, and I would travel from farther.

Sky

Whether you are Gen X or millennial, this home is miraculously able to fulfill your childhood dreams. Which is surprising because that’s a huge range of decades. But grandma’s house does it.
I really felt like I was at my grandmas house. Really. You come here and you abandon reality. Because you are going back in time. 10 year old me was thrilled.

And then I went down to the basement. I cried. There are things that it wasn't cool or safe to like- but things that so many girls love- and Grandma's house delivers! You'd have to pay thousands of dollars just for one of the experiences and it has both of my loves! That's a four thousand dollar savings at least. And I don't have to fight through crowds!

You can even dress up- and you will be asked or even told to play!
this place is like magic. I’m a perfect stranger, and I am convinced that grandma and her whole family knows me and loves me.

Save your money. You will be back.

I'm Making Up a Name Cuz the Internet

Let your Geek Flag shine! I was the girl that was "weird" because I liked things like books and playing outside. But even the popular kids read the books I loved most so I feel safe to say if you were a girl that was alive from 1980-2000 or even later- just wait till you see what's in the basement. Built by a family member who didn't love her reality so she literally built a new one. ask any of the relatives to play with you- they will happily do so! And there are clothes for dress up! ❤️ Riley from New Jersey

Riley J

Grandma's Nostalgia House is my safe place. I've been here four times. If I could live here, I would. This is better than therapy, and A LOT cheaper. I hate being a grown up. Being here lets me be a kid again.
And I don’t think I’m spilling any secrets by saying if you were a girl that liked TV shows or movies focused on the 1800s you need to come here. You will spend your whole weekend reveling in what is in the basement.

Paisley B.

I cried happy tears when I realized I have three whole days where I don't have money problems, or family problems or work problems. I'm f*ckin' 10 years old here, I got 0 problems now! I get a chance at a second childhood. You can't put a price on that. And I can come back any time I want.

Averie

I don't want to upset anyone but I've been thinking for years of committing myself to a mental hospital just so I can have someone to take care of me. Some people just don't realize how alone you can really be, or how physically painful it is.Grandma and her family made me their family. This place is an answer to my prayers.

Jayquellen

I've been here when it's just Grandma, when it's just one of the female grandkids, when it's both. Even if Grandma was never here, I'd still come back. When Grandma's not here, we have sleepover weekends, and mall weekends and birthday party weekends! Not all the time, but if you can go it's sooo worth it!

A.S.

You get to know Grandma and her family really well before you get here. They give you vital info about the area that is really great, that GPS did not give me. Like which streets have bad pot holes, or streets that are just a bit odd where newcomers can easily get into an accident-or that the train tracks here don't have a bar with lights that come down so you should always assume trains and not just cross! This has been vital information for your everyday life in Rockford Illinois. And Grandma's house itself was pure bliss.

Just a Kid Again

There is No Stranger Danger Here

If you hate hanging out with other people and hanging out with total strangers creeps you out, I'm an introvert with serious PTSD and although my heart told me I need to come here, my introvert was not liking the idea of hanging out with total strangers. I felt okay with the family because they contacted me personally and re-assured me. But spending a weekend with a group of strangers? Well, that worry left the minute I stepped inside. Everyone who comes here is coming here for the same reason and shares similar interests. Not only did I get family coming here- I left with some great friends! I already booked another stay.

The Most Introverted Person You Know

if sitcoms were your safe place you are going to love Grandma’s House. I felt like I was walking into the living room of a beloved sitcom. If the Family Ties, Cosby Show and Family Matters sitcoms had a baby it would be Grandmas living room. It just looks so much like every sitcom living room you’ve ever seen. It is perfect.

Sylvia

OK coming here to be with a group of people you don’t know you think is going to be weird as hell. I mean that is a natural thing to think. But it isn’t weird at all. Which is probably the weird part. Came in here to talk about the nails. Every tiny detail in this house is accurate and everybody else was just going on about Oh my gosh look at this. Oh my gosh look at that.
We were all looking for something near dinner time,and I thought it might be in the garage. So I went to the garage to look. Admittedly, I’ve been making fun of these other women in my head for getting so emotional and so happy about tiny little things and then I saw the nails in the garage.
Exact same nails that my dad used. Same exact box. haven’t seen them in 40 years. Started crying like a baby. You could say I was humbled that day. Been back twice.
in honesty this place is OG play therapy, and that reparenting stuff all rolled into one. And it works whatever the hell it is it works. I left here. Feeling happier than I felt in the last 10 years. When I need to recharge I will be back.

Just a DIY girl

Every tiny detail that you have forgotten from your own childhood is here. Even the stuff you didn’t care about. I’m sure there must’ve been a Grandpa here at some point and all of his stuff is still here. I think if the boring mundane stuff in a house wasn’t here if it was all just fun stuff this place would never feel like you were really back in time.
I was told more than once about the strong female presence in this house. The energy in this house is amazing. It is super protective like you are surrounded by Warriors. One of the first things your eyes set on when you step in the door are the family photos-all women-from 100 years ago. I cried when I saw those photos because they were so strong. They had so much strength in them and they were beautiful.
And later on when you look more closely at the family photos, I nearly peed myself laughing, because not only were some of my childhood photos in the mix there were clearly pictures put in there just to make you laugh. And they do.
But they were so well picked that on first glance you really think these are pictures of the family! until you look closer and realize who is actually in the photos and start laughing your ass off.
which ever family member added this particular piece into the mix I see you and I love your sense of humor. You are a fucking bad ass.Clearly also, this was done with love because even though this place is amazing, you can feel sad sometimes and this is the perfect pick me up. And I have a feeling this is exactly why this family member chose to do that-they saw another need and they filled it. When they say that the family here has thought of everything every tiny detail this literally proves it.

Sandy

This is my first visit to but I know it’s not going to be my last.I came here because one of my friends recommended it to me. She said “I wish you could’ve come with me when I went but after I showed up there, I’m glad you didn’t come with me.”
which I thought was rude because wouldn’t you want your best friend to go with you on an awesome vacation? But she kept talking about what a great time she had, and how she knew I would love it here.
And then I came here, and I can see why they say not to have your friends with you. It really would’ve ruined it. You can’t really be living back in time if you’re busy reminiscing about your childhood with your friends.
And she was right. I absolutely did love it here. I don’t like hanging out with strangers, but the second I met everyone here nobody was a stranger. It really did feel like we were literally all part of the same family and had known each other our whole lives.

Daria Morgendorfer

I know I am not the only woman who goes to Star Trek conventions. I spent five thousand dollars on one weekend and then realized why am I spending money to go see strangers who wouldn’t spend the same amount of money to come see me?
Here all weekend I am surrounded by people who care about me and share my interests and I’m getting to revisit my entire childhood. Take that, Star Trek Las Vegas.
I took the money that I would be spending to go to Vegas and this is my fifth stay this year. Five vacations instead of one. And this is an infinitely better experience. I’ve been better friends staying at Grandmas house for a weekend than I ever really did at Star Trek conventions.

Trek Pride

II stayed here in January 2024. first time here.Over the holidays I had had to leave a grocery store and Target because I started crying. I sat in the car and felt both overwhelming rage and sadness. Why? Because the products in the store “don’t look the same “. such an overwhelming need to return to childhood that I would’ve given anything just for a box of laundry detergent from the 90s. I would take anything I could get.
And this feeling hasn’t gone away. Honestly, it’s gotten worse overtime which is why I booked a stay at GNH. And no amount of streaming old TV shows or wearing old clothes has helped.
Walking into Grandma’s felt like walking into a church. One of the grandkids asked me to get something out of a kitchen cupboard. when I opened the cupboard. I screamed with joy then I started crying. Seriously you don’t realize how much you actually miss the things from your childhood. I’m not not going to spoil it and tell you what was in the cupboard.
Then I went into the basement to bring up some laundry because yes, you are going to have some chores to do here because it’s Grandma’s House whether she is there or not. But that just made it more realistic. Anyway, everything in the basement was amazing. If you had told me, I would never have believed you. And then I got to what I consider my holy Grail. It made my heart so happy and at the same time I knew I wasn’t alone, in missing my childhood so much because only someone else who equally missed their childhood would have created what was standing before me in the basement.
I love that this will always be here to come back to.