The Heritage House is a bed and breakfast that is located in Opelika, Alabama, which is a city that can be found near the border of Georgia and Alabama. The 1913 home offers five suites to the public for reservation year-round, or people can choose to reserve the whole house. Breakfast is included with visitor reservations, however, guests who do not want or need breakfast can receive a discounted rate. Patrons can arrange small events with the owners, including celebrations like weddings, bridal showers, and graduation parties. The establishment is located near the downtown area of Opelika, where guests can spend time during the day going to vintage shops, restaurants, and breweries. One of the guestrooms, The Carriage Suite, is pet-friendly, allowing patrons to bring their pets with them on their trip. Usually, children under the age of 12 cannot be accommodated unless the same group reserves the whole house.
The Heritage House is a historic home that was built in 1913 and has been renovated to reflect that time period. One owner of the bed and breakfast describes the architectural style of the building as "neo-classical." It has a total of five guestrooms that patrons can reserve throughout the year. With a reservation, guests will receive bathroom items, bed linens, and other typical products that are usually found in hotels. Each room comes with a television and access to Wi-Fi. One accommodation, the Carriage Suite, is located on the first floor and has a private entrance, while the other available rooms are located on the second floor. One of the current owners of The Heritage House, whose name is Leif, mentions that one of the more popular rooms tends to be The Carriage Suite due to the private entrance from the exterior, and it is the largest room offered to occupants. Another popular room that can be reserved is The Traveler, the smallest room, as it is one of the most cost-effective suites for people who do not require much during their stay.
Breakfast is a standard with each reservation, however, the business allows reservation rates to be discounted if breakfast is not wanted or needed. Items served for breakfast change daily, so visitors staying multiple days and nights will not consistently get the same meal. Leif mentions that they try to give people various options, including dishes like eggs and bacon, French toast, omelet, biscuits and gravy, and more. Many of the main courses are served with sides like fresh fruit, yogurt, nuts, and coffee. The owners are capable of catering to special diets and allergies such as "no carbs," vegetarian, vegan, and others. Visitors usually give these requirements when they make their reservations. Breakfast is served between 8:00 and 10:00 AM.
The rooms are uniquely decorated, but all revolve around the historical theme of the house. The Carriage Suite has a transportation and stagecoach style, while the Gardens Suite has many flower-related decorations. The Clubhouse has a variety of décor related to outdoor recreations like fishing, hunting, and other activities. The Seaside has an interior that is meant to be reminiscent of the sea and beach. Finally, The Traveler has more Asian-inspired themes.
Guests can spend time in one of the common areas in the room. There is a parlor with a piano, a dining room where breakfast is served, a variety of sunrooms and sitting areas in the house, and some places outside where visitors can lounge. In several of the common areas, complimentary snacks and drinks like coffee are provided. People can borrow board games and several lawn games as well. Plans have been made to add gardens and more landscaping to the outside, but currently, the grounds only have a lawn space for outdoor games like croquet that guests can use. Leif, explains, "There are not that many activities to do on the property, and it is most often used as a place for people to stay during the night while they are in the area for other things during the day."
One of the main draws of The Heritage House is that it is about a block away from the downtown area, where there are a number of restaurants, breweries, vintage shops, and more. The owners enjoy talking to people about things to do in the area and some of their personal favorite restaurants. ZAZU Gastropub is a bar and grill specializing in crafting various craft brews. The owners also recommend Café One Twenty-Three, which they consider to be "fine French dining with a southern twist." Another restaurant they often name to people looking for food is Irish Bred Pub, which is a historic pub that offers a casual atmosphere and Irish food.
Leif and Dani, the current owners of The Heritage House, explain that the goal for their property is to provide an accommodating environment. In an effort to accomplish this, they try to get patrons checked in quickly and avoid bothering them while still being available if needed. Leif explains, "We interact with guests as often as the guests would like." The owners often see visitors when they check-in, check out, during breakfast, or if they are helping to organize an event.
The property does not host events often, but when they do, they are able to do smaller celebrations. One event that they had recently was an afternoon tea with the guests to celebrate the release of Downton Abbey: A New Era. The owners have helped to host people that come to town for musical festivals and have spaces available for weddings, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, graduation parties, and other similar activities. Leif mentions that they can typically do a maximum of about 50 people at these events.
The Heritage House has several policies that are in effect. There is one room, The Carriage Suite, that is pet-friendly, while the others are not able to house pets. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to stay unless guests have rented out the entire house. Smoking is not permitted inside the building, though occupants can smoke outside if they would like.
The business is open year-round, though Leif and Dani take occasional time off. Their busiest seasons of operation tend to be based around Auburn University, the local college, and what is happening during the school year. Visitors tend to make reservations at The Heritage House when families are visiting for a graduation, a home football game is taking place, and other events that would bring people to the city are occurring. The typical demographic of visitors is usually college students and young adults who have recently gotten married, and older folks traveling through the town. The owners mention that they have received many repeat guests over time.
A wide variety of people who have stayed at the establishment have also left reviews of their experience at the bed and breakfast. Something that previous patrons have commented on is the quality of care that the hosts put into taking care of the building and the visitors. One person that recently stayed at The Heritage House writes, "Leif and Dani were so accommodating. They have a beautiful place with gorgeous rooms, and the breakfast was delicious. Their history museum has some really cool stuff, and the town is cute with all kinds of shops and restaurants." Another notable aspect of the business is that the bed and breakfast is one block away from the downtown area of Opelika.
The Heritage House was built in 1913 by a man named W.E. Davis for his wife, Annie Cole Davis. The plot of land was a gift from his wife's aunt and uncle. W.E. Davis and Annie used the home as a private residence to raise their family and farm cotton. It remained in their family until the early 1970s when it was sold to two sisters who used the house as a place to sell antiques. They were also the ones who named it Heritage House. The sisters ran it for about 20 years until they retired, after which the building fell into disrepair, and plans were made to turn it into a fast-food restaurant. However, a local resident made an investment and remodeled it before those plans went through. She was the first to turn it into a bed and breakfast, adding a few bathrooms and renovating many of the rooms.
The Heritage House has been in operation as a bed and breakfast "off and on" since the early 1990s and was reopened with the current owners in 2020. Ever since the house became a bed and breakfast, it has had four owners, including the current owners, Leif and Dani.
Leif and Dani purchased the property in 2020, having been led into the industry because they were looking for a change of pace from their corporate jobs. They had found enjoyment in running an Airbnb in Seattle, Washington, where they used to live, and decided that they wanted to go into a business for themselves. That is when they sold their house and moved to Alabama to purchase the bed and breakfast. Leif and Dani's favorite part of running the business is being able to meet people from all over the world, including places like Germany, England, and South Korea.
714 Second Avenue
Opelika, Alabama 36801
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Leif Espelund and Dani Nelson
