Hills School - Historic Comfort in SW MI Wine Country - Berrien County

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Hills School - fill it with laughter and joy, make special memories here.

A special place to hang your hat after a day of exploring or wine tasting.

This original staircase carried many small feet up to their daily lessons.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Enjoy the area

Buchanan, MI

Round Barn Winery2 min drive
Lemon Creek Winery11 min drive
Warren Dunes State Park18 min drive
Elkhart, IN (EKI-Elkhart Municipal)56 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

Hills School - Historic Comfort in SW MI Wine Country

Historic Hills School is a 1916 brick schoolhouse completely renovated in 2020 to create a dramatic but cozy home away from home. Original details of the structure and classrooms have been maintained or re-purposed where possible, and the decor showcases photos and stories of the days when this beautiful property was filled with the shouts and laughter of local K-8 students.

Hang your hat in the period-tiled front entry that features wainscoting from the original cloakroom and step up to an awe-inspiring space. Soaring 12' ceilings and magnificent large windows capture the changing country light morning to night in the spacious bedrooms and open living space. Modern amenities are incorporated to anticipate your every comfort in this quiet, relaxing wooded setting.

Bedrooms feature queen beds with heated mattress pads, ceiling fans, and large closets. Curl up with a good book and cozy throw. Bathrooms have new tile, modern fixtures, and large glass-enclosed showers. One has a restored claw foot tub.

Gather round the 10' island and gas fireplace in the fully equipped SS cook's kitchen, where you can cook and bake - or just warm up those leftovers! Share a cup of coffee, glass of wine, or full meal at the island, seated on original desk seats - or take a seat at the large dining table (seating 6-8) in front of the original chalkboard.

Staying several days or here for a special occasion? A full service laundry room with large washer and dryer, detergent, iron and ironing board is provided for your use.

The house includes high speed internet and WiFi, as well as wireless charging stations for phones in bedrooms and living room (USB charging jacks are in lamp bases of one bedroom).
65" smart TV with sound bar, books, magazines and games. The sound bar is Bluetooth so you can play your favorite music from your mobile device.

Outside, enjoy the new back deck, outdoor eating area, gas grill, and fire pit (wood provided) with views to woods and neighboring farmland. Walk to nearby wineries or take a short drive to restaurants, wineries/breweries/distilleries, beaches, parks, and shopping.

Come to Hills School 1916 any time of year, and make your own memories to add to those of the many children who entered these doors from 1916 to 1956. I look forward to welcoming you!

Property manager

Ann

Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Air conditioning

Game room

Microwave

Kitchen

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 28

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Open stairs may be unsuitable for young children.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Quiet hours are from 10pm to 8am local time.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

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, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Buchanan

Located in Buchanan, this vacation home is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lake Michigan and Warren Dunes State Park. Round Barn Baroda Tasting Room & Estate and Free Run Cellars are also worth visiting. Relax and indulge in the area's winery tours, or seek out an adventure with hiking and cycling nearby.

Buchanan, MI

What's nearby

Round Barn Baroda Tasting Room & Estate - 19 min walk
Round Barn Winery - 2 min drive
Lemon Creek Winery - 11 min drive
Red Bud Track-N-Trail - 16 min drive
Warren Dunes State Park - 18 min drive

Getting around

St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Station - 24 min drive
South Bend Intl. Airport (SBN) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

McDonald's - 16 min drive
Baroda Party Store - 8 min drive
Getaway Cubbie Bar - 15 min drive
Round Barn Brewery & Public House - 8 min drive
Free Run Cellars - 11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Hills School - Historic Comfort in SW MI Wine Country pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Diane V.

24 March 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay

We loved our stay. The owner was very responsive during our stay and made us feel welcome. We would definitely stay again if we in the area again.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth P.

18 March 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet and comfy

The old school house has a sense of history, but it is also cozy, functional and elegant all at once.

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patti H.

9 October 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Experience Hill School

A 1916 school turned into a very comfortable VRBO. Had a wonderful weekend with friends, great location. Visited wineries in the area. Reading the history of Hill School was very informative and interesting. Our host was great with any concerns or questions. Great experience and would love to return again!

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Holly H.

28 August 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique, spacious property with lots of charm

We had a wonderful stay at the schoolhouse. Spacious living area, well-appointed kitchen with everything you need & two comfortable bedrooms. Charming place with a unique history & memorabilia throughout. Great location near wineries. Communication with the host was excellent. Highly recommend!

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Karen S.

9 August 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous!

Great mix of history with modern convenience. The property was spotless and comfortable. Quality linens and bedding. The kitchen was roomy for gathering and cooking, we found all the equipment we needed. So many areas of the house, inside and out, to enjoy. The history of the building was fun to see and learn about. Fabulous stay - highly recommended! Many thanks to Ann, our gracious host!

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

About the host

Hosted by Ann

I love providing a comfortable but luxe experience for my guests that reflects the amenities, quiet location, design aesthetic, comfort, and cleanliness that I look for when I travel at home and abroad. Communication is also a big part of that, and I strive to understand what each guest is looking for to provide the best possible stay - the first time, and every stay after that. What started as a design-oriented project quickly became a relationship-oriented part of my life thanks to all the wonderful people I have had the pleasure of meeting during these last few years, as my guests and in the community.

Why they chose this property

I fell in love with this century+ old rural schoolhouse when I first saw it in the late 90's. I imagined how I would redesign the interior to make a unique living space. I finally had the opportunity to purchase it in 2015, and by the end of 2020 I retired from my previous career and focused on welcoming guests into the newly renovated and repurposed space situated in a lovely agricultural and residential community within walking distance of wineries and a restaurant. I have been delighted at how the property speaks to so many guests in the education community, as well as lovers of architecture and preservation of old structures.

What makes this property unique

This is a large and stately brick building built in 1916 that was a K-8 school until 1956. The rental space includes the entire main floor which has been maintained as an open airy space that reflects the original layout of two large classrooms and a center cloakroom. I've incorporated many original details and pieces of history, but it was also designed to be a modern space that I would happily call my own. Now I offer it to you for a unique and memorable stay.