Entire home

Restored Historic Stone House in the Country

Photo gallery for Restored Historic Stone House in the Country

Exterior
1868 tall skinny stone house on the National Register is now open for guests!
Great art all over the house! TV with a Firestick.
You're almost there!
Exhale, you're nearing your stay on 18 acres.
Reviews
10 out of 10 Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6130 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi

Check out the area

Map
Arena, WI
  • Popular LocationAmerican Players Theatre14 min drive
  • Popular LocationThe House on the Rock24 min drive
  • Popular LocationCave of The Mounds National Natural Landmark26 min drive
  • AirportMadison, WI (MSN-Dane County Regional)50 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Main Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Third floor--Queen

1 Queen Bed

Third floor--Twins

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

First floor full bathroom

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

Main house, second floor full bathroom

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

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Office
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Restored Historic Stone House in the Country

Brisbane House was just won the State Historical Society's 2023 Board of Curators Restoration Award. This is such a special place and we wish to share it! It's listed on the National and State Registers for Historic Places in Wisconsin. We purchased the property April 1, 2021 and worked hard to prepare it for guests. Some of the finest local craftspeople were devoted to its painstaking restoration. Its main house (this listing) is fully restored (sleeps six with one full bathroom) as well as the summer kitchen (which sleeps an additional four--see our other listing #2620893). Last year, we won the Preservation Award from the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation. We're members of the Midwest Bed & Breakfast Association, too! We invite you to follow us on on IG: Restore.Brisbane.House.

The Brisbane House is a place of inclusivity. It was built in 1868 by an abolitionist from South Carolina. We are honoring his legacy by showcasing original contemporary art by nationally-known Black artists. You will stay in comfort and extraordinary style with historic appointments. Set on 18 wooded acres, hike the surrounding area, play croquet, build an outdoor fire. Inside, enjoy a new kitchen and bath, and great wifi, too.

Relax in the peaceful woods, to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, hold a family reunion, come with your book club, or for a holiday of your own making! In the house, there is one bedroom (queen bed), a full bathroom and den, on the second floor. There are two bedrooms (one queen, two XL twins) on the third floor. This is a tall, skinny house, so stairs are steep. A new gas fireplace has been installed in the living room, so yay to festive winter stays!

The kitchen is small, beautiful, and well-equipped. The locally harvested cherry table seats eight. There are several restaurants within 10 miles either west to Spring Green or 5 miles east to Mazomanie. Madison is a 35 minute drive to the east. If traveling through Madison to arrive at your destination, note there's a terrific local grocery store, the Willy Street Co-op, on your way out.

Soaps and cleaning products are either unscented or contain organic essential oils. No synthetic fragrances or fabric softeners. Environmentally friendlier bath towels are "quick dry." Most of the sheets are organic cotton. We participate in Alliant Energy's "rush hour" cooling system to conserve energy. We have been approved and are fully compliant with the State of Wisconsin health department's tourist rooming house laws.

Explore the 18 acres around the house. There is a pine barrens and trails in the hills leading all the up to the top of Rattlesnake Ridge, a restored prairie (maps at the house). Dogs can be off leash on the property by must be on a leash if hiking on neighboring properties (and please pick up after your dog). In the winter, help yourself to the snowshoes and saucer sleds in the garage.

Most stays in high season have a three night minimum. Please inquire if this really will not work for you. Also, if you are interested in a ground floor level rental only, let's discuss since this bridges the full house/summer kitchen rental.

Here are some reviews: "The Brisbane House was the perfect spot for our family gathering. Samantha and Bruce thought of every detail in renovating this unique historic house—the architecture, furnishings, light, and color create a wonderful environment for connecting with loved ones. There is a lot to enjoy in the area from charming books stores, delicious restaurants, and beautiful rolling hills. Communication with our hosts was flawless from pointing us to nearby trails to sharing the history and information on the art on the walls. We will be back soon!"
"Thanks again for a fantastic experience in Arena. Staying at the Brisbane made it truly special and the house is just gorgeous. We will be back!"

Property manager

Samantha Crownover
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

Italian

Amenities

Breakfast included
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 12:00 PM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
This house is on a septic system (not city sewer). Make sure no grease or coffee grounds go down the drain and nothing but toilet paper gets flushed.
Enjoy the beautiful Carrera marble counter and the local cherry wood table in the kitchen. Please clean up immediately after anything that may stain.
Sheets/covers for upholstered furniture if you bring a dog. And please mind the A/C if you open windows.

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

Arena

Located in Arena, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. American Players Theatre and Mt. Horeb Area Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Spring Green Golf Course and Tyrol Basin Ski & Snowboard Area. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Arena, WI

What's nearby

  • Wisconsin River - 9 min drive
  • American Players Theatre - 14 min drive
  • The House on the Rock - 24 min drive
  • Blue Mound State Park - 24 min drive
  • Cave of The Mounds National Natural Landmark - 26 min drive

Getting around

  • Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) - 50 min drive

Restaurants

  • Old Feed Mill - 10 min drive
  • Grandma Mary's Cafe - 10 min walk
  • Subway - 10 min drive
  • Lake Louie Brewing - 8 min drive
  • Badger Den - 9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Restored Historic Stone House in the Country pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Restored Historic Stone House in the Country?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Restored Historic Stone House in the Country?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Restored Historic Stone House in the Country located?

Situated on the riverfront, this holiday home is 2.9 mi (4.7 km) from Wisconsin River and within 9 miles (15 km) of American Players Theatre and Spring Green General Store. Spring Green Golf Course and Spring Green Preserve State Natural Area are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 26 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 26 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 26 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Graham J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely unique house
This house was a treat. From the unique decorative touches and art in every room to the cozy handmade quilts on the beds, this property was a lovely place to get away for the weekend. We especially enjoyed the interesting history of the Brisbanes in the living room! Thank you for sharing this marvel with us.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great restored historical property built in 1868
Great setting in the country, fantastic brick home, well equipped, a labor of love restoration, most congenial host.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melinda Q., USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely place to be
We spent 3 nights while attending 6 plays at American Players Theater. The Stone House is perfect for such an outing. Samantha is very responsive and welcoming. We hope to be back in 2024.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tanya M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Second Stay!
Our family loved this house last summer so we returned for another vacation. Sam is a great host, everything was immaculate, with plenty of supplies and everything we might need. This year we enjoyed Cave on the Mounds, Taliesin, and American Players Theatre. We can’t wait to return!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katie J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Escape from Fireworks
Brisbane House is a gem! Sam and Bruce did an amazing job restoring this beautiful home. Plus communication with Sam is top notch, always working to improve the vacation. Our goal was get away from the city fireworks (for the dogs) over the holiday. We got just take at Brisbane plus the country living. Hope to be back.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

About the host

Hosted by Samantha Crownover

Host profile image
This is my dream come true project, the Brisbane House! We've purchased it in April 2021 and have been focused on restoring it, celebrating the legacy of an avid abolitionist, and preparing it for guests with high standards! In my real life, I am the executive director for a chamber music festival and love to promote the visual arts, too. My husband, Bruce, is an artist (printmaker and watercolor painter) and works at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. I can't live without travel and cooking and eating great, local food. I love all things Italian and I play tennis and pond hockey. I'm a native Wisconsinite (so that means I love up north, too). Bruce loves the ocean and mountains, having grown up in Southern California. We LOVE hosting guests and want to make sure you have an exceptional place to stay (we also rent our our home in Madison).

Why they chose this property

I've had my eye on this place for almost 30 years. It finally became available, we're its next stewards, and we knew we'd have to pour our heart and soul (and $) into it to make it sing again. It's a unique place for Wisconsin and we're thrilled to host you here!

What makes this property unique

This place is on the National and State Registers of Historic Places and has both historic appointments and contemporary comforts. World-class art collection only by artists of color. Come for a weekend or stay for a month. Listen to the bird song. Watch the sun set through the pine stand. Unwind in the beautiful Wisconsin River Valley.

Languages:

Italian

Premier Host

Premier Host
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