Places to Stay : Ephraim

Village Green Lodge
10013 Poplar Street
Ephraim
920-854-2515
1-888-471-827

This B&B is a very different kind of B&B – don’t look for a Victorian home here – this B&B is unique to Door County, and a wonderful find that we know you will like to discover as well. Open year-round, serving adults and children 16 and older (no pets allowed), you will find this place charming and ideally located.

Originally, the main building of the lodge, built in 1963, served as an inn, and all the rooms are still individually accessed from the outside. Sue and Steve have owned the Lodge since 1995 and have turned it into a very different kind of B&B. In 1997, they added a second building, so the Village Green Lodge (which always has been its name) now offers 18 rooms, tucked among the cedar trees well off the main road (Highway 42), down Cedar Street - so you have a genuine feeling of quiet (no road noise), peace and tranquility. And you can walk to the heart of Ephraim and the waterfront in several minutes. We know, we did it. And you can even walk to Wilson’s Restaurant – a landmark in Door County famous for its ice cream!

Literally nestled in the tall cedars, the two buildings offer a unique perspective. As Sue likes to put it, here, you have the privacy and amenities of a small hotel, but the ambiance, service and extra touches of a B&B. As we took our tour, we understood exactly what Sue meant. The owners and staff have a great attitude: they are always there for the guests (the owners live on the property in the main building). When it comes to their guests, their mantra is “Welcome Home!” They go out of the way to assist their guests with restaurant reservations, and they have even given guests a needed ride on occasions! Wow! And their guests are loyal, returning over and over again – we know, because we looked through a stack of cards and notes they receive from their guests, and it is clear, they not only love the accommodations and amenities, they love the warmth and sincerity of the owners, Sue and Steve. Lots of personal service here – and it shows. We love seeing this kind of dedication by the owners, and the positive impact it has on their valued guests. People make a huge difference in your experience – and these people will make you feel good!

The Grounds and Common Areas

On about 1 ¾ acres, the grounds are meticulously well kept, with flowers, trees, greenery and plenty of places for guests to sit, relax, chat and enjoy the fresh outdoors. In the mornings, you can smell the cedar when the dew is on the grass! Ahh! There is a cozy seating area on a stone patio out back, surrounded by the woods, where a gas grill is offered to guests. In addition, there are umbrella tables on the lawn, and another grouping of chairs beneath the shade of a tall tree.

Head over towards the back side on the main lodge building, and you’ll find a lovely deck with tables and chairs, that overlooks the large outdoor heated pool. Along the pool deck are lounge chairs for soaking up the sun – a very pleasant amenity that you do not usually find at a B&B.

The Lodge Room, in the main building, is where guests can congregate; enjoy some Door County Coffee™, sit and talk. Cushy chairs, a couch, plenty of tables, and a wood burning fireplace make this a comfortable gathering room. This is also where second B of the B&B is served: this is a family run business, and the family is cooking for you! Breakfasts, served leisurely from 8am – 10am, offer a full gourmet buffet, which always includes a hot dish like a quiche or baked French toast. Also, there is always fresh fruit and juice, perhaps an old-fashioned oat meal offering (guests LOVE this), homemade muffins or coffeecake, and coffee and tea. Weather permitting; you can even take your breakfast to the outdoor deck.

In the afternoons, at about 3PM, look for fresh baked cookies, coffee, and seasonal treats like lemonade in the summers, or cider in the winters.

The Rooms

All the rooms have air conditioning, ceiling fans, cable TV, hairdryers, fridges, and telephones, private access, and a combination tub/shower. Another thing we liked is that all the rooms are decorated differently – no cookie cutter stuff here. For example, all of the quilts on the beds are different and handmade. Though each room also has 2 wing-backed chairs for your comfort, they are tastefully done to match the décor of the individual room. This is a lot of work to uniquely decorate each room – and we love it.

There are 18 rooms in all, including 2 suites, 15 Lodge rooms, and 1 suite which can be turned into a two-bedroom.

You will get a very cottagey feel to the rooms, and will find them all well–lighted, exceptionally clean (we always look for this), and plenty comfortable size-wise and furniture-wise.

We went off on our tour with Sue and Steve and visited samples of each of the offerings.

Room # 208
With 2 double beds, the white wood walls were set off by a natural wood chair rail and lovely artwork as well as rose-colored stenciling along the ceiling border. A small, pine armoire concealed the TV and the small fridge below. The green carpeting was accented by coordinating wing-back chairs, flanking a round table covered in lace. There are plenty of nice touches to this room, making it warm and cozy. Overlooking the pool, this is a very nice offering!

Room # 209
Offering a king bed with a brass-look headboard and matching side nightstands, this is a wonderful room – again, nice touches like a green/rose stenciling on the walls near the ceiling line, burgundy wing-backs, and more. The spotless bathroom offered floral green and white wallpaper and nice extra touches like a wicker and metal caddy for toiletries, tile floor and wooden shutters on the small window. This room, which also overlooks the pool, is accessed through a long porch which can also be used for sitting - looking right at the tall cedars. Same for #208 above.

Room # 217: a Whirlpool Suite
In the 1997 building, we toured one of the suites available there. This is one great suite! With a wood and white-painted table and chairs for dining or chatting, this suite also has a sitting room with a plaid queen sofa sleeper, a fireplace with a rough hewn cedar surround and TV tucked in a nook above the fireplace, and a double whirlpool tub. Awesome! A wall divides the seating/whirlpool area from the king bed section that offers a pine dresser, matching wheat grain pine nightstands and headboard – done up in a country casual feel. There are beautiful burgundy accents throughout, including floral accents, and a floral spray above the bed.

The bathroom sports an all-wood 6-panel door, vanity with oak doors, tiled floor, lots of light and a shower/tub combination. Again, coordinating burgundy accents and a floral sprig complete the look. Book it – it’s a winner!

Room # 215 – a great option: can be a 2 bedroom suite!
We headed downstairs in the new building, and toured what is a delightful option for couples traveling together or a larger group of friends. The day we were there, there was going to be a group of 5 ladies checking in.

First, there is a nicely decorated bedroom, with a queen bed – same great decorative touches as the other rooms, and its own bathroom. But this one had a connecting door that lead to another suite with a separate bedroom, bath, kitchen and living room with a fireplace with the rough hewn cedar surround. Again, couches, chairs and furniture to make this a comfortable offering. This “suite” also has a separate entrance for independent rental, and the door between the suite and the first bedroom locks of course. Great idea – great option.

We asked to look through guest comments, and Sue gave us a stack of cards and notes from her guests - one after another with highly positive comments, praise for the place and the folks who run it, and even references to family members. These are truly genuine, authentic comments from their guests. Here are just a few we picked out:

• “This is a wonderful place to stay and I will recommend it to my friends.”
• “Breakfast was delightful . . .”
• “Thank you so much for making our stay such a pleasant, comfortable and relaxing one. We also thank you for your hospitality and attentiveness to us. We will definitely be back!”

We can see why the comments were so plentiful and positive – we enjoyed our tour of the Village Green Lodge, love it’s location (remember, you have to turn OFF Highway 42 onto Cedar to find them), and love the folks running it. Check out their website for more details, current rates and availability – and please tell them that you read our review and found them on DoorCountyNavigator.com!