The Stockade Bed and Breakfast—situated in Baton Rouge, Louisiana—has five accommodations that are available year-round for patrons to occupy. Those who stay at the establishment are provided a complimentary breakfast in the dining room. The owner of the business, Janice, has the goal of helping her guests feel "at home." As such, Janice makes an effort to interact with visitors, listen to their stories, and share some of her own. She also enjoys suggesting a few nearby restaurants and attractions that guests may want to explore. Beyond the premises, the city of Baton Rouge contains several sites that tend to pique the interest of those who stay at The Stockade Bed and Breakfast. Janice recommends some of the museums that are established in Baton Rouge, such as the Rural Life Museum.
Located in southern Louisiana, The Stockade Bed and Breakfast occupies 11 acres of land in the city of Baton Rouge. The establishment offers a total of five rooms for visitors to reserve, each of which contains a refrigerator, flat-screen TV, bottled water, coffee pot, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and other similar standard amenities. A particularly unique amenity provided at the bed and breakfast is the power outlets that are suitable for international plugs.
In addition to the accommodations, a few other rooms comprise the house, namely what the owner refers to as the "Party Room," where events are hosted, and the dining room, where breakfast is typically distributed. The Party Room also has an adjoining deck with tables and chairs for visitors to lounge on. Janice, the owner, describes the interior of the home as "eclectic" in view of the original artwork that adorns the majority of the rooms. While the property does not have an official store on-site, visitors can purchase bath robes, wine glasses, wine openers, coffee mugs, and sheets as memorabilia. It should also be noted that property-wide WiFi is available to patrons over the course of their stay.
Each morning a full Southern breakfast is served to everyone staying at The Stockade Bed and Breakfast. This meal typically consists of eggs, grits, hashbrowns, pancakes, and french toast, and is served starting at 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, and at 9:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Furthermore, muffins, fruit, cereal, tea, and coffee are arranged in the morning for those who prefer a more continental breakfast. Janice remarks that one of the favorite breakfast items among their guests is the pain perdu, a French term that translates to "lost bread" in English. In the words of the owner, the pain perdu that is made at the bed and breakfast is essentially french toast with the addition of white chocolate sauce. Visitors should be aware that those who have food allergies and dietary restrictions, such as gluten free, vegetarian or vegan, can be accommodated, provided that they give Janice advance notice. Janice also mentions that if guests need to eat before the appointed time that breakfast is served, she can work around their schedule.
Despite being located in a fairly urban district of Baton Rouge, much of the acreage that The Stockade Bed and Breakfast encompasses is wooded. At the front of the premises, yard space and a garden extend around the home. The natural surroundings in the bed and breakfast's vicinity often draw a considerable number of people who come to the area to go birding on the nearby trails, as observed by Janice. She explains that the property is "on Historic Highland Road, which is the old farm road that ran from New Orleans up to Baton Rouge." Across the street from The Stockade Bed and Breakfast, a few dining options are found, including Sammy's Grill Highland, George's Southside, and Johnny's Pizza. Along with these previously listed restaurants, Janice also suggests that visitors eat at Juban Restaurant and Bar, French Market Bistro, and Mansurs on the Boulevard. "Most people who tour the town want French Creole or Creole Cajun," Janice comments.
A number of attractions can be found in Baton Rouge. Several breweries and museums have been established throughout the city as well, and a fair amount of events are hosted there throughout the year. Some of the specific sites that Janice recommends people visit are the Rural Life Museum, Capitol Park Museum, New State Capitol, Hilltop Arboretum, and the Bluebonnet Swamp Tour. The museums that exhibit the city's historical significance tend to appeal to those who take an interest in Baton Rouge's history, especially the political aspect of it, according to Janice.
Janice, the owner of The Stockade Bed and Breakfast, has the goal of helping her guests feel "at home" during their stay. "It's comfortable and elegant, but it's not stuffy," she says. The art that decorates the house's interior is one particularly unique element of the bed and breakfast, and it is Janice's way of sharing her story with her guests, as she states that "every artist has their own story to tell." As a reflection of this, one of the accommodations, the Welch Room, is named after an artist as well. In addition to the bed and breakfast's physical character, Janice believes that she can achieve her goal of creating a homey atmosphere by striving to be aware of what her patrons may need and what their preferences are in terms of interaction. One person who previously stayed at the bed and breakfast commented in a review, saying, "Janice’s home is so welcoming and almost feels like you’re visiting with a family member." Janice remarks, "Many people have come here for getaways or business meetings, and they've been happy to stay here—as opposed to staying in a cookie-cutter hotel—because of the ambiance."
The aforementioned Party Room, where people can host events, has served as the setting for graduation parties, dinners, wine tastings, weddings, receptions, and other similar gatherings. While a number of people choose to hold their celebrations at The Stockade Bed and Breakfast, Janice says that the demographic of visitors is a wide range of individuals. The owner notices that couples primarily constitute the demographic as a whole. Janice also sees a relatively high quantity of repeat guests. As an establishment that operates year-round, The Stockade Bed and Breakfast often experiences its busiest season from September until November, which Janice states is due to the football games that are held in Baton Rouge.
A few policies are enforced at the establishment, which Janice expects everyone to abide by during their stay. Smoking inside the house is prohibited, though visitors are welcome to do so on the patio outside. Visitors must also refrain from bringing their pets to stay with them at the bed and breakfast as the property is not pet-friendly. Janice additionally notes that children are discouraged from staying at The Stockade Bed and Breakfast because the establishment is "somewhat of a romantic getaway."
The land on which The Stockade Bed and Breakfast is situated is listed on the national registry of historic places, according to Janice, the current owner of the business. She remarks, "We're one of the very few bed and breakfasts in Baton Rouge, and we are traditional, meaning we serve breakfast." The property's historical significance dates back to 1864, when it served as the site of the Civil War Stockade. The Wisconsin Cavalry was called into Louisiana to set up their campsite on the bank of the Mississippi River. Janice says that at the time, their campsite was based in what is now presently the bed and breakfast's backyard. She further explains that the back acres of the property are the lowlands, while the home is located on Highland Road, where the highlands are. In the past, the lowland would flood fairly often due to its position in the floodplain; however, Janice says that "the river doesn't flood anymore because it is now behind the levee system that was built by engineers in the 1930s." It wasn't until the year 1960 that the house was built on the acreage, becoming a place of residence for a family that Janice purchased the property from.
Janice did not expect to be led into the lodging industry. During her transition from her former occupation as an art dealer, which lasted roughly 35 years, she had initially bought The Stockade Bed and Breakfast to put her art gallery into. The city would not permit her to convert the home into an art gallery, thus leading her to open the business as a bed and breakfast. "It has been a good use of this property and this land," Janice expresses. She continues, "Although it wasn't specifically planned to be a bed and breakfast, it has become a blessing to me and the guests." A particularly significant update that was made to the property during Janice's ownership was the addition of the event room, which was built onto the side of the home. The owner has come to find that her favorite part about managing The Stockade Bed and Breakfast is "meeting people who come from all over the world, hearing their stories, and sharing mine."
8860 Highland Road
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808
United States
Eclectic
