5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Walnut Street Inn

The Walnut Street Inn, a charming bed and breakfast on historic Walnut Street, is a place for community, romance and sometimes mystery. The Faucett family purchased the inn in April 2021 and have since made upgrades to modernize it while staying true to its vintage charm.

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Charles and Katherine McCann were the original owners of the Walnut Street Inn, built as their home in the late 1800s. In 1904, Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Dennis purchased the property, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Jewell, owners of the Springfield News-Leader, who bought it in 1917. Dr. Max and Barbara Rosen purchased the house in 1953 and raised their five children there. In 1987, Gary, Nancy and Karol Brown bought the property and created Springfield’s first bed and breakfast. The inn changed hands again in July 1996 when Gary, Paula and Catherine Blankenship purchased it from the Browns. Finally, on April 15, 2021, Mary Faucett and her sons, Andy and Chuck Faucett, became the new owners of the Walnut Street Inn.

Visitors from around the world come to stay at the inn, see shows at the theaters in town and explore Springfield. “One of the coolest things about operating the business is getting to meet people from all over the globe who come to stay in Springfield,” says Madalyn Faucett, manager of the Walnut Street Inn. 

Although the inn has been a downtown staple for decades, there are a few things you might not know about this bed and breakfast. 

1. You can plan your event at the Walnut Street Inn.

The Walnut Street Inn’s parlor can accommodate business meetings, weddings or parties for up to 50 guests.

To schedule an event in their first-floor parlor, simply call their front desk or email them at stay@walnutstreetinn.com to check availability. 

2. The inn used to have shag carpeting.

The former owners of the inn, the Brown family, played a pivotal role in transforming the property into a charming bed and breakfast, leading significant renovations that laid the foundation for what it is today. They also contributed their unique touch to the decor, enhancing the home’s welcoming atmosphere. In the three years since the Faucett family acquired the property, they have continued to make improvements, including repainting the exterior, replacing the flooring, rebuilding the back deck, redecorating five of the guest rooms and completely renovating the kitchen. “We wanted to contemporize the inn without losing its historical significance,” Owner Mary Faucett says. 

During the redesign, a small secret room was discovered—a find that adds a touch of mystery to the house. “I was curious about a small panel in the O’Neill room,” Madalyn says. “While we were redecorating this room I finally got curious enough to take a look. Lo and behold, there is a bathroom behind that wall. Just the size of a closet with '80s-style wallpaper. It had us looking at the layout of the house wondering if there were any other hidden spaces.” 

3. You don't have to book a room to make a breakfast reservation.

Anyone is welcome to visit the inn for breakfast—just make a reservation at least one day in advance. Each plate is prepared fresh each morning by their award-winning chef John Clayton, and the menu varies from sweet to savory day to day. Clayton trained at Le Cordon Bleu, a French culinary and hospitality school.

4. The Walnut Street Inn also has an extended-stay apartment.

This space can accommodate up to four guests. It has a bedroom, living room, dining room, private bathroom and kitchen. As part of the redesign, the team at the Walnut Street Inn added modern amenities to all the rooms, such as Keurig coffee makers and smart TVs. 

Tip: This is actually the space with the most affordable rate for guests staying longer than three nights. 

5. The inn has been a family-operated business for three generations, run by three different families, each adding their own chapters to its history.

Each family has made significant contributions to the space and impacted hundreds of guests who have stayed here. People come in and share stories of weddings and family reunions that were held here. “One time, a gentleman told me the story of how he came down with a horrible cold, and after he checked in, Gary Blankenship (a former owner of the inn) knocked on his door with a bowl of hot soup to help nurse him back to health,” Madalyn says. “All of this is to say that there are a hundred different stories of why the inn feels less like a corporate lodging establishment and more like a family home.”