We booked the Victorian Mansion in Galena for our 26th anniversary and left immediately. The jacuzzi tub didn't work, the fireplace filled the room with fumes, the outdoor hot tub was disgusting, and the exterior was falling apart. Sidewalks were unsafe, paint chipped, porch rotted. We asked for a refund--they refused, despite the listing being misleading. Photos show amenities that don't exist. Do not stay here. Misleading, unsafe, and awful experience. read more

They do not honor their cancellation policy. Beware if you need to cancel. I cannot give them a 1 star because I genuinely had an amazing experience the first and only time I've visited. I had a visit planned this year and I had to cancel. I followed the cancelation policy (and submitted their form on their website) and they still refused to refund me. This is not professional behavior expected of a business. Please be weary when deciding to have your stay here. You will have a great time but if you need to cancel, THEY WILL KEEP YOUR MONEY and refuse contact with you. They do not respect or follow their own policies. Don't fall for it. They will not refund your money if you cancel within the time frame stated in their policies. read more

This is now called the Galena Inn and it is fabulous! Stay here before anywhere else. It is chock full of history with the innkeeper sharing that Ulysses S Grant gave his presidential acceptance speech from the front balcony! So close to everything and walking distance. We stayed in the Julia Suite and it was very comfy. The floors are original, the trim, the staircase railings. If you love places like this make sure you stay here! A wonderful pool table room, games, jacuzzi outside and so much more. Oh! And the breakfast is FABULOUS! I'd give it 6 stars if I could. read more

See all

Nice place. The visit started a little rough since the name had recently changed, and Google Maps sent us to the wrong place, but we finally arrived Big old home with a lot of charm. The window air conditioner kept me up all night, but I guess there's no way around that. The proprietors were really friendly and the breakfast was great. read more

Pros: The Innkeeper was very nice, the room was very spacious and nice, the bed was super comfortable, location was great! Kitchen was very helpful! Cons: The room was very hot, after turning all of the thermostats off, we opened the windows and got in trouble for it. No hair dryer, no shampoo or conditioner. The bedroom TV didn't work. read more

My husband and I had a fun weekend getaway to Galena. We really enjoyed our stay at the Galena Inn (formerly the Victorian Mansion). The location is great and if you don't mind a lot of stairs, it's a quick walk to the historic downtown area. The inn keeper, Kerrie, was a wonderful host. The inn was beautifully decorated with a mix of antique and modern that worked well together. After a busy day exploring the area, the inn was a great place to land. We enjoyed a bottle of wine we picked up that day on the porch in the evening. So peaceful and relaxing. Our room was comfortable as it was pretty - bed comfy, sheets soft and the towels plush. And, the morning breakfasts were delicious. We'll definitely stay here again next time we're in Galena. read more

We had such a good time staying here. Karrie and Brad were very nice. We stayed here alone since we were the only ones who booked that night. We had a lot of fun. Would come again! read more

My husband and I happened upon this beautiful B&B by chance and decided to stay here for our 5 year anniversary. We were greeted very warmly by the managers and our room was spectacular. The Estey Suite is the most beautiful and relaxing rooms I've ever stayed in. The beds were made so beautifully and the mattress was firm yet very cozy. The large bathtub helped us relax after a long day of walking! The breakfast in the morning was always hot and made right there on the spot - Aunt Sally is a beautiful human who helped make our stay extra special. We are most definitely coming back!!! read more

See all

What a lovely place! Its one of the most charming and historically filled B&B's we've ever been to. Our host Charlie was very kind and full of fascinating stories (and an amazing cook)! We stayed in the Lincoln room where President Ulysses S. Grant often occupied months at a time. There were 4 couples all together who stayed that weekend and we shared our personal stories, along with Charlie, around the table at breakfast. The location was perfect, short walking distance to town and beautiful property. We enjoyed some time on the front porch drinking tea and enjoying the view around us. This is for people who want time away, those who appreciate history and who don't take little things for granted. We would highly recommend the Victorian Mansion and most definitely plan on coming back again! Kasia+Brad from Chicago read more

See all

We really enjoyed our stay! It was extremely clean and the breakfast was delicious! The lady that is running the place was very nice and helpful. We stayed in the Jackson Room and loved the theming. We will definitely be back! read more

My boyfriend and I decided to take a trip to Galena for the holidays. After doing a lot of research, we landed on the Victorian Mansion because of the pictures and reviews....we could not have picked a better place to stay! First thing you have to remember is that Charlie and Rita actually live at the B&B which is why it is kept in such pristine condition. If you're planning on arriving late at night (we came at 8pm), make sure you give them a heads up a few days before so they're available for you upon arrival. We were greeted with a witty sarcasm from Charlie and knew it was going to be a fun stay! We stayed it the Estey Room with a huge King bed, large whirlpool tub, and electric fireplace. It was the best B&B room I've ever stayed in! They are very accommodating throughout your stay and entertaining during breakfast. The breakfasts are delicious!! We had stuffed french toast, an egg casserole, and my favorite - eggs benedict. They are full of delightful suggestions from hidden gems to eat at, historical houses to see, things to do, and pubs to grab a drink at. We had a blast during our 4 days in Galena thanks to them! Biggest plus - the Victorian Mansion is for 14 and over because of the history of the house and all the things that can be broken (it's amazing how preserved the house has been kept). The only people staying here were adult couples so it was quiet! We played chess and billiards with them and made some great friends during the stay. We are already planning our trip back to Galena and will definitely be staying in the Victorian Mansion again! Thanks to Rita and Charlie for everything! read more

Very disappointed in the owners of this home. We have unfortunately booked through booking.com and did not realize cancellation policies but booking.com was very understanding and told us they would waive their fee and it was up to the owner. My husband and I have been planning this weekend he is Military and he was called on assignment. We have tried to even rebook for when he returns home and they would not even talk to either one of us or answer my emails and having employees call and tell us we signed a no cancellation policy. I understand if this was an ordinary weekend but this is the most popular weekend in Galena. The first weekend in December. Everyone from all over comes to Galena for the Fireworks and wants to stay downtown. They probably have the room booked as I am typing this and for them to keep $432 from military members is very sad. I understand charging a fee and we would be willing to pay a fee. This is just so unreasonable. I hope you have a wonderful Holiday read more

This was the first bed and breakfast we have been to...and it has a special place in our lives. Me and my wife spent - both our 2nd dating anniversary and about a year later...the start of our honeymoon here! Rita and Charlie are such gracious hosts. The mansion itself has a great feel of an era before. Great location with a beautiful garden...especially in fall season (which is when we have been there). Galena itself has a charm of a historical town with warm and friendly people all around...and this bed and breakfast makes the stay all the more enjoyable. read more

Liked this place. Helpful owners, fair price, clean. We did not see a human in there the whole two night stay. Pool table parlor was excellent. We may have seen a ghost. read more

Victorian mansion was absolutely beautiful. We were greeted by aunt Sally and Betts and they made us very comfortable, had homemade cookies available and had water and ice cream in a fridge by the front door for our use. Not only was the home beautiful but also very clean. The garden was so relaxing and pretty. After a delicious breakfast the next morning, aunt Sally gave us a tour of the mansion and the property and a history of Galena. We loved our stay and will definitely be back. Tom and Renee read more

My wife and I chose this bed and breakfast to attend a wedding in Galena. We had an absolutely wonderful stay as the room was clean and inviting. The staff, Bets and Aunt Sally, were professional, friendly, and very accommodating. The whole mansion is cozy, warm, and charming. The breakfast was made fresh according to the time you chose for breakfast (0830, 0900, 0930). The food was very tasty with coffee, water, and orange juice. The town is within walking distance of this mansion and it's full of shops and restaurants. This was our first experience with a bed and breakfast and the ladies at the Victorian Mansion have set the bar very high! If we're in the area again we will definitely stay here!! Great work Bets and Aunt Sally!! read more

We stayed here many years ago and loved it. Unfortunately when we went back recently things had changed. The most obvious disappointment for us was the rudeness of the female innkeeper (Rita). She was very pushy and seemed to be bothered that she had to take care of guests. Seemed to be lots of rules for guests. The other disappointment was the landscaping around the inn--lots of dead plants and a lot of weeds. I know that may seem like a little thing but it makes the B&B look a bit run down. It has the potential to be an outstanding place but customer service needs to improve. On the positive side we liked the interior of the house and we really liked our room which was unattached to the main house. The breakfast meals each morning we stayed there were average (food was OK, coffee was not great)--have certainly had better meals at other B&B's. read more

The Victorian Mansion is a special place both for its historical background as well as the Inn Keepers who treat this landmark like their own and their guests like family. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this place. We were greeted in the evening and shown our beautiful room which was clean and elegant. In the mornings we would have breakfast as a group (bed and breakfast style). The food was amazing. It was not your standard fair and everything was homemade and delicious. We lucked out with a great group of guests. A highlight from our trip was learning about the history of the house and Galena. Charlie and Rita took the time to tell us everything they knew and we ended up spending 2 hours talking to this couple. They are so proud of the house, its history and the history of the town. They have such amazing backgrounds and they are ready and willing to open up their lives and their experiences to you. I know I have said this before but it really felt like we were visiting family without feeling obligated to do everything with them. There are not intrusive AT ALL and will give you as much or as little attention as you need. We ended up getting engaged that weekend at the mansion and in the morning we were able to celebrate this life experience with Charlie, Rita and the other guests. It was hugs all around. If you are looking at different bed and breakfasts I can tell you this has everything you need. It is beautiful, clean, historical, just a short walk to the main street, the food is amazing and the positive attitudes are infectious. I am so grateful to have stayed here. It shaped the memory of my engagement weekend and now I will always have this wonderful place to return to. read more

The mansion and surrounding garden are beautiful. Our room was very comfortable, clean, and the whole house was impeccable and well tended to. Charlie and Rita were lovely and made us feel very welcomed and at home. Gelena is a lovely little town with great food and a fun shopping experience. A great weekend getaway! read more

I regret booking this b&b for my girl's weekend with friends. We had such high hopes but unfortunately I have nothing good to say about my experience! Charlie and Rita were very unprofessional, they went out of their way to be rude and make us feel unwelcome. On the first night they even asked us to move our cars to make room for other customers....??! They had way too many rules for us to feel relaxed even in our suite and we left to find more accommodating and friendly staff at the Best Western in Galena! read more

Very disappointing experience trying to schedule a last minute reservation for the weekend. You cannot book online but when you leave a message about availability, they call you back at the end of the day. Once I learned what they had available rooms, I asked if I could call back in the morning and he said yes, but NOT until after 9am. So I called at 10 and Rita (a pretty unenthusiastic woman) answered and said "well... we don't have anything available now." As a business owner, I certainly understand that last minute things don't always go as planned, but YIKES who would call back with THAT kind of response??? read more

Horrible Experience. Rita and Charlie did not make us feel welcome. Very disappointed. Put a damper on our weekend.

My hubby and I have 4 kids ages 5-10 so when my parents said they would watch them for a few days, we hopped in the car and didn't look back! My husband is the one who planned everything and boy did he hit a home run booking us at the Victorian Mansion. We arrived later on a Friday night, around 7pm. Charlie is the BEST! Rita was visiting family so we didn't get the pleasure of meeting her. Our room was amazing. Very clean, comfortable bed, everything was perfect! The mansion grounds are beautiful and the other couples that stayed were lovely! I've never stayed at a bed and breakfast before and I might be hooked now! PLEASE NOTE...don't bring your kids. It's not a place for kids. Having just other adults there was such a delight. And to just sit and enjoy the silence whenever I wanted was blissful. The breakfasts Charlie made were amazing. He would always check to see if there was ever anything we needed. Everything about our stay was perfect and the next time we sneak away to Galena, we will definitely be back at the Victorian Mansion! read more