Abilene's Victorian Inn Bed & Breakfast — Hotel in Abilene

I stayed at this Inn the night before visiting the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. This Inn is definitely in the perfect location as far as proximity to the Museum goes - it's just down the street. Perfect!

The Inn prefers that you check in during a certain time period so they can ensure they're there to greet you. I had a meeting that resulted in a late arrival on my part, so I called ahead to let them know when I would be arriving and they accommodated easily and kindly.

When you arrive, you park at the back of the residence, but you enter at the front of the residence. Those with mobility issues should take note and plan ahead for that. Along that same line, this property does not appear to be wheelchair accessible. All of the rooms I saw were upstairs and the entrance required several stairs to access the porch. However, I may have just not seen other options - calling ahead to ask may be best to make sure.

I was greeted by Adrian, who checked me in and showed me around. She was very attentive about what I could/would eat for breakfast the next morning, which implies a lot of experience on her part and being conscientious about not wasting food. I definitely appreciated that.

I stayed in the Hurd Room, which was perfect for my needs. I was there in October and the room had a small space heater provided for use, which I was very very grateful for. I know that I'm more sensitive than most to cooler temperatures, so while most people would probably have been fine, I appreciated being able to make the room fit my preferences on my own.

There is a large array of movies that you can borrow to watch, most of which are older and along classic lines which is nice to take a step back and enjoy. There were also cookies and tea available through the evening.

I've seen other reviews and noted myself that some bathroom areas can be quite small. However, I saw that as a result of converting Victorian spaces into modern lodging areas. Areas were simply smaller in that era than we're used to now and keeping the integrity of the space has the natural result of cozier accommodations. I personally didn't mind any of it, but I can see how others might.

The bed was comfortable, but be aware that this is a typical Kansas town that was built around a railroad station. So trains still run through there very frequently and at all hours of the night. If that will disturb your sleep, plan accordingly. I honestly don't think you can stay anywhere near the museum without that aspect.

Breakfast the next morning started with a yogurt, fruit, and granola parfait. Adrian makes the granola herself on site. The entree for that morning was French toast with a fruit reduction and bacon. It was very nice.

Overall, it was a very nice stay in a historic home with prices very comparable to any...

We have very little experience at B&B's and only stayed one night here, as a matter of fact less than 24 hours. Outside, nothing special and parking is in the back of the house with no entry in the back. We were checked in promptly by Adrian and given a history tour of the house and 1st floor before being led to our 2nd floor room. The furnishings are old, as you would expect. Lighting poor and not conducive to reading in the evening. Amenities were adequate with hot and cold water, tea, hot chocolate, cookies, microwave popcorn and movies available at any time. The room (Mamie's Honeymoon Suite) was large & bathroom was a reasonable size. The downside to the room was that every surface was used for knick knacks, making it less usable for travelers. No spot for a laptop. Even a small table in the bathroom had items on it. There was a small shelf above the sink that fit 2 glasses and a tube of toothpaste. My husband used the toilet tank top for his toiletries and I had to go back and forth into the room for my toiletries. Not convenient. Bedside lamps were not bright enough to read under. There were 2 large chairs next to a bright light to read under which was adequate. The bed was comfortable. My remote for the TV had to be held up right in front of the TV to work so there may be a battery issue there. Since it was the middle of July, the A/C was running and the room was very cold. I wasn't meaning to complain but I mentioned that I nearly froze overnight only to be told: No, we keep it at 72 degrees in the house. We keep our house at 70 overnight and I know the difference. I didn't appreciate the contradiction. The food was good, certainly better than hotel breakfast. We had french toast which I don't consider gourmet since I am a seasoned cook and I consider french toast an easy go to. The fruit was very fresh and nicely presented. We ate alone. Not to be caddy but I could teach her something about homemade cookies! Finally, our visit to Abilene was for the Eisenhower complex so it was a one and done. The location of the Inn was a very long walk to the complex and roads were closed along the way. We never met the husband (no big deal). I found Adrian very impersonal. Not a bit interested in us and was barely seen. She never smiled once - just all business. Other family members that stay in B&B's regularly, say that their experience is different and that was strange. Maybe it was an off...

This place was somewhere I had truly looked forward to staying — a dream destination I had longed for, especially after traveling such a long way from my home country just to visit Abilene, KS. I even asked a friend who lives in the U.S. to help me secure the booking through the hotel’s official website. When my friend booked the room through the website, the system gave us a booking number, so we assumed that meant the reservation was confirmed. However, the website stated that even if you receive a booking number, it doesn't necessarily mean you have a room — you have to wait for the hotel to contact you within 24 to 48 hours.

So the next day, my friend waited… but no one ever reached out. Eventually, my friend decided to call the hotel. Surprisingly, the hotel just said, “We’re busy right now — we’ll call you back in three hours.” My friend was stunned, but waited anyway.

Three hours later, the hotel finally called back. My friend explained that we had booked the last available room on the website the day before and had been waiting for their confirmation — which never came. But what was even more disappointing was what the hotel said next: “Sorry, someone else called and booked that last room.”

It was honestly unbelievable. This is how the hotel manages their reservations?

If phone reservations are to be prioritized, then shouldn’t your website make that clear — perhaps a notice saying, “Do not book online, call instead”? That would have saved us time, money, and a great deal of disappointment.

It’s disheartening, to say the least. For international travelers like myself, calling to book isn't always an option — that’s precisely why we rely on online platforms. When we were told we’d simply have to change our check-in date, it was clear there was no understanding of how much planning and coordination goes into an overseas trip. We couldn’t just rearrange everything on a whim.

I’m deeply disappointed that I couldn’t stay at a place I was so excited about. I sincerely hope no other guest has to go through the same experience. When dreams meet poor management, it’s not something...