The Pella Victorian Villa, a three story Italianate mansion built in 1871, is back on the Gateway to Hope Garden Tour by popular demand. Since being on the 2016 tour, the villa has acquired on-site managers Piet and Carol Van Waarde and it opened as an AirBNB in January 2018.
Located at 1261 185th Street, the villa is recognized as an Iowa historic site, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stan and Alma Vermeer purchased the villa in 2011 and did extensive restoration and renovation on its second and third floors, along with its exterior and grounds. Previous owner Lila Turnbull had restored the first floor during her 32 years as owner.
Among the home’s notable features are a Mansard roof, a spacious wrap-around veranda, ornate exterior corbels (support brackets), and a 12-foot grand staircase—just one of six staircases in the home. Typical period furnishings are used on all three floors of the home. Of special interest on the third-floor are its stained glass windows and Hindeloopen (Dutch folk art) décor.
Friends of Chinandega 