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The Wilderness
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  • Inn Details

    Not your average B&B – Welcome to The Wilderness! Surrounded by woodland tracts of The Patapsco Valley State Park, this Victorian era summer mansion has been restored to its country manor atmosphere, and offers unequalled peace and privacy. 210 years of history await you at The Wilderness – an historic preservation and hospitality award winning B&B providing suites for discriminating guests. Large rooms, comfy beds, fabulous baked goods and nearly total seclusion give guests the sense of “being somewhere totally different”, although only minutes from historic Ellicott City and Catonsville, and only 15 minutes from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The Wilderness is like no other B&B in the area - Come out for a visit and get lost in your dreams!

    Innkeeper Information

    Innkeepers Description:

    Gardening, baking, art and architecture, travel, meeting people.

    The innkeepers speak:

    • English


    Number of Cats: 3

    Features

    Type:

    • Bed and Breakfast

    Property Noted For:

    • Privacy

    • Secluded setting close to city

    • bird-watching

    • gardens/natural setting

    • home-made baked goods

    • Antiques/decor

    • Excellent views

    • Nature

    • Peaceful getaway

    • Romantic escape

    Amenities

    Guest Room:

    • Air conditioning

    • Alarm clock

    • Radio

    • Wi-Fi

    On Site:

    • BBQ grill

    • Board games

    • CD player

    • Ceiling fans

    • Computer

    • Copier

    • Desk

    • Fireplace

    • Library

    • Piano

    • Private entrance

    • TV

    • Telephone

    • VCR

    • Washer/dryer

    Other Amenities:

    • screened in porch for breakfast and afternoon tea

    • locked storage for bicycles

    • table/floor fans in suites

    • stone patio coming soon! (July 2008)

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  • The Dugan Suite

    Suite maximum capacity: 4

    • Beds

      1 Queen

      2 Twin

    • Bathroom

      Private Bath

      Bathtub

      Shower

    • Nightly Rate

      (high/low season) $140/$140

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    Policy

    Reservation Policy

    • Check in: 3pm or after    Check out: 12p

    • Minimum stay: A 2-night stay is preferred, but we try to be flexible.

    • Deposit amount required: 50% deposit required to hold suite - suites rented on first come first served basis.

    • Cancellations: 1 week cancellation notice is required for a full refund of the deposit. No refund is made for cancellations with less time unless it is possible to rent out the suite at the spur of the moment. For certain holidays/local events 2 weeks notice will be required for a refund - guests will be alerted of this at the time of their reservation confirmation.

    • Open all year round: N

    General Policies

    • Smoking allowed: Limited

    • Guest pets allowed: No

    • Drinking allowed: Yes

    • Drinking description: a glass of wine or beer on Saturday afternoon at tea time

    • Drinks available: Y

    • Children allowed: 2 suites have a 2nd twin bed - will discuss ages

    • Suitable for children: Limited

    • Childcare provided: No : Children must be supervised at all times while in B&B.

  • Breakfast

    • Type: Full breakfast on weekends/continental on weekdays

    • Time Served: 8am - 10am

    • Serving location: screened porch weather permitting, veranda (unscreened), Dining Room

    Complimentary Perks

    • Afternoon Tea

    • Dessert

    • Fruit

    • Wine/Cheese Plate

    Signature Dish

    Bittersweet Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cake
    Bittersweet chocolate and raspberry merge in a wickedly dense and wonderfully fruity, very dark chocolate cake. It's frequently requested by returning guests - and often sliced at breakfast, too......

    Special meal options

    • Low fat

    • Restrictive

    • Vegetarian

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  • Location Type

    • Countryside

    City

    • Baltimore

    • Distance to city: 10 miles

    • Directions to property:
      Interstate 95 - off on Rte 195 West toward Catonsville. Follow signs for North Rolling Rd (Rte 166 North). Stay on this approx 3 miles - deadends into Rte 144 Frederick Rd. Turn left on Rte 144 and go through next traffic light (Candle Light Inn will be on your left as you go through the light). Half mile down on your left is Thistle Rd. - directly before Dimitri's Grill - turn left and The Wilderness is one half mile back on the right - #2 Thistle Rd. (large white victorian on hill).

    Airport

    • Baltimore, MD (BWI-Baltimore Washington) 8 miles

    • Directions to property:
      take I 195 out of the airport and remain on this for 5 miles - until you see signs for North Rolling Rd (Rte 166 North). Follow this for approx 3 miles and this deadends into Rte 144 Frederick Rd. Turn left and go approx 1 mile or so - you will see Dimitris Grill on the left - Thistle Rd is directly before this restaurant on the left. Turn onto Thistle Rd and The Wilderness is one half mile back on the right - #2 Thistle Rd (large white victorian on the hill).

    Area Attractions

    • Antique Shopping

    • Aquarium

    • Art Galleries

    • Concert venue

    • Gourmet/Fine Dining

    • Historical interests

    • Live Music

    • Movie Theater

    • Museum

    • National/State parks

    • Nature area

    • Washington

    • DC

    • Johns Hopkins University and Hospital

    • Catonsville Community College

    • Baltimore

    • University of Maryland at Baltimore County

    • University of Maryland at Baltimore City

    • Performing Theater

    • Picnic area

    • Religious Services

    • River

    • Zoo

    • Bicycle rental

    • Bicycle riding trails

    • Billiards

    • Bird watching

    • Canoeing

    • Fishing

    • Golfing

    • Hiking trails

    • Horseback riding

    • Kayaking

    • Shopping

    • Sight-seeing

    • Tennis courts

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    Girls Weekend

    About the reviewer

    • 55+ years old

    • Stays at B&Bs once a year

    • Typically stays in moderate lodging

    • Was travelling for a weekend getaway

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    We really enjoyed our stay at The Wilderness. The Inn is just beautiful with period furnishings and gardens. Ellen made our stay inviting, especially with a delicious breakfast. The beds were very comfortable, and while the antique chairs or settees are lovely, they aren't the most comfortable to sit in for a long period of time. I would certainly recommend The Wilderness and hope to return.

    Step in the past for a minute

    About the reviewer

    • Between 45-55 years old

    • First time staying at a B&B

    • Typically stays in moderate lodging

    • Was travelling for a weekend getaway

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    It was a great experience...the whole house was impeccable, the cats gave to the house a sense of ownership, the surroundings outside and inside was a step in the past...for a minute I was day dreaming on the activities at that time, the food cooked in the old stove in the kitchen, the rooms decorated with candor, the white vintage dress left out hanging at a room's door as an evidence of time...it was perfect

    Delightful "girls" vacation

    About the reviewer

    • Between 36-45 years old

    • Stays at B&Bs twice a year

    • Typically stays in moderate lodging

    • Was travelling on vacation

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    My two daughters, mother, and I stayed at the lovely "Wilderness" on a spur of the moment get-away. It was a delight from the moment we drove up the long driveway and caught sight of the beautiful old house. We stayed in the Blue and Gold Suite, which was very spacious and easily accommodated the four of us. (In fact, the only slight downside was having to pay extra for my two daughters, age 7 and 12). Ellen had left us an afternoon treat, and then we explored Ellicott City. The breakfast the next day was delicious - homemade, somewhat unusual goodies - in a good way -- made even better by the location on the back porch, surrounded by her flowers and birds at the bird feeder. A true country retreat - hard to believe how close to Baltimore!~ I would definitely return. Ellen runs a first class B&B and is the epitome of hospitality.

    Special place

    About the reviewer

    • Between 45-55 years old

    • Stays at B&Bs once a year

    • Typically stays in moderate lodging

    • Was travelling for an event

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    Facebook, twitter, e-mails, internet chatter, incessant digital cacophony of life...it all disappears in a flash when you spend a little time at The Wilderness. So restful and peaceful, I could while away the day just sitting on the patio watching the endless parade of goldfinches and hummingbirds, reading the paper on the lovely wraparound porch, or just laying about in the lovely Sullivan Suite, reading a book, feeling the muscles and mind relax. Aaaaaaaaaah. Thanks, Ellen.

    Great spot close to everything

    About the reviewer

    • Between 36-45 years old

    • Stays at B&Bs once a year

    • Typically stays in moderate lodging

    • Was travelling for an event

    • Overall 
    • Guest room 
    • Services 
    • Value 
    • Cleanliness 
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    I came in town for a wedding this month and spent 2 nights at The Wilderness. I love old houses, and this one is well preserved and beautifully decorated. The bed was really comfortable - I wish I had one like it at home. Food was very good, lots of sweet things when I was there - although it's my understanding that Ellen (the inn keeper) will cook for special diets when requested. All in all, I highly recommend this B&B, the location is great and the house/suite very very nice. Although I don't travel to this area very much, I would definitely stay again if I return for some reason.

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