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The Historic Riverside Convent: Sister's of the Holy Cross School House

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Relax by the fire pit in a serene outdoor space surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery.
Enjoy cooking in this fully equipped kitchen with a refrigerator, sink, and coffee maker.
Stunning two-story house with a central entrance and symmetrical facade, set amidst a beautifully manicured lawn and lush trees.
Enjoy meals in this cozy dining area with a wooden table and two comfortable chairs.
Relax in a comfortable seating area with armchairs and a side table, surrounded by a rustic brick wall and wooden floor.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

The Historic Riverside Convent: Sister's of the Holy Cross School House

This historic home is nestled on the quiet banks of the St. Joseph River on 3.1 acres.

Part of the appeal of the home is the story it tells. From Father Sorin’s weekly visits to the convent in the 1840s to the many lessons in arithmetic and history taught by the Sister’s of the Holy Cross in the main room, this home is truly unique. Visitors are able to stay in the only remaining building of the original St. Mary’s College campus and explore other historic sites nearby.
The space

While it maintains the feel of the convent and school house, it has been re-modeled for a more comfortable stay. There are three bedrooms, a bathroom and a half, a dining area, and a living room. While the living space and rooms are of ample size, the bathrooms are closer quarters. Amenities include an outdoor fire area and picnic table, a propane grill, and a wooded area.

The driveway is unpaved so wet weather can make for a muddy drive to "The Convent."
Guest access

Enjoy a walk through the woods, conversation by a fire, solitude by the river, or reading a book in the upper room. Regardless of what you choose to do, history awaits.

Property manager

Jerry and Alma Holtgren

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Property amenities

Ski

  • Close to skiing

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Electric kettle
  • Kitchenette
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • One pet total (up to 50 lbs per pet)

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a health/beauty spa
  • Near a hospital
  • On a river
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby
  • Winery tours nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

Similar properties

Interior

Cozy warm cottage in the woods

  • Pet-friendly
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, 2 reviews
The price is CA $172
CA $251 total
includes taxes & fees
Aug 10 - Aug 11
Cozy warm cottage in the woods

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 23

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
1 total (up to 50 lbs per pet)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

About the area

Map
Niles, MI

What's nearby

  • University of Notre Dame - 12 min drive - 12.3 km
  • Basilica of the Sacred Heart - 13 min drive - 11.2 km
  • Notre Dame Stadium - 15 min drive - 13.3 km
  • St. Mary's College - 16 min drive - 10.8 km
  • Four Winds Casino South Bend - 23 min drive - 19.1 km

Getting around

  • Niles Station - 12 min drive
  • South Bend Intl. Airport (SBN) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Tavern - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Culver's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Prime Table Restaurant - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Wendy's - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Historic Riverside Convent: Sister's of the Holy Cross School House pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 50 lbs per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at The Historic Riverside Convent: Sister's of the Holy Cross School House?

As of Aug 6, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Historic Riverside Convent: Sister's of the Holy Cross School House on Aug 24, 2025 start from CA $206.6, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at The Historic Riverside Convent: Sister's of the Holy Cross School House?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Historic Riverside Convent: Sister's of the Holy Cross School House?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Historic Riverside Convent: Sister's of the Holy Cross School House located?

Situated on the waterfront, this vacation home is within 3 mi (5 km) of Allouez Park, Ruff N Tumble Dog Park, and Riverfront Park and Launch. Lehman's Orchards and Carnegie Library are also within 6 mi (10 km).

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The Historic Riverside Convent: Sister's of the Holy Cross School House Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 20 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 20 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 20 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Suzy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wedding Weekend

Very nice place to stay, clean and comfortable. Host was super nice and helped us get in. Close to all the things we had going on.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Overnight getaway

Tranquil stay with great forest and river views, house is charming, spotlessly clean. Stocked with all necessities. Hosts were very responsive and accommodating. Would love to come back!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Irene M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Step Back in Time

Always special to stay somewhere unique and historic. The small bathrooms and single shower made it an intimate space, but it was all we needed for our overnight.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heather C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

Wonderful location, very quite, clean and just an overall great experience! Thank you for sharing your location!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

allen l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Octoberfest

Very clean andwell supplied kitchen.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deborah

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
very nice
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

John R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Notre Dame Blue Gold Game stay

Wonderful historic property well maintained with pieces of history throughout. My kids loved all the unique features of the house and its connection to St Marys. The outside with the St Joseph River behind the house is very scenic. Would love to be here in the fall.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nikki M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy place, Full of History

Alma was incredibly kind & helpful, making sure we had everything we needed, complete with restaurant recommendations and Valentine’s Day chocolate sampler from a local chocolatier. The house, with exposed brick, historical pictures of the place and property, and the softest bedding I’ve ever slept on, was the perfect place for us to get away.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joanne B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful Historic Home

Alma was an excellent host and very helpful in directing us to dog friendly parks and restaurants. We stayed 2 nights with our family dog but spent all of our time out exploring. The house was the perfect place to go back home at night and to watch the Olympics on the tv. The bed in the main floor bedroom was very comfortable. Thank you Alma and Jerry!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Aleisha D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good stay

Stayed with family of four and dog for 1 night. The house was well maintained and comfortable. The host added little touches and we played several of the games that were offered. We loved the history of the place and was close to a lot of activities. Only about 30 minutes from Lake Michigan.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hannah C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Best hosts! So clean and cute.

Jerry and Alma were so attentive and their communication was stellar. We stayed since their home was down the street from family Christmas and our son has dog allergies so we wanted to give him a safe place to sleep. They were so accommodating and made sure to help us ease our worries about their pet/cleaning policies and practices to help us pick the right place. Beautiful little home and great for families especially in the warmer months with a playground and trampoline for kids!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tammy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Property

I could not have asked for a better property! Alma and Jerry are fantastic. They are very responsive to all any questions. The home is cozy and the property is beautiful. I love some of the old details of the home that they kept along with their upgrades. Everything you need is there. They found some items left behind and even went out of there way to get them returned to me. We will definately stay there again! Alma & Jerry.. I can not thank you enough for accommodating my family from Florida so they could escape Hurricane Milton. You truly are amazing And caring property owners.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

George K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Quiet as a mouse

Nice little property on the St Joseph river. Set back away from the road and is VERY quiet. The only sounds we heard were birds chirping and the water flowing. Check-in was easy, beds were comfortable, and overall a property I would stay in again, if I were in the area. The only issue was that the listing had a disclosure of a 3 br. / 2 bath, but I didn't read the details and it was really 1 1/2 baths. The upstairs bath did not have a shower. Other than that it was wonderful!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gabriel A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

Great location with proximity to South Bend and Granger area. Jerry and Alma are very accommodating. Highly recommend this property!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julie W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short stay

The home was older but well kept- kitchen was clean and plenty of room- couch did not look comfy-but was so comfy- downstairs bed slept excellent and pillows were fresh and slept xcellwnt- shower was hot- bathroom was small but very sufficient- we didn’t use the upstairs it was so roomy! Loved the chipmunks and squirrels around the trees
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mark S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great spot

Great spot with lots of character. Beautiful river bluff location.
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carrie

Liked: Amenities
The house is beautiful for a quiet getaway. It is close to everything in downtown Niles and nearby Buchanan. Right on the St Joe River and lots of birds you can see right out the back door of the kitchen or first floor bedroom. Great food choices and hiking in nearby nature preserves. We will be back in warmer weather
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024