Rustic Dreams, a new bed & breakfast in Bethlehem, is now open. The B&B is owned and operated by Jean and Matt Vrabel out of their Bethlehem Township home. We stopped by recently to chat with them and find out about their new venture.
After travelling around for many years and staying at B&Bs the Vrabels decided to take what they liked and didn’t like from similar locations from Vermont to Ireland and apply to eventually opening up their own business. After happening upon the land via an ad on a supermarket bulletin board, they built their house around 14 years ago with the goal in mind to eventually open up their business. They completed with gradually and finished up over the past year. The house, and the Cheyenne Suite, are what the Vrabels called their concession to a log cabin, which was their original idea for the home. Outside of the home is a great patio and porch area to relax on in warmer weather.
Both of the Vrabels are from the Lehigh Valley. Mr. Vrabel is a retired PPL employee and Mrs. Vrabel is currently a counselor with the Bethlehem School District, so choosing to locate their bed and breakfast here was a natural choice. The 2.5 acre property is located right along the Lehigh River with access to the towpath for walking, biking, and hiking. According to the Vrabels the area right in front of the home was used extensively by Native Americans in the area, which fits right in with the recurring theme throughout the rooms. The couple also stated that they tried as hard as possible to ensure that everything in the room be made in the United States.
The B&B has two suites, the aforementioned Cheyenne and the Souix. The Cheyenne is a beautiful room with a jacuzzi, 70” TV with a Bose soundsystem, wet bar, microwave, bathroom, fireplace, and Turkish robes. It’s large and roomy, and beautifully detailed. The Souix suite features two rooms, is plainer, and designed for families or guests requiring separate beds. The suite features a private bath, queen size bed, a twin bed in the adjoining room, and TV/DVD players in each.
A stay at Rustic Dreams comes with a full organic breakfast, mainly based off of what the guests prefer. The Vrabels mentioned crepes, mini quiche, scones, waffles, and homemade jam as just some of their specialties. Guests can either have their breakfast downstairs in the dining room or have it delivered to their suite to eat. The Cheyenne suite features a nice two-person dining area that’s perfect for eating in. Other amenities include wifi and complimentary passes to the Bethlehem Township Community Center which features a fitness center and indoor swimming pool.
The owners also plan on adding additional package options such as a Chocolate Night featuring confections from Dolce Patisserie in Hellertown, a Champagne Night, and a Fondue Night. The B&B is located at 4129 Wilson Ave in Bethlehem and rates range from $159 per night for the Souix Suite to $295 per night for the Cheyenne Suite.
Photos of exterior and dining area provided by Rustic Dreams, all other photos by The El Vee