Ground Floor: Saving historic home leads to business

AMANA — Before she and her husband bought a 1910-era traditional Amana home, Luona Lafferty had never stayed in a bed and breakfast.

On July 31, when the Cinder Block House Bed and Breakfast in Middle Amana welcomed its first guest, she became a bed and breakfast proprietor.

Lafferty said she got into the lodging business by accident.

'My husband and I moved to the Amana Colonies four-and-a-half years ago when we purchased an historic home,' she said. 'Two-and-a-half years ago, the house across the street went into foreclosure and we went to the open house.'

That house, another historic home that had been divided up into a rental property, had fallen into disrepair. The house had significant water damage from a bathroom plumbing failure and needed a new roof and windows.

Despite the house's flaws, Lafferty and her husband saw its potential. The home had all the signatures of traditional Amana architecture but, unique to the Amana Colonies, was constructed with concrete blocks.

Not wanting the distinctive property to remain a rental, the couple decided to monitor the public auction to see how the sale went. In the end, they placed the winning bid.

'It was going incredibly cheap,' Lafferty said. 'We got it for the price of a car.'

But there was one problem.

'We didn't know what we were going to do with it. We had our own house that needed renovation.'

A week later, Lafferty's information technology position was eliminated and her career as a bed and breakfast owner was born.

Lafferty took on the job of overseeing the Cinder Block House's renovations. Her husband and father-in-law did most of the construction work in their spare time, while she set up the business and website.

The restored home features four guest rooms with private bathrooms and modern amenities. The private rooms and several common areas are decorated in a contemporary farmhouse style with both modern pieces and antiques.

Each morning, Lafferty serves a homemade breakfast in the first floor dining room showcasing local and organic ingredients.

Lafferty said the public's response to her new business has been a pleasant surprise. Around 150 people attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Cinder Block House on Aug. 17, and several guests already have rebooked.

'Our very first client is booked to come back this fall and another client is bringing a whole group for four days,' Lafferty said. 'It's been a super positive experience so far.'

l Know of a company in business for less than a year that would be ideal for 'Ground Floor'? Contact George Ford at george.ford@sourcemedia.net.

At A Glance

• Owners: Luona and Mark Lafferty
• Business: The Cinder Block House Bed and Breakfast
• Address: 2503 K St., Middle Amana
• Phone: (319) 640-8728
• Website:

  www.thecinderblockhouse.com