Specialties
Willoughby House is an upscale boutique inn offering ten luxury suites, and Julia’s 1902, a sophisticated and approachable restaurant on the ground floor of the historic landmark estate. Each suite is like going back in time, but with all of the modern amenities.
The Inn consists of seven unique suites in the Main House and three, two bedroom suites in the Carriage House located a few steps behind the Main House.
Inn guests receive 15% off at Julia’s 1902, our onsite restaurant offering a sophisticated yet approachable dining experience. Each room is equipped with a small coffee bar. A light buffet breakfast will be provided on the first floor on the main house, on the “back porch” from 6:30am- 9:00am on weekdays and 7:00am-9:30am on weekends.
Resting on four tranquil acres, Willoughby House is a ten minute stroll from the center of Historic Downtown Willoughby and a ten minute drive from the beautiful Lake Erie shoreline.
History
Established in 2022.
The Willoughby House is a restored landmark country estate first built in 1898 by Julia French Boyce and designed by the renowned Cleveland architect, Charles Schweinfurth. Julia shared this elegant country estate with her daughter, Nancy, Nancy’s husband and pharmaceutical executive, Albert Van Gorder, and their five children. In 1953 the Van Gorder family transfered the manor to the Andrews School for Girls. Andrews remodeled the home to serve as the school’s infirmary and faculty apartments.
In June, 2022, Michael Neundorfer purchased the former estate. He and a team of architects, designers, and craftsmen spent over a year restoring and renovating Willoughby House to showcase it's true elegance. Their goal, to create an inn, restaurant, and events space that will mark another chapter in the storied estates history: One that those in the community, and beyond, will enjoy for years to come.
Meet the Business Owner: Mike N.
Mike Neundorfer loves adventure, connecting with others, and bringing people together with purpose. He and his wife, Marcia, have raised three boys and have four grandchildren. Mike and Marcia have hiked, bicycled, and spent time getting to know people in over 40 countries. They have visited every state in the U.S. and most Canadian provinces in their custom Sprinter motorhome, made by Mike’s current company, Advanced RV.
He founded and worked 40 years in a business that reduces air pollution and energy consumption in power plants, cement plants, steel mills and other heavy industries. Over a decade ago, he started Advanced RV, which designs and builds small, custom, and highly innovative motorhomes on Mercedes Sprinter chassis. He is excited about his latest project, restoring and renovating the former Van Gorder Manor in Willoughby.