The Broadway Bed and Breakfast is a 1910 Victorian-style home located in Decorah, Iowa. The home has four stories and a total of five rooms. Each unit includes a queen or king-sized bed, private bathroom, cable TV, and air conditioning. The owners, Mathew and Melissa, strive to give guests a comfortable experience and a place where they can relax. Breakfast is provided at the establishment and is served every morning. Additionally, cocktail hours are held during the evening on the weekends. Events can be held on the property, with family reunions being one of the more popular. A few nearby activities that typically draw in a fair amount of tourists include the downtown area only a few blocks away, and the fishing and biking in the region, which tends to be a large attraction for the area.
Broadway Bed and Breakfast is located in Decorah, Iowa. The house is situated in the city's historic district and has victorian style architecture. Built with Brick and siding, the house has a unique feature with a turret on the third floor. Around the outside of the house are plants that were added by the current owners. Additionally, there is a covered front porch with chairs and potted plants where guests can sit and eat breakfast in the morning if they desire. The property has a backyard, but it is often asked that guests not lounge in the area. In the backyard is a small grassy area, with a cottage home at the back. The owners have the goal of replacing the existing fence with a rock wall to surround the back and sides of the property to give it an older feeling that is more original to the property. The house is 5000 square feet and has a total of five rooms. Most of the rooms are located on the second and third floors of the property. Upon entering the home, visitors will see the main common area with a grand piano fireplaces, in addition to sofas and chairs. If desired, guests may socialize and play the piano in the main area, where events are often held on the property. At the back of the room are glass doors leading into the dining area. The dining room is used for breakfast and for cocktail hours, often held on the weekends, as well as for socializing with a small coffee bar for daytime use. A small community fridge can also be found in the dining room and it is available to visitors.
Each room has its own unique name influenced by prominent people in the area. Most rooms are 500 square feet and include linens, cable TV, internet access, and private bathrooms with soaps, shampoos, and towels. Air conditioning, laundry service, iron and ironing board, and hairdryers are available upon request. Room 1 is often the most popular among guests. The room exclusively includes access to a mini-fridge, climate control for air conditioning, and a balcony. The room is slightly larger than the others as well. The current owners enjoy Room 4 for the décor and "coziness" of the room.
The owners mention that visitors to the property have often looked around the neighborhood at the older style homes found in the historical district and in their community, near the downtown area. Guests can frequently find the desired restaurants and shopping within a few blocks of the home. There are also natural areas where guests can hike and bike in the region. Surrounding the town of Decorah is an 11-mile trail where visitors can bike and walk. The region is part of the driftless, zone meaning the land was not flattened by glaciers like most other parts of Iowa. Because of this, there are different types of terrains for more mountainous activities. many rivers run through the area allowing for various aquatic activities such as canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The region is known for trout fishing and also tends to attract those who enjoy biking.
The owners of the property, Mathew and Melissa, strive to help guests feel at home. They make an effort to help patrons feel like they are taking a step back in time as they enter the 1910 Victorian home. The owners remark that they enjoy interacting and meeting their guests. Breakfast is served in the morning from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Breakfast usually starts with granola, yogurt, and fruit, followed by the main entrée. Entrees typically include pancakes, waffles, French toast, and egg dishes such as quiche, sundried tomatoes, and egg casserole. A small pastry dessert is often included at the end of each meal. Breakfast is served buffet-style, and guests may choose when and where they eat breakfast. Additionally, the owners try to make accommodations for dietary restrictions and needs if given advanced notice.
The property is most known for its style and craftsmanship, along with its location in Decorah. Visitors often comment about the home. One patron mentioned, "Excellent hosts of a five-room bed and breakfast in Decorah, Iowa. Breakfast was good, with attention paid to special diets (vegetarian and gluten-free). The property is within walking distance to the downtown area." The bed breakfast is open year-round and typically receives a fair amount of guests. The busiest time of year is between April and November. During those months, Iowa often has fairer weather, more community events, and things to do in the region. Patrons staying at the establishment are often more mature, but the home has a family-friendly atmosphere and the owners put forth the effort to welcomes all to come and enjoy the property.
The establishment does have some policies in hopes to help guests to feel comfortable. Smoking is not allowed on the property inside or outside. Certain areas of the bed and breakfast are not communal areas, and permission to visit or see them should be given by the owners; these areas include the carriage house and kitchen. Pets are not allowed on the property; however, a pet Labrador named Zoe lives in the backyard but is rarely inside the home. The property is available for small family reunions and is often booked for weddings where the families will stay in preparation for the wedding or honeymoon, and even anniversaries.
The building of Bed and Breakfast on Broadway was built in 1910 by a Norwegian couple, Hartvig and Thea Engbreston. They couple served the community and started several businesses in the area. The home was built with wood, brick, and stone. The foundation to the property is made of stone as well as much of the basement. The house has four floors, and at the time of construction, each had a different type of wood. The home stayed with the family for many years before passing to other families and continued as a residential home. At one point, the home was converted into a duplex by one of the families. In 2005, Dean and Lois Humpal purchased and renovated the home, converting the duplex back into one home and adding private bathrooms to all rooms. They also fixed plumbing, added air conditioning, added a room on the third floor, and landscaped the yard. Their business operated until 2016, when the current owners purchased the property.
The current owners, Mathew and Melissa, mentioned that they enjoyed the bed and breakfast and came to love the house. They began renovations of their own after purchasing the property. They have redone the hardwood floors, the front porch, and the balcony. They also added the carriage house in the backyard. The owners say that they have enjoyed working at the bed and breakfast for the past five years and hope to continue helping others learn about the property.
305 West Broadway Street
Decorah, Iowa
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Melissa and Mathew
Dean and Lois Humpal
