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Historical School House with Lake James chain access

Photo gallery for Historical School House with Lake James chain access

Exterior
Exterior detail
Exterior
Living area
Living area

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Highlights

  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Trine University
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Angola, IN
  • Place, Trine University
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Center For Performing Arts
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Booth Lake
    ‪19 min walk‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

Historical School House with Lake James chain access

Ever want to stay in a historical place? Well this could be a good fit for you. This home was originally West Ward School built in 1875. It operated as a school until 1912. In 1935 a couple purchased and converted the building into their home. In 1967 Knight and Lucille Whitman purchased the home where she lived until 2001. Lucille had a high end dress and beauty shop here in Angola for decades. She was ahead of her time! You can enjoy all of the architectural attributes inside as well as outside. This property is close to Trine University, several golf courses, Pokagon State Park, wineries, antique shops, The Outlet Shops and the Lake James Chain of Lakes. A unique added benefit of this home is that it ALSO includes a place to dock your boat with Lake James chain of lakes access! Bring your own boat or rent one. Enjoy the very best of both worlds.

Angola is listed as one of the top 12 charming small towns in Indiana.

. https://www.purewow.com/family/small-towns-indiana
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 1 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2250293
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 30
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the neighborhood

Angola

Located in Angola, this vacation home is in the city center. Zollner Golf Club and Glendarin Hills Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Pokagon State Park and Ball Lake Nature Preserve. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Angola Motor Speedway, or consider a night out at Red Barn Acres. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and water skiing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and horse riding.
View more Vacation Homes in AngolaOpens in a new window
Map
Angola, IN

What's nearby

  • Trine University - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Center For Performing Arts - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Cameron Memorial Community Hospital - 16 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Booth Lake - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Angola Commons Park - 19 min walk - 1.7 km

Getting around

  • Waterloo Station - 19 min drive
  • Fort Wayne Intl. Airport (FWA) - 57 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Love's Travel Stop - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Historical School House with Lake James chain access pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking?

Onsite parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Historical School House with Lake James chain access?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historical School House with Lake James chain access?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Historical School House with Lake James chain access located?

Located in the heart of Angola, this vacation home is within a 10-minute walk of Trine University, Zollner Golf Club, and Center For Performing Arts. Lions Park and Booth Lake are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

8.4

Very Good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 7 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 19 reviews

7.4/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

8.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

Becky B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Group of more mature women. You can only expect that we are looking for any dust. The air ducts could’ve been cleaned but other than that I felt it was OK. The washer was not working but a new one had been ordered. Nothing is ever perfect the host was amazing.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kirsten H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fascinating old place

The main part of the house is a historic gem. Lots of room for our whole family.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Catherine W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wedding stay

We had a great time at the historical school house. Lots of space and room for everyone to hang out and not feel cramped. Big yard and patio area allowed us to keep the fun going outside as well. Highly recommend this property for future vacations.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Ronald

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This an older home with unique character. Plenty of bedroom space.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved it overall.

Very eclectic and cozy! Loved the architecture and was very easy to access and communicate with owners. Would definitely go back.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brett F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Guys trip

Stayed at house for bachelor party. Big yard to hang out in and play games. Very interesting house with cool historical background. Perfect place for large groups because it has so many rooms to sleep in.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Carol F.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Lots of history

The property would benefit from a thorough cleaning. We needed to purchase more towels…there was only one towel per person. Everyone had their own space to sleep, which was great. It was overall an enjoyable stay.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 1, 2023
Thank you for your comments. So sorry about the lack of towels. Our cleaning lady just had surgery and she had some still out being laundered from the previous guest. We will address more deep cleaning. Appreciate you letting us know.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Linda M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Weekend!

Our granddaughter was getting married at Cold Springs Resort so I was looking for a place that would accommodate 8 adults comfortably. At the time I looked this was the only listing that came up, and I was really excited about it. Needless to say it did not disappoint! Plenty of space, character and history! What a perfect weekend all around!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

S B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

About what was expected

It was a very old property. It could use new sheets and bed coverings. Some of the dishes seemed like they were put away dirty. All of our communications were pleasant.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Karen J S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Interesting old Victorian in a quiet neighborhood

This large old house is a work-in-progress. With 5 bedrooms, there was plenty of room for my family- 4 adults & 2 children (6 & 12). Bedrooms were spacious and quiet, but the mattresses were uncomfortable for 3 of the adults. 3 full bathrooms were a nice surprise. The kitchen was small, but very well equipped. Multiple floor levels posed a tripping hazard for older adults /younger kids. The air conditioning was a welcome feature in the 90+ heat. We all enjoyed the atmosphere of the old place. Once it is fully restored, it will be lovely!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 28, 2022
Thank you for your input Karen. We will put some warning tape on the step down area near the entrance where there are different levels. That is structural so it cannot be changed. It was the entrance to the original school. 3 of the mattresses are new but maybe we can add a foam top to make them more comfortable.
Verified

8/10 Good

Trina B.

Liked: Communication
Disliked: Check-in, listing accuracy

school house rock

A couple hours of yard work/cleanup would make the initial impression much better. There was a pile of yard junk in the covered area on the garage. The perimeter of the yard was overgrown. Nothing a couple hours of weeding and trimming wouldn't fix. It had been raining there for several days. Yard work can easily get ahead of you when that happens. Due to the rain, there were some funky smells. They dissipated during the week, with the help of fans and a/c units with dehumidifiers. Owner was great and responded quickly when called about a minor electrical shortage. She was also great with a slip for the boat we had for the week. Very helpful and super considerate! One thought, there are several small level differences in room entries and up the stairs. If you have toddlers with you, you might want to bring a safety gate for their protection and your relaxation level! Great character in the school house. Love the pictures and history left for us to read!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 8, 2021
Thank you for the review. We have been working on this property since the day we owned it. It needed lots and lots of work. Our yard man has been continuing to work on the upkeep of the yard but lots of rain did not help that. You are right that it’s not really set up for toddlers. It’s a historical schoolhouse turned into a home. So glad you enjoyed the chain of lakes here. A true treasure.
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Emily S.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

needs a clean out

I hate to leave a negative review but the lack of cleanliness and the assortment of old, rundown furniture can't be overlooked! This historic school itself is really awesome- the actual structure of the original part with the refurbished wood floors. Why the current owner would fill it with a TON of rundown couches, coffee tables, chairs, lamps from the 60's, 70's, 80's is just weird! Then adding a bunch of fake plants and bowls of pinecones that are never dusted- why? There was dust everywhere and all the plates, utensils etc had to be rewashed before using because they felt sticky. The bathrooms were clean and we didn't mind the funkiness of the pink 50's tile in one or the red sink, textured wallpaper 60's vibe of one of the others but one of the toilets wouldn't flush properly and that is a problem. The icky 70's addition onto the original schoolhouse should be closed off. It's off-putting, especially entering the house that way. Why not use the beautiful original front door? When you enter through the addition, it immediately smells like mildew and we found out why when it rained: water seeps in that entry door on to the carpet. The upstairs bedroom was the only room that felt open and airy because the windows actually open (unlike downstairs) and it's not overrun with old furniture. BUT take it a step further and get new curtains and fan and get rid of the dusty blinds and old fan! Has so much potential but needs a major clean out!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 14, 2023
Emily, this is exactly why we are not going to rent it on airbnb after Aug 15th. There was a whole week of cleaning every single thing after students moved out May 15th. Thought it was an interesting home and is to most people. It would have only been a 2 bedroom if we didn't add the extra 3 bedrooms on. The beautiful antique front door has an uneven walk way up to it so for safety purposes and easier parking the back door is a better choice. For the record there is no carpet in the entire home, just area rugs. Not sure why the plates and utensils were sticky. Every piece of kitchenware was hand washed before the first guest arrived in May. The toilet you are talking about flushed fine when the cleaning lady went. Most likely someone put too much toilet paper down it. Never had a problem before. By the way all of the floor to ceiling curtains are original to the home. I am sorry that you had a bad experience. The original owner Lucille Whitman who was a very prominent business lady in town would be very disappointed in your cutting remarks about her choice in colors etc. We tried very hard to keep her theme.
Verified

8/10 Good

Jack F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great intern location

This property was convenient and met all our needs. The owners are pleasant to deal with. It is easy to reach all area attractions and restaurants.
Stayed 12 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Nathan M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion Visit

Proximity was great for a family reunion on Lake James. We enjoyed the space and had a great time visiting. While we enjoyed the history of the school house, we wish it had been cleaned a bit more thoroughly. Thanks for helping us make the family reunion!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Dawn S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Time

The property was very unquice. The living room was amazing it afforded a space for all of us to sit comfortably and be together in one room. Their was plenty of beds and bathrooms that you never had to wait when one was in use.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

6/10 Okay

Jarrell W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

Rain, rain go away. Yea, it did.

We all agreed we would bypass properties that say “historic “ The property is great for …., but not us. The was only one TV and all the lights outlets had low wattage bulbs. Mildew was a problem in one bathroom. Furniture is a bit worn but there is plenty of it. Yet we still had a good time cause the place was big enough for the 10 of us.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Mary G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lots of space for our big family

We had 8 adults and an infant. It’s not easy finding places to accommodate such a large group. This property had plenty of space and we really enjoyed playing games outdoors under the lights. Though no fault of the owners we watched a neighbors car get repo’d last night. We loved the character of this historic property. Being an older home there were some minor maintenance and/or cleaning issues that needed attending to, but nothing that negatively affected our stay. We appreciated that the owner brought a high chair and crockpot for us to use and allowed us to check in earlier than the stated check-in time. The property is right by (one block) Trine University on a huge lot with a nice yard and fire pit. The kitchen had lots of dishes, utensils and cook/bakeware. The linens were of nice quality. We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

David F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun and Unique House

We enjoyed our stay. Close to many attractions including golf, lakes and bars. Very unique home
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mary K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place

We really enjoyed our stay. The fire pit was fun. The owner was very responsive. Was a great “meet in the middle place” to get together.

About the host

Hosted by Tracey Musser

Host profile image
We purchased this beautiful property in 2016 with the intentions of renovating and renting it out. Tracey was born and raised right here in Angola while Tom enjoyed life in Ft Wayne. Together we pride ourselves in providing a clean home and property with the extra added amenities. We hope you enjoy this historical and stunning property.

Why they chose this property

This property is unique as it was originally built and did operate as a school house. The roof is copper and there is intricate exterior brick work that adds to the beauty.

What makes this property unique

A benefit to this property is that it is located within walking distance to the university so parents with future students can familiarize themselves with the campus while enjoying their stay. The property is also close to many golf courses and lakes.

Languages:

English, Spanish, Arabic
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