Here are the best Airbnbs in Chillicothe
CHILLICOTHE ― Airbnb has taken over Chillicothe. Here's what you need to know about the vacation rental website.
The website connects people who want to rent out their property, also known as hosts, with people who are looking for a place to stay. Airbnb has options for short- or long-term stays, entire homes or single rooms, and more.
Melody Young, the Executive Director of the Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau, said there are 99 Airbnbs and Vrbo rentals in Chillicothe. From Jan. 1 to May 31, 2023, the rentals have collected over $450,000 in revenue.
Chillicothe local and Airbnb Host Seth Bauer owns 11 Airbnbs in Chillicothe. He said Airbnbs are cost-competitive and often provide more amenities than hotels. Bauer is a Superhost, meaning that he has proved to be an experienced and highly-rated host on the website.
"I'm giving someone not just a room to stay in. I'm giving them a fully stocked kitchen, washer, dryer... they get the entire space," Bauer said.
Here are some of the Airbnbs of Chillicothe and what you need to know about them.
The Lounge and The Loft hosted by Seth Bauer
The Lounge is an Airbnb hosted by Bauer located between the Majestic Theatre and Rost Coffee. The space includes all the essentials, including a washer and dryer and a gas grill.
The three-bedroom space has four beds, sleeps seven guests and has two bathrooms. The full kitchen has everything needed for cooking.
Bauer used to live in hotels for work and he described it as a "vanilla experience." He furnishes and decorates his Airbnbs to make them unique, fun and comfortable for his guests.
The Airbnb boasts homemade tables (courtesy of Bauer himself), an outdoor table, cigar boxes, a dog statue made of cigar bands, a cabinet made from a wine barrel and more. Bauer designed the space to encapsulate the lounge theme.
The Lounge has a 4.87 rating on Airbnb.
The Loft is located above The Lounge and is a cozy stay for anyone eager to stay on Chillicothe.
The Airbnb includes real blueprints of a Second Street home from 1935, a corn meal bag produced at the former Clark Milling Company in Chillicothe, books on exploring Chillicothe and Second Street, Chillicothe knickknacks throughout and a stunning view of downtown.
"I love Chillicothe. I love the history of it. And I have been a collector of items from Chillicothe," Bauer said. "It's fun for me to be able to display this stuff."
Bauer also supports local businesses through his Airbnb, buying many of the items from local shops. He said the coffee cups are from Wheatberry Books and the antique furniture is from Julie's Shop on Paint.
The Loft also has fun details like Ohio-shaped coasters, a large Tic-Tac-Toe board and a United States corkboard for guests to share where they are visiting from. Pushpins litter the corkboard from across the country.
A small notebook sits on the desk for guests to write notes about their stay.
"I set it up where I have little stuff everywhere. So people can come and kind of go through everything and explore," Bauer said.
The space has two bedrooms, five beds and sleeps seven guests.
The Loft has a 4.97 rating on Airbnb.
The Blue Brick Inn hosted by Deidra Nickerson
Chillicothe City Councilwoman Deidra Nickerson, also known as Madam of the House, owns the Blue Brick Inn, a West Second Street Airbnb that showcases the history of Chillicothe.
Built in 1853, the blue building has stained glass, vintage doors and original architecture. The building has five unique and separate apartments with private entrances: the Hemlock, Magnolia, Gardenia, Hydrangea and Foxglove.
Each apartment has one bedroom and one bathroom. Nickerson said each apartment is decorated differently but mainly revolves around a Southern style with soft colors and a comfortable feel.
A private garden courtyard with a pergola, tables, chairs and plenty of greenery fills the backyard of the Blue Brick Inn.
Nickerson said her favorite part of running the Airbnbs is meeting her guests. She has made personal connections with many people, including a group from Europe who stayed at Nickerson's Airbnb and celebrated Thanksgiving with her family.
"It's fun. It's never dull. You never know what you're gonna get and I love that," Nickerson said. "When people come here, they want to meet me, they want to talk to me, they're looking for connection and in a world that we live in today, we are screaming for connection."
She said Airbnb gives visitors an opportunity to experience downtown Chillicothe with a "deeper feeling of the area and the people and the culture."
The Study hosted by Seth Bauer
The Study is hosted by Bauer and is across from Carl's Townhouse. The space has details like faux gold taxidermy, unique light fixtures and plenty of books to keep up with the study theme.
The two-bedroom space has two beds, sleeps four guests and allows pets.
Bauer enjoys including pieces of Chillicothe throughout his Airbnbs. The study includes a custom map of downtown Chillicothe restaurants nearby, including The Dock, Paper City Coffee and more.
When a guest books with Bauer, a guidebook is included that lists restaurants, entertainment, nightlife and more for anyone looking to explore the city. Bauer is also available to provide personalized recommendations.
The Airbnb is set up so you only need to bring your personal items. Baur provides laundry detergent, coffee pods, blankets, games and more.
Baur has been thrifty with his Airbnbs, filling the spaces with his own personal items and donated finds. The Study is full of books that were gifted to him, including vintage Clive Cussler books that many visitors have appreciated.
The Study has a 4.93 rating on Airbnb.
The Principal hosted by Aubrey Herrnstein
The Principal is a modern townhome in downtown Chillicothe above Old Capital Brewing.
The Airbnb has an open floor plan, exposed brick and modern features for a trendy take on historic downtown.
The three-bedroom home has room to sleep six guests, two bathrooms and a dedicated office space. Visitors can walk downstairs for live music and locally brewed beer.
The Principal has a 5.0 rating on Airbnb.
The Rest Stop hosted by Seth Bauer
The Rest Stop is a fun stay for adults and children alike, featuring a travel-themed space with vintage suitcases and maps.
Bauer continues to add things to his Airbnbs if he finds anything that matches the theme. This year, he found a vintage red peddle car that sits in the living room of The Rest Stop.
Many guests stay at Bauer's Airbnb annually for different events, like the Southern Ohio Forest Rally or Tecumseh. He said it's nice to build relationships with guests and see them every year.
The Rest Stop has two bedrooms, three beds and a 4.96 rating on Airbnb.
For a full list of Airbnbs in Chillicothe, visit Airbnb.com or visitchillicotheohio.com.
Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: The best vacation rental Airbnbs in downtown Chillicothe
