Big Blue Bed and Breakfast

Big Blue Bed and Breakfast is located in Adel, Iowa, the county seat of Dallas County. Adel is a 30-minute drive from the city of Des Moines, the capital and most populous city of Iowa. The bed and breakfast has been run by Lauri, her husband, and her parents since August of 2018. The home was built in the 1890's and still has much of the original Victorian style architecture. Four rooms are available to rent as well as a full house rental option. The property is open year-round with an increase of guests during the summer and early fall.

About

The Big Blue Bed and Breakfast can be found on a quarter of an acre of land 25 miles out of the city of Des Moines. The building follows an 1890's Victorian style. It is relatively small, blending in with much of the other homes in the neighborhood. The house has a wrap-around porch and a garden that is kept by one of the owners of the bed and breakfast. The management also recently built a garage for those who bring bikes to their site. There is a biking trail located very close to the property, and the garage was specifically made for those who don't want to leave their bikes outside as they stay the night. The property offers four rooms for rent as well as a full-house rental option and an additional home located across the street, which is called the Rapid's House, that can be rented out for large vacation groups and work crews.

Three of the rooms in the Big Blue Bed and Breakfast are named after former owners of the property, namely The Kester, The Simcoke Suite, and The McCann. These rooms come equipped with private bathrooms, TVs with various streaming services, and either a queen or king-sized bed for sleeping arrangements. The Attic Hideaway is the 4th room provided in the main home and is also the largest one, providing 900 feet in total for living space. This room is oriented specifically conducive for groups or families. It has a soaking tub and a separate shower, along with the other amenities listed. It also has its own HVAC system, separate from the rest of the house. Different Wi-Fi is provided on each floor in order to avoid interference and slow internet for the guests. The Rapids House comes equipped with four bedrooms, eight beds, two and a half bathrooms, and seven additional areas, including a laundry room. This home is often rented out to work crews in the area but also serves as a vacation rental property for patrons.

Culture

The owners of the Big Blue Bed and Breakfast strive to provide the experience that the guests are looking for. Lauri, one of the said owners, describes two types of interactions that she typically has with her guests, depending on what they prefer. The first is that if the guest wants some space and little contact with the innkeepers, then she gives them their space, often only seeing them a couple of times during their stay. The second kind of guests at the property desire more innkeeper interaction. In these cases, Lauri visits and talks with her guests, whether about the town, their lives, or other topics. The bed and breakfast strives for an at-home feeling for all who stay.

The property is in a small town, providing privacy for guests, but is also only a 30-minute drive to Des Moines, giving the option for a city excursion. Other things that guests can find in the area are the winery, a bowling alley, and Harmony Hall, which provides space for different activities and live performances that occur. There is also a sweet corn festival that happens every year that the people of Adel enjoy participating in. Big Blue Bed and Breakfast strives to reach out to many different kinds of groups, including families, businesses, friends looking for a vacation, and smaller groups looking for a simple place to stay for the night. The breakfast provided by the bed and breakfast is unique, as there is no menu, but rather the owners will ask if there is a specific meal that guests want. The owners will then provide that breakfast if it is within reason.

History

Lauri and her husband, two of the owners of the Big Blue Bed and Breakfast, knew that buying and restoring the building formerly known as the Big Blue would be a daunting task. After much consideration, they decided that their goals could be accomplished and went forward with their plans. They were originally planning on restoring the home and then selling it to a deserving family, but instead, they fell in love with it and decided on other plans. They then went forward with their new vision of creating a place for their parents that would also be utilized as a bed and breakfast. With the help of many people in the community, the bed and breakfast is now operational. Big Blue was originally built in 1890 by the Simcoke family.

The Simcoke Suite was named after this family. The Simcoke family left their mark on the home in memorable ways, but also in physical ways. The children signed the walls before the wallpaper was put into place, which was discovered during the restoration of the property. The McCann family, who also have a room named after them, lived in the home until the 1970s. They had items in the home even up to the date at which the bed and breakfast came into business. The Kester family, which is the last family to have owned the home and the last family to have a room named after them, were instrumental in providing information and pictures about the original look of the home. These pictures and information helped the current owners to restore and construct many parts of the building.