Experience the charm of Angola's historic West Ward School, built in 1875. This unique home is a blend of architectural history and modern comforts, offering proximity to Trine University, Pokagon State Park, wineries, antique shops and The Outlet Shops. Guests can enjoy Lake James chain of lakes access with a dock for their boat.
Reviews
8.48.4 out of 10
Very good
Entire home
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 12
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free Wi-Fi
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
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.
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets are allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
1 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property on the number on the booking confirmation
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
About the area
Located in Angola, this holiday home is in the city centre. 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 waterskiing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and horse riding. Visit our Angola travel guide
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 at Historical School House with Lake James chain access?
On-site 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?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Historical School House with Lake James chain access located?
Located in the heart of Angola, this holiday 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.
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Historical School House with Lake James chain access Reviews
Reviews
Very good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
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.
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.
Catherine W.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified
8/10 Good
Ronald
3 Jul 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This an older home with unique character. Plenty of bedroom space.
Very eclectic and cozy! Loved the architecture and was very easy to access and communicate with owners. Would definitely go back.
Verified traveller
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Verified
6/10 Okay
Carol F.
30 May 2023
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.
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!
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.
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!
Karen J S.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Verified
8/10 Good
Trina B.
8 Aug 2021
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!
Trina B.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2021
Verified
2/10 Terrible
Emily S.
13 Jul 2023
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!
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!
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.
Dawn S.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Verified
6/10 Okay
Jarrell W.
6 Jun 2022
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.
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!