Penny Farthing Inn is a Victorian-style bed and breakfast located in St Augustine, Florida. The property features nine rooms in total, with breakfast provided every morning. The property was built in 1893 and the vintage style has been maintained throughout the years by previous owners as well as the current owner. One of the owner's favorite aspects of running the property is interacting with guests and directing visitors to the local attractions and restaurants. For patrons who hope to spend time outdoors, there is a patio area and balconies included with some of the rooms. Many trees circle the inn and the property provides parking spots for guests.
Penny Farthing Inn is located in St. Augustine, Florida, with nine rooms available to guests. Much of the furniture and couches inside the property are from the 1800s when the property was first built. The owners have tried to keep the historical components of the inn since acquiring it. Several trees surround the property, providing shade for guests who may want to be outdoors. The inn is three stories high with a separate building on the property that reaches two stories high. The second building includes five rooms, while the main inn includes the other four rooms dispersed among the second and third floors. Five of the units feature queen-size beds and the other four have king-size beds. Furthermore, five of the nine rooms have balconies. Amenities may vary depending on the room, though each room includes Wi-Fi, an ironing board, TV, hairdryer, and complimentary wine, to name a few. The owner notes that the Victoria Bedchamber is typically the most popular room, mainly because previous occupants have enjoyed the balcony at the front of the house. The main common area where guests typically socialize and lounge is the outside porch area, which can fit about 10-14 occupants.
Each morning, the owner provides a breakfast, allowing guests to choose one of the options off the menu and he will cook it for them. Some of the breakfast options include Belgian waffles, raspberry French toast, bacon, sausage, ham, eggs benedict, sausage/cheese or vegetarian quiches, and occasionally he'll serve what they call their "home dish" from Yorkshire, England, which consists of sausage/bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, and toast. The patios and balconies are open for occupants to socialize and enjoy their meals. At 7:15 AM, coffee and orange juice are set up for guests, and between 8:30 and 9:30 is when breakfast is served.
Penny Farthing Inn is located among several local restaurants and shops. The owner recommends Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille, O C Whites Seafood & Spirits, and St. Augustine Fish Camp. Guests could have the opportunity to explore the town and stroll along the downtown area. Additionally, St. Augustine Beach is nearby downtown. The owner recommends that patrons visit the St. Augustine Lighthouse, located on the northern end of Anastasia Island. It was first built between the years of 1871 and 1874, currently working as an actual lighthouse that aids in navigation just as it did in the past.
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park is a notable attraction that first began over 100 years ago in 1893. It is one of St. Augustine's oldest attractions. The park features a variety of species of birds, reptiles, and mammals. The park's main animal is an Australian saltwater alligator named Maximo, who is fifteen feet long and weighs 1,250 pounds.
St. Augustine Ghost Tours is a ghost tour attraction with no special effects used. They have over 40 professional storytellers employed, who are continuously researching more haunted tales of St. Augustine history. For visitors who are hoping to learn more about St. Augustine ghosts, the tours share research from libraries, historic church documents, diaries, and personal interviews.
The owner interacts with guests as much as possible, giving suggestions about nearby places and local restaurants that occupants of the inn could visit. To avoid disturbing other visitors at the inn, the owner appointed a quiet hour from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. The majority of occupants who stay at Penny Farthing Inn are over the age of 40. Children over the age of 12 are welcome to stay at the inn and some exceptions of allowing younger children can be made on some occasions with a request to the owner. Additionally, pets are allowed on the property. The inn receives a mix of repeat and new guests, with the busiest months of operation being December and March. August to September is typically the slowest season of operation. Occasionally, the inn will allow visitors to host smaller events such as family reunions.
The owner mentions that service is the main element that led to the property's success. The owner tries to put forth the effort in making guests feel valued by adding small details such as "happy hour" which one particular visitor commented on saying, "Happy hour was a great way to relax, have cheese and wine, and talk to other guests. The warm homey feel you get makes this stay very pleasant. The breakfast was absolutely wonderful, we loved the ham and cheese croissant."
The Penny Farthing Inn was first built in 1893. Originally, the Decker family was who the property was built for. Some of the rooms and dining areas featured in the inn are original to the time. The owner wants his guests to feel as though they're "traveling back in time" to the 1890s during their stay. Instead of remodeling the inn to modernize the style, it has instead been kept to its original design to maintain the historic significance. The owner mentions that there are said to be ghosts on the property.
The owner has been in the hospitality industry for nearly four years. Penny Farthing Inn was named after the bicycle known as the penny-farthing, which was used in historical times, with one large wheel at the front of it and two smaller wheels at the rear. A decorative penny-farthing is situated on the back deck area among several flower pots.
83 Cedar Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
United States
Bed and Breakfast
