La Salle Bed & Breakfast: A Treasure in Downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana

Are you looking for a place to stay in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with more charm than a hotel? Perhaps a historical building, near the world-famous genealogy collection at the Fort Wayne library? Would you enjoy delicacies whipped up by the innkeeper, a native of France? Then you need to stay at La Salle Bed & Breakfast.

First, a bit of history. The building itself was built in 1901 by Tom Snook, and is known as the Tom Snook House. Next door is one of Fort Wayne's oldest houses, the 1842 dwelling of Civil War hero Sion Bass.

La Salle Bed & Breakfast is Queen Anne/Free Classical Style, with some Colonial Revival features. Mr. Snook lived there until his death in 1934, when it was divided into smaller apartments.

Why is the Bed & Breakfast called La Salle? Its namesake is René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle - the first European to set foot in Fort Wayne, coming from Canada in 1669.

In 1990, Clark and Rose-Aimee Butler purchased the building and have been working ever since to restore it to its Victorian glory. The Butlers' history is quite a story in itself: Clark was born in Hollywood, California, and studied in Cairo and Tunis. He is an accomplished author in the fields of philosophy and human rights, and is a professor at Indiana-Purdue University in Fort Wayne.

Rose-Aimee was born in France and spent most of her childhood in West Africa. She began her own dance school there and has been a skilled Royal Academy of Dance instructor at Fort Wayne Ballet for years (where I'm proud to say I worked with her as class pianist). She is a charming hostess!

What can you expect from a visit at La Salle Bed & Breakfast? First, you'll have your choice of a room or a suite, each of which is themed based on a location the Butlers have lived. The suites are:

* Africa
* Hollywood
* Paris Opera
* Anthony Wayne

The rooms are:

* Fort Wayne
* Nottingham
* Provence
* Paris
* Rhineland
* Mediterranean

At La Salle, a homemade breakfast featuring French delicacies is served each morning. Innkeepers Clark and Rose-Aimee are happy to share their knowledge of the area and give guests ideas of attractions and events to enjoy.

Other amenities:

In-Room:
* Cable TV
* DVD/CD Players
* Telephone w/ Voicemail
* Daily Housekeeping
* High-Speed Internet Access
* Private Bathroom
* Bathrobes
* Heating & A/C

On-Site:
* Library
* Meeting Rooms
* Guest Kitchen
* Secured Building
* Business Services
* Airport Pick-up
* Free Parking
* Event Space
* Hot Tub
* Concierge Service
* Catered Lunches & Dinners
* Full & Continental Breakfast

La Salle Bed & Breakfast is located in the historical West Central neighborhood of downtown Fort Wayne, and is within walking distance of Parkview Field (home of Fort Wayne's Tin Caps minor league baseball team), the Grand Wayne Convention Center, and the Allen County Public Library, which boasts one of the country's largest genealogy collections.

Current rates and room availability are available at the website. You couldn't choose a more charming place for a getaway!