Ohio River House B&B

Ohio River House B&B
Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome your inquiries, and are happy to provide answers to any questions you
may have concerning our facilities and services. We will gladly provide whatever information we can in response to phone or e-mail inquiries as quickly as possible. For folks who may find it more convenient to obtain instant answers to specific questions,
we have prepared the following list of answers to "frequently asked questions". Please
feel free to contact us by phone (937-375-4395) or our cell phone 937-725-1986 or 937-725-3275 or e-mail if you would like answers to any questions, or clarifications on any of the "FAQ's" we have included on this page.

For a quick answer to a specific question, select from the following topics

Room selection	What is the Riverboat House?	What is the Dugan Residence?
Rates - B&B Plan	Rates - Extended Stay Plan	Making Reservations
Check-in & Check-out	Cancellation Policy	Special Touches & Amenities
What is a Private Home B&B?	Smoking Policy	Restaurants
Nearby Marinas	Breakfast	Groups, Meetings & Tours
Stern-wheelers	Are Gift Certificates Available?	Pets & Children
Boating & River Activities	Things to see & do	How far are you from...?
Weddings	Where the heck is Higginsport, Ohio?	Information for guests arriving by boat.

What is a Private Home B&B? A Private Home B&B is a personal residence in which the owners rent accommodations in their private home to overnight guests, which guests are also served breakfast in the morning. A Private Home B&B is substantially different than a hotel or larger operation such as a country inn, in that the owners live in the same house where overnight guests also stay. Private Home B&B's are as diverse as the homes and the owners themselves.

Many Private Home B&B's also have common areas (the living room, parlor, sun-porch, etc.) where overnight guests are free to relax and enjoy the home, its furnishings, atmosphere and decor. Some Private Home B&B's have only only one sleeping room that is rented to overnight guests, while others have several such rooms where overnight guests are welcomed. The Ohio River House is a Private Home B&B. The owners, Andy and Judy Lloyd, live on the premises. Our two small grandchildren are currently living with us, and there are no "common areas" in the Dugan Residence available to guests at this time, other than the Parlor which also serves as an offic. Our private quarters (and our 2 small grandchildren) are located on the first floor of the Dugan Residence. All Dugan Residence guest rooms are on the 2nd floor.

In addition to the guest rooms in the Dugan Residence (our private home), the Ohio River House has overnight guest accommodations in a second building on the same property, the Riverboat House. The Riverboat House accommodations are all self-contained units, each with a "living area" in addition to the sleeping room and bathroom. While some folks prefer the atmosphere of the more traditional "B&B setting", others who may prefer more space and privacy will find the Riverboat House accommodations more suited to their personal tastes and preferences. The verandah, terrace and grounds are available for all guests to enjoy, whether your accommodations are in the Dugan Residene or the Riverboat House.

Accommodations at the Ohio River House

Which is your best room? That's a difficult question to answer. If you ask Steve & Wilma, the answer would be the Blue Room. If a king size bed is to your liking, then the King Room would be the best choice.

If you ask Jim and Marjorie, they will say the 1-BR apartment. Pete and Linda always ask for Riverboat House Suite 2.

Folks wanting two separate full-size or larger beds will find Riverboat House Suite 1 the most appropriate for their situation.

As to Diane & Tom or Jim & Karen, who have been here for a number of visits, their response would be that they can't decide, so any room would be fine with them.

All of our rooms are equally nice. The decor, of course, varies from room to room, and each has its own unique style. If you are "into" ruffles and lace, then the individual guest rooms in
the Dugan Residence would probably be preferable. If "down home country" is your preference, then the suites and studios would fit you to a "T".

If it's spaciousness and privacy you're seeking then any of the Riverboat House accommodations would be a good choice for you.

Many folks ask me which room I think is the best. Well, my favorite "going out to dinner" meal is Chicken Livers. That just goes to show the wide variety of people's tastes and preferences. Whether you share my taste for chicken livers, or prefer Beef Wellington, you'll find an accommodation fitting the bill at the Ohio River House.

Do your rooms have private or shared baths? All of our accommodations have a private bath. The 2-BR apartment has two separate bathrooms; one with a tub and the second with a shower; each of our other accommodations have one private bathroom. River River Room #2's private bath is accessible via the hallway (i.e., you must leave the room and walk down the hallway to the bathroom) all of the other accommodations have a bathroom in the room. See our Guest Rooms page for more information on bathrooms and other features of the various guest accommodations.

Do you have Jacuzzis? None of our accommodations have a Jacuzzi. When we added bathrooms, we did so in a manner that would preserve the spaciousness of the rooms. If you're looking for a "body pampering", then you may want to consider a massage. Two licensed massage therapists live close by and do house calls. See the Special Touches section on the main page of our website for specifics on how to arrange for a massage.

What is the difference between an individual guest room and a suite? An individual guest room (the Blue Room, King Room and River Rooms #1 and #2) are typical of what most B&B's have to offer. The individual guest rooms are just that, a large, comfortably furnished and nicely decorated bedroom with a private bath. The 2-room suites are essentially small efficiency-type apartments. In addition to the bedroom with a private bath, the suites also have a separate living area with a full kitchen. Each of our accommodations has at least one TV with standard cable TV access.

What is the difference between a Suite and a Studio? As noted above, a Suite is essentially a small, two-room apartment. The Studios are a single large room that have both living and sleeping space. The Studios on the 2nd floor of the Riverboat House each have a full kitchen. The Great Room is also a studi-type apartment (a single large room) and also has a full kitchen. The Yellow Room can be rented in conjunction with the Great Room to provide additional sleeping.

Do you have a room with a river view and a private balcony? Private balconies are not available. Our properties were built in the 1830's. The Dugan Residence was a private home. The Riverboat House was a large merchant building. When we renovated the properties we worked hard to preserve the original architecture. Decks have been added to the Riverboat House, since that could be done without compromising the building's character. The Upper Level Deck is shared by the 1BR, the 2BR and Studio #1. The Lower Level Deck is shared by the two Riverboat House Suites and the Great Room. Studio #2 does not have direct deck access.

The Dugan Residence has a large verandah that wraps around the south and east sides of the house. The river can be seen from all decks and the verandah. There is also a delightful terrace on the riverbank. However, if when you think of a river view you visualize a solid glass wall that you can see out, but no-one can see in, that sort of thing is not in the cards in a structure built in the 1830's.

All of the accommodations in the Riverboat House have an outside deck with a view of the river. Of the individual guest rooms in the Dugan Residence, the two River Rooms have the best view of the river (River Room #1 to the east and River Room #2 to the west), but not much of a view of the lovely gardens.

There is a view of the river only in the daytime. We are in a rural area, and it is DARK AT NIGHT. At night you can not see the river no matter where you are. Our hallmark is peace and quiet away from all of the hub-bub of city life, and the only lights on the river at night are from the fascinating barge traffic, and an occasional boat braving the evening. Here, when you walk through the gardens, you can hear the cows grazing on the hillside just at the outskirts of town.

I need a room on the first floor since stairs are a problem. Do you have first-floor accommodations available? The Great Room and the two Riverboat House suites are on the first floor. If you require first-floor accommodations, we can accommodate your needs. To make sure that your room fits your requirements, please make it clear at the time you make a reservation that you need a first floor accommodation.

Do you have handicapped-equipped facilities? The two suites and the Great Room in the Riverboat House are first-floor and all of the doors are 36" doors that can accommodate a wheelchair. However, we do not have a wheelchair accessible shower. All of our showers are standard size. There is a ramp at the entrance to the Dugan Residence to facilitate ingress and egress for folks coming to the kitchen for breakfast who have difficulty with stairs.

I would like a room with a tub as opposed to a shower. Bathrooms were added in a manner to maximize the space available in the guest accommodations. The King Room, River Room #2 and the two large apartments have a tub including a shower. All of our other accommodations have a shower but no tub.

What is the Dugan Residence?
The Dugan Residence is the private home of your hosts, Andy & Judy Lloyd - and our two grandchildren, Orion (age 9) and Torin (age 6). The Guest Rooms are located on the second floor, and we have our own living space on the first floor, but if you are "child averse", you may want to consider the Riverboat House accommodations for your stay.

The Dugan Residence was constructed in 1830 by Jessee Dugan, a prominent Higginsport merchant and river trader . In the 1880 history of Brown County, the Dugan enterprise was listed as being involved in the purchase and sale of tobacco, paints, varnishes and other "fancy goods". The Dugan Residence is the first brick home built in the village of Higginsport. When the home was first constructed, it served both as the Dugan family residence as well as the store. The large living room in our private quarters was initially the store. As the Dugan businesses expanded, a large one-story warehouse that connected to the Dugan Residence was added.

Following the death of Jessee's widow, ownership of the home changed hands several times. The beautiful front porch is not original to the house, but was added circa 1900 by John E. Lyons, the then-owner of the home.

The Village of Higginsport has been the victim of repetitive flooding, with the worst flood of record occurring in 1937 when river levels topped 80 ft. (for more information on floods, follow this link). In the 1937 flood, the verandah, and summer kitchen, as well as the warehouse once attached to the Dugan Residence was seriously damaged and subsequently torn down. In the 1960's former owners of the property excavated bricks from the destroyed warehouse and reconstructed the summer kitchen from the old brick. In 1999 the current owners completed restoration of the stately structure, restoring it to its original grandeur, and replaced the verandah.

The Dugan Residence boasts four spacious guest bedrooms, all with private baths on the second floor, that are available to overnight guests on weekends.

What is the Riverboat House?
The Riverboat House is located on the same property as the Dugan Residence. For a perspective of the distance between the two buildings, see the panoramic photo on the main page of our website www.OhioRiverHouse.com. In this photo, the Riverboat House is the building with a deck at the left on the photo.

The Riverboat House is a large (110 ft. x 35 ft) two-story all-brick structure originally built to serve as a merchant building. The Riverboat House, like the Dugan Residence, was constructed of bricks made in Higginsport in the 1840's. In its long history, the Riverboat House has served many purposes, including shipping and receiving goods off the river during Higginsport's heyday as a booming river town. During the period of segregated schools (mid-late 1800's) space in the building was rented to serve as the Black children's school. Tobacco, pork bellies, grain, lumber and other trade goods were once housed in this historic structure. At one time, the Riverboat House was used to build and repair riverboats and the steam engines that propelled them. In later years, it was used for storage, and as the base of operations for now long-gone the Brookbank Coal Yard. When we purchased the property, the badly damaged and rusted remnants of the trestle that was used to offload coal from barges were still present, and needed to be removed for safety reasons.

There were at one time some 17 such structures in Higginsport, though not all of them were constructed of brick. The Riverboat House is the only such structure still standing in the village.

During the years 1997 through 2007 massive repairs were implemented to the old building, which had seen little maintenance for a number of years. The interior of the Riverboat House was totally renovated, and now contains spacious and comfortable guest accommodations. The Riverboat House accommodations are available for overnight, weekend or weekly stays. The Riverboat House accommodations are also available for temporary lodging purposes with advance arrangement.

During the renovation process, the large building - once an entirely open area, was divided into spacious guest accommodations, and two large decks were added. Each of the accommodations in the Riverboat House offers a large living area in addition to sleeping rooms. All of the accommodations in the Riverboat House have full kitchens in addition to the bedrooms and living areas. The interior construction of the Riverboat House is new, and was completed in a manner complementing the character of the building. All accommodations have 10+ ft. ceilings and an air of spaciousness. Each of the Riverboat House accommodations has a private outside entrance. Riverboat House Studio #2 does not have direct access. All other Riverboat House accommodations have direct access to the spacious decks with great river views.

Whether the occasion is an overnight, weekend or other getaways for individual couples, a weekly rental for a couple or family on vacation, for a church group or other meeting, or for a reunion for your entire family, you will find the Riverboat House accommodations roomy, private, and tastefully appointed.

For guests seeking a private getaway, the Riverboat House accommodations provide the "best of both worlds". You can relax in total privacy in your own "personal space" or enjoy the delightful outdoor areas, as your preference dictates.

What amenities are included? This question is difficult to answer because everyone has something different in mind when asking the question. According to my Thesaurus, synonyms for "amenities" are: "comforts, features, niceties, social pleasures, agreeable pursuits and nice things". We will, therefore, attempt to answer that question in the context of those synonyms.

All of our rooms have private bathrooms. Our various accommodations are all large and comfortably furnished. All of the furnishings in the individual guest rooms as well as our personal quarters in the Dugan Residence are antique. All of our beds, sofas, chairs, etc. are comfortable.

The furnishings in the suites, studios and apartments are a mixture of antiques (bedroom furniture, tables, etc.) and modern (living room sofas and chairs) in a style complementing the antique decor. The suites, studios and apartments have kitchen facilities (see our Guest Rooms Page for more specifics and photos). As to "social pleasures and agreeable pursuits", our beautiful location and spacious grounds are available for all guests to enjoy.

We would like to be PAMPERED. What special offerings do you provide? Like the Amenities question, this one is also difficult to answer, as everyone has a different idea of what "pampering" is. We do not provide room service or "breakfast in bed". A private massage in your room is available with prior arrangement directly with the massage therapists providing those services; see the "Special Touches" section on the main page of our website for details on how to arrange for a private massage, a dinner or sightseeing cruise.

Do the rooms have a VCR? We have one VCR that is moved to the room with a TV where it is needed upon request. We only have one "traveling VCR", so if you wish to have a VCR available, then it is necessary to request the VCR at the time you make your reservation.

Do the rooms have cable TV? All of our accommodations in both the Riverboat House and the Dugan Residence have cable TV.

We would like to book a dinner cruise during our stay, can you make these arrangements for us? We do not provide booking services for cruises or other activities for guests. Folks wishing to arrange such things as horseback riding, a dinner cruise, massage, etc. must make those arrangements directly with the provider of those services. Cruises are available from two providers in the Cincinnati area. Both are about an hour's drive from our location. Follow these links to get more information on BB Riverboats, or RiverCity Charters. These links are also available from our website's main page.

I am planning a getaway to celebrate our anniversary. Do you have special packages for this type of occasion? It is our experience that there is such a wide variety in what guests are interested in relative to celebrations for special occasions that it is difficult to develop a "package" that is suitable for everyone. For example, many folks are interested in wine and flowers, while others simply want a quiet retreat away from the pressures of work or children. We have found that it's best for individual guests to select what is best for their own personal tastes and preferences. For this reason, we do not offer "packages".

I would like to have flowers in the room when we arrive. Can you order the flowers for me? We prefer to have guests make their own arrangements for flowers.
It is our experience that such things as choice of flowers, cost issues, etc. are most expediently handled directly by the guests themselves. We have had reports of good experiences with the following florists in the area. The Flower Patch in Georgetown - 937-378-3797, Floral Expressions in Georgetown - 937-378-2827, and Floral Expressions in Ripley - 937-378-2827 or 1-800-827-7063.

I'd like to have champagne in the room upon our arrival. Will you arrange to have champagne for us when we check in? Given our rural location, it is somewhat difficult for us to purchase high quality wine or top-end champagne in the immediate area. The nearest source of such items is Moyer's in Manchester or a liquor store Maysville, KY - in either case a 40 mile round-trip. If we know far enough in advance, we can include purchasing wine or champagne during one of our "supply runs". If we purchase wine or champagne for you, then the actual cost plus 5% will be billed to your credit card at the time that the purchase is made. If we have to make a special trip to Maysville or to Moyer's Winery in Manchester to purchase wine or champagne, there is an additional charge of $35.00. If you call us the day before your arrival and ask that we have wine or champagne in the room for you when you arrive, it's highly unlikely that we will have time to make the special trip to effect the purchase. Unless we have several days advance notice of your desire for wine or champagne awaiting you in your room, it may not be possible for us to make a special trip honor your request.

Rates - B&B Plan

What are your room rates? The Ohio River House has a diverse selection of accommodations ranging from an individual guest room in the Dugan Residence, to a large fully-equipped, fully furnished 2-Bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment in the Riverboat House. For specifics on our room rates - go to our "rooms" page www.OhioRiverHouse.com/rooms.html

What is included in the Room Rate? The room rates for stays under the B&B Plan include a large comfortable room (or suite, studio or apartment, as the case may be) and breakfast. All guests - no matter whether staying in the Dugan Residence or the Riverboat House are welcome to use the playground area, mini golf and pool (summer only). We operate the Ohio River House as a private home B&B and do not offer "packages" or other amenities that can be found at a resort.

If I'm staying on the B&B Plan but oversleep and don't have breakfast, can I get a refund for the cost of breakfast? NO, the B&B Plan rate is the same whether or not you have breakfast.

Why is the rate for the apartments more than for the suites? The two apartments on the 2nd floor of the Riverboat House are more than twice the size of the Suites and Studios.

Do you have lower rates during the week or at certain times of the year? With the exception of the higher rates for the Dugan Residence guest rooms during the months of November - March, our rates are the same all year. The only discounts available to individual guests are our special Midweek No-Breakfast and Extended Stay Plan offering for the Riverboat House Accommodations . Scroll down for details on our Extended Stay Plan.

Rates - Extended Stay Plan

What are the criteria or the Extended Stay Plan? The Extended Stay Plan is available for (1) any stay of 3 or more consecutive nights Sunday-Thursday during non-holiday weeks (2) any stay of 3 or more consecutive nights Monday-Thursday during Monday-holiday weeks, or (3) any stay of 5 or more consecutive nights including a SINGLE "non-holiday" weekend. (The Extended Stay Plan rate would not, for example, apply to all nights for a stay from Saturday of one week through Friday of the next - one of the weekend nights would be priced at the regular room rate in the case of a 7-night stay for a Saturday arrival and departure on Saturday of the following week .

What are the Extended Stay Plan rates? Extended Stay Plan rates are as follows: Suites, Studios or Great Room $60 per night, 1-BR apartment is $75 per night, 2-BR apartment $100 per night. The Extra Person Charge for the Riverboat House accommodations varies depending on the unit and the number of Extra Persons staying in the unit. Please refer to the individual Accommodation pages for specifics on the Extra Person Charge for the Riverboat House accommodations. You can find the individual pages for each of the Riverboat House accommodations by following this link (www.OhioRiverHouse.com/rooms.html) . The "rooms" page provides a summary of accommodations, plus a brief description of the various rooms. Click on the room of interest to get to the page for the particular room you are interested in.

We really don't need a suite or apartment, do you have special rates for longer stays in the individual guest rooms? The Extended Stay Plan is not available for the individual guest rooms in the Dugan Residence.

What amenities are included in the Extended Stay Plan? The Extended Stay Plan is essentially a rental of the accommodation on a "light housekeeping" basis. We do pick up and dispose of garbage, and ensure that clean towels are available. Guests who elect to cook their own meals are required to wash the dishes, etc. We do not provide full-fledged maid service for Extended Stay Plan guests. Guests are, of course, responsible for any damage such as broken dishes, stains on furniture, linnens, bedding, carpets, etc.

I'd like to reserve one of your accommodations on the Extended Stay Plan. What is the extra cost for breakfast? For guests taking advantage of our Extended Stay Plan, breakfast is NOT AVAILABLE except on mornings when we are preparing and serving breakfast to guests staying here on the B&B Plan. If we are preparing and serving breakfast to guests on the B&B Plan, then guests taking advantage of the Extended Stay Plan rates are welcome to join us for breakfast for an additional cost of $6/person. If we will be preparing and serving breakfast, we will advise you the night before. If an Extended Stay Plan guest elects to have breakfast on those mornings when breakfast is available, we must know the night before. If you advise us that you will be joining us for breakfast on mornings when it is available, then the charge applies whether or not you actually have breakfast on that morning.

Making Reservations

How long ahead of time do I have to reserve a room? There is no predicting the availability of rooms for any given date. Sometimes rooms are booked months in advance, and at other times the opposite is true, such that if you call on Friday or Saturday afternoon for a room that same night, we may have one available. For holiday weekends, it's best to reserve your room with as much advance planning as possible. Given the unpredictable nature of how long ahead of time folks make reservations, it is virtually impossible to answer this question with any degree of accuracy.

If you are interested in reserving a number of rooms for an occasion such as a family reunion, church group, etc. then it's best to make those reservations as far in advance as possible. We require a 25% NON-REFUNDABLE deposit for all group reservations.

I think I want to come, but have to talk to my husband/wife first. Can you hold the room for me until next week when I will know for sure? Unfortunately, it costs us potential business to hold rooms for people without a firm reservation, and we are unable to accommodate such requests.

Do I need a reservation for a mid-week stay? Because we are in a rural area we do not get a lot of business travelers. As a result, we generally have rooms available during the week. However, it is still important that you make an advance reservation (at least the day before). We schedule our errands, time off, etc. for those days on which we do not have guests scheduled to check in. If you arrive without having made an advance reservation, there is no guarantee that someone will be here to check you in, even though we may have rooms available.

Do you accept "walk-ins"? Yes, travelers and others who may not have made an advance reservation are welcome if a room is available, and if we are here to check you in when we arrive - see note above regarding advance reservations.

I would like to make a reservation, but I do not have a credit card. Firm reservations require a guarantee of payment at the time they are made. If you do not have a credit card then you must pay in advance for the room for the entire time that it is reserved. If you will be sending a check as a guarantee of payment, then the check must be received within 3 days after making the reservation.

Why is there a $25 non-refundable deposit when an advance reservation is made? As a Private Home B&B, we have a limited number of rooms available. When a room is reserved for a specific date, then that room is removed from availability for other guests. If someone makes a reservation just to "hedge their bets" in case they may want to stay on the appointed date, then subsequently cancels, its likely that the canceled room will go unfilled that night. It is also not unlikely that we will have turned down other potential guests for the canceled room, and those folks will have made alternative arrangements. We have imposed the $25 non-refundable deposit to discourage "bet-hedgers". If you are not sufficiently confident that you will actually be here on the date you reserve to "gamble" $25, then you probably shouldn't make a reservation until you are confident that your plans will work out for you. Unfortunately, holding rooms for people who subsequently cancel the reservation does not help us to pay our bills.

What forms of payment do you accept? We accept cash, traveler's checks, personal checks, Visa and MasterCard (credit or debit). We do not accept debit or credit cards other than Visa or Mastercard. If you will be paying cash at the time you check in, we still require a valid credit card number at the time a reservation is made in order to guarantee that the room will be available for you upon your arrival.

Check-in, Check-out

What time is check-in and check-out? Our normal check-in time is between the hours of 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM. Our normal check-out time is 12:00 Noon.

If you need to arrive earlier or later than the normal check-in time, we may be able to accommodate you IF WE KNOW IN ADVANCE. Our ability to accommodate an early check-in will be dependent on whether (a) the room you have reserved was rented to another guest on the night preceding your arrival and (b) if you have made advance arrangements for an early check-in. If you arrive at any time other than between the hours of 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM without making prior arrangements, there is no guarantee that anyone will be available to check you in to your room.

We can accommodate a late check-in (after 10:00 PM), only in the Riverboat House accommodations. Because the Riverboat House accommodations all have their own outside entrance, we can make arrangements ahead of time to leave the key in a pre-arranged place so late arriving guests can "check themselves in" to their rooms when arriving after 10:00 PM. CHECK-IN AFTER 10:00 PM CAN ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS. If you arrive after 10:00 PM, but have not made prior arrangements, there is no guarantee that anyone will be up to show you to your room.

We try to be as flexible as possible on check-in and check-out, but as we do not have a full-time concierge or someone at a check-in desk 24 hours a day, we can only handle check-in outside of the set hours between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM with prior arrangement.

I would like to check in at 1:30 AM. Can you accommodate a check-in at that hour? YES. Because our suites and apartments have their own outside entrances, we can accommodate a very late check-in for guests staying in the suites and apartments, PROVIDED THAT ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE IN ADVANCE. For a late check-in for the suites, studios or apartments, we leave a key and directions to the room in a pre-arranged place, and the late arriving guests can go directly to their rooms, even if we have retired for the evening.

The latest check-in time for the individual guest rooms in the Dugan Residence is 10:00 PM. If you will be arriving later than 10:00 PM, then the only available accommodation would be the suites, studios or apartments.

If you will be arriving at a non-standard time, such as 1:00 AM or 6:00 AM, such that the room that you have reserved is unavailable to other guests the night before, then you must pay for the room on the night that it is unavailable for others. For example, a check-in on Saturday at 5:00 AM with a check-out at 1:00 PM on Sunday would be charged as a 2-night stay, since we can not rent the room for Friday night while requiring that the Friday night guests check out of the room at 4:00 AM on Saturday so you can check in.

Breakfast

What do you serve for breakfast? A full breakfast is available only on Saturday mornings and Sunday mornings. The weekend full breakfast always includes fruit, an egg dish or pancakes, breakfast meat such as bacon, ham or sausage, sweet-rolls or pastries, coffee, tea and juice. If we have a large group for breakfast, the entrées will include, for example, baked pancakes, scrambled eggs, or perhaps a breakfast casserole or some combination thereof.

On weekend mornings when we have only one or two couples for breakfast, such as frequently occurs during the winter, the Full Breakfast entrée will will be an item or combination of items such as a quiche, pancakes & eggs, French toast, hash browns, etc.

If you have special needs for breakfast such as a fat-free diet, no pork, or are allergic to such things as green peppers (which we frequently put in scrambled eggs), we need to know this at the time that you make your reservation. While we generally have food items available to accommodate special needs, its better for us to know ahead of time so that we make sure we are adequately prepared.

We would like to have a nice, leisurely breakfast on the terrace at 11:30 AM. Weekend Breakfast is served family style in the Dugan Residence kitchen and/or dining room at 9:00 AM, or earlier if guests require an early breakfast due to travel plans, etc. We have found that the family style breakfast is one of the events that our guests enjoy the most, as it gives all guests an opportunity to get to know one another if they have not previously had the chance to do so. Many folks like to sit and talk with each other during and after breakfast time. The weekend Breakfast is essentially a social event.

If you would like to have a private breakfast on the terrace, you are welcome to take your food to the terrace or verandah to enjoy it outdoors. The Ohio River House is a small, private home B&B, and we do not have a large staff available to serve breakfast or to provide waitress service to guests who wish to enjoy an outdoor breakfast.

If you would like to have a late breakfast, then please let us know in advance and we will make sure that breakfast is available for you to warm up and eat at your leisure. B&B Plan guests staying in the suites, studios and apartments may take the breakfast to their accommodations if they wish to enjoy a private breakfast in the comfort of their own accommodations. For cleanliness reasons and space constraints, food is not allowed in the individual guest rooms in the Dugan Residence.

It is difficult for us to serve individual guests a late breakfast in the Dugan Residence kitchen, dining room or otherwise. By 11:00 we need to be cleaning rooms and preparing to check other guests into their rooms, so it is not possible for us to serve breakfast to guests in the Dugan Residence at lunch time.

There will be 40 family members in our party. What would you serve for breakfast for our group? We do not have facilities available to prepare and serve breakfast for a group that size, and for such a group, breakfast would not be available.

What is your smoking policy? Because we are sensitive to the needs of guests who are smoke-averse, smoking is not allowed anywhere inside. Guests wishing to smoke may want to rent one of the Riverboat House accommodations with their large deck area for outdoor smoking. In the Dugan Residence, designated smoking areas are the verandah, the back porch, or anywhere outdoors.

We have a dog and like to bring our dog with us. Do you have accommodations suitable for us? YES - the accommodations in the Riverboat House are available for guests with well-behaved, house-trained dogs. The Riverboat House has a large fenced-in area to the west that makes a great place for dogs to run and exercise. The fenced-in area is accessible from the "dog territory" accommodations via the Lower Level Deck. Our town has a "leash law" and dogs are not allowed to run freely about the property. When not on a leash, dogs must be in the room or the fenced-in area.

We do not, however, provide pet-sitting services. If your dog is fearful when you are out of sight, then you need to make arrangements to avoid such potential problems as whining, crying, or otherwise causing a disturbance to other guests. Guests are, of course, responsible for any damage caused by their dogs (or by themselves, for that matter).

We have a cat. Can we bring our cat with us? Unfortunately, guest cats are not allowed at the Ohio River House.

Do you accept families with children? Yes, families with non-disruptive children are welcome at the Ohio River House IN CERTAIN ACCOMMODATIONS. We must know at the time you make a reservation whether you will be accompanied by children, so that we can reserve for you the appropriate accommodation for your situation.

The individual guest rooms in the Dugan Residence are not suitable for families with children. The accommodations in the Riverboat House are "child and group friendly", provided that potential noise that could disturb other guests is not likely to be a problem. The two Studios ares somewhat isolated from the other guest accommodations, and also have access to "quiet territory" where a crying child can be taken until it goes to sleep.

We are, as I'm sure you can understand, very sensitive about possible noise problems for other guests. That is why the Dugan Residence guest rooms come with a "child warning", as our two young grandchildren are currently living with us. For example, small children with shrill voices who talk incessantly, and youngsters who like to run repeatedly across the floor, are understandably problematic for the guests in the accommodation next door, above or beneath you at any time during the day or night.

The time after 9:30 PM is "quiet time". If other guests legitimately complain about children (or, for that matter other guests) who cause a disturbance, then the disturbing guest is obligated to pay for the room of the guest who legitimately complains about noise caused by other guests. An example of a legitimate complaint about noise would be a loud television, radio or other music, a child crying or talking loudly at night or running across the floor making disruptive noise after 9:30 PM. An example of a non-legitimate complaint would be children laughing or watching TV at 2:00 in the afternoon. If you have a small child who is prone to crying at night, then a B&B may not be the appropriate environment for your situation.

Groups, Meetings & Tours

We are interested in arranging a family reunion at the Ohio River House. What is the maximum number of people able to stay at your facilities? The maximum number of people is a function of what sleeping arrangements are required. For a family situation or any group where beds are shared, then the maximum number of people is 45 (that assumes that every bed is occupied to capacity). If the group would consist of individual couples each wanting its own separate bedroom and bathroom, then the maximum number of couples is 11. If you are looking for accommodations for a family or other group, we will gladly provide on request diagrams of our rooms that show the sleeping arrangements in each of the various accommodations. These diagrams are only available by "snail mail".

We are interested in reserving accommodations for 10 women in our Ladies Group. What is the cost per person? As all of our accommodations can comfortably sleep more than two persons, there is no ready answer to this question. When determining the total cost for a group, there is a tradeoff on cost and space/privacy. If for your purposes, cost issues are more important than space and privacy issues, then you may want to consider renting the larger accommodations with several individuals sharing a room or rooms. If privacy and space is more important, then you would be best served by renting more accommodations with fewer persons per room. Our room rates are a function of both (a) which room you reserve, and (b) the number of persons per accommodation. For a group of 10 persons, the cost would, of course, be more if you rented 10 rooms with one person per room than if you rented two rooms with 5 persons per room, so we are unable to give you a "per person" cost without knowing which type of arrangement you prefer.

We would like to rent all of your rooms for a single night on Saturday, October XX. What kind of discount can you offer? During the months of May through October or early November, there is a two-night minimum stay for guests wanting to reserve 3 or more rooms on weekends. If all of our rooms are booked for a single night on a Saturday night, then we have no rooms available for other guests who may wish a two-night stay on Friday & Saturday or Saturday & Sunday, and this costs us business. We have more flexibility on group rates and stays in the off season (mid November through March).

Do you offer group discounts? As noted above, there is a 2-night minimum for groups wishing to reserve three or more rooms on a weekend during the months of May through October, or early November. We do offer group discounts for multiple night weekend stays in the "off season". Our midweek rates already reflect a substantial discount from the weekend B&B Plan rates. We do not offer group discounts.

We would like to rent 4 rooms for our group, but we want to have the whole place to ourselves. Can you arrange this for us? If you want an atmosphere in which you "have the whole place to yourselves", but want to rent less than all of our accommodations, then your needs are best met by reserving accommodations in the Riverboat House. You can rent all of the Riverboat House accommodations, with the exception of the two Studios, and essentially have that whole building "to yourselves". If you want to ensure that no other guests are staying in any of the accommodations at the Ohio River House during your stay, then you would need to rent all of our accommodations.

We would like to reserve four rooms for our group and to have you provide a formal, catered dinner to be served in the Dugan Residence. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate such requests. If you wish to have a private party while staying here, the only facility available for such a party would be the Great Room in the Riverboat House, provided that the accommodations rented in addition to the Great Room were also in the Riverboat House. THE GREAT ROOM IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR RENT FOR PARTIES EXCEPT TO GUESTS WHO ALSO RENT OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE RIVERBOAT HOUSE. The Dugan Residence is not available for rental for group gatherings, weddings, etc.

We would like to rent all of the rooms in the Dugan Residence and also rent the Great Room for a party. What is the cost? The Great Room would not be available to use for a party or other get-together for groups renting accommodations in the Dugan Residence. If the Great Room is being used for a party or other get-together, guests renting accommodations in the Riverboat House may be disturbed or inconvenienced by the activities in the Great Room. In order to rent the Great Room for a party or other get-together, all guests in the group would have to rent accommodations in the Riverboat House so as to prevent possible noise from disturbing non-group guests.

What is the cost to rent the Great Room for a private party? The Great Room is only available for rent to overnight guests staying in the Riverboat House accommodations, and is not available for rent solely for a private party.

The ladies in our Garden Club really like historic houses. We would like to have a tour of your facility and grounds. We'd like to come on a Saturday afternoon in June and have you give us a two-hour guided tour of the buildings and grounds, complete with a history of the property; all for free, of course! How long ahead of time would we have to make arrangements for this? Providing tours for folks wishing to spend time at the Ohio River House for free entertainment is not something that we are willing to accommodate, and such tours are not available at any time.

We are planning a family reunion [or church group meeting] for sometime in the fall this year. Can we come to take a look at your facilities to determine if the Ohio River House would be the appropriate spot for our purposes? We are happy to provide a tour of our facilities for representatives of groups interested in making such arrangements. To arrange for such a visit please call us to make an appointment. In order to view the guest rooms, any such tour would have to be scheduled for a time when the rooms are not occupied by guests. We also have available diagrams of the sleeping arrangements in all of our accommodations. These room diagrams are available by "snail-mail" upon request.

We would like to have our wedding at a B&B, do you have facilities for weddings? The Dugan Residence is our private home and is not available for wedding receptions. The Riverboat House accommodations including the Great Room are suitable for a SMALL (less than 20 people) wedding in a very casual atmosphere provided that the wedding party rents all of the Riverboat House accommodations for two or more nights. The Great Room is not available for rent solely for a wedding or other group gathering, but only in conjunction with renting the guest accommodations in the Riverboat House for two or more nights. We do not provide catering or any other services for weddings or other gatherings. We are unable to make the grounds available for an outdoor wedding, as doing so creates a problem for overnight guests who are not part of the wedding group.

The Meranda-Nixon Winery may be able to provide a setting for an outdoor wedding. For information on the Meranda-Nixon Winery, follow this link to their website Link to Meranda-Nixon Website.

Boating and River Activities

We would like to go boating during our stay. Is there a place nearby that rents boats? Unfortunately, there are no businesses who rent jet-skis either in the immediate area or in Cincinnati. The nearby White Oak Creek Marina in Higginsport does have a pontoon boat available for rent. Advance reservations are required. For more information on pontoon boat rentals from the White Oak Creek Marina, call 513-417-0400 or follow this link to the Marinas page on the Higginsport Ohio website. www.HigginsportOhio.com/marinas.html The Eagle Creek Marina in Ripley does rent fishing boats and pedal boats at their location, just 8 miles east of Higginsport. Follow this link for information on the Eagle Creek Marina in Ripley.
We are located ¼ mile from White Oak Creek, and the White Oak Creek Marina. More information on Higginsport marinas can be found on the Higginsport Ohio web page www.HigginsportOhio.com/marinas.html

We would like to come and bring our boat. Do you have a dock where we can moor the boat during our stay? We do have a large boat dock that is accessible via the stairs from our riverside terrace. The dock is a large concrete structure that can accommodate craft as large as a houseboat (see the main page for a photo). Our dock is not a floating dock, and is directly on the river. While folks are free to use the dock for overnight mooring purposes, we have no responsibility for damage that might occur due to barge wake, storms, wind, etc. A number of guests have moored their boats at our dock overnight and have had no difficulties. The White Oak Creek Marina is just ¼ mile away and has a protected "off-river" mooring area. We do provide transportation services to and from the White Oak Creek Marina with prior arrangements. More information on the White Oak Creek Marina can be found by following the link to Higginsport Marinas.

Is there swimming in the river? Yes. In summer in this part of the Ohio (except following heavy rainfalls) the River is quite clean and safe for swimming. Keep in mind, however, that the riverbottom is quite rocky, and proper footwear (water shoes, canvas tennis shoes, etc.) is required to avoid cut feet from the rocky bottom. Additionally, the concrete dock can be quite slippery when wet, so caution and the exercise of good judgment is necessary. It is not appropriate for small children to be on the dock area unattended. The Ohio River House B&B has a large, heated swimming pool that is available to guests staying here.

I like to go kayaking or canoeing. Is the current strong? At normal water levels, the current is about 5 miles per hour. More of an issue than the current is the wind. The wind is often quite strong through the river valley and frequently creates rough water conditions. The White Oak Creek Marina and the protected waters of White Oak Creek are just 1/4 mile away. White Oak Creek makes a great spot for some "calm water" canoeing, kayaking or fishing even on windy days.

Is there fishing in the area? Yes, this part of the Ohio has many species of fish including Catfish and Bass. Bass tournaments are frequently held at the White Oak Creek Marina, and many Bass fishermen stake their claim near our boat dock. There are also public fishing areas at the Meldahl Locks & Dam, just 11 miles downriver. Guests fishing from our dock area have not encountered any questions from the fish & game folks. There is a bait shop in town (4 blocks away), and guests are free to use our fishing poles. We do not, however, supply "easily lost" items such as lures, and guests are responsible for any broken or lost fishing equipment that they use.

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Restaurants in the area
A complete listing of the more popular restaurants in our area is available on our website.

Follow this link for information on restaurants.

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What is there to do in your area?
For a comprehensive description of things to see and do in our area, scroll down and follow the appropriate link for more information on your specific area of interest.

Festivals and Events (driving time .25 to .75 hours)	Historical Sites (driving time 15 minutes to 1 hour)	Antique & Specialty Shops Nearby
Newport Aquarium (driving time 1 hour)	Sightseeing, Covered Bridges & Backroads tours (all within the immediate area)	Restaurants with a "local flair" (from walking distance to 20 miles)
Horseback Riding (driving time 45 minutes)	Scenic & Dining Cruises (driving time 1 hour)	Golf Courses nearby (driving time less than 1/2 hour)
Riverbend Music Center & Concerts (driving time 40 minutes)	Big Rock ATV Park - Maysville, KY (driving time 40 minutes)	Canoeing & Canoe Rentals (driving time 1 hour)
Kings Island Amusement Park (driving time 1.5 hours)	East Fork State Park - Hiking/swimming (driving time 45 minutes)	Day Trips (driving time 1 to 2 hours)

For Guests Arriving by Boat:

Yes, we can accommodate guests planning to arrive by boat. We do, however, encourage guests arriving by boat to moor overnight a the White Oak Creek Marina (www.HigginsportOhio.com/marinas.html) instead of at our boat dock. Our dock is a large concrete structure located directly on the river. The dock is stationary, while the water level fluctuates at the behest of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers who operate the Meldahl Locks and Dam, just 11 miles downriver of Higginsport. Our dock is also located directly on the main channel of the river, so storms and barge wakes can be troublesome for boats moored at our dock.

When folks arrive by boat, they can tie up at our dock and leave off any passengers or gear prior to docking overnight at the White Oak Creek Marina. For guests arriving by boat we can provide transportation from the marina to our B&B provided that (a) arrangements for pickup are made in advance - including the time guests will be arriving at the marina, and (b) we are available to provide transportation when you need it. If we will not be available to provide transportation, or if guests arriving by boat do not know when they will get to the marina, then we leave a bicycle at the marina so that the person docking the boat can travel the 1/4 mile distance by bike.

For guests who will be arriving late, or at a time that we are not able to be here - such as sometimes happens during the week - we have a "self check-in" option for the accommodations in the Riverboat House. The Riverboat House accommodations all have their own outside entrances so we can leave the accommodation unlocked if necessary. We are not able to do the "self check-in" for the rooms in the Dugan Residence - the main house which is also our family home. The self-check-in is particularly useful for guests arriving by boat who can not accurately predict their arrival time.