Gateway Bed & Breakfast

"Victorian Charm that promises you a memorable stay!"

Gateway Bed & Breakfast is located next door to the Water Tower Square in the East Row Historic District, approximately five minutes to downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and 4 blocks to Newport on the Levee.

The house has been restored and is exquisitely decorated with antiques. When visiting, you may hear the player piano or the victrola spinning the old records as you stroll through this home filled with Victorian charm.

When Ken and Sandy Clift purchased this circa 1878 house in 1989 it had been through fire, tornado, conversion to a multi-family rental, and years of neglect.  Go to our History section for more information about the history and restoration of this beautiful home. 

Your comfort is assured in one of our spacious rooms whether your visit is for business to the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area, a vacation, get-away weekend or a honeymoon retreat.

Every morning, be awakened by the aroma of fresh coffee and homemade breads. A full country breakfast is served in the formal dining room.

Area attractions within minutes:

• Newport On the Levee
• Newport Aquarium
• Millennium Peace Bell
• Northern Ky/Cincinnati waterfront
• Downtown Cincinnati
• Cincinnati Reds & Bengals
• Opera
• Museums/Antiques
• Convention Centers
• Zoo
• Horseracing
• 20 minutes from airport
• See our Area attraction section

While restoring the house, the Clifts' philosophy was to retain as much of the original as possible, adapting their present needs to the existing structure. There were no changes made to the building, with the exception of updating the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry facilities. As walls and dropped ceilings were removed many original details were found, such as plaster moldings and ceiling medallions. Wallpaper over 100 years old was discovered in places that were covered up many years ago.

The restoration involved removing 70 years of insensitive remodeling and reviving the original character of the house. This included reopening the transoms, milling trim to exactly match the original, installing reproduction gas/electric lighting, restoring two large parlor doors which were found in the garage, sanding and finishing 3200 square feet of pine flooring, opening up and cleaning six fireplaces and replacing five missing mantels with antique mantels of the period.

All 27 windows were reglazed, repaired, restrung, and repainted, but the biggest challenge was the restoration of the stairway and halls. The staircase was restored by a local craftsman based on an old baluster and part of the old railing which were found in the attic.

The Gateway Bed & Breakfast is an example to the community of sensitive rehabilitation and adaptive re-use as well as a successful business.  Ken has served on the Newport Historic Property Advisory Commission for the State of Kentucky.  Newport, one of the largest historic district in the state of Kentucky is a wonderful and convenient place to live.

Newport/Northern Kentucky

Newport on the Levee
Newport Aquarium
BB Riverboats cruises
Newport Gangster Tour
Purple People Bridge
Ride the Ducks
Main Strasse Village
Turfway horse racing
Northern Kentucky Convention Center

LOCAL RESTAURANTS

York Street Café
Pompilios
Dixie Chili
Newport Pizza
Mokka’s Grill
Chart House
Mitchell’s Fish
JerZees Pub & Restaurant

Cincinnati

Cincinnati Zoo
Cincinnati Reds Baseball
Cincinnati Bengals Football
Cincinnati Art
Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Convention Center
King's Island
Regional Tourism
Riverbend Music Ctr
River Downs horse racing
Taft Museum
The Banks

Antique Shops (Northern KY/Cincinnati)

Florence Antique
Duck Creek
Grand Antique