Jason and Mike are the current owners of the Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast, located in Herkimer, New York. Since purchasing the property in 2017, the establishment has had multiple renovations to reach the owner’s goal of providing a place that feels like “a home away from home.” On the property, there are four rooms available for reservation, each having its own private bathroom. Amenities in the units include hairdryers, bathrobes, Beekman 1802 products, and Wi-Fi. The building also features multiple common areas for patrons to utilize, such as the Continental Room, Drawing Room, and dining room. Breakfast is served every day in the dining room between the hours of 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Preparations for the meal start the night before when the owners give each patron a menu to choose their meal from. The establishment is open year-round, with May through October being the busiest season of operation.
The Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast is located in Herkimer, New York, and is owned by Jason and Mike. According to Jason, the building is a late 1800s brick colonial house, with all of these rooms being decorated in colonial fashion. European wall coverings are used throughout the house, with another feature including the original hardwood floors. This bed and Breakfast has four units available for reservation, including the Kingsland Room, Oakbrook Room, Palatine Room, and Empire Room. Each of these units includes a private bathroom, hairdryers, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, bathrobes, and Beekman 1802 products, which are locally sourced lotions and shampoos. Out of all the available accommodations, Jason says that the Kingsland Room is one of the most popular among guests because it is the largest. This room also features a jetted bathtub, walk-in closet, and separate seating area with a king-size bed, while the rest of the rooms have queen-sized beds with walk-in showers. Occasionally, the property is known to make another room available for reservations when needed. This room is called the Innkeepers Room and is only available when the whole house is occupied or for special occasions. Common areas throughout the premises include a formal sitting room, known as the Continental Room, as well as the Drawing Room and a dining room. In these areas, they feature different amenities ranging from a relatively large screen TV, a desk where visitors can work, board games, and a fireplace.
The dining room is able to accommodate six guests at a time; when this room is full, the owners say they often bring in more tables to provide more areas to dine. This room is where breakfast is served every morning between 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Every night, visitors are given a menu card to make their morning meal selections. Jason says that all of the meals served are made from scratch and that “we allow guests to order whatever they want and as much of it as they want.” The fixed breakfast menu includes Belgian waffles, pancakes, baked french toast, sausage links, bacon, potatoes, eggs, toast, and various pastries. When dietary restrictions are brought to the attention of the staff ahead of time, the establishment is willing to work with the guest to accommodate those needs.
A relatively small merchandise gift shop is part of the establishment and sells local products. “We offer many of the things guests experience when they’re with us for sale so they can take it home,” says Jason. Such things include products used in some of the dishes from breakfast. Other things include the Beekman 1802 products, as well as the robes found in the room. Herkimer diamonds are “double terminated quartz” found in the bedrock near the inn, explains the owner, which they also sell at the gift shop. Other merchandise include pet products because the property is pet friendly. Handcrafted items created by local crafters can also be purchased at the inn, such as mittens and pot holders, to name a few. If patrons desire, they can also purchase bicycle rentals while staying at the bed and breakfast. The owners also provide on-site bike maintenance services for guests staying on the property.
There are three outdoor seating areas on the two-acre property. One sitting area includes the front porch, which is adorned with rocking chairs. In the back, a fire pit located on the deck is available for patron use. In the backyard, there is also a “love-seat” glider with other outdoor features including a relatively small creek. The premises is heavily forested and it backs up to the creek, according to Jason. Jason also notes that the Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast is located in a residential area.
“We host a variety of events,” says Jason, one of the Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast owners. Such events include weddings, corporate meetings, team building activities, dinners, and whole house rentals. During any of these events, or during a normal stay, the property asks that all patrons abide by the policies established for the inn. One policy to note is that smoking is not permitted inside the buildings. Jason also says that the property welcomes guests of all ages, including children, and pets are permitted as well. Free cancellation is also available for those who used direct bookings.
When visitors stay at the inn, Jason says that they “want them to feel like they are in a home away from home." It’s important to the owners that each guest has a personalized experience at the Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast. The owner says that the house has “stood the test of time,” and as such, they want to embody that in the hospitality they provide by creating a “unique” atmosphere. One way that Jason and Mike try to create this experience is through regular interactions between patrons. The two owners do not live on the property but come every day to greet guests, give them a tour, answer any questions they might have, and make sure they have everything they need. Once the owners make sure everyone appears settled, they leave the property and arrive early the next day to provide breakfast, and the “process repeats [every day],” says Jason.
A unique aspect of the property, according to Jason, is the fact that the house is an 1800s colonial house and the atmosphere that the owners try to create. Guests have taken note of the establishment and have commented on their favorite aspects of their stay, one being the cleanliness of the property. One such patron remarked that “The cleanliness of the entire property is superb, and we really appreciated all the precautions taken to ensure our safety.” Comments on the breakfast are another trend in reviews guests have been found to leave. One visitor said, “Mike’s culinary expertise in the kitchen creates the most unbelievable decadent breakfast. His French toast, eggs, and hot chocolate are selections to write home about. This place is a hidden gem travelers should take advantage of.” Jason says that the majority of their guests to have stayed on the property tend to be around the age of 50 to 70, but they also get a relatively large amount of younger couples looking to get away.
Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast is open year-round to guests, with the best season of operation lasting from May to October, due to the varying activities in the area. Attractions that guests can visit include Herkimer Diamond Mines, Herkimer Home State Historic Site, National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown Dreams Park, and the Glimmerglass Opera House. Herkimer Diamond Mines is in partnership with the bed and breakfast, meaning that all patrons to stay at the Grand Colonial receive a free ticket to the mine. These tickets are all-day admission and also include a hammer to prospect with. The area is also known to have a variety of local festivals throughout the year. The fall season has become a popular time of year to visit the area, presumably due to the changing color of the surrounding foliage. When visitors are looking for a place to eat in the area, Jason recommends that they try Beardslee Castle, Waterfront Grille, and Salvatore’s Pizzeria & Restaurant.
The building, now known as the Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast, was originally built in the 1800s in the colonial style. When the house was first built, it was referred to as the “Grand House” due to it being located on one acre of a revolutionary lot. According to the property's website, the location of the house provided early settlers of the area a “vantage point for patriot militiamen to keep watch for British foot soldiers and their allies." The website also says that the American Revolution is what inspired the wall art displayed in the bed and breakfast.
The Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast has most recently been in business since 2018. However, in 1997, the house was first established as a bed and breakfast, which is also when the majority of renovations to convert the building into an inn took. Such renovations include adding wall coverings and private baths to all the rooms. The next owners purchased the house in 2008, but it was not run as a bed and breakfast during their ownership. In 2017, Jason and Mike purchased the property and converted it back into a bed and breakfast and are still the current owners. Previously Jason worked for a corporate hotel for 20 years, while Mike had experience working on the grounds of another bed and breakfast, which they say is what gave them the experience to own this business. “Hospitality is a passion of ours,” says Jason.
Jason and Mike have made multiple improvements to the property, such as redecorating, removing old carpet to expose the original hardwood floors, replacing all of the windows, adding shutters outside, rebuilding the chimneys, repaving the driveway, and adding the outdoor seating, to name a few. Jason reports that after all of these renovations, they are happy with what they have. One particular goal that they have for the future is to host more weddings on the property.
112 W German St
Herkimer, New York 13350
United States
Bed and Breakfast
E2W, LLC - Jason and Mike
