In 1997, the interior of the 1890 Carriage House was renovated into three guest units. ALL guestrooms are beautifully decorated...Victorian wallpapers complement historic brick walls that have stood for more than a century. The woodwork is salvaged from buildings of the same vintage that have since been demolished. Each room is appointed with thoughtful comforts and amentities. The Carriage House has central air conditioning, TV and VCRs, hardwood floors, and all private baths, as well as private off-street parking. Hypo-allergenic pillows are available; telephone, fax, and modem access may be obtained upon request. We now offer FREE high-speed wireless internet access to all of our guests! (802.11b or 802.11g access card required.). The entire second floor of the Carriage House is yours in The Belmont Suite; a solid walnut queen-size bed, extra-long, handcrafted in the Amanas; antique bureau, luxury linens, down pillows, and comforters. Sitting area with loveseat, coffee table, rocker, and Karastan rugs for private socializing or solitude. Picturesque view of the historic home, terrace, gardens and grounds.Large private bath. The Belmont Suite is perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, or just a place to unwind. Large enough for a bridesmaids slumber party or an extended stay by business professionals needing a place to set up office. So named for the original owner and builder of Belmont Hill. Philip Wolff and his wife, Rosina, lived in a small shanty on this very site during construction of the main house. Spacious ground-floor room furnished with queen-size walnut Amana bed, luxury bedclothes, antique dresser, oak cylinder desk, reading chairs, and private bath. The Heisel family inhabited Belmont Hill for nearly 50 years. Spacious ground-floor room with solid oak king-size bed, loveseat, oak dresser, luxury bedclothes, reading chairs, and private bath.

Ken and Shelley, Just the written word to say again what a wonderfully relaxing and ever-so-attractive BB you two run. Accomodations superb, food excellent and, best of all, your gracious involvement with your guests rate Belmont Hill first class. -RP, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dear Sullens, This has been an elegant and thoroughly hospitable experience. Thank you for all of your kindnesses. I wish you the best and hope to be your guest again! -C, Littleton,Colorado. What a beautiful place! It's changed my outlook on what business travel should be. -J, New York City, New York. Sullens Family, The girls and I had such a great weekend. I enjoyed the beautiful BB. The breakfast was elegant, and your taste in furnishing your home and surroundings is of excellent choice -L, Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Thank you so much for having us in your beautiful bed and breakfast and your loving home. It's so wonderful after such busy days to be welcomed into a family and get a chance to relax. -Tara and Sue, shedrives.com. Ken and Shelley, I admire the fact that all you do is done with grace and excellence. I have never seen a couple pull in double harness so willingly and with a step that matches so well. We enjoyed seeing the transformation of your home and bed breakfast, and we both enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and the company. -RK, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As always, a lovely stay in a beautiful home with a great family. -TM, England. A memory to last for years...thanks for your quaint extravagance. -C, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Wonderful room! Slept great. -RN, Chicago, Illinois. A great find--great service, nice people, excellent food and bed. Thanks! -Dr. H, Seattle, Washington. From their home in the Chicago area, Ken and Shelley Sullens watched a five-minute video. On their television screen were images of Belmont Hill--an 1882 northwest Cedar Rapids manse, its grounds and a nearly century-old carriage house--that had just been listed for sale. The couple, who were looking to change careers, were fascinated by the property. Their eyes kept going back to the image of the brick, 1-1/2 story carriage house. We wondered what we could do with this wonderful building, recalls Shelley. The decision to buy Belmont Hill, 1525 Cherokee Drv. NW, was made in a day, the Sullens say. What they would do with the carriage house, which for nearly 100 years had served as barn and garage, became clear. It would become Cedar Rapids' newest bed and breakfast. In the 18 months since then, the Sullens sold their home, left their jobs and moved themselves and their three children to Cedar Rapids. In some ways, that was the easiest part of their adventure. It's been a monumental undertaking, but we're almost there, Shelley says of carriage house renovations. The carriage house, which had been vandalized and burned while the main house sat empty in the '70's, served as a garage for the previous owners. It had a dirt floor, and its' exterior walls, three bricks thick, still showed signs of the fire. While the family moved into the 2-1/2 story brick Italianate home, renovating the carriage house became Ken's full-time job. It's been 18 months of fun and work, says Ken. The process of turning a shell of a building into a guest house relied heavily on Ken's 20 years in the wood stripping and refinishing business. He's also an expert salvager. The couple agreed that if they could find vintage wood, door jambs, flooring, and moldings, that's what they would use. Financially it would help, but why put brand new in a a vintage house? says Shelley. We wanted the carriage house to be in keeping with the rest of the building.. Ken found much of the lumber, some flooring, sinks, and doors in either the Metro Area Housing Program's salvage yard or in houses that MAHP was in the process of salvaging. Each piece of wood was lovingly stripped and refinished, and slowly the building began to take shape. We've put a new roof on, done tuckpointing, added new windows, and when the original drive that led to the carriage house was removed, below we discovered a brick path, which we've decided to keep, he says. The carriage house evolved into three guest rooms--two rooms on the lower level and a suite upstairs. All three rooms have their own baths. The Sullens' renovations have remained true to the era of the carriage house. Ceilings are 11 feet high, and some interior walls are exposed brick. Utility wires were rerouted underground so no wires obstruct views. The most drastic change from the original structure was the addition of a dormer, which changed the roof line but also opened up the carriage house quite a bit, says Ken. The carriage house sits across from what the Sullens call the big house. The grounds between the two buildings are a sea of perennial flowers. The estate sits on nearly two acres of land tucked into a fairly modern neighborhood. One hundred-year-old trees stud the grounds separating the estate from modern-day Cedar Rapids. There's solitude here in the midst of the neighborhood, Ken says. You're six minutes from the interstate, but the feel is a million miles from business.. Inside the carriage house, the couple created an atmosphere of comfort and privacy. Solid walnut queen-sized beds from the Amanas, antique furnishings, top-drawer linens and breakfast served with china and crystal are standard. We've tried to do something here that is elegant, so that people feel pampered, Shelley says. Belmont Hill Victorian Bed Breakfast opened for its first guests on the Fourth of July. With few bed and breakfasts within the city of Cedar Rapids, the Sullens hope to attract weekend travelers, parents visiting students on parent weekends, honeymooners, people seeking an anniversary getaway, and business travelers who want an alternative to the cookie-cutter hotel rooms, Shelley says. Rates start at $95 a night for the two standard rooms, and $145 for the suite. Belmont Hill is a smoke-free environment. The Sullens considered other locations for a bed and breakfast, almost settling in Hawaii to operate a plantation house BB. Concern with the island economy and its schools made them rethink their decision to open a bed and breakfast. I had gone to high school at Prairie and had family in this area, Shelley says. When my brother sent me a video of this building, he reminded us we weren't barking up the wrong tree, just in the wrong yard. ** [reprinted with permission by the Cedar Rapids Gazette]

The entire second floor of the Carriage House is yours in The Belmont Suite; a solid walnut queen-size bed, extra-long, handcrafted in the Amanas; antique bureau, luxury linens, down pillows, and comforters. Sitting area with loveseat, coffee table, rocker, and Karastan rugs for private socializing or solitude. Picturesque view of the historic home, terrace, gardens and grounds.Large private bath. The Belmont Suite is perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, or just a place to unwind. Large enough for a bridesmaids' slumber party or an extended stay by business professionals needing a place to set up office.

One of Cedar Rapids' hidden treasures--. KGAN-CBS News, 10/8/97. Are you looking for quality, private accommodations set apart from public or commercial fare?Whether a personal getaway, your honeymoon, or business travel, Belmont Hill Victorian Bed Breakfast may be the comfortable haven for which you are searching. The 1882 National Register Home and Carriage House are a private historical estate with luxury appointments, complemented by excellent personal service. Embrace history...come, experience the ambiance of this vintage property. Wooded grounds keep the present at bay. Respond to the pleasant surroundings; centurion hardwood trees beckon your meandering beneath their spreading canopy. Brimming perennial gardens implore you to give pause and linger. The terrace invites you to sit...to unwind...to replenish. Our guests enjoy FREE high-speed wireless internet access! Cedar Rapids, Iowa (319) 366-1343 shelley@belmonthill.com. Location/Attractions. J.W. Morton Associates

Room Rates Extended Stay/Corporate Rates Cancellation Policy Availability of Property. To make reservations, please call or. All prices plus tax. Extended Stay/Corporate Rates: Please inquire. Cancellation Policy: We have a mandatory five-day cancellation policy for return of deposit. Availability of Property: Belmont Hill is available for small business meetings, small wedding functions, and other private gatherings. Call for more information! Belmont Hill is a non-smoking facility. We accept American Express, Mastercard and Visa. Note: Room rates are subject to change without notice based on seasonality of business. Please call for most current rates.