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Step Back in Time Near Springfield

Step back in time to a period when ladies danced in ballrooms, gentlemen tipped their hats, and Abraham Lincoln was still just a lawyer…

Jacksonville, Illinois may not be a town you’ve ever heard of. Don’t worry, neither had I. It’s a small southern Illinois city, only 40 minutes drive from the state capital of Springfield. And while there is much more to do and see in Springfield than in its smaller neighbor, you might just want to stay here instead.

Discovering Villa DeWolf: Jacksonville’s Hidden Luxury

While Jacksonville may not have a whole lot to offer in terms of the city itself, the one unique, and best thing about the entire area is the newly opened Villa DeWolf B&B Boutique Hotel. The building, which was Gus Ayer’s home originally, built in 1854, stands today as a representation of what fine architecture, modern comfort and Italian style intertwined can birth. It is, no question, the best place any tourist can imagine staying when in the greater Springfield/Jacksonville area.

Meet Scott DeWolf: Your Gracious Host

Owner Scott DeWolf is a fellow whom some might call eccentric, but none could deny a simply generous and kindhearted spirit. His approach to life is one that most tend to ignore – treat others with warmth in all facets of day to day living. Whether it’s business, church, or just meeting strangers on the street, he’s the kind of man you definitely want to run into.

His passion for history, his classic taste, and his intention to cater to guests in the most hospitable fashion possible is what makes this place a five star stay in every aspect.

Historic Elegance Meets Modern Comfort

With fine touches and attention to detail in every single inch of the mansion, no space has been overlooked as an opportunity for elegance and classic charm. This pre-civil war villa has a just about everything you can think of – including, that’s right, a butler.

The Ultimate Luxury: Your Personal Butler

Scott’s idea to make the guests feel like they’ve stepped back in time is highlighted strongly with his butler, Kimo, who is dressed in a fully traditional uniform with white gloves and all. Serving you breakfast, tea, coffee, and even assisting with guests’ luggage when they first arrive, the man servant that you’ve always wanted is here anxious to wait on you hand and foot!

Perfect Base for Springfield Attractions

Something else that might persuade you to stay here is the short commute to Springfield. With no options like this in the capital, you can do your site seeing of Lincoln’s home, or the Dana Thomas House (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright), as I did, while staying the night at Villa DeWolf.

Thanks to the Springfield Visitor Center, I was able to tour these homes and pick up some pamphlets full of information regarding the city, the state and the sites all abound.

Why Choose Jacksonville Over Springfield for Lodging

While Springfield’s tours and places of interest are bountiful, there’s not much in terms of great accommodation – oddly. But that’s why Villa DeWolf is the perfect place to retreat while in the general area. You will find that after a day of touring these historic sites, you will feel like you’re staying in a period piece yourself – but with all the modern creature comforts one could want.

The Owner

Scott has seen his ups and downs in life. Both personally and financially. But what has gotten him through those tough times is business smarts, optimism and faith in the Lord. His kind nature and generosity are not to be overlooked and how he ended up owning this piece of history is something of a miracle in and of itself.

While living in San Francisco, he’d sold some property, and wanted to re-invest the money in some well priced real estate. On his way back to the Golden State from South Carolina, he was looking through some listings of real estate in the Midwest and sawa picture of his future. Scott elaborates on the story,

“It was a bank re-po listed for well under $200,000.  I realized that in San Francisco, that house in the Pacific Heights neighborhood would have brought more than $200,000 as a fixer! I sent my moving crew home with the truck and organ (I was transporting back to California), had them drop me off at the Dallas airport, where I caught the next red eye to St. Louis. I rented a car and drove the rest of the way to Jacksonville. I arrived Sunday morning, looked at the house, contacted the banker at his home on Monday morning, put the deal in escrow and it closed 10 days later.”

And as they say, the rest is history.

Prior to owning the former Ayers’ mansion, he had been living in the county seat of Lake County, California – just north of Napa Valley. He’d been working as a piano/organ bar enteratiner in the San Francisco bay area, working high end hotels and restaurants. When he initially arrived in Lake County he began buying properties when they were still reasonably low in cost. He had the opportunity to open a 5,000 sq. ft. downtown bar and restaurant and also featured legal California poker games on the regular.

When the time came for him to make the move from California to Illinois, he was as eager as he could be, given the changes in his own life and those effecting the once very prosperous state known for its beaches, warm weather and chill vibes.

Scott currently owns another mansion property (I know, more than one) – which is his Airbnb spot. With 6 fully furnished apartments, all but one has their own kitchens. So if a fancy boutique hotel isn’t your jam, but you’re still looking for a comfortable, easy and yet elegant stay go to: dewolfsuites.com.

Scott tells me more about his approach to business,

“I have a simple business philosophy at the Villa DeWolf Boutique Hotel, and that is to treat each guest who arrives as if they were a long lost family member or friend.  I tell my staff to take on a  similar mindset, and do whatever you would do if such important family and friends were coming to your home for a stay.  Like a concierge, I further like to get to know my guests’ personality and learn why they are here, and how to make their visit more enjoyable.  I am currently training a young man who acts as the house butler, dressed in correct period black tie and long tails & white gloves with proper Victorian striped strolling trousers.  He meets the guests when they pull up on the street with their car, and welcomes them, then takes their luggage upstairs to their suite.  He also serves them breakfast in his full period butler attire and white gloves.  I feel this injects a delightful element of  show business into my hospitality business; giving our guests a visceral sense of how it might have been to have been a guest in the Ayers’ home back in the mid 19th century.  Our guests love it, and almost all remark that it is an experience they have never gotten anywhere else.

I try to get a sense of which of our guests want to be engaged and those who would prefer to keep to themselves.  We facilitate their ability to take in tourist attractions both here in Jacksonville, as well as the major tourist things to do in the nearby state Capital of Springfield.  Many of our guests are here to do business in the state Capital, and after searching on the internet for places to stay in our area, they realize it is worth a half hour drive to stay with us here, as there is clearly no stay as elegant and special as the Villa DeWolf.

My idea of having the mansion accommodate guests, was my way, as a lifelong bachelor who is now 76 years old, of assuring that I would never be bored or lonely.  One of the best consequences of this decision, is that I have not only hosted many interesting people here at the mansion, but in most cases come away with the  knowledge and feeling that I have  found new friends.  My previous guests and I often keep up correspondence from time to time, and many have  returned to the mansion for multiple stays.”

I too, have now befriended Scott after my stay at his beautiful villa, and I hope he will have me back again one day as a guest – not just as a customer, but as a new friend.

The Location

As previously mentioned, Villa DeWolf is a short 30 minute drive to the State Capital, and is located in one of Jacksonville’s safest neighborhoods. With no crime or theft, you should feel comfortable leaving your vehicle parked directly in front of the mansion without any cares or concerns.

The service, décor and ambiance at the mansion are impeccable and comfort is key. As Scott mentioned above, he does his utmost to cater to each individual guest as much as possible. I found that he gave me run of the villa – if I needed something to eat or drink, they were there to assist. If I wanted to rest in my room, I never heard a peep from anyone. If I had questions about anything, he was ready with answers.

Scott also informs me that,

“The neighborhood the mansion is in, is a great place to walk, as there are many historic homes in this district. About 3 blocks west takes you to Duncan Park, which has the first governor of Illinois’ mansion and now a beautiful park with picnic tables and amenities for families  with kids’ swings and such,  The neighborhood is very quiet and secure, so all our guests get great sleep, and  enjoy walking in the neighborhood.  The town square is also just a 4 block walk from the mansion.”

The Experience

Overall, my experience at Villa DeWolf was a once in a lifetime event. I certainly hope to be back one day, but if not, the memory of getting to stay here is a joyous one. Breakfast is served each morning by the butler, the ballroom is open to guests for dancing, sitting, playing the piano, or just getting to feel like a little kid and spinning around in it (just like I did). The mansion is yours while you’re there, and Scott encourages his guests to have fun. Don’t be afraid to act like a child and run around – which he told me to do while I stayed here.

The boutique hotel is truly a unique experience, and if you want to feel spoiled, cared for and accommodated, look no further than Villa DeWolf!

So what are you waiting for? You know you want to book your stay here. Just make sure that when you do, you let them know that Lisa sent you!