Pork Belly Update-Indoor Sleeping Update

May 12, 2025

Because we have many more sleeping options than usual on Tuesday (and one option is much better for those in our rental tents) this update is longer than usual. Please read carefully and pay attention to the section about Tuesday before making your reservations.

Dear Friends,

PBV is devoted to the idea of making our stays beneficial to our hosts, and also to our riders! And that's how indoor sleeping came to be--many years ago! Riders can make a donation of $25, collected by Pork Belly, in exchange for the opportunity to sleep in an air-conditioned space. One hundred percent of that $25 goes to the host!

ABOVE RIGHT: PBV indoor sleepers in Winterset, 2024

RAGBRAIs 2011, 2012, and 2023 are memorable for heat--and sometimes the heat didn't abate overnight. Some of us can also recall overnight thunderstorms, most of which were not dangerous in any way, but they were sure loud and wet! Here’s a way to hedge against heat and storms, OR avoid setting up a tent... by reserving shelter and air-conditioning in advance. You'll be helping our friendly and hospitable hosts as well!

OUR LAST UPDATE:

MASSAGE APPOINTMENTS, DORM ROOMS, BEDS WITH LINENS, AND HOTEL ROOMS!

Before we get to Indoor Sleeping, we invite you to revisit our last update in case you missed it.

You can still write to reserve massage appointments, and be sure to check your cycling mileage before you write. These are the first and second topics in our last update.

You can still take a hotel room on the nights that Bella has available. Take a look at our last update, and write to her!

The Wednesday dorm rooms are FULL. The beds with linens in Heritage House on Tuesday are FULL. BUT you can write to get on the waiting list in the likely case of cancellations.

Here is OUR MOST RECENT UPDATE!

BELOW: In the old days, our riders counted themselves lucky

to sleep on a church pew.

What Is Indoor Sleeping?

We define "indoor sleeping" as rolling out your bedroll in an air-conditioned space with restroom facilities, and always being respectful of our hosts and the facilities they offer us. This year, we can offer indoor sleeping on four nights of RAGBRAI.

Sometimes, we do have church pews (on Tuesday, in the historic church, for instance), but most of the time, you're renting floor space.

Donations

Indoor sleeping involves a $25 donation (or other special options included this year) to the church or organization hosting our riders. Pork Belly Ventures collects the donation from each indoor sleeper, and Kay creates the spreadsheet of sleepers in each space. We keep none of the donation. One hundred percent goes to the organization hosting us on a given day.

BELOW: This a Cedar Falls Community Theater building,

close to our Thursday night campsite

where we have the privilege of offering indoor sleeping.

What About Baggage?

Due to our larger responsibilities, the PBV Crew can move baggage to and from indoor sleeping venues only on those days when the venue is not in camp. When the venue is at the center of our campsite (multiple venues on Tuesday, and one school on Friday), riders will move their own bags to and from. When the indoor sleeping venue is one or more from camp (on Monday and Thursday), PBV crew will be happy to help move baggage during specific hours of the afternoon.

You Must Be With PBV.

We can only offer these opportunities to people who are using Pork Belly Ventures Weeklong Support or Partial-Week Support.

Be Sure of Your Commitment.

Please read this description in full. By responding, you are committing to paying for these affordable opportunities. 

We will put these charges on your PBV applications. Our cancellation policy applies. You will need to settle your balance before you come to Iowa. Do keep your word to us and to our hosts. At this point in our season, we do not have time for changes and switcheroos. 

BELOW: Photos in this update show

our happy indoor sleepers of RAGBRAIs past.

Game-Day Decisions

Some people look at these opportunities as a kind of insurance. If it's nice outside, they'd rather camp. But in case of extreme heat or overnight thunderstorms, they have reserved an indoor spot. They figure it's a small donation to a good cause, whether or not they end up using it.

NO Late-Nighters.

IF YOU WANT TO GO TO STREET DANCES IN THESE OVERNIGHT TOWNS, PLEASE DON'T SIGN UP FOR INDOOR SLEEPING. You would wake your fellow Porkers when you come in late. These offers are for folks who hit the hay early (before 10:00 PM), who can be quiet, and who clean up after themselves.

When You'll Have Access

We think indoor sleepers will be able to get into most of these spaces in the early afternoon--but we're still working on details. Plan to check in with our front desk (our announcement boards) to find out when each venue opens on each day.

COURTESY IS ESSENTIAL. 

Bear in mind the importance of courtesy to our hosts and to your fellow Porkers who will be sleeping indoors. 

• Most people sleep quietly. Some snore lightly. People do have to get up in the night. If you're concerned that you may be awakened by others, just bring earplugs, or we sell earplugs at our front desk.

• After reports from indoor sleepers, we must say that if you know that you have an EXCEPTIONALLY LOUD SNORE, then we ask that you don't take any indoor sleeping options in common areas. You WILL see a couple of opportunities below, more expensive, for a cabin or a room to yourself. (If you have a normal or light snore, we don't intend this message for you.)

• The only beverage that is appropriate in your sleeping room is a bottle of water with a lid.  (Obviously, no alcohol in any indoor sleeping spaces.)

• Bikes stay outside, locked in camp or near the venue.

• Dispose of any trash--don't leave it where you slept.

• It's lights-out by 10:00. After 10:00 PM (and if you get up in the night), make an effort to be quiet and not disturb others. 

• Say thanks to our hosts-- the volunteers, church members, whoever you meet in these nice buildings—for the privilege of sleeping inside. 

• Don’t leave any mess in the restrooms—tidy up and use the trash barrels. 

• If you're okay with that, we welcome you to write for a reservation.  

Specify Your Tuesday and Friday Choice

of Indoor Sleeping Venue, Please!

I'm going put Red Asterisks *** on any unusual option below. We have some unusual offerings this year, like log cabins on Tuesday.

You might want to make notes as you read the options below and before you write to Kay. Definitely see our special section about Tuesday Indoor Sleeping with a campground diagram, below.

You'll notice below that we have multiple venues on Tuesday, July 22nd, in Forest City. We also have different prices in some cases.

On Friday, July 25th, in Oelwein, we have one school building, but a couple of options within that building: You can choose a spot in a general sleeping area for $25, or you can take an entire classroom for yourself and your friends. When you write to Kay for your reservations, if you fail to specify which you want, you will slow the process down. If she has to write to you for clarification, others might slip ahead of you and reserve the space you wanted! Be sure to let Kay know the specific option you choose for Tuesday night and for Friday night.

Our 2025 Indoor Sleeping Opportunities,

Generally $25 donation per person per night

with some special higher-prices options

Monday, 7/21, Estherville, Redeemer Lutheran Church

• $25 per person
• Located about a block down the street from our park
• Various air-conditioned spaces like the sanctuary, meeting rooms, fellowship hall, etc.
• ***When we fill the A/C spots, there are Sunday school rooms that are cool, but technically not air-conditioned. Fans can blow cool air into these rooms from nearby A/C spaces. If you happen to miss the A/C spots, you can secure a space in a Sunday School room for $15.
• As soon as our crew can finish their morning work, get lunch, and shower, we will begin moving baggage to the church in the early afternoon. We will post the hours that we'll move baggage, probably not after 4:00 PM. You ride less than 50 miles today.
• The following morning, we'll have a vehicle and crew waiting outside the church. BRING BAGS outside and hand them over to our crew.
• Donations benefit our host church!

(Please see our Tuesday diagram and description below.)

Tuesday, 7/22, Forest City, several buildings

• $25 per person, unless we say otherwise below
• Located all around the campsite
• The largest venue is the RV storage building, a very clean metal building with a concrete floor and air-conditioning, closer to the rental tent grid than any other spaces, $25 pp, more detail below.
• A small country church building with A/C, $25 pp, more detail below.
• ***Two Cabins with A/C, each of which accommodates up to 4 people, $175 for the whole cabin.
• ***Two Log Cabins without A/C, which accommodate up to either 4 or 6 people, $125 for the whole cabin
• *** If we fill all of the A/C spaces, we have more spaces without A/C that we can open up, like a dance floor loft and bunk rooms in the horse barn, and also a corn crib, both with plenty of ventilation for $15 per person.
• All spaces at Heritage Park will be accessible at an afternoon time to be announced (this is your longest cycling day of the week at 73 miles).
• In our Tuesday campsite, you will move your own baggage to/from indoor sleeping venues across the campus
• Donations benefit the Heritage Park, an organization dedicated to historic preservation.

Thursday, 7/24, Cedar Falls, a community theater, blocks from camp--FULL. We have inquired about more space, and we are taking a waiting list.

• $25 per person
• The theater (photo above) is on the edge of both the downtown district and Gateway Park, where many charters are assigned, including Pork Belly Ventures.
• Sleeping space is on the third floor, and there's an elevator!
• Accessible in early afternoon, exact time TBD.
• As soon as our crew can finish their morning work, get lunch, and shower, we will begin moving baggage to the church in the early afternoon. We will post the hours that we'll move baggage, probably not after 4:00 PM. You ride less than 50 miles today.
• The following morning, we'll have a vehicle and crew waiting outside the theater. BRING BAGS downstairs and outside and hand them over to our crew.
• Your donations benefit the community theater.

Friday, 7/25, Oelwein, general areas available for $25 per person, plus other options below.

• $25 per person (and other options)
• This school building is at the heart of our campsite.
• The larger spaces like the gym, libraries, and cafeteria are offered at $25 per person.
• ***17 small classrooms, that can accommodate up to 14 sleepers can be reserved for $300. This is unusual to be able to reserve your own space.
• Accessible in early afternoon, exact time TBD.
• Riders move their own bags in and out.
• Donations benefit Wings Park Elementary School.

Diagram Below,

Description of Tuesday Indoor Sleeping

In short, the RV Building works for everyone, self-tenters and tent-renters. More detail and a diagram below.

The RV Building is #2 in the top left part of this diagram. It is a large modern metal building with a concrete floor, air-conditioning, and a restroom. The main level is large, and there is a loft area for about 8 sleepers. The RV building is convenient for both self-tenters and tent-renters.

The location of our rental-tent grid is across a street marked #1. Rental tents will be set up in the gridded area with four #2 markings, and because of fencing, it’s only possible to cross the road at intersections. So the RV Building is convenient for those in rental tents.

BELOW: the historic church building, left edge #16

RV Building, top left, #2

BELOW: the historic church building.

This general area is for regular tent camping, and

we'll place two kybos outside the church.

The church is not convenient for those in rental tents.

This photo was taken in March. Greener and lovelier now.

The Church Building is #16 on the far left edge above. This is a little church building with a steeple that makes up a street of historical buildings. It does not have services or a regular congregation, and parts of it are used for storage. But it IS air-conditioned, and the main floor has pews and floor space. Each sleeper would get the length of a pew, perhaps putting baggage and belongings on the pew and sleeping on floor space between and under pews. Of course, there is space for sleepers to get up in the night and go down the aisle to use the indoor restrooms in the basement OR the kybos we will place right outside the building.

The location of regular tent camping is on the large green space across the street from the church building and in and around those buildings south of the church. Baggage will be unloaded in this area, making the church a convenient place for self-tenters. (The log cabins are also convenient for self-tenters.)

How to Reserve

Please read everything above before you write to request sleeping space. Only after you have read this information thoroughly and spoken with any friends, you can write to Kay with the nights you request and your name. You may give Kay the first/last name of a friend (who is on PBV Support), only if you’re sure of his or her plans. SPECIFY YOUR CHOICES ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. Here's an example...

To Kay@pkbelly.com

Kay, after speaking with my friend, Jane Doe, I'm requesting indoor sleeping for both of us on these nights:

Monday

Tuesday, in the RV Building for $25

Thursday

Friday, a private classroom for $300

**include your first and last names

Then Kay will put the charges, your $25 (or other) donation for each night, on the application of your friend and yourself. Be certain before you write.

Having read this info and agreed to the terms, please feel free to write to Kay with the name/s of those for whom you would like to reserve space, and the night/s you want.

 Kay@pkbelly.com

WE THANK YOU, FRIENDS,

FOR SUPPORTING OUR HOSTS!

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We are at work on more extras for you, and we will be on your screens again soon! Please stand by for more Pork News as it happens!

All our best,

Tammy and Pete

and our whole planning team!

Pork Belly Ventures LLC 

Tammy: 808-375-8921 c, tammy@pkbelly.com

Pete: 402-681-2613 c, pete@pkbelly.com

 www.pkbelly.com