Luxury vacation rental in the heart of Bloomington and the IU campus
About this house rental
Formerly the Scholars Inn Gourmet Cafe and Wine Bar, luxury accomodations await you and your friends for your next visit to Bloomington and the IU campus. Every inch of this home built in 1845 has been lovingly restored with modern amenities while maintaining respect for its rich history. All 4 bedrooms, 3 full and 2 half baths are newly constructed with beautiful tile and fixtures. A brand new kitchen is situated where the bar once stood and will allow for casual or formal entertaining. The home can be rented in its entirety sleeping up to 10 people or each floor can be rented separately. The main floor has 3 bedrooms, 2 full and 2 half baths, kitchen, living room, patio and large side deck. It can accommodate up to 6 guests with ADA access. The VRBO listing for the main floor unit (A) is 1943515. The upstairs is a 1 bedroom suite with its own living room, kitchenette, full bath, bonus full-sized bed sleeping room and large outdoor deck as well, sleeping up to 4. The VRBO listing for the upstairs unit (B) is 1994566. The decor is modern, eclectic, whimsical and fun with a nod to it's past life as a Bloomington landmark restaurant and bar. There are 5 large flat screen smart TV's, 2 upstairs(B) and 3 downstairs(A), board games, a sound system, vintage record player with vinyl, and lots of books for entertainment and relaxation. We are walking distance to the downtown restaurants and bars, Farmers Market and shops, as well as the IU campus and stadiums. The property is easy to get to from I-69, and we have plenty of parking. Make sure to book both listings if booking the house in its entirety and be sure to cross-check availability. VRBO 1943515 (A) downstairs unit and VRBO 1994566 (B) upstairs.
Amenities
Air conditioner
Kitchen / Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony / Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Wheelchair accessible
Family friendly
Map of Bloomington, IN
House in Bloomington, IN
Reasons to book
People love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Free cancellationFull refund if you change your mind
Includes essentialsKitchen / Kitchenette, Air conditioner, Internet / Wifi and more
$$$$
Reviews
5.0/5.0
Outstanding(65 Reviews)
10.0
This property is so special and beautiful. Everything we needed was there with clear instructions for entrance and departure! We had the most wonderful weekend with our college boys! Thank you!!
10.0
Walking distance to coffee shops and restaurants.
5.0
We spent Thanksgiving in Bloomington as our son plays football and was unable to come home. We picked up our other college freshman at her school and also had our 17 yr old daughter with us. The guys loved the multiple tv’s for watching football all weekend and we all loved how close and easy it was to walk to the Kirkwood shops and restaurants and the Saturday farmers market. We had a great, unique and memorable Thanksgiving!
5.0
Your home was beautiful and spacious inside and out. More than enough room for three families as we had the upstairs and downstairs. Great location! The deck area was perfect for outside baggo and games. We will definitely rent again!
5.0
Your home was beautiful and spacious inside and out. More than enough room for three families as we had the upstairs and downstairs. Great location! The deck area was perfect for outside baggo and games. We will definitely rent again!
5.0
What an amazing home for our weekend in Bloomington. The house is spectacular and awesome to host brunch for my son and his friends. Great location and perfect spot.
5.0
Beautiful house!
5.0
Great property; great location; great times! Walk to downtown and nearby restaurants. Plenty of great vinyl provided for a strong vibe all weekend. Plenty of room for everyone in this unique property. Highly recommended!!
5.0
We were visiting for our daughter’s last sorority Mom’s weekend before she graduates. The property is so unique, welcoming, roomy and well maintained it is tough to describe in a few words. Bedrooms are roomy with comfy beds/linens and great bathrooms. The kitchen is so cool and has everything you could want to cook or entertain friends. Comfy “coffee house” type lounge feel throughout the multiple “living”rooms. Lots of seating including huge bar and plenty of dining seating. Extra touches everywhere. Talented decorating that is welcoming and impressive. All the Moms loved it! Also plenty of parking which is just another great perk. Owner/Mgmt is very responsive.
5.0
Incredible home in a prime location in Bloomington. Rented the upstairs and downstairs of The Keep. Words cannot express how incredible this home is. My two brothers and I and a lifelong friend of ours had a long over due get together. Went to the final home IU men’s BBALL game at Assembly Hall. Easy walking distance to all of the downtown area spots in Bloomington (I am biased as I have lived here since 1997 but it is an incredible town) also an easy walk to Assembly Hall, Memorial Stadium, and the other athletic facilities. Our friend took his wife on a Face Time tour as he was so impressed by the Keep.
5.0
We had an amazing stay at this unique , spacious property close to everything . Plenty of room to spread out , we even were able to enjoy the outdoor deck ! Definitely would rent again .
5.0
Gentlemen’s weekend of IU alums gathering for a Hoosier basketball game and surrounding festivities. This was the perfect location and everyone raved about the choice throughout the stay. “How did you find this place?!” Etc.
Super unique property, having been a wine bar in a past life, it was hard to fully appreciate it even with the photos. Bedrooms were nice but the large communal spaces were the big attraction and made it perfect for our trip. Rather than going out to rendezvous with old friends, we realized we had the coolest hangout spot in town so were able to invite them over for snacks and drinks and catching up. The place had everything we could’ve asked for, and Kerry was super helpful with communication, even letting us check in early and check out late. Try to reserve both parts of the property to really get the full effect. We talked about reprising this trip in the future, and if so we will check first thing to see if we can get this place again! Thanks.
5.0
This is one of the best places I've ever stayed in. The atmosphere is super unique and cool and the entire house was fully stocked with everything we needed. You can easily walk to the square for meals or cook in the super fun kitchen/bar area. I would totally recommend!
5.0
We’ve stayed in the lower level for football and basketball weekends, and it’s simply amazing. The bar, bedroom suites, outdoor areas, ownership/management - all terrific and as good or better than images in listing. The only problem is my hesitation to write such a review due to concern about finding the property available. We absolutely love this place - as does everyone we’ve brought by.
5.0
Fantastic property and location. Small group of friends in town for basketball game. Felt like we had our own private bar/restaurant for World Cup viewing. Walking distance to campus and restaurants. Holiday decorations made it feel even more like home! Highly recommend this property. We all loved it!
5.0
Our host Kerry was amazingly kind and communicative. We booked the upper and lower. Specifically relating to the lower - it is, and our friends who stayed with us agree, the coolest place we have ever stayed. And we seek out cool and unique. It was a perfect venue for our group's occasion to get together. The pictures don't do it justice nor probably will this review because it is just so darn amazing. A wide open gathering area, a "kitchen" with everything and MORE, a vintage record player with the best selection of vinyl, a bar with immense history, outdoor decks, and plenty of private space. You could feel the history in this place - you could imagine the stories being told over the decades. We felt beyond fortunate to make our own memories here. It is very special. Stay here. You will be beyond ecstatic that you did.
5.0
Plenty of space for dining, games and conversation. We will definitely return
5.0
We had so much fun and it was awesome having the extra space for friends.
5.0
Amazing place. Very fun spot for a group. Would definitely go back.
5.0
We enjoyed our stay. It’s a great place for a gathering!
5.0
We will be back! The Keep is a special place, you can definitely tell there was a lot of love put into the design. It was also clear that this place holds a lot of memories and it now holds some of our best memories! You won’t regret booking with Kerry, she is THE BEST communicator, she takes hosting seriously, thank you Kerry!
5.0
We rented the entire house for my son's wedding and it was perfect! Besides providing every convenience for our stay, the house is so interesting. I spent hours just looking at all the artsy touches. Kerry was a wonderful host and I would recommend her place to anyone!
5.0
Amazing property
We had a great time at the Scholar's Keep. It was so clean and well decorated we literally walked around for 10 min after we checked in and took pictures and facetimed our families. We were in town for a boys weekend (we graduated 20 years ago from IU) and it was the perfect spot to stay - walking distance to everything and tons of room. Thanks for an awesome stay!
5.0
Absolutely Wonderful
We rented the upstairs and downstairs together for our son’s wedding weekend. The accommodations were perfect for our needs, as three of our adult children and their families stayed in the downstairs unit—three couples and three babies.
The biggest highlight was the bar/restaurant setup in the main area. There was so much space for people to sit to eat and drink, play board games, and even a cozy couch area to lounge and watch TV. For once we didn’t feel crowded in a rental house! And we made full use of all those amenities when we hosted the post-wedding brunch! (Would have loved to have been able to use the enormous deck with umbrella tables and shade trees, but unfortunately it was either raining or sweltering every day we were there!)
The downstairs bedrooms were very private, off a hallway separated from the entertainment areas by a door. And there was no problem with bathroom access, as there are two very nice full bathrooms in the bedroom area (one en suite) and two half baths in the entertainment area.
There was ample parking behind the house, and the location is very walkable for many Bloomington activities.
Our host was very responsive to communications and very accommodating.
I could say more, but bottom like—we would 100% stay there again!
5.0
Rented entire house for 10-person IU reunion. It's an enchanted oasis within walking distance to downtown and campus. Interior Designer is the Kit Kemp of Bloomington.
5.0
LUV LUV
Rented entire house for 10-person IU reunion. It's an enchanted oasis within walking distance to downtown and campus. Interior Designer is the Kit Kemp of Bloomington.
5.0
This property is beyond amazing! We recently visited Bloomington for my daughter's birthday. We rented the upper apartment as well (ID 1994566). I cannot say enough good things about this place! It is absolutely perfect and we loved the attention to detail and thoughtful touches! It was a great place to stay with lots of room and every amenity you could imagine and it was the perfect set up to gather (full bar!!) before heading out for her bday celebration. The owners are so easy to work with and they have obviously put in so much love and care into this property. I'm just sad my daughter is graduating this year - I wish I would have discovered it sooner! Thank you so much for an amazing stay!!
5.0
Perfection!
This property is beyond amazing! We recently visited Bloomington for my daughter's birthday. We rented the upper apartment as well (ID 1994566). I cannot say enough good things about this place! It is absolutely perfect and we loved the attention to detail and thoughtful touches! It was a great place to stay with lots of room and every amenity you could imagine and it was the perfect set up to gather (full bar!!) before heading out for her bday celebration. The owners are so easy to work with and they have obviously put in so much love and care into this property. I'm just sad my daughter is graduating this year - I wish I would have discovered it sooner! Thank you so much for an amazing stay!!
5.0
Snow emergency saved by the owner
Kerry remained in contact with me as a severe winter storm hit. Very helpful and understanding. The property is one of a kind. It is a gem in a beautiful town you can park and walk to so many of the places that make this town unique.
5.0
Wonderful stay
What an amazing find-- I can't say enough good things about this property!
5.0
We had a fantastic holiday with family here. Perfect communications with our hosts, great accommodations, highly recommended. We hope to be back soon and stay again! Two thumbs up!
5.0
We rented the entire building and had a wonderful time. With us and our boys, a girlfriend, and two sets of grandparents this was an absolutely perfect space. Everything was clean and we had plenty of space for everyone to spread out and to come together for eating and gaming. I made one dinner for 12 in the kitchen and it was well appointed, I had everything I needed and plenty of dishes. We also had a dinner at Upland, which was amazingly close. Kerry was wonderful to work with and I can heartily recommend this location!
5.0
Great Spot with Great Owners
Very cool home within walking distance of the university, restaurants, and bars. Also really liked the history of the home and owners. We’ll be back. Thank You!!! Semper Fi!
5.0
Wonderful stay
We had a fantastic holiday with family here. Perfect communications with our hosts, great accommodations, highly recommended. We hope to be back soon and stay again! Two thumbs up!
5.0
Graduation success
We rented the entire building and had a wonderful time. With us and our boys, a girlfriend, and two sets of grandparents this was an absolutely perfect space. Everything was clean and we had plenty of space for everyone to spread out and to come together for eating and gaming. I made one dinner for 12 in the kitchen and it was well appointed, I had everything I needed and plenty of dishes. We also had a dinner at Upland, which was amazingly close. Kerry was wonderful to work with and I can heartily recommend this location!
5.0
Perfect place to stay in Bloomington
Before I even arrived, I knew this was going to be a great place to stay. Kerry was easy and wonderful to work with and, if possible, the home was even better than the pictures. We met my son and daughter-in-law and grandsons, ages 3 and three months, there for 13 days and it was perfect for us! The home, itself, is unique, gorgeous, impeccably clean, comfortable AND so functional for a family retreat. There was plenty of space for all of us to be together, great games to play, a wonderfully equipped kitchen for making meals, and at the same time, this place has been so thoughtfully designed there were ample areas for the adults to go to get work done or places for the baby to quietly nap. It is difficult to be away from home in December, but Kerry had a beautiful tree up and decorated and stockings hung on the fireplaces to really add to the spirit of the holiday! The location of the house was perfect......we were within easy walking distance to The WonderLab Science Museum, the library, the grocery market, awesome restaurants and fun little boutiques, as well as a great outdoor park for kids. I highly recommend this home and I, personally, look forward to staying here the next time we're in Bloomington!
5.0
Perfect Venue for our Perfect Small Wedding
We had our intimate wedding and reception at the Keep and it was perfect! We rented the upstairs and downstairs units and it was so lovely! My family was able to stay downstairs and we were able to use the upstairs as the wedding suite. The whole house is so well appointed, decorated so incredibly! The venue truly made our wedding so perfect. Everyone commented on it and love it!
Kerry was incredible through the whole process! Super responsive and helpful! We couldn’t have picked a better location!
5.0
Intimate Wedding
We booked this property back in February to be the location of our intimate wedding reception. It was AMAZING.
The interior is comfortable, well-designed, and built for entertaining. There’s a full bar, plenty of seating, cool light fixtures, multiple decks, and it was all very clean.
Kerry (the owner) is even more amazing. She let us walk the venue in advance to see/plan the layout/setup. She answered calls and went out of her way to accommodate us. She was pleasant, helpful, and I’m so glad we booked with her.
Highly recommend for any gathering you’re having!! All of our guests kept talking about how they want to rent it again and come back for a “reunion” weekend.
Thanks, Kerry!
5.0
This place is amazing. We booked the whole house for the weekend of our wedding reception. It is a large space and we weren’t sure at first how we would use it all, but we did. If you’re considering booking for your wedding party- DO IT! This house MADE our weekend. I didn’t realize how important where we stayed would be, but it was critical. Having this whole house gave us a place to prep the night before, get ready with hair/makeup the day of, and regroup after the reception and the next day. We initially only booked downstairs but later added the upstairs and it was perfect. The groom’s crew had the upstairs and patio to hang out while the ladies had hair, makeup, and flowers downstairs. It was so much fun having people pop in and out over the weekend. The details and decor in this house are beautiful. We loved having such a cool and unique space to offer our wedding party, all of whom were as wowed as we were. While there were bumps that occurred during the weekend, the house was never one of them and it helped make up for those things that went wrong. The location is also excellent- easy to find by car, then walking distance to everything fun. A huge thanks to Kerry. You were wonderful- easygoing, flexible, and accommodating. We’re very grateful. If you’re considering it- book this place! You won’t regret it.
5.0
This was the perfect space for our girls weekend getaway! Kerry was amazing, and the property is beautiful! The house is in a great location, we were able to walk everywhere we wanted to go. We all can’t wait to come back!
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Bloomington?
The average price for a rental in Bloomington is $238 per night. This rental is $510 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at Luxury vacation rental in the heart of Bloomington and the IU campus. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Luxury vacation rental in the heart of Bloomington and the IU campus pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Luxury vacation rental in the heart of Bloomington and the IU campus?
We found 11 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen / kitchenette, internet / wifi, fireplace, and parking.