Owners Jim and Linda Nolte
FORTVILLE’S IVY HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST CELEBRATES 18 YEARS OF PROVIDING A HISTORIC HAVEN FOR TRAVELERS Writer / Julie Young Photographer / Ron Wise
Jim and Linda Nolte never planned to own a bed & breakfast. Jim was a retired government worker who was a township trustee while Linda worked with special needs children. However, after a 25th wedding anniversary trip to Bar Harbor, ME, the couple began to dream of turning their empty nest into a historic haven for weary travelers. The result is the Ivy House Bed & Breakfast. Established in 2000 and located in Fortville, the Ivy House is a three-room B&B that offers guests comfortable, cozy and luxurious accommodations along with convenient access to local amenities in Indianapolis, Fishers, Noblesville and more. “It took us about nine months to get the inn
ready in terms of licensing and insurance and there is always something to do around here, but we knew we had a beautiful home with a unique history and we knew our guests would love it as much as we do,” Linda says.
the gambling establishment,” Nolte adds.
Nolte says in the 18 years that Ivy House has operated as a B&B, they have hosted guests from all over the U.S. and from as far away as Canada, England, Norway and Jess E. Ferrell, a prominent physician from Sweden. She says some guests come for the bed-and-breakfast experience, while others Maxwell, IN built the Ivy House in 1921, choosing the site because it was the highest may be looking for a comfortable respite when visiting family or friends. No matter elevation point in Fortville. Throughout where they hail from, visitors to the Ivy its 97-year history, the Dutch Colonial House are always welcomed like old friends has had five owners and not long after and are given a heaping helping of Hoosier the Noltes took possession in 1980, they hospitality. discovered old gaming boards in the attic later learning that the basement was home to an illegal gambling operation during the Some of those guests even go on to become lifelong friends. Nolte says her longest prohibition era. recurring guest is a Canadian woman who “The house was featured on HGTV’s “If usually stays at Ivy House for two weeks Walls Could Talk” and according to local in May but occasionally returns in the fall. legend, Al Capone was a regular visitor to After eight years of visits, she has become 14 / GEIST MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2018 / atGeist.com