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Grant Street Inn A lesson in living well Visiting IU in Bloomington doesn’t always involve a pull-out sofa. There aren’t any university buildings at 310 N. Grant St. in Bloomington, but you can always find class there. Peek inside a sprawling but unpretentious yellow house tucked amid the trees on that corner, and you’ll find an oasis of style and formality. The Grant Street Inn is an ornate bauble packaged in a humble paper bag. Maybe it’s a peer pressure thing. College students are a pretty casual crowd, and the houses up and down the street reflect that laid-back approach to unnecessary effort. While the Grant Street Inn’s façade is well-kept and neat, it doesn’t put anyone else to shame. Nor does it belie the interior, a cool, conservative and elegant quiet that makes guests instinctively whisper. Heavy layers of draperies, crown molding and ceilings that stretch 11 feet high dim boisterous chatter as guests stand still to take it all in. Flip-flops are still fine – it is a college town, after all – but suddenly, sliding on a pair of well-tailored heels doesn’t sound as ludicrous as it might have outside just moments ago. What’s truly remarkable about the Grant Street Inn is its cohesiveness, inside and out. As organic as the exterior seems, it didn’t sprout that way; rather, the inn was carefully grafted together. The main house was built by William P. Rogers, dean of the Indiana University School of Law, for his new wife in the 1890s. It changed hands several times, serving as both a private and a student residence until 1990, when it was moved to its current location to serve as the centerpiece of the Grant Street Inn. It was joined to the Gilstrap house at the corner of Grant and 7th streets; two more rooms were added in 1996 to achieve the present total of 24. Innkeeper Paul Wagoner is eager to share details of this twist on moving day. He offers to show guests photos of the house as it is transported across town, to point out the original pocket doors now used as headboards, to tell the history of a fireplace salvaged from yet another house, the only item left standing after a devastating tornado. When the Grant Street owners, the Cook family in Bloomington, began renovation, the pieces truly were coming apart at the seams. Rogers’ home had most recently been subdivided for student housing. “By the time we got our hands on it, it didn’t look like it does now,” Wagoner said. They did a fine job of stitching things together. The only clues to the inn’s construction are the rambling halls that lead up, down and around to various rooms. Our room was at the end of one such hall, with a second entrance from the wrap-around porch facing the street. Its dramatic proportions were accentuated by deep burgundy paint on the walls and rich drapes around the bay window. Each room has its own character, but all include modern amenities such as climate control (useful considering how frigid the nearby breakfast room was), private baths and televisions. Our stay would have been completely restful but for the pillows, filled with some hard, unusual, wadded-up substance. A bag of pea gravel might have proved more comfortable – at least you can shift it around. I would suggest you bring your own pillow, but Wagoner mentioned he just ordered a new supply after our stay. After getting settled in our room, we headed downtown for dinner at the ever-popular Malibu Grill. We hopped in the car and made a few laps around the square looking for a parking space. As we passed Seventh Street on Lap 2, we realized another of the Grant Street Inn’s attributes: It’s just a few blocks west of Bloomington’s shops, dining and nightlife. Chances are, the inn is closer to your destination than any parking spot you’ll land. Leave your car safely in the lot and walk. It’s a short drive to campus, too, from the Grant Street Inn, making the bed-and-breakfast a top choice for Indiana University parents. Rooms are nearly impossible to come by from late September to early November. Call now to secure a spot yet this fall or travel in spring – just check IU’s calendar for sure-to-be-sold-out weekends. While Indiana University and Bloomington brim with obvious amenities such as the IU Art Museum and Oliver Winery, the Grant Street Inn is a destination in and of itself. The two chefs on staff have earned quite a reputation for their massive breakfast spread, which on the Sunday we stayed included several types of biscotti; an assortment of muffins, bagels and bread; various breakfast casseroles; sausage; two cakes; fruit; oatmeal; homemade granola cereal; and surely more that I’ve forgotten. People often ask for recipes, Wagoner said, but the dishes are straight from the chefs’ imagination. And while the bass from passing cars and the proximity of college bars remind guests of the energetic pulse just outside, the Grant Street Inn offers a refined respite within. Located in the heart of the action, the bed-and-breakfast allows guests to slow their pace for a minute, check their e-mail, relax with a cookie, a cup of tea and a newspaper before hitting the street again. The Grant Street Inn is ideal for those finished with school, but still looking for class. The Grant Street Inn 310 N. Grant St. Bloomington, IN 47408 1-800-328-4350 www.grantstinn.com Rates range from $114 for a regular room weekdays to $219 for a large suite during the fall season and on special event weekends. No children or pets. Check in: 3 p.m.; check out: noon. Malibu Grill 1-812-332-4334 www.malibuhospitality.com Oliver Winery 1-800-25-TASTE www.oliverwinery.com Indiana University Art Museum 1-812-855-5445 www.iub.edu |
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