Do you ever wish walls could talk? If they did you might find out a little more than you expected. Maybe its roof housed family and friends gathering for a Sunday sermon, or it helped to guide vessels to land from their journeys at sea.
The same can be said for bed and breakfasts. While many inns are grand Victorians or historic Queen Annes that were homes to the well-to-do, some weren’t even homes at all. Christopher’s Bed & Breakfast, located in Bellevue, KY, used to showcase more than relaxing Jacuzzis and plush beds; it also housed pews and pulpits. Now the 19th-century church, named after the Patron Saint of Travelers, has been updated and restored with three relaxing guestrooms displaying some of the church’s original glory, including its pressed tin ceiling and magnificent stained glass windows.
Christopher’s Bed & Breakfast, Bellevue, KY
Class is in session at the Prosperity School Bed & Breakfast. This Joplin, MO, bed and breakfast has traded in its desks and chalkboards for Victorian furnishings and antiques. You can read up on the inn’s past and present courtesy of the “Homework Scrapbook,” an information guide to the history of the B&B and local activities and attractions.
For more than 133 years, the East Brother Light Station located in Richmond, CA, has been signaling ships to safety. Today this lighthouse also operates as a B&B, offering R&R and pristine views of the Marin coastline and San Francisco skyline thanks to its location on an island in the San Francisco Bay. Hors d’oeuvres and champagne toasts will greet you upon arrival, and your stay will help pay for the maintenance and ongoing restoration of this historic structure.
The Rocky Springs Bed and Breakfast located in Lancaster, PA, is ready to take you for a ride through its fun-filled past. Nestled on what used to be 17 acres of historic park grounds, you can admire the vintage ticket booth set alongside a series of former rollercoaster cars, or imagine what it would have been like to enjoy a ride in the old Carousel House. After a day of exploring the inn’s past, unwind in your private cottage complete with an air-jet tub, kitchenette, and fireplace.
From former schools and lighthouses, to theme parks and churches, these B&Bs lived a life long before they entertained guests in their halls. You may be surprised at what you discover on your next getaway. Want to explore more quirky B&Bs? Make sure to visit our “Inn-triguing B&B Architecture and Design” Pinterest board.
