Running a Mansion Single and Single-Handedly

Carrie Ohlandt had directed her life towards working as a nurse overseas in developing nations and certainly not as an innkeeper. She had been an Au Pair in France and speaks French fluently. She then studied nursing at George Mason University and also earned a bachelor degree in International Relations. Carrie married in between degrees and eventually finished up her degree in nursing with a Bachelor of Science. All things considered, her life was definitely pointed in another direction.

After seven years of practice as a pediatric critical care nurse -- the end of her own marriage timed with a sudden pregnancy, Carrie's life went suddenly off-road. The stress of being a single mother of her daughter Maya and working full time as a nurse for two years began to take its toll. She lived five hours away from her family and was feeling the need to be with them. Her parents were innkeepers and were in the midst of acquiring Sayre Mansion. Carrie recognized the opportunity for a better life and went to work with them.

"It's going well," Carrie said. "We have expanded our inn to also own the carriage house next door." The vast inn and carriage house on two acres spreads elegantly on beautifully manicured grounds. The grand 19-room mansion has been lovingly restored to showcase classic grace and style from a luxurious era. "It took 18 months to restore the carriage house and there is now an owner's apartment and 3 deluxe guest suites," she said. Her life has certainly gone in a new and exciting direction. "As a nurse, I worked three 12 hours days per week and as an innkeeper I work on average about 70 hours a week. I miss my nursing life but I am in a good place right now."

Recipes