Inn the Hospital

Introduction
More About Colony Hospital Inn
More About Bishop Hill, Illinois
Photos of the Inn

Mike and Dina Carden starting thinking about a career as innkeepers after staying at a Wisconsin B&B that was for sale. When Dina awoke at 4 a.m. one day, she had the idea to visit Bishop Hill, Illinois -- the first Swedish settlement in America.

INN FILE Colony Hospital Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers Mike and Dina Carden 110 North Olson St PO Box 97 Bishop Hill, Illinois 61419 (309) 927-3506

"It was only 25 minutes from my husband's job," she said. "It was a quaint village of 150 residents, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit each year ... and there was no B&B!"

After deciding that they were ready to live on one income for a while, the Cardens purchased the old settlement hospital building (constructed in 1855) and converted it to an inn. The result is Colony Hospital Bed and Breakfast.

Dina recently took some time to answer a few questions about the inn, Bishop Hill, and life as an innkeeper.

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When did you first stay at a bed and breakfast?

I myself stayed in bed and breakfasts in college when we would go skiing. My husband's first was when we took a trip to Minnesota and Wisconsin.

What do you remember most about your first stay at a B&B?

I remember how homey and cozy it was, and how pampered I felt compared to the stale smell and uncomfortable visits to hotels. And how unique every single one is!

When did you first consider becoming innkeepers?

I myself had always thought about becoming an innkeeper after retiring from teaching. My husband and I then seriously considered it after staying in a Wisconsin B&B that was for sale and we were looking for a new direction in life.

How long did you debate whether to become innkeepers?

We only debated about six months before becoming innkeepers.

What were some of the factors you considered, pro and con?

Whether to buy an existing B&B or start one from scratch; how to relocate my husband's job; would we have enough living space to raise a family; could we raise a family and run a B&B; were we too young (we were late 20s and 30 at the time) to be good hosts or would that scare off guests; it would be a perfect opportunity to get us out of the city; it would be a great way to be able to live off of my husband's income, get some deductions, be a stay-at-home mother and still have a career.

How did you decide where to open your inn?

"The interior of the inn was designed to facilitate the medical practices of the time period: isolation, fresh air and herbal medicine." --Dina Carden

After trying to relocate my husband to Wisconsin and battling with not really wanting to move that far away from our friends and families. I literally awoke at 4 in the morning with the idea to go to Bishop Hill. It was only 25 minutes from my husband's job, it was a quaint village of 150 residents, but it was the first Swedish Settlement in America and hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Bishop Hill each year. And there was no B&B! I was so excited! We went to Bishop Hill and with in three months had found and bought an original Colony building, right in town, that was large enough to have and entire floor of B&B rooms and a story and a half for us to raise a family.

What do you remember most about your first month as innkeepers?

The first month as innkeeper, I myself was very nervous but very excited we actually did it! We had in less than one year completly changed our lives. We found a place, moved, I quit teaching, remodeled and opened for business. On top of it all we, with great surprise, were expecting our first child within five months. Our plans were to start the business and within five years start having children. So, I believe my husband was quite nervous himself, but just as excited that we were greeting people from all over the world!

Is being an innkeeper tougher or easier than you expected?

Being an innkeeper is as tough and actually easier in someways than we had expected. We quickly realized that you have to design an inn to meet your needs as well as your guests'. Because of the fact that we have children, we decided to have a more private B&B. We have kitchens and kitchenettes in the rooms for the guests. The only common area for our guests is our large porches. This worked to our advantage, though; gentlemen travelers especially appreciate the privacy. This made things very easy on us, because we have just as much privacy.

It also made serving breakfast a very easy task, as I simply went to a continental breakfast with muffins, scones and Swedish Rye bread. The rest was in the rooms for them.

Want to share your favorite B&B experience? Tell us about it on the B&B Forums.

The toughest is our children. We had another surprise baby a year later. So, we currently have a 1-year-old and a 2-year-old and it's tough letting them not have their freedom. We have to get creative when they want to awaken very early and play airplane or when they are sick with an ear ache and can't be crying in the middle of the night.

What's your favorite part about being an innkeeper?

Our favorite part of being innkeepers is the vast number of people we meet from all over the world (Sweden, Canada, Brazil and all over the U.S.). They each have a story and it's wonderful to get the opportunity to know each one. We also have had the chance to meet other innkeepers who have become great friends and great supporters! There is a terrific bond between innkeepers.

What's your least favorite part?

My least favorite part is never being able to sleep in if I want to! And I actually don't get up as early as other innkeepers: I'm up at 7 a.m. and have the muffins and scones done by 7:30!

How do you make a stay at your B&B special?

We make a stay at our B&B special by providing all those little touches: our complimentary, award-winning, private-label wine made from the Swedish Black Currant Berries; our private-label soaps, lotions, and coffees; our video library and TV/VCRs; the use of our mountain bikes and a printed historic bike trail that starts a block from us; our beautiful view off our porches; the simplicity of the colony decorated rooms (quilts and wide-planked floors); and the privacy!

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