Innkeeping: Introduction

Hello,

Since 1997, my husband, Bruce, & I own & operate Blue Heron Inn in the scenic hamlet of Findley Lake, NY, which is approximately 1-1/2 hours south of Buffalo, NY 1 hour east of Cleveland, OH, 2-1/2 hours north of Pittsburgh, PA. Our B&B offers 4 rooms with antique-appointed accommodations, private baths, a/c, telephones, and full breakfast is served in view of Findley Lake each morning. The Inn is conveniently located in the heart of Findley Lake’s renowned shopping district.

Prior to the Blue Heron Inn we owned & operated Jefferson House & Pub, INC, (which is still our corporate name). The Inn was located in Warren, PA, (Bruce's hometown -- I'm originally from Philadelphia, PA) & was a full-service restaurant/B&B from 1982 until 1977, which we sold when we moved to Findley Lake to open Blue Heron Inn. While in Warren we added a baby girl, Hillary, to our family -- she's now 11 years old, way too smart & rapidly working her way into "teendom"! As we were 25 when we opened our first location, often customers would ask if our parents owned the facility. I used to respond by telling folks that we were 12 years old when we started -- followed by a hearty guffaw!

Blue Heron Inn is in a resort location which attracts visitors from Cleveland, OH, Buffalo, NY, & Pittsburgh, PA. We are only 3 miles from Peek 'n Peak Golf/Ski Resort, whose amenities we make available to our guests. Bruce is our Chef (we served lunch to the public & public breakfast on weekends) & I operate the New Age Country Store in the restored barn out back (in addition to handling accounts payable, receivable, payroll, B&B reservations & computer-related jobs such as advertising, menus, B&B packages, etc.) In 2000 I was the head of the Findley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce & Bruce sits on the local Zoning Appeals Board. Together we chair the annual Harvest Festival each Labor Day weekend. We have staff who waitress & turn the B&B rooms & handle the laundry detail. We are members of PAII, 2 local Chambers of Commerce, & Timberwolf Creek's "Night for Night" exchange group. I occasionally input to the PAII on-line discussion group, so I'm looking forward to being a part of this new discussion group.

We don't live on premise in this current B&B -- we live on the opposite end of Findley Lake, (2-1/2 miles, an approximate 5 minute commute). Our responsibilities don't leave a lot of time for hobbies, we try to garden & boat in the summer but only seem to get out on the lake about once a week. In the winter we take Hillary skiing at Peek 'n Peak & enjoy the snowy view outside while keeping warm by our wood stove. We have been in business together for 18 years & have weathered both crises, good times & working together!. B&B guests seem to be the most wonderful people -- taking into consideration the occasional guest from Hell!

Hillary is excellent at answering our business line -- we don't let Tallie, our 2 year-old West Highland White Terrier, handle the phone detail -- she's quite the barker! If you're located close by, please feel free to stop in & say hello. We can share a beverage & swap war stories if time allows.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season & lots of bookings!

Best regards,

Tobi

Tobi Zenker Ahlquist
Blue Heron Inn
Bed & Breakfast . Restaurant . Country Store
P.O. Box 588, Findley Lake, NY 14736
Ph: 716.769.7852 . Fax: 716.769.7866
mailto:bhinn@cecomet.net
www.theblueheroninn.com

-- the perfect get-away for all seasons --
boating . fishing . golfing . leaf peeping . antiquing . skiing . snowboarding .
close to Peek 'n Peak Resort (recreation) & Chautauqua Institution (arts & education)