This home has history, space to spread out, modern comforts and the peace of being secluded in a wooded haven, yet restaurants are within walking distance! And, it's all yours! This is NOT a primary or shared residence. Its sole purpose is to provide you with a relaxing getaway without having to worry about host belongings or clutter! A modern kitchen with granite counter tops and amazing appliances greet you upon entry. The large formal dining room will take you back to the 1800's and feels more like a ballroom with its 11' ceilings. The stair landings will make you say "awww!" The parlor and living rooms provide main floor gathering spaces, while the former office provides a main floor bedroom. There is also a full bathroom on the main floor. We are excited to tell you that the sun room has been converted into a spa room, complete with a hot tub and sauna (separate access fee)!! The upper level has 4 bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths. The lower level has a more rustic feel like a pub, with natural wood beams overhead, and stone walls. The lower level also has another large bedroom as well as a full bathroom. Outside, if you didn't see it when you came in, you will find an amazing patio, complete with gas grill. That cute little cottage beside it has a queen bed, full bathroom, and kitchenette (separate access fee)! The rest of the farmstead has a large garage for our maintenance equipment. Check out the old silo beyond the parking area! Don't climb it, but stay tuned because we plan on renovating it into a lookout platform and maybe even unique additional living quarters! In our site photos, you’ll notice there are real hops growing on the side of the silo. The back pasture is more of an orchard with apple, cherry and other fruit trees that grace the property, and we have grape vines there, too.
Historic registry farmhouse w/country feel, but close to Notre Dame!
- Farmhouse4382 sq. ft.
- Bedrooms7
- Sleeps19
- Bathrooms4
- Half Baths1
- Min Stay2 - 7 nights
6 bedroom historic home with all updated modern comforts, in a peaceful setting!
Bedrooms
Property Manager
David Visser
- Speaks:
- english, german, spanish, dutch
- Calendar last updated:
- Oct 22, 2018
About David Visser
We grew up in southwest lower Michigan and have lived in the South Bend Area since 1990. We thoroughly enjoy this region! Hosting isn't our main work, but we have enjoyed providing hospitality in another home of ours since 2014. Our positive reviews can reassure you of our strong desire to make your stay at Kownover Farmstead an unparalleled experience.
David Visser purchased this Farmhouse in 2015
Why David Visser chose Granger
Built in 1877, Kownover Farmstead is on the Indiana Historic Registry. The young Kownover family relocated to this area from Pennsylvania and initially worked the land as farmers. Of Dutch heritage, the Kownover family ancestry has been traced back to one of the earliest settlers of New Amsterdam (New York City) and further back to the Netherlands in the 1500's. The home is one of the most solidly built structures of that day, and much of the credit goes to the family and caretakers over the last 138+ years. Today, the farmstead sits on 3 acres of the original sprawling estate. A separate quaint cottage for two is just across the patio from the main house. Almost like a doll house, it will capture your heart! Peaceful and private, Kownover Farmstead is your quiet getaway spot, or it can serve as your launchpad for other things to see and do in this beautiful part of the country!
Amenities
- Internet
- Air Conditioning
- Hot Tub
- TV
- Satellite or Cable
- Washer & Dryer
- Children Welcome
- Parking
- No Smoking
- Heater
Bathrooms
- 4 Bathrooms, 1 Half Bath
- Upper main bathtoilet, combination tub/shower, shower
- Main floor bathtoilet, shower
- Bathroom Lower leveltoilet, shower, Just added in 2016!
- Master bathtoilet
- Cottage bathroomtoilet, shower, Cottage is an optional add-on
Theme
- Romantic
- Family
- Away From It All
- Historic
- Sports & Activities
- Tourist Attractions
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- Internet
- Air Conditioning
- Linens Provided
- Washing Machine
- Clothes Dryer
- Parking
- Heating
- Towels Provided
- Wood Stove
- Iron & Board
- Hair Dryer
- Living Room
Kitchen
- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- Oven
- Microwave
- Coffee Maker
- Toaster
- Pantry Items
- Dishes & Utensils
- Kitchen
Dining
- Dining Area
- DiningAmish-style, dining table custom made out of original barn wood
- comfy seating for 18 people
Entertainment
- Television
- Satellite / CableComcast servic
- DVD Player
- Books
- Game Room
- Games
- Toys
Outside
- Lawn / Garden
- Outdoor Grill
- Deck / Patio
Pool / Spa
- SaunaSeparate Access Fee
- Hot TubSeparate Access Fee
Attractions
- water parks
- autumn foliage
- churches
- cinemas
- library
- museums
- playground
- botanical garden
- live theater
- coin laundry
- restaurants
- synagogues
- winery tours
- zoo
- festivals
Leisure Activities
- walking
- antiquing
- beachcombing
- bird watching
- gambling casinos
- outlet shopping
- sight seeing
- scenic drives
- photography
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- fitness center
- groceries
- hospital
- laundromat
- massage therapist
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- swimming
- cycling
- fishing
- skiing
- golf
- hiking
- pier fishing
Notes
- Our spa room has a 6-person, 300 gallon hot tub with 51 jets. The spa is also equipped with a 2-3 person dry sauna, all in a cozy garden room setting. The spa room is not included in the basic home rental, and there is a separate access fee for its use. Mention your interest in the inquiry and we will adjust your quote accordingly.
House Rules
Check-in: 5:00 PM
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date.
29 Reviews
Great place for a family get-together, plenty of parking, plenty of bed choices.
My husband loved the stove. Kids loved the big yard. Might want to suggest only younger/lighter children in top bunks. Are the mattresses coved with plastic sheets? Several people mentioned that the beds crunched every time they moved. We would recommend this place to our friends. Might want to tell the cleaning crew that there are spider webs in the light fixtures. Plenty of cooking utensils, plates and flat wear for everyone and that big table in the dining room was great! We filled it up.
Beautiful, spacious house and property
A hidden gem in the Granger/South Bend area. Hosts were easy to work with and the house was perfect. Hope to come back again!
Don't Miss This Opportunity!
This was our second stay at Knownover Farmstead with my entire family. The home accommodates a big family extremely well. Plenty of bedrooms and other rooms to spread out and not feel like you are on top of each other. We love the huge dining room table to get everyone around the same table. The amenities are an added bonus - we love the hot tub and sauna! The field in back was perfect for a family football game. And, the history of the home only adds to the unique experience. The best, however, is the owner, Dave Visser, who is incredibly gracious, accommodating and easy to work with. We will be returning next year!
Family gathering to enjoy a Notre Dame Football Weekend
Our extended family enjoyed our weekend in this lovely home as we visited our Notre Dame children and attended the Notre Dame Wake Forest Game. It was nice to have the outdoor area for the younger children to play and the fire pit for the adults to relax and spend time together. The additional cottage was a bonus! We would definitely recommend the farmhouse for your stay.
The entire property was far beyond our expectations.Charming,full of history,wonderfully furnished.
We were a group of 12, who came to the area for a football game. Our initial response when we first saw house was WOW!! The entire time we were there,WOW was repeated many times. The Fall foliage was beautiful,and we enjoyed walking the picturesque property. We really had a sense of the history
of the home. We also used the back cottage,which was very charming. The kitchen is large and able to accomodate many "cooks in the kitchen". One of our group is a chef who absolutely loved the range,commenting about it the entire time she was cooking. Having so many bathrooms was great,especially when traveling with so many people who are not related. If we return to the area for another football game,we will most definitely stay at Kownover Homestead. We didn't want to leave!! Thank you for such a wonderful experience.
nice property
We stayed for a Notre Dame game weekend and enjoyed the house. I think it is best at around 4 adult couples and then add some kids if you need to. Quiet neighborhood and peaceful historic home with good kitchen and huge dining room.
Map
Notre Dame is the biggest attraction of our community, with a beautiful campus and ivy-league architecture, top-tier sporting events and world class concerts. This college town is also home to Bethel College, St. Mary's College, Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) and Ivy Tech. But, don't discount the fun of Amish Acres' shows and the flea markets of Shipshewana, South Bend Chocolate Factory, and our own South Bend Cubs minor league baseball team! About 45 minutes away is New Buffalo, MI, where you can enjoy the entertainment at "Four Winds Casino Resort" and cap off the day with a beautiful sunset in Lake Michigan. Wine country of southwest lower Michigan, and Fernwood Botanical Gardens (Niles) are just a short drive away! Canoe the St. Joseph River or kayak South Bend's East Race. The Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend attracts major concerts and off-Broadway shows, and is home to the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. Elkhart is the recreation vehicle capital of the world and is home to the RV/Motor Home Hall of Fame and Conference Center, as well as Wellfield Botanical Gardens. One of the best regional zoos in the country has its home in South Bend's Potawatomi Park Zoo. Did you know that the Studebaker automobile was built right here in South Bend? Visit the Studebaker Museum, and dine at Tippecanoe Place, the former Studebaker mansion! You won't be disappointed. If outlet mall shopping is your thing, visit Michigan City for the "Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets" mall. South Bend is also home to the festive River Lights, an interactive light sculpture across the bridge on St. Joseph River, is the newest addition to the list of things to do and see. They were introduced in honor of SB's 150th birthday in 2015.