Wisconsin Bed and Breakfast Association

French Country Inn of Ephraim

Reservation Policies:

Advanced reservations are recommended and minimum stays are usually required (one night stays are sometimes available). We ask that your deposit check, equal to one night's stay, reaches us within five days after making a reservation request. If you are unable to honor your reservation, we must have a 14 day notice or be able to re-rent your room in order to return your deposit. A $10 handling fee is charged for all cancellations.

2007 Room Rates:*

The rates below are for a two night stay May through October. Add $5 to these rates for a one night stay

Room #1 $97/night

Originally, this room was a porch area of the house. It has windows along two sides of the room and opens on to an outside deck area on the back of the house. The room has a double bed with antique headboard (no footboard) and a private bath with shower.

Room #2 $97/night

This room is the mirror image of Room #1 and opens to the front porch. There is a small sitting room between rooms #1 & #2 that is shared by those rooms.

Room #3 $77/night

A corner room with a brass and iron double bed, it also has a wicker chair and reading lamp..

Room #4 $69/night

The smallest of our guest rooms, this middle room has a double bed.

Room #5 $87/night

This room has an antique bed with both a headboard and footboard, and a small sitting room with windows on two sides.

Room #6 $87/night

This room has two twin beds that can also be made up as one large bed. It, too, has a small sitting room with windows on two sides.

Room #7 $75/night

A long room with a twin bed at each end, this room also was a porch area originally. It has windows all along the outside wall.

Rooms #3, #4, #5, #6, & #7 are entered from a central greatroom/lounge area and share two full baths (each with shower).

* A 5 1/2% (state & local) tax and a 5 1/2% room tax are not included in the rates.

Breakfast:

A "continental plus" breakfast is included in the room rate. We concentrate on fruits & grains, and do not serve meat dishes.

Payments:

Balance is due on arrival. We accept personal checks, cash or traveler's checks, but we do not accept credit cards.

Check-in: after 3 p.m.

Check-out: by 11 a.m.

Smoking is limited to specific outdoor areas. Please inquire before smoking on premise.

Innkeeper/Gardener:

Although Walt Fisher and Joan Fitzpatrick (husband & wife) are co-owners of the French Country Inn, Walt is the innkeeper and will be your host. He will greet you, prepare and serve your breakfast, answer questions about shops, restaurants, beaches and bike trails. You may see Joan out working in the garden, but probably will not see her in the house. Although you may not see Joan, we hope you will enjoy the gardens she has created.

History:

The house was built in 1911 by the Erwin family of Oak Park, Illinois, who migrated here each summer with their ten children. Door County had already become a "tourist area" with steamships arriving regularly at Anderson Dock with summer vacationers. The house remained a private residence until 1984 when former owners established the French Country Inn Bed & Breakfast. We purchased the Inn in late July, 1988.

Decor:

Although we have no French background, we feel the house does have a "European feel" and thus kept the name. Each guestroom is decorated differently, but each room has interesting period furniture and accessories, and pretty bed linens. Pierre Duex, in his book FRENCH COUNTRY, says: "The French mix what they like with what they need with what the family has handed down. The look is eclectic, yet cohesive". We think that describes us!

Architecture:

The house has much of its original feel, including the multi-paned casement windows that open to catch the Bay breezes. The interior french doors and the upstairs guestroom doors are also original. Quiet three speed ceiling fans have been added throughout the house for your comfort, but the house is not air conditioned. The massive stone fireplace in the main floor common room will warm you at breakfast on cool mornings.

Amenities:

We feel our main amenity is a feeling of Door County past, a time when people came to relax and escape the rigors of "city living". You won't find TVs or VCRs, but you will find a nice variety of books and comfortable places to read them. We also have a collection of board games and jig-saw puzzles. Enjoy your favorite beverage on the porch, stroll the gardens, watch the birds, and relax.

Location:

The house sits on almost an acre of ground back about 100 yards from the water in the central part of the village. There are natural gardens and footpaths around the house for your enjoyment. It is an easy walk to many of the village shops and some restaurants. The Door County sunset over Eagle Harbor is only footsteps away. Peninsula State Park & Golf Course is just one mile away. Fish Creek is five miles to our south and Sister Bay is five miles to our north.

On Premise Pet:

For those of you who knew our pets, Pepper (our dog) & Blackie (our outdoor cat) are no longer with us, but we do have a new resident dog. Buddy's owner died this spring, so he now resides with us. Buddy is a 7 year old Beagle-Black Lab mix and is a very congenial host in the common areas, but is not allowed in guest rooms. We do not accommodate guest pets, but there is a kennel very close by.

More About Breakfast:

Breakfast is generally served buffet style from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. each morning around one or two large tables (depending on the number of guests). We try to provide "healthful" balanced breakfasts that include local &/or organic products. Breakfast always includes coffee, tea, juices, "real" breads and a featured item. This may be baked apple slices, granola & cherries, yogurt pancakes and berry sauce, local strawberries on homemade biscuits, or something new.

Activities:

There is much to do in Door County! Outdoor activities include bicycling, hiking, sailing, swimming, golf, just to mention a few. Music and theatre events are popular evening activities, as well as watching a beautiful sunset with a Wilson's ice cream cone. Of course, shopping is a favorite activity for many of our guests.