Where are you located?
We are located in downtown Traverse City, MI in the Boardman Neighborhood Historic District near the corner of State Street and Wellington Street. Just two blocks to downtown and three blocks to the water. It’s truly the perfect location to soak in all Traverse City has to offer.
We’ve included a map below to help get an idea of the city.
When was the house built?
The house was built in 1865. It is one of the oldest remaining homes in Traverse City and we’ve done our best to renovate to modern standards, but still keep the historic charm throughout the entire home. Our home is located in the Boardman Neighborhood Historic District which is a dense residential district and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We have a special plaque near our front door. Our research has led us to believe it is the fourth oldest remaining house in Traverse City.
How private is the space?
The space you will be renting is located on the left side of the home. Separate entrance, separate space. We’ve traveled all over the world and stayed at many short term rentals and we know how important privacy is. We’ve fully renovated the space and made sure to pay special attention to the layout, insulation and privacy. We live here full time, so we want it to be comfortable for both parties. We live fairly quiet and private lives, it is just us (Caleb and Tiffany) and our small dog, Marcy. You might see us hanging out in our backyard, tending to our plants, or restoring our portion of the home, but for the most part we will stay out of your way unless you need something.
You have a small patio that is yours only, but remember we do live in the city so there are neighbors and people walking by all the time.
How can I book?
Currently all short term rental bookings are made through Airbnb.
Can you provide the exact address before booking so I can map out my itinerary?
For safety reasons we like to keep this private. Please refer to the map above to get a general idea of where we are located. After you book your stay you will receive the address through Airbnb.
What about parking?
There is one reserved spot for you in our alley. It is not covered from the elements, so please keep that in mind.
What is included in our stay?
Feel free to take a virtual tour of the space to get a visual of what the space looks like and what is included.
Expect things like a TV, card games and books for those unexpected rainy days, bath products and a hair dryer in the bathroom. A kitchen stocked with a small coffee maker, microwave and a few locally made snacks and water bottles, just in case. Outside you’ll find a small bistro set for sipping your coffee and soaking up that Michigan morning air. Let’s not forget the WiFi either, we have fiber internet!
How many people does the space sleep?
We currently offer one queen size bed. The space is quite cozy and is ideally set up for two adults max.
How large is the space?
It is around 300 square feet.
What about internet/workspace options?
We offer WiFi to all of our guests (we have fiber internet!) and we have a collapsible table and chair set if you need to get some work done during your stay.
Is your water filtered?
Why, yes, it is! It is triple filtered. The water in the shower is softened too, so say goodbye to itchy skin and bad hair.
I have an Airbnb payment question, can you help?
When it comes to Airbnb payment, billing, gift cards, etc. we do not have access to any of that information as hosts. If you have any payment questions, please reach out to the Airbnb customer service team.
Do we have control of the temperature?
We have one window AC unit placed in the window in the bedroom which will cool down the space quite nicely. It does make some noise, but it is a brand new 2021 AC unit so it works well and isn’t too loud.
What is the check in/ check out process like?
Check in is 4pm. We have an electronic keypad to make the process easy. A few days before your stay you will receive the detailed check in instructions from us via Airbnb. Everything is spelled out clearly, but if you have questions you can always contact us.
Check out is 10am. We ask that you tidy up any used items and wash all of the used dishes and place them back in their original location. We will take care of the rest, thank you!
What if I need to check in early/check out late?
We try to stick to our 4pm in and 10am out schedule as much as possible to allow for proper cleaning and disinfecting time. If you have a special request, feel free to contact us and we can discuss options.
What is included in the kitchenette?
Our kitchenette includes a small sink, mini fridge, plates, cups/mugs and silverware for four, a small coffee maker (we provide the keurig pods!), small half and half/ vanilla creamer pods, microwave and small selection of local snacks and water.
Do you allow pets?
At this time we do not allow pets to stay at the 1865 Inn.
Do you have blinds in each of the rooms?
Yes, it can be hard to tell in the photos as they are pulled all the way up and very minimal. The two windows in the living space have pull down shades, as does the one window in the bedroom and entryway. The small window in the door also has a pull down shade. There is a set of frosted pocket doors closing off the bedroom from the entryway.
What if I need to make changes to my booking?
All bookings, cancellations, and updates to bookings are handled through Airbnb.
Can you hold a specific date or date range for me?
No, at this time our bookings are a first come first serve basis via Airbnb.
Can I park my car onsite before the check in time?
If you are in need of a parking space before your check in time, reach out to us in advance. It’s possible that we can make this happen for you.
Can you recommend any great restaurants/activities, etc. nearby?
Yes, absolutely! After you book, please reach out to us via the Airbnb message platform and tell us a little about what you are looking for (cuisine, price point, atmosphere, specific activity, etc.). The more details you share with us, the better we can help.
We are bringing our bikes with us, anything we should know?
It’s super easy to bike around town, so that is great that you are bringing your bikes along. Although rare, bike thefts do occur, so don’t forget a bike lock. We don’t currently have any storage for your bikes, so they will need to be kept outside of your suite.
What are the house rules?
We ask that you remove your shoes upon entry to keep the space clean and to protect our old wood floors.
Review the fire escape/exit plan and noise ordinance upon arrival, these are located in frames posted in the entry way near the door.
No smoking - inside or outside. No smoking of any kind on the property.
No parties or events (this means no more than two people inside the unit and each person must be registered with us).
No fireworks.
No fires.
No pets allowed.
No illegal substances.
No unregistered guests on the property.
No hair dying or dying of any item on the property.
No electric skillets, hot plates, crock pots, or any other cooking appliances may be used on the property.
No candles.
No painting inside or outside the property.
Do not use our white washcloths to remove your makeup. Please use the provided disposable makeup remover wipes or the black cotton washcloths labeled “makeup”.
Do not stand on any of the chairs, stools or any furniture to reach something (most are antiques!). If you need to adjust or reach anything up high, which you shouldn’t, please contact us.
Make sure to turn off the lights and any personal electronics when you leave the property. Don’t forget to close the windows and lock the door.
Do not leave the overhead café lights on overnight, the porch light by the door is okay to leave on overnight.
Please do not re arrange the furniture.
Please be respectful of your noise level at all hours. Quiet hours begin at 10:00 PM EST. Review the noise ordinance policy posted in the entryway for more details.
We’ve done our best to separate each of our spaces and it should be fairly obvious, but if not, please keep to your side of the house (the east side) and use only your pathway (along the fence line, made of crushed stone). The rest of our property is off limit.
Please properly use the garbage and recycle bins labeled inside of the space. If you have questions about what is acceptable in each bin, please reach out.
Report any damages and/or breakages in a reasonably timely manner. Damages exceeding the security deposit amount must be paid by guests and will be reported to Airbnb.
All snacks, toiletries, drinks, etc. are complimentary. Please enjoy them!
Failure to not comply with the house rules will result in immediate eviction.
We ask that you treat our space like you would treat your own home. This is a very old home, please treat it, and the items in it, with respect. If you need anything from us or have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via the Airbnb messaging system.
Do you give back to the community?
Yes, we do! We are animal lovers and a portion of each booking is donated to various local No Kill Animal Shelters across Northern Michigan. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if you have a charity that you believe strongly in. We are always looking for new ways to help and support those who need it.
I’d love to share my positive experience staying at 1865 Inn with friends, family and strangers, where is the best place to do that?
Wow, thank you! We welcome any feedback by email or our contact us page. Spreading the love through word of mouth or social media is always the best way to share such positive experiences. You can also leave us a review on Airbnb after you complete your stay.
I saw a few items that I liked in the space, are you open to selling?
Absolutely! We try to keep the space beautifully and minimally decorated with vintage and antique pieces, so we are flattered to hear you liked what you saw. It’s something we would need to discuss more in private, but it is definitely a possibility. Please reach out to us directly about the items you are interested in.
Do you have social media accounts?
At this time we have an Instagram account. Check us out at @1865Inn for more photos and the latest updates. Please tag us in any photos you take of the 1865 Inn, we’d love to see and might even repost on our page (with your permission)! Use the hashtag #1865Inn.
