Lodging fun in Wayne County Indiana!
Did you know that my name Cindy is really short for Cinderella? That was the case during my visit to Richmond’s Wayne County, Indiana where I got to stay in a real live mansion! Annie Jansen and I couldn’t believe we were to stay at the Gennett Mansion, home of previous owners of Starr Piano Co and founders of Gennett Recording family.
Listed on Indiana Historical Landmark & the National Register of Historic Places, the house was built for Henry Gennett and wife Alice Lumsden. Hosted by Nancy Sartain of Richmond Visitor’s Bureau, I had to stop and take a deep breath when we crossed the threshold of this amazing mansion.
The Mansion and family
There are two options to stay in this Colonial Revival house. One is the carriage house, the other is in the mansion proper. Annie and I stayed in the mansion itself. Nancy said they just opened up the 2nd floor as an Airbnb in the spring. The innkeeper and her family live on the 3rd floor. Annie and I loved that each room had its own bathroom.
There were two bedrooms with a small sitting room connecting them. This was perfect for visiting and working in the evenings!
This is a wonderful place to hold events, and a great place to stay!
The Gennett and Starr Trail
The history of the Starr and Gennett family and business is all around the Richmond area. There is a Starr Historic District in Richmond. It is a 24-block area with Victorian architecture and more developed from farmland once owned by the Starr family.
Then, there is the Gennett Walk of Fame, which reflects some of the recording history of Gennett records. They were some of the first to welcome jazz and blues artists into the recording fold.
Nancy secured bikes from the Cycling and Fitness Warehouse for us, and we went riding on the Cardinal Greenway Trail that included this fun historic area.
Besides seeing a variety of artists that recorded, I also love that we saw where the Gennett recording studio was once located. They had many firsts. Gennett Records was the first recording of Louis Armstrong; Del giant Charley Patton and Hoagy Carmichael’s famous “Stardust.”
Comfort Suites in Richmond!
When Nancy learned we had a free day, she started planning. What a great stay at the Comfort Suites in Richmond, Indiana where the breakfast just makes it. Comfortable rooms with lots of space, and clean, clean, clean!
They have a lovely lobby!
And best of all, they have a breakfast chef that made us blueberry pancakes fresh off the griddle!
The Wrap!
Nancy took us bike riding, and on several fun outdoor adventures! Annie got the chance to see the amazing Reid Center with it’s beautiful Tiffany-stained glass windows. We biked, hiked, and dined! We literally did it all in this amazing part of Eastern Indiana. Stay tuned for more the ag trail I took, and stories to come!
