Welcome to the "Gatsby Getaway" an extraordinary home where modern amenities meet historical detail! Enjoy bluff views from the gracious front porch, where a young F. Scott Fitzgerald used to visit his friend Sam to plan boyhood adventures, and ride the streetcar to and from downtown St Paul.
The Gatsby Getaway is ideal for large groups or family gatherings: we have hosted and are a perfect spot for family wedding weekends, girlfriend reunions, 70th birthday celebrations, work retreats, and more--see additional rave reviews in photo area. Home is near major roads and a freeway for easy access to area attractions, but is high on the bluff, making it a quiet and serene escape!
-Walk to dining & shops on Selby or Grand; just blocks to the Cathedral and over 30 restaurants and coffee shops, 5 minutes to events at XCel Center and downtown St Paul, 15 minutes from MSP airport, downtown Minneapolis and the convention center!
Your whole group will be comfy in this 5600sf getaway, designed by architect Cass Gilbert, with spaces to both gather or find solitude. Enjoy socializing in the gracious front living spaces, and cooking together in the spacious, open, eat-in kitchen with adjoining 3 season sun room and formal dining. Private library with desk for quiet working space.
Five bedrooms on the second floor, with walk-in closets and plenty of bedding, towels and a free laundry; two bedrooms on third floor, with large TV and entertaining area which includes a full kitchen for an additional apartment-style space.
Fully stocked kitchen with plenty of barware, wine fridge, ice maker, serving pieces and even formal china for 16! Your hosts are right next door for any last minute needs. Please text with any questions!
Guest access: The whole house, from main floor spaces to the top of the turret are yours to explore and enjoy. --Please note the primary bathroom suite's shower is shared by another bathroom - some coordination may be required within your party. And while we painstakingly clean and care for the home from top to bottom, note this home is over 134 years old: though greatly cared for, it may occasionally show its age in a few places. Though we strive for perfection, expect to find some charming patina both inside and outside.
Overall, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time in this hidden gem of a neighborhood, where neighbors wave and gather on front porches to drink coffee or wine, and where kids still run barefoot down the sidewalks, chasing lightning bugs. The historic area itself is just fantastic: Steps to both 599 Summit Ave, where F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote his first novel, "This Side of Paradise," and to the Commodore, where he lived with Zelda and eventually their daughter Scottie: "We got to the Commodore in St. Paul, and while the leaves blew up the street we waited for our children to be born." Saint Paul has the nation's longest stretch of Victorian homes; walks though out the neighborhood during any season are beautiful!
This elegant home is ideal for anyone from couples to a group of 14 to enjoy time together, and especially for lovers of history! The neighborhood is a quiet escape in the middle of the city: to preserve the quiet, neighborhood feel, city rules prevent use of this property for any events or parties: please know to be respectful of our neighbors, unauthorized or unapproved guests or loud parties are cause for eviction.
We welcome you to enjoy a comfortable step back in time in the most beautiful and well appointed short stay in St Paul!