ST. LOUIS — If you have ever pictured yourself in a hot tub on the rooftop of a historic church overlooking the city, look no further than Gothic Heights Inn in St. Louis.

What You Need To Know

  • The historic building was established as a Methodist church in the late 1800s. The church was restored in 1904 after a heavy fire, and most recently has been updated as an inn with modern appliances

  • The former owners had spent 14 years transforming the church into an inn

  • The secret garden is truly hidden behind trees, shrubbery and surrounded by a fence. Guests can enjoy the shade, flowers and a fish pond in the garden

  • The four bedrooms also feature small stained glass windows, vintage furniture and modern ensuite bathrooms

While staying in the World’s Fair Suite, Riverfront Suite, The Hill Suite or the Botanical Garden Grand Suite, guests can walk to the rooftop for a soak in the hot tub while viewing the Arch, Forest Park, the Central West End and other parts of the city.

At night, they can watch beautiful sunsets across the St. Louis sky.

But Gothic Heights Inn, located at 2501 Clifton Avenue, was not originally made with a hot tub and overnight guests in mind.

The historic building was established as a Methodist church in the late 1800s. The church was restored in 1904 after a heavy fire, and most recently has been updated as an inn with modern appliances, according to co-owner Ken Gilb.

In April, his wife Jesse Wise saw the listing of the bed-and-breakfast online. On a whim, they toured the property and, with no prior plans of buying, Gilb said they put in an offer.

“We fell in love with the place, and we saw its potential,” he said.

The previous owners operated the B & B, formerly called Clifton Heights Inn, until the shutdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. They had spent 14 years transforming the church into an inn, Gilb said.

Not letting the years’ worth of work go to waste, Gilb and Wise wanted to reopen it for the public.

“We wanted to open it back up to the public because we wanted to share this building with everybody else,” Gilb said. “So many of these churches are just starting to run down and we’re losing them.”

They purchased it in May, and Gothic Heights Inn has been open since July.

With more than 70 guests so far, Gilb said people have left positive reviews in the guest book.

“Everybody loves the tranquility of the place. Everybody loves the views from the rooftop,” he said. “Everybody has just real nice things to say.”

Having the historic building remain as a place for visitors to relax and enjoy a piece of history has been special to the family.

Gilb, Wise and their twin sons live in the basement at the inn, which features a number of windows that bring in natural light.

“We live on site and maintain the building and do all of the requirements for the inn,” Gilb said.

“We make our best effort to keep it clean and tidy. It’s a large space and takes a lot of work, but it’s well worth it.”

The family has met people from different walks of life who stay at the inn.

“It’s interesting to listen to everybody’s stories and why they come to visit,” Gilb said.

While a favorite aspect of the inn is the rooftop hot tub, Gilb said he enjoys the large, stunning stained glass windows located in the front living and kitchen spaces.

They date back to the early 1900s.

“I’ll come up here and just watch and meditate a little bit,” Gilb said. “The daylight hits at different points in the day and makes it seem like you’re inside a jewel.”

The inn’s new name is rightly so, as the ceilings, doors and arches are gothic style architecture, along with handcrafted woodwork, lighting fixtures, artwork and other decor.

The four bedrooms also feature small stained glass windows, vintage furniture and modern ensuite bathrooms.

Each room has a St. Louis theme that features related artwork, including the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Hill, the Riverfront and the 1904 World’s Fair.

The first-floor Botanical Garden Grand Suite is the largest with a king bed, jacuzzi tub and a view of the secret garden.

The secret garden is truly hidden behind trees, shrubbery and surrounded by a fence. Guests can enjoy the shade, flowers and a fish pond in the garden.

The building’s large stained glass windows also can be appreciated from the outside while sitting on the patio located out front.

One of the main draws is the rooftop hot tub. Gilb said the inn’s roof is the third highest point in the city.  

Gilb said he looks forward to continuing to share the historic Gothic Heights Inn with the community and out-of-towners.

“Everybody just really enjoys something out of the ordinary, something different than just staying at a regular hotel or an AirBnB,” he said.