Ivy Lodge is located in Newport, Rhode Island, and is in the mansion district of the city. Eight rooms are available for guests, each one providing a private bathroom, a gas fireplace, and air conditioning units. Wesley, one of the managers of the business, says that their property is in a quiet place in town and that he hopes that those who stay with them will create relationships with him and the owners. He says that they enjoy working with their visitors and that they strive to be available to them throughout the day. The family has run the business for about nine years, and they plan to keep operating it in a way that separates them from the commercial hospitality industry. Wesley says that those who stay with them often report feeling that the lodge is peaceful and cozy, and he hopes that they will continue to feel this way.
The Ivy Lodge has various French, Victorian, and Eastern Oriental accents throughout the property in the form of antiques and decorations. The inside of the building is decorated in a way that Wesley, one of the managers of the business, says reflects what a lodge would be. A total of eight units are available for those that are wanting to stay at the bed and breakfast, each of which comes with its own bathroom. A gas fireplace is also available in each room, as well as Wi-Fi and other basic amenities. Besides the individual units, guests can visit five living areas: The foyer, which is noted to be the owner's favorite part of the house, the dining room, a sitting room, a living room, and a wrap-around porch. Some of the general amenities found throughout the building include Wi-Fi, free parking, and a refreshments area with coffee and snacks.
Breakfast is served every morning for those staying at the lodge. This breakfast is described as "a hot gourmet breakfast" by Wesley. Some typical dishes that are served for this meal include huevos rancheros, Belgium waffles, sheered eggs, omelets, a variety of pancakes, and eggs in a basket. For those that need accommodations for diets or allergies, Wesley says that they accommodate what they can, even if it means going "out to the store to buy what they need." Guests typically eat in the dining room, but if they would like to have a bit more distance from others, they have the option of eating out on the porch as well.
The manager of Ivy Lodge says that the outside of the property looks like it is taken care of by "a family [that] enjoys what they do." He explains that people can tell that a lot of effort has been put into the building and that he, his mom, and his brother all enjoy taking care of the home, making it feel less "commercial." One of the unique features found on the home grounds is a 300-year-old Threadleaf Japanese Maple tree, which Wesley says is the staple of the outside of their property. The area around the bed and breakfast is said by the manager to be quiet and it is in the mansion district of the city. It is just a few minutes walk from the main part of the city where guests can shop or eat if they would like to.
The manager of Ivy Lodge, Wesley, mentions that one of the main goals of their bed and breakfast is to "[build] a candid sense of community." He wants people to feel like the staff care personally about them, and he hopes to separate their business from the commercial hospitality business as much as they can. "People come here to create relationships," Wesley says. In the hopes of helping people to do this, Wesley mentions that the staff strives be available throughout guests' stay. He says that they are "always involved and always talking to them." Wesley also states that the staff is often working on the property and that visitors can talk to them whenever they would like to.
Wesley reports that those who stay at the bed and breakfast feel like the lodge is peaceful and cozy and that they like the staff because of the service that they provide. He says that the reviews are "all about how clean [they] are" and about the location of the business. One guest reflected this in a review by saying, "The room itself was a real pleasure to be in, with a comfortable bed and nice bathroom. The breakfast was delicious, and there were treats and coffee available all day. Additionally, the hosts were very kind and gave us some good recommendations." Another person that stayed at the property wrote, "Every room is beautifully decorated, and the grounds are well manicured. The staff is welcoming and accommodating. The breakfast is plentiful, and there are snacks available during the day."
Ivy Lodge is open all year besides the month of January. Wesley says that their peak season is the summer, namely June, July, and August. In his personal opinion, he also states that, even though June through August is the busiest time of the year, "the best time of the year isn't summer, it's absolutely October." Wesley believes this because of the fall colors that decorate the area. The most common demographic of patrons that stay at the lodge is couples, as the property caters more toward them. Many of the Ivy Lodge visitors are repeat guests. Some people that stay at the establishment will rent the building in its entirety for wedding parties or other events, but otherwise, the business doesn't host any events. A couple of important policies implemented at the bed and breakfast are that pets are prohibited from accompanying visitors, and children under the age of six are not allowed at the property—unless they are under a year old.
For those looking for things to do in the area, the manager of Ivy Lodge says that guests visit the area of Newport because it offers many architectures, food, events, and more to visitors. He is open to recommending places to visit and restaurants to eat at. Some of these restaurants include Clarke Cookhouse, White Horse Tavern, and, as his personal favorite, Brick Alley Pub, which is a place that Wesley himself worked at.
Ivy Lodge was first bought and used as a farmhouse by a man named John Wilbour. A few homeowners then used the property before it was bought by General James Van Alen during the civil war. General James reconstructed the home, and the building was sold a few years later. After many owners and renovations, a man named Derril purchased the business. Whether or not Ivy Lodge was used as a bed and breakfast long before Derril obtained it is unknown, but what is known is that the property was once used as a boarding school.
Derril worked at Ivy Lodge for about 15 years, making many changes to the home, including the installation of a bathroom in every room. He then sold the business to the Jursek family. The Jursek family has run the Ivy Lodge for about nine years. These owners installed modern air conditioning throughout the rooms, changed the primary color from an off-white to a deeper brown, put in new carpets and wallpaper, and changed much of the outside landscape. One interesting fact about the business is the name of each room. If visitors are curious, they can ask the staff about where the name of their room comes from, as each room is named after an aspect of the current owners' history.
Wesley, the manager of the property, points to the background of his family as the reason for the success of Ivy Lodge. He says that his mom, the owner, was an interior decorator, and his dad had 25 years in a senior position at a bank. His brother was a head chef in Tennessee, and Wesley was a social worker. He believes that these things combined have led them to "run a good business" in the hospitality industry.
12 Clay Street
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Jacqueline Jursek
