The Davenports (Paul and Janell) of Bellevue, Ohio opened Harpster-Davenport Guest House to the public in the spring of 2010 with little fanfare but with much success.
Not many people in the United States are familiar with the term “guesthouse”.
They are, however, a well-known commodity in most parts of the world.
A true guest house is far different than a better-known bed and breakfast. A guest house offers the traveler more private living space including a well-stocked kitchen for self-made meals, a private entry as well as other important amenities not often found elsewhere such as Wi-Fi, cable/satellite, personal concierge and business services, hot tub and private outdoor dining area. What these differences mean to the traveler is the ability to enjoy “home style” lodging combined with a full range of other creature comforts and no other guests to contend with.
The Harpster-Davenport Guest House second floor lodging offers all of this and more. You have a private drive with ample space including that for boats, motorcycle and bicycles. An old world pergola with fire pit and stocked firewood are at the rear of the property for your enjoyment as well as large yard to enjoy outdoor games, parties and events. A private ground floor patio with gas grill, table and chairs are for your personal use and at your doorstep is a second floor balcony from which you can see afar. Additionally, the quiet and pastoral rural setting of the Harpster Davenport Guest House is near many of north-central Ohio’s multitude of attractions and close to town for personal needs.
Travelers from many parts of the country enjoyed not only the Davenport’s hospitality but also the casual ambiance, affordability and most importantly the new, old world concept in lodging for travelers. Guesthouses, as stated before, have been utilized for many years all over the world but have not been introduced here in the U.S to any extent until recently. This concept is changing. It is a change many guests have taken advantage of and heartily agree was a long awaited and welcome addition to other more conventional quarters.
Not only have the Davenports inaugural years’ success spurned them on, they too have taken pleasure in the enjoyment they in turn receive from their various guests. Now they are equally happy and proud to announce their newest addition in living quarters for travelers. As unique, comfy and causal as their existing guest house is, they are now in the process of completing the “Dancing Fox Cabin”. This antique-looking, shed-roofed building has been re-created from salvaged barn components and other vintage structures from numerous sites surrounding Bellevue and surrounding 4 county area. Its theme or more precisely character is that as the name suggests, a gentle rustic cabin. Dancing Fox features hand-hewn beams, barn siding, interior antique board and batten wall cladding, reclaimed metal roofing, wooden horse stall dividers used as porch railings combined with an interior well-stocked with a variety of primitive style antiques and cozy furnishings. From the moment you leave your auto and begin walking under the abundant Maple tree following the meandering path to the cabin…you’ll know you have arrived at something very special. Once you step through the original swinging barn door and into its interior you’ll be swept back to a more serene, bucolic and peaceful time in our nation’s history. Wide-plank flooring, walnut pie safe, cast iron wood stove, multi-paned windows, cross-buck dining table, dry sink and all the other pieces of yesterday lend themselves and beckon you to “rest your soul”. This causal and comfortable setting is sure to invoke a step back in time while enveloping you with peaceful feelings. Although the facts have not been verified…they believe this may indeed be a one-of-a-kind stopover for the “North Coast” traveler. Additionally, the Davenports have also created what they call a “friendship garden”.
As travelers and friends come and go, they bring plants, cuttings, seeds and seedlings to plant throughout the gardens. Thus, they too become a part of the living and growing history of this continuing legacy.
Both the guest house and now too the cabin are based upon the circa1842 homestead. It was originally built by David Harpster and family. Samuel T. Sparrow first purchased the land via a land grant issued and signed by then President of the United States, Martin Van Buren. David, his mother and two brothers moved here from Pennsylvania and all built homes. The two brother’s homes are still standing and can been seen from the Harpster-Davenport Guest House. One of the interesting facts of the Harpster-Davenport Guesthouse is the origins of a local Evangelic church had its roots within this home. The three brothers and one other local gentleman created a house-to-house service to provide for their spiritual needs. The church continued and expanded as the area was further settled and now rests at its current location in Bellevue. The Davenport’s home is depicted in the 1893 Sandusky County Atlas as a steel engraving.
In that engraving one can see Mr. Harpster heading back to the main barn as his wife is waving goodbye to a female friend aboard a horse-drawn surrey. This rendering would readily suggest that the three had just finished an enjoyable lunch together and then all headed back to their daily chores. It’s not that much different than what happens at the Harpster-Davenport Guesthouse on a daily basis. Family, friends and travelers coming together and are always welcome.
Our Guest House features a private second floor entrance, completely outfitted kitchen, breakfast room, livingroom, bedroom and bath. Nicely decorated with country casual furnishings, quality line dried linens, wifi, cable with flat screen TV stereo with iPod connectivity and so much more! Other amenities include your own balcony, ground floor private patio with seating and gas grill, shared 6 person outdoor hot tub, old world pergola with firepit and seating and we supply the wood, large yard for roaming, private drive all in a country setting yet 5 minutes to town! We are only 25 minute from Cedar Point and near many northcoast attractions and activities! We look forward to meeting you.
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