The Story Behind The Butler House: A Hands-On Bed & Breakfast in Niagara Falls
Why Guests Love The Butler House Bed & Breakfast in Niagara Falls, New York
When Dan and Jamie Craig took over The Butler House Bed & Breakfast in December 2019, they expected a property that was largely ready to operate. Instead, they discovered a much bigger renovation project—and, shortly afterward, a global pandemic that changed their plans.
What followed was a remarkably hands-on transformation. The Craigs renovated the historic house, taught themselves new skills, completed much of the work themselves, and built a four-room bed and breakfast centered around personal hospitality and the connections made with guests.
Seeing the Potential in The Butler House
When Dan and Jamie first purchased the property, The Butler House featured traditional period décor dating to the early 1900s. Their original plan was to make some changes to the décor before opening for Niagara Falls' busy tourist season.
But after moving into the house, they quickly discovered that the project would involve much more.
They sanded wooden floors, restored windows, installed ductless air conditioning and made other substantial changes. When the interior design proposal they received was far beyond their budget and didn't reflect the look they envisioned, they decided to take the design work into their own hands.
Image Credit: The Butler House Bed & Breakfast
Then COVID-19 arrived.
The unexpected pause in travel gave Dan and Jamie time to continue working on the property. By September 2020, they had completed renovations on the first and second floors, furnished the house in a transitional style, launched their website and opened three guest rooms.
For the first two years, the fourth guest room even served as their living space while they worked toward completing their own quarters.
The Third-Floor Project They Took Into Their Own Hands
One of the clearest examples of the Craigs' hands-on approach is the third floor.
In November 2021, they closed the house for the season to work on the space. They removed the plaster walls, enlarged the bathroom and transformed the area into a three-room knotty-pine loft with exposed ceiling rafters.
When circumstances prevented their general contractor from doing much of the work, Dan and Jamie didn't simply wait. They learned how to use the contractor's tools themselves and completed more than 60 percent of the work.
The project took two winters to finish, but the result became a room they consider the most beautiful in the house.
There is also a particularly memorable feature: with the windows open, guests can fall asleep to the sound of Niagara Falls.
A Personal Standard for Every Guest Room
For Dan and Jamie, attention to detail extends to the everyday work of preparing the inn.
Guest-room cleaning and laundry are areas where they maintain especially high standards. Jamie's meticulous approach to cleanliness means that the rooms and linens receive an exceptionally thorough level of attention—one the Craigs say would be difficult for most people to maintain even in their own homes.
That attention to detail is part of the work that happens behind the scenes before every guest arrives.
Image Credit: The Butler House Bed & Breakfast
Where Guests Become Part of the Story
For the Craigs, some of the most rewarding moments aren't about the house itself. They happen around the breakfast table.
They pay attention to the conversations and laughter that take place over breakfast, often watching as guests who arrived as strangers begin talking, sharing stories and getting to know one another.
One breakfast in September 2022 became a particularly memorable example.
William and Judy, a couple from North Carolina celebrating an anniversary, had told the Craigs that they were both deaf. Another guest, Dawn, was visiting from the United Kingdom and had learned sign language while working as a nurse.
At breakfast, Dawn began communicating with William and Judy.
The connection was immediate. The guests spent the next two days exploring the area together, and the following breakfast was filled with laughter despite the periods of silence. The Craigs were especially pleased when Rana and Dawn returned the following year to visit while staying elsewhere in the region.
It's the kind of moment that captures what Dan and Jamie value about operating a bed and breakfast: creating a setting where people can connect in unexpected ways.
Image Credit: The Butler House Bed & Breakfast
Learning What Works at the Breakfast Table
The Craigs also learned early that sometimes the best hospitality comes from simplifying the routine.
During their first year, guests could choose breakfast times of 8:00, 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. With different guests starting at different times, preparing breakfast became increasingly difficult, particularly when everyone was ordering different dishes.
They eventually settled on an 8:30 a.m. breakfast, while accommodating guests who need to leave earlier with a breakfast bag to go.
It's one of the practical lessons that comes from running a small property where the owners are directly involved in the guest experience.
The Quiet Moment After the Guests Leave
Running a bed and breakfast is demanding, particularly during Niagara Falls' busiest season.
The Butler House is limited to four guest rooms and a maximum of 10 people in the house, including the owners. Dan and Jamie handle much of the work themselves, and during the season they can spend more than 10 hours a day on the business, with few days off between mid-May and the end of October.
So when the final guests leave and the season comes to an end, their favorite thing to do is surprisingly simple.
Nothing.
After spending months focused on the inn and its guests, Dan and Jamie enjoy having the house to themselves again. They take the time to appreciate their home without immediately starting another project.
Image Credit: The Butler House Bed & Breakfast
The Bow-Tie Tradition Guests Find in Their Rooms
One of The Butler House's most charming traditions started with a guest.
An early visitor complimented the property's logo and its bow-tie design. She also noticed the bow-tie shape Dan and Jamie used when folding napkins at breakfast.
When she left, she made the bed herself and folded the throw blanket into a bow tie.
The Craigs have continued the tradition ever since, arranging the throw blanket in a bow-tie shape in every guest room before guests arrive.
It's a small detail, but one that has become part of the identity of the inn.
Discovering Niagara Falls Beyond the Famous Falls
The Butler House also puts guests close to one of the area's lesser-known outdoor experiences.
Just two blocks away is the Niagara Gorge Trails, a network created after a section of the Robert Moses Parkway along the Niagara River was removed and replaced with parkland, hiking trails and bike paths. The trails connect Niagara Falls State Park with Whirlpool State Park and Devils Hole State Park.
The trails descend toward the Niagara River, including areas overlooking its powerful rapids. According to the Craigs, visitors can easily spend five to 10 miles exploring the trail system.
For guests looking to experience more of Niagara Falls beyond the traditional attractions, it's an especially appealing nearby option.
Image Credit: The Butler House Bed & Breakfast
More Than 1,000 Couples—and a Simple Measure of Success
Perhaps the clearest measure of The Butler House's journey isn't a design detail or renovation project. It's the number of people who have stayed there.
Dan and Jamie have welcomed more than 1,000 couples to The Butler House, with the average stay lasting 2.6 days. They also note that approximately half of those couples live within a day's or two days' drive of Niagara Falls.
After all the renovation work, long days, breakfasts, laundry, room preparations and conversations, Dan and Jamie have a remarkably straightforward way of measuring whether they have succeeded.
They hope guests leave saying:
"I can't wait to come back!"
And with more than 1,000 couples already welcomed through the doors, that desire to return provides a particularly meaningful ending to the story of The Butler House.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Butler House
Where is The Butler House Bed & Breakfast located?
The Butler House Bed & Breakfast is located in Niagara Falls, New York.
Who owns The Butler House Bed & Breakfast?
Dan and Jamie Craig own and operate The Butler House Bed & Breakfast in Niagara Falls, New York.
How many guest rooms does The Butler House have?
The Butler House has four guest rooms and is limited to a maximum of 10 people in the house, including the owners.
What makes The Butler House unique?
Dan and Jamie Craig have taken a hands-on approach to the property, completing much of the renovation work themselves and maintaining a highly personal approach to hosting guests.
What can guests do near The Butler House?
In addition to visiting Niagara Falls, guests can explore the Niagara Gorge Trails, which connect Niagara Falls State Park with Whirlpool State Park and Devils Hole State Park.
How many couples have stayed at The Butler House?
Dan and Jamie Craig have welcomed more than 1,000 couples to The Butler House, with an average stay of 2.6 days.
What do Dan and Jamie hope guests say when they leave?
Their goal is simple: “I can't wait to come back!”
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