By Karen Kennedy
You’ve probably zoomed by it many times as you travelled Allisonville Road in Fishers. But if you slow down and look directly across the street from the northernmost edge of Conner Prairie, you will see, surrounded by modern housing editions, a lovely, stately property that seems like a step back in time. A winding driveway leads away from the road past a rolling meadow with a rugged, whitewashed barn. The drive then curves around to two sage green Victorian houses facing each other across a small courtyard garden with a small studio nestled between. Although cars continue to travel the busy road at the end of the drive, you suddenly feel as though you have left the city entirely.
If these old buildings could talk, they would certainly have some tales to tell. They have seen several owners and answered to different names before settling into their new role as the home of innkeepers John and Karen Newton. The houses had languished empty for over two years when the Newtons bought the property and began the process of lovingly cleaning and restoring it in the fall of 2012. It had previously been called the Frederick-Talbott Inn under owners Ed and Nancy Cohee from 2007 to 2010, and Sue Muller and Ann Irvine from 1992 to 2007. Before it was an inn, it was a horse farm and home to the Moorehouse family.
Now the nine spacious guest rooms in the farmhouse are sparkling clean, freshly painted and filled with lush green plants. Each boasts an enormous private bath, and all of the rooms are filled with beautiful antiques. The elegant dining room in the main house, which features a fireplace and is home to the original L.S. Ayres boardroom table and chairs, bustles with activity as John and Karen serve a bountiful, home-cooked breakfast to their guests every morning, while their feline innkeeper Fiona soaks up the morning rays in the adjoining, cozy sunroom. In the warmer months, John picks produce and fresh herbs for breakfast from the gardens just outside the dining room doors.
Meeting Space
The Newtons are not new to the hospitality industry. They have owned and operated the 40-bed Indy Hostel in Broad Ripple for over twelve years.
“We felt that the time was right for a new project and the inn spoke to us,” said John. “It really needed some TLC, and we see so much potential here.”
As the Newtons look to the future, they are hoping to expand upon the current operations of simply being a stop for out-of-town visitors to become a resource for Hamilton County residents and business people. “Our dining room is a perfect spot for business meetings of twenty or so people,” said John. “And we would really like to do more private events, such as small weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal and baby showers, graduation and birthday parties and family reunions. With leaves in the table, we can seat up to 24 people all at one table, which is rare. We are also planning a special Valentine’s dinner by reservation. We would like to draw in our neighbors in Fishers and the surrounding communities.”
While those expanded operations might allow the Newtons to bring on more staff down the line, right now, they’re pretty much doing it all. They have one staff person who assists with housekeeping, but other than that, they are completely hands-on owners. In addition to cooking breakfast and meals for special events, John paints and handles repairs and maintenance and Karen oversees housekeeping and runs the on-site yoga studio. They share the responsibilities of gardening and handling reservations. They would love to fill the innkeeper’s quarters above the main dining room with someone who would do part-time work at the inn in exchange for free rent.
Feed the Whole Person
The Prairie Yoga Studio is one of the many things that make Prairie Guest House unique. Karen has taught yoga for over twelve years, and they have converted the small studio into a tranquil space in which yoga classes are offered to both inn guests and the public six times per week, (including a yoga class for kids on Tuesday afternoons) and private classes are available for groups as well.
“Our mission is to feed the whole person here– body, mind and spirit,” said Karen. “I would like to bring on more teachers and really expand the yoga offerings. We want this place to be an oasis of tranquility for everyone who visits here, whether it’s for an hour, a night or a week. We want our guests to leave here feeling rejuvenated, revived and refreshed.”
When the warmer weather returns, the Newtons plan to offer more packages, such as a Symphony on the Prairie overnight package that will include concert tickets and a picnic meal complete with a blanket, served up in a red wagon to wheel across the street to Conner Prairie, as well as Stay and Play packages with local golf courses. They also have a partnership with the Summer Break Swim Club so that guests have access to a pool in season. In 2015, John plans to expand the gardens to bring even more of a farm-to- table experience to the meals he serves.
The Prairie Guest House is located at 13805 Allisonville Road in Fishers. The website is www.prairieguesthouse.com, and the yoga class schedule is available at www.prairieyogastudio.com. The phone number is 663-8728. Room rates start at around $100 per night. Inquiries for meetings, private parties and groups should be directed to events@prairieguesthouse.com.
Hamilton County’s three bed and breakfasts offer a locally owned alternative to chain hotel lodging. In addition to the Prairie Guest House, you will find:
Sycamore Knoll
10777 Riverwood Ave.
Noblesville
317-776-0570
www.sycamoreknoll.com
Old Towne Carmel Bed & Breakfast
521 First Ave. NW
Carmel
317-566-9696
www.carmelbandb.com
The post Fresh Look and Name for Historic Fishers B&B: Prairie Guest House appeared first on Hamilton County Business Magazine.