For many travelers nowadays, staying in a hotel rather than renting someone’s house defies the very essence of vacation. When renting a house, there is a liberation from dealing with hotel staff or anyone else for that matter. There is uniqueness since the variety of accommodations are limitless making it more than just a room with a view. There’s also the comforts of a house such as a kitchen and a laundry room. And possibly most importantly, there is value in a vacation rental since a large house can accommodate a large group for much less than a hotel. Fred Giggenbach, is an attorney by day, and the co-owner of The Manse, a historic 6-bedroom, 2-bath vacation rental in White Sulphur Springs, just steps from The Greenbrier Hotel and Resort.

Fred describes The Manse as a former parsonage with modern amenities. The house is a year-round rental and has 10-foot ceilings, stained oak trim, and antique beds. Historic transom windows rest above the door frames. There is a wrap-around porch that is great for relaxing and offers views to Greenbrier Mountain, churches, and the local library.

When Fred was a child, he would walk by The Manse wondering what it was like inside. Years later, the house was listed for sale by the church and, without ever seeing the inside, Fred jumped at the opportunity to purchase it with his brother. They could not see inside the home during the sale because of a tenant issue. Fred says, “I just went off faith that it would be ok. We had never seen a picture of the inside before signing the contract to buy.”

FEEDBACK! “The Manse is close to everything, it’s just steps from the Greenbrier Resort. The owner is quick to respond to your questions and any need that you might have. It’s awesome sitting on the porch in the morning just relaxing and looking at the mountains.” – David, via airbnb

Fred and his brother purchased the house from the same church that built it as a parsonage in 1923. The church needed the money and were glad to sell the house due to upkeep needs. Since purchasing the house, Fred and his brother made several upgrades. They also found local antique beds from Lewisburg, Alderson, and Rupert. Regarding the furnishings, Fred says, “One beautiful bed was rusting away under a deck in Rupert. Most of the antiques in the house, I pulled from various places. Little finds. I try to keep the essence of the house locally themed with Greenbrier Valley items.”

FEEDBACK! “We had great communication with the owner even though we booked last minute right before Christmas. They left us a welcome basket with all kinds of healthy treats. The house was bigger and warmed up better than I expected. With a big family, we appreciated all the space, the great linens, the stocked kitchen and the laundry area. My kids learned about radiators……. something I miss from growing up and from our homes in Virginia” – Sherry, from North Myrtle Beach, SC.

The duo finds running The Manse as an Airbnb a labor of love. Fred says there’s always a lot of working going into the property such as prepping the house for new guests, cleaning, repairs, and online management. Every guest stay also receives a complimentary gift basket, which has Starbucks coffee, wine, bagels, fruit, nuts, chocolate, and most recently local farm fresh eggs.

During their stay, guests may use the entire house and grounds. This property is only used as a private vacation rental home for guests. No other persons live on the grounds. Fred (pictured below) tells us that for advertising, they have partnered with GBVCVB, and they pay White Sulphur Springs a hotel/motel tax.

If you are looking for a charming and spacious house for your next stay in the Greenbrier Valley, check out The Manse. This 6-bedroom vacation rental can accommodate up to 10 guests and offers fast Wi-Fi, Cable and Roku TV, air conditioning, free bike use, etc., and a compassionate host who is quick to respond to your needs. 100% of guests have rated their stay with 5 stars. To view the property and rates on Airbnb.com, search “White Sulphur Springs, WV” and you will see The Manse in the top listing.

– HashtagWV #103. July 2018