Rising Eagle Resort

Time to Blossom

Paul Kolimas • Jul 31, 2018

One of the attractions that brings so many people to the Cloran Mansion is the landscape around it.  The beauty of the gardens is now on display, and it is great to see so many guests enjoying it.  Some head out to the gazebo with an early cup of joe and enjoy  quiet time or…

By Paul Kolimas 14 Jan, 2024
It was a frigid day Saturday afternoon, with several new inches of snow on the ground and windchills at -10. But it was a lovely and warm atmosphere inside the Cloran Mansion, as Townsend & Christine made their marriage vows in our dining room! The atmosphere was also patriotic, as Christine is a Major in the U.S. Army and Townsend is a soon-to-be Major. Christine is currently stationed at the ROTC program at the University of Illinois. Townsend is about to be deployed to South Korea for several months, so there was no stopping them from making the day a wonderful one, whatever it was doing outside! The best man was Simba, who obviously found the time to obtain a matching tie for the special occasion. Best wishes to all three as they begin a new journey together!
By Paul Kolimas 14 Dec, 2023
This Saturday, December 16th, Bed & Breakfast Inns of Galena will be hosting its Mistletoe Stroll. All are welcome. It can be an especially nice event for residents of Galena who typically drive by the many wonderful bed and breakfasts everyday in Galena but because they live here have had no particular reason to go inside. The participating inns besides the Cloran Mansion are: Lamberson Guest House, Steamboat House, Farmers Guest House, Belle Aire Mansion, Jail Hill Inn and Hawk Valley Retreat & Cottages (who did a great job organizing the event). Those purchasing the $10 ticket can visit these inns in any order, have a treat, and enjoy the Christmas decorations. The event lasts from 1-4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance until Friday at 6 p.m. at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mistletoe-stroll-tour-of-holiday-houses-tickets-693260479757?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwAR039sVA3gj3aKuRbi08q9oJfZASsmaqMRVS9sSs9sWXvylelpqMHvdKO6g Tickets can also be purchased during the event at any of the participating inns. All proceeds benefit local charities. We hope you can make it!
Outside of Cloran Mansion lit up for Christmas
By Paul Kolimas 01 Dec, 2023
Christmas is a magical time in Galena. We hope you can make it out this December! And weekdays offer some real advantages.
By Paul Kolimas 05 Nov, 2023
Last week, Cloran Mansion was closed so that we could undertake a number of renovations and not disturb guests. The biggest of these projects was renovations to the tower of the house. The siding of the tower consisted of green cedar shingles, but many of these had begun to deteriorate after years of, well, weather in northwestern Illinois. Harrington and Sons Construction took on this project, replacing the old cedar with faux cedar of a similar color. These shingles should have a life span of forty or fifty years, putting the Cloran in a good position for decades to come. Next up was the cresting that sits on top of the tower. Cresting, the decorative metal fencing that sits on top of the tower, was a feature of Victorian homes like the Cloran, built in 1880. The old cresting had begun to rust through and break. After we ordered new, similar steel cresting and painted it, Harrington took care of the installation for us. It's a little beyond the reach of our tallest ladder. Another exterior project was replacing the shutters on the front of the house (actually, we took care of most of these a couple of weeks back). Inside, Paul worked on re-staining the bannister that leads to the second floor to rejuvenate the look at little bit. Finally, Rockford Refinishing took care of refinishing the double Jacuzzi tubs in two of our rooms -- Antonio's Cottage and Ann's Room. Both tubs now have a sparkling white new surface. We thought you would enjoy a little peek wth the slideshow below!
By Paul Kolimas 28 Oct, 2023
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By Paul Kolimas 24 Oct, 2023
Congratulations to Dena and Jeff Windham from Bettendorf, Iowa. They were married here on Sunday in front of our gazebo on a beautiful autumn day. This picture about says it all!
By Paul Kolimas 06 Oct, 2023
Take a tour to sample downtown Galena's extensive culinary and cocktail landscape.
By Paul Kolimas 20 Sep, 2023
Cloran Mansion joins new B&B Group
By Paul Kolimas 02 Sep, 2023
Congratulations to our latest wedding couple, Alura and Josh Naylon! Alura and Josh live in Sterling, Il., and were married midweek here at Cloran Mansion. It was a pleasure having them here, and we wish them a lifetime of happiness together! For more information on elopements or small weddings here, please visit www.cloranmansion.com/weddings .
By Paul Kolimas 06 May, 2023
Last summer we did a good deal of landscaping work on the grounds here. This included the planting of six new crabapple trees, and it is wonderful to see these trees come alive this spring! The white blossoms are sparkling, especially in contrast with the stunning pinkish/red blossoms on the older trees next to them. Last week we hope we increased the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors by having the roof of the gazebo redone. Cedar roofing is great looking, but it tends not to last more than 15 years, and the old one on the gazebo had run its course. We replaced the roof with faux cedar shakes, which we believe look very close to the real thing and should help preserve the gazebo by lasting for decades. It is really one of the pleasures of running Cloran Mansion Bed & Breakfast -- to see the grounds come alive each spring and to experience the sights, sounds and smells as warmer weather returns. We hope you will be able to join us at the Cloran Mansion in the months ahead!
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