Inns for Sale

The inn hosts travelers from a number of large corporations in town providing this inn with year-round, mid-week business.  With a high level of repeat visitors, this inn boasts a large dining room, two parlors (one of which can double as a second dining room if desired), large quarters with huge bath and whirlpool and recently renovated kitchen complete with granite counter-tops, storage and elbow room.  The large owners’ quarters includes a HUGE private bedroom, office space (which could also serve as a 2^nd bedroom),  and oodles of storage and easy access to the hub of the inn.

A separately priced Carriage House, currently with two connected suites and a long-term rentable apartment is also available and can serve as alternate owner’s quarters to add flexibility to the use of the Main House for meetings, events, and conference space to add to the growth potential of this inn’s business.

Popular historical location!  Architecturally historical Inn!  Modern owners’ quarters!  Great mid-week corporate business!  Great price!  Just what every future innkeeper asks for!

So if the Bed &Breakfast of your dreams is a historic inn, with spectacular architectural interest, potential for additional growth, area attractions galore, and having strong business activity and occupancy,  this is the inn for you!

Price Reduced to $599,000.

Contact Marilyn Bushnell of The B&B Team® / Bushnell and Bushnell Services, Inc. for a tour.

Highlights of this Midwest Bed and Breakfast within walking distance of Principia College include:

• 5 guestrooms with ensuite baths (former 6^th guestroom with private ensuite bath currently used as a gift shop / antique room)
• .9 +/- acre lot (200’ x 200’)
• Spacious and separate 2 bedroom 2.5 bath owner’s home built in 1986 and Main Inn built in 1992
• Exceptional, separate but adjacent owner’s home with 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, office, library, kitchen and living room
• Located within the first village in its entirety to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973

First off, its important to note that Elsah is not a typical historic market. This charming village was, in fact, the first to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places in its entirety. While most of the homes in the village are privately owned, annual house tours and other events allow visitors to experience the gems within this village. Standouts include Farley’s Music Hall, a circa 1885 Music Hall that has long been a gathering place within the community, the Village of Elsah Museum located in the circa 1887 Village Hall, the circa 1857 Civic Center a former schoolhouse and cultural center, and beyond.

Green Tree Inn is well situated within the middle of Elsah and enjoys views of the historic properties that define the village. A benefit of ownership of this property is that both the Main Inn and adjacent owner’s home were built within the last 40 years. While these buildings are newer construction, the previous owners were sensitive to the historic context of the property and both properties are well situated within the community.

The Inn sits on three adjacent parcels which include the owner’s home, separate garage (with loft storage space for possible conversion or alternate use), and the Main Inn with its kitchen, gift shop and attached public bath (formerly a first floor, income producing guest room) and the main common space and breakfast area. A second floor screened in porch provides an ideal location for guests in the warmer months. Just beyond the Inn’s parking lot are three parcels with a newly constructed gazebo and small historic utility shed. Current owners envisioned this space for intimate weddings and family gatherings which could easily be packaged given the available facilities within the market. There are several areas outside of the Inn for guests’ enjoyment, including mature gardens and a labyrinth. Elsah is a community with a direct connection to nature which has been enhanced in recent years by the development of walking trails within the village to support the lifestyle of residents and promote tourism.

Very few Inns offer ample space for owner’s personal use making the 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath owner’s residence a particularly attractive feature of this offering.  This space includes a large open plan living space and kitchen, a sun porch, and office on the first floor. The second floor includes the two bedrooms with attached baths and a library room.

Elsah is home to Principia College, a liberal arts college founded in 1912 with Christian Science at its core. The college is well endowed and hosts countless distinguished speakers and prominent figures, including Barack Obama, Colin Powell, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Maya Angelou, Elie Wiesel, Robert Duvall, and countless others. Green Tree Inn is within a mile of the Principia College campus and is the closest lodging option within the market and the only quality choice for accommodation for a great distance.

There are myriad opportunities for outdoor recreation throughout the ever-changing landscape on the Mississippi River that connects Alton, Illinois, to the ever expanding seasonal destination of Grafton, Illinois, with its zipline, waterpark, horseback riding, ice skating, golf course, and burgeoning winery scene. Pere Marquette State Park (and its historic lodge and conference center) is located just beyond Grafton and offers 8,050-acres of protected landscape and offers breathtaking views of the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Pere Marquette Lodge is another draw.

Already, Elsah and the Green Tree Inn offer a striking combination of features to draw different guest profiles. Add to this market, the proximity to St. Louis, which sits just over the Mississippi River and is within a 35-minute drive of the Inn, and you have all the required elements to support a thriving hospitality business in the short and long term.  An added feature is the strong support of a tourism committee and progressive board that is actively promoting and supporting business ventures in this market.

The Inn sits on .43 acres; however, the side lawn and backyard feel spacious and the quality plantings/gardens of contiguous properties, and a small park just below the Inn, provide a bucolic setting for guests. A screened side porch provides the ideal setting for breakfast service as well as hosting drinks and hors d’oeuvres in the warmer months.

A recent addition to the Inn, The Potting Shed, makes Aldrich Guest House the first and only cannabis-friendly lodging option in the state. This space is separate from the Main Inn and gives guests the option to consume cannabis (no smoking is allowed inside either building per State Law) in a legal and responsible manner without inconveniencing others.  Future owners would have the option of continuing The Potting Shed for its current use or as an ancillary building for a multitude of possibilities.

You could not find a more appealing and marketable location for an Inn within the Galena market.

The Inn is within easy, walkable distance to downtown Galena which has an abundance of boutique shops, and diverse dining options – from casual fare to fine dining – and is a short drive from all of the other attractions worth noting in this destination location. Current owners have exceeded the expectations of guests with a focus on intuitive yet unobtrusive service. The Inn is the #1 Bed and Breakfast in Galena and Illinois on TripAdvisor and #11 in the United States, with nearly 1000 five-star reviews, putting Aldrich Guest House in the top tier of hospitality properties in the country. Additional awards include first runner-up in a national breakfast competition, first place in a garden competition, Best Romantic B&B by River Travel Magazine, and the Inn was a City of Galena GreenLeader Founding Member. The Inn’s financial performance reflects the success of the marketing and management of the business.

In addition to a strong physical presence and financial performance, Aldrich Guest House boasts a significant and well-established digital/online presence.

The website (aldrichguesthouse.com) was completely redone in December 2022 with a focus on Search Engine Optimization, ADA Compliance, responsive design across devices, performance, and speed.  In 2022, there were over 36,000 sessions and 29,000 users viewing an average of 3.5 pages per session with an average bounce rate of 36% which is significantly better than the industry average of 50%. There are over 4,000 subscribers opted-in to the newsletter with an average open rate of nearly 50% (industry average: 34.4%) with a click-through rate of over 5% (Information gathered from MailChimp account.)

Social media is also an essential part of the marketplace today with Facebook being the primary platform and Aldrich Guest House stands out in this area as well.  There are nearly 2,500 engaged and motivated followers with the majority being guests and/or the target audience/guest.  Instagram and Pinterest are also effectively used to supplement social media presence with Instagram targeting a younger audience and Pinterest being used to connect with guests for sharing recipes, tips and tricks, etc.

The B&B Team is pleased to offer this viable Bed and Breakfast at $975,000.00.

Contact Eben Viens of The B&B Team, Inn Partners LLC for details on this special Galena Illinois bed and breakfast for sale. 877-957-2360

Broker of Record: Joan Murray / Eagle Ridge Realty

The main inn includes 10 guest rooms, 1 guest suite, and several common spaces with fireplaces for guests to enjoy. There is also a beautiful restaurant and pub that is considered one of the best casual fine dining establishments in the area.

The Seabreeze Spa is a small cottage next to the Main Inn that offers a lovely sauna and guests massage services.

The Carriage House is a renovated barn that contains two guest rooms, one guest suite, and is set slightly away from the main inn. The suite features a living room with fireplace, full kitchen, a primary bedroom plus a sleeping loft.

The Garden Cottage is a spacious, stand alone cottage with comfortable a seating area, full bathroom and private outdoor porch.

This is an inn that checks so many boxes. Good size/number of rooms, events, food and beverage, literally steps from a popular coastal attraction, an owner’s apartment, and so much potential!

Furnished with exceptions. The Carriage House offers an oversize two car garage with potential living quarters above. The Inn represents simple elegance, has been immaculately maintained, and is truly unique. There are multiple living and dining spaces, a library, porches, sauna, custom cabinetry, hardware, a sound system, and hand laid Pennsylvania Blue Stone Terraces. The professional kitchen includes Wolf, Sub Zero, Traulsen, and Viking appliances. European French and Swedish antique furnishings. Custom mahogany moldings and doors. Fully renovated 2006-2012.

The main living areas are spacious and inviting, while the upper level offers four charming bedrooms, all with en-suite baths. Modern upgrades complement the preservation of period charm. A fifth suite on the main level, with its own entrance, is perfect for rental income or a private office. An attached one bed one bath apartment has been designed to function autonomously from the main house but could be re-integrated into the main house living area. A detached 2 bedroom 1.5 bath 700 SF detached cottage in the back of the property has its own address. Ideal for large families or as a rental, this property offers many possibilities. Three separate residences, one landmark property! Huge short term rental potential.