May 4, 2020
Updated May 4, 2020. Original post published April 29 2020.
We have not had guests here for about 6 weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Blayne and I have been thinking about the future and what it will be like to be open for business as guests begin traveling. Based on updates from our governor and Public Health authorities, we understand that restaurants will be re-opening their dining rooms after May 31, and many state parks and outdoor recreation opportunities are opening over the next few weeks. As life gets more normal around the country, we expect that guests will start to travel again.
When that happens, we want to be here to provide a safe and welcoming home away from home for you. We also want to keep everyone healthy. We live here on the property, so we take our responsibility to keep everyone safe very seriously.With those goals in mind, we have put in place what we like to call our “Safety First” amenities when we open in late May.
Healthy Practices & A More Flexible Cancellation Policy
We request that our staff and guests wash their hands or use our provided hand sanitizer upon arrival and frequently throughout the day. Please wear a covering over your mouth and nose inside the house if you anticipate you will be closer than 6 feet from people other than your immediate travel companions. Naturally, we urge you to stay home if you are feeling ill, for the safety of yourself and others. If you are feeling unwell, you now have the option of canceling as late as 24 hours prior to arrival (rather than 7 days) with only a $20 cancellation fee.
Cleaning
We’ve been researching the best cleaning products and cleaning practices for Coronavirus and will be doing even more than ever to sanitize everything thoroughly between guests. We’ll also be cleaning the common areas throughout the day, especially the places guests touch most often like door knobs and hand rails. For your safety and ours, we will be offering daily housekeeping only upon request and will be coordinating with you to exchange towels, remove trash, and re-stock supplies as needed. We plan to schedule at least one extra day between guests to be able to spend extra time on cleaning and to limit the number of rooms available for reservations this summer to allow for more social distancing on the property.
Breakfast
To keep you safe, we will also be adding some new changes to breakfast. We will wear a mask and gloves when preparing and serving your food or if we anticipate we will be closer than 6 feet to you.
Guests may order a fresh, high quality, homemade continental breakfast board to be placed in the guest refrigerator the night before and eaten at your leisure in the privacy of your own room, or on the patio.
The breakfast will include freshly cut fruit salad, homemade pastries, hard boiled eggs, and a choice of Greek yogurt or homemade almond chia pudding. Gluten free pastries will be available on request. We’re still here to make you a fresh pot of local Storyville French Press Coffee, local Market Spice Tea, or a latte during regular breakfast hours from 8-9:30 and we have our Keurig machine 24/7.
We plan to offer a seated, hot breakfast option in the dining room when the current COVID-19 dining restrictions are lifted on June 1. Tables will be spaced at least 6 feet apart. After the restrictions are lifted, guests will continue to have the option of the continental breakfast available in the room or patio upon request.
Wine Hour
Wine Hour is currently on hold due to social distancing requirements, but we will be offering a complimentary bottle of wine (for guests 21 and up) and a snack plate including our famous homemade cookies upon arrival.
Check in
We plan to encourage minimal or no-contact self-check in procedures in order to keep a safe, 6-foot distance. Of course, we do live on site so we will be reaching out via text and phone as you arrive to direct you and answer questions and will be around the house to wave hello from a short distance. If you need in person assistance, we are always here for you!
A New Private Entrance for Ravenna Room
We’re excited about the new changes to our Ravenna room, and we hope you are too. This main floor room has some newly liberated French doors to our back patio so that you can come and go from your own private door (with only 2 steps!). Feel free to enjoy your own table and chairs for a glass of wine or coffee on the back patio, which has a special designation for guests staying in the Ravenna room.
Note: All guests have access to the patio in the front garden and the sitting area on the front porch too.
Thanks for reading about our “Safety First” amenities. We hope you interpret them in the way we intended, which is to show how much we care about you and keeping you healthy. As we move to phase 2 and phase 3 of the recovery from the pandemic, we will make more adjustments.
Please be confident and know that when you are ready to travel again, we are ready for you!