Welcome to A Scholarly Retreat, just a stroll from campus
Built in 1921 and loved ever since, A Scholarly Retreat is an inhabited house in University Heights. 18 minutes to the Stadium and 15 to Eddy Street on foot. You will be cocooned in William Morris wallpaper as you sit on a pew from the Basilica, soaked in lamplight. Two bedrooms, one bath — with a separate toilet and shower for privacy — and rooms that make you want to stay longer than you planned. Some places you visit. This one you return to.
---------------------------------------------------- A Scholarly Retreat University Heights, South Bend
The house was built in 1921 and has belonged to the same family ever since. You can feel that when you walk in. William Morris wallpaper. Rooms lined with books that have been read and maps of places that have been visited. A striped ceiling painted by someone who cared. Lamps that cast the kind of light that makes everything look like it did before fluorescence was invented. It is not a decorated house. It is an inhabited one. University Heights is the neighborhood Notre Dame families have always known. The Stadium is eighteen minutes on foot. The main campus entrance, fifteen. Saint Mary's College, twenty-five. Holy Cross, fifteen. Eddy Street, fifteen. There is a driveway for two cars and the street outside is quiet. Two bedrooms. One bath, with a separate toilet and shower for privacy. A dining room with rose-colored walls, a long sideboard, and a pew from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart along one wall. You will know what that means or you will learn. A sitting room where the conversation goes later than anyone intended. A kitchen that is ready for whatever the weekend calls for. Three minutes from the door the riverwalk begins, and if you follow it you will find yourself in downtown South Bend twenty minutes later without having noticed the time passing. There is also a garden, for the morning or the evening or both.
The Particulars The house sleeps four in proper beds — a king in the primary bedroom and a queen in the second — with a pullout double available if needed. Everything is on one floor. The kitchen is stocked the way a kitchen should be. Nespresso Vertuo machine, French press, moka pot, tea kettle. Coffee and tea provided. Every piece of cookware and bakeware you would actually reach for, including an air fryer. Charcoal grill in the garden with everything you need to use it. Filtered drinking water at the sink, water softener throughout, ice maker in the freezer. Bathrooms are stocked with Malin & Goetz. Notepad and pen by every bed and at every desk. Hair dryer, iron, ironing board. There is no washer or dryer on site, but a local laundry service offers pickup and dropoff — details in the house book. The second bedroom has a Peloton and a water rowing machine, free to use. Self check-in via keypad. Full details sent before arrival. Some places you visit. This one you return to. -------------------------------------------------------------------
Check-in is at noon and checkout at 3pm, with flexibility on both when the calendar allows — just ask in advance and we will do our best to accommodate.
From time to time we are able to offer Notre Dame football tickets for purchase. Inquire when booking and we will let you know what we have available.
A Scholarly Retreat is a non-smoking property. No pets, please. The neighborhood is quiet and residential — the kind of place where people have lived for a long time and intend to keep doing so.
Add dates for prices
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Similar properties
Awesome Unbeatable 5-Star Location…walk to ND in 10 minutes!
Harters Heights
Awesome Unbeatable 5-Star Location…walk to ND in 10 minutes!
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
South Bend
Harters Heights, a neighbourhood in South Bend, is home to this holiday home. DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and Compton Family Ice Arena are local attractions and those in the mood for shopping can visit University Park Mall and Heritage Square Shopping. Travelling with kids? Consider Morris Performing Arts Center, or check out an event or a game at Notre Dame Stadium.
Morris Performing Arts Center - 4 min drive - 1.4 km
Notre Dame Stadium - 5 min drive - 1.8 km
Century Center Convention Center - 5 min drive - 1.8 km
St. Mary's College - 6 min drive - 2.1 km
Getting around
South Bend Station - 13 min drive
South Bend, IN (SBN-South Bend Intl.) - 16 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 16 min walk
Burger King - 19 min walk
Brothers Bar & Grill - 14 min walk
The Local Cup - 3 min drive
Taco Bell - 3 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Welcome to A Scholarly Retreat, just a stroll from campus pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Welcome to A Scholarly Retreat, just a stroll from campus?
As of 7 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Welcome to A Scholarly Retreat, just a stroll from campus on 15 Sept, 2026 start from S$830, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Welcome to A Scholarly Retreat, just a stroll from campus?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Welcome to A Scholarly Retreat, just a stroll from campus?
Check-in begins at 12:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Welcome to A Scholarly Retreat, just a stroll from campus?
Checkout is at 3:00 PM.
Where is Welcome to A Scholarly Retreat, just a stroll from campus located?
This family-friendly South Bend holiday home is located in Harters Heights, within 1 mi (2 km) of Memorial Family Medicine Center and Notre Dame Stadium. University of Notre Dame is 2.6 mi (4.2 km) away.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This is a delightful property in a quiet area with good access to both ND and Holy Cross. The hosts were incredibly responsive and thoughtful throughout our stay!
Very eclectic and quirky but just our speed! The host was lovely and left us special treats. We enjoyed the antiques and the love that this couple have poured into the home. Would stay again!
This house is beautiful. Decorated with exceptional attention to detail, the place is perfect for two couples, a family of 4 or more. Allison was very responsive, made sure we had a smooth check in process, and left us some surprise treats for our arrival. There is one bathroom for 2 rooms ( Or 3 if someone is staying in the study), but the toilet is separately accessed from the shower/sinks area so it isn't the inconvenience you'd imagine. The neighborhood is lovely, and a 25 minute walk to Notre Dame campus, 5 minute Uber. Highly recommend staying here.
Brendan D.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
About the host
Hosted by Allison
I am a theologian by training — I studied at Saint Mary's College and then at the University of Oxford, where I met my husband, who is British and Scottish. We brought the best of both worlds home to South Bend with us. This house belonged to my great-grandmother. We restored it ourselves, room by room, and filled it with the things we love: William Morris wallpaper, good lamps, books that have actually been read, maps of places worth going. The tartan blankets and pieces you will find throughout the house are associated with our family lineage — they belong here as much as the wallpaper does. We became hosts because we wanted people who love this place as much as we do to have somewhere worthy of the occasion. Notre Dame weekends deserve better than a hotel two exits down the interstate.
Why they chose this property
University Heights sits at the edge of Notre Dame's campus in the way that feels intentional — close enough that the walk to the game is part of the day, far enough that the street is quiet when you get home. I grew up understanding what it means to be part of this community. Hosting here feels like an extension of that.
What makes this property unique
The house was built in 1921 and has never left the family. There is a pew from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in the dining room. The wallpaper is William Morris. The books have been read. It is the only place I know of in South Bend where you can walk to the Stadium, sit in a room that feels like an Oxford common room, and wake up the next morning to coffee already waiting. It is not a decorated house. It is an inhabited one.
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests