THE BEGINING:
RavenWolf Manor is a majestic 5,500 sq ft. neo-classical style Victorian manor built in 1890. Over the century, it has mostly been a private residence but has also served as a day care and a funeral home during some of those years. 133 years went by, and each decade brought with it extremely particular fads. During the 1970’s through the early 2000’s the home endured much neglect as well as the very specific trends from those eras that tried to strip the manor of its elegant Victorian splendor. Some of the exterior neglect is still evident and is an arduous work in progress.
December 2022, we came upon the manor, fell in love with its potential and uprooted our established lives in the big city of Houston Texas and moved to the tiny Texas railroad town of Navasota. With a dream of having the privilege of being a part of the manor’s history, we quickly got to work on the extensive interior.
THE VISION:
During the Victorian era, there were many decorating styles, most homes during that era were painted with rose colored walls, beige furniture and feminine lace curtains, bright interiors were their aims; then there were the eccentric Victorians. Their homes were dark, mysterious, and moody. They were adorned with rich dark colors like burgundy, auberge, and bronze. Gothic styled furniture with heavily layered fringed drapery hid the morning sun. Taxidermied animals sat next to portraits whose keen eyes seemed to follow you wherever you went. These types of Victorian owners took part in the Grand Tour of the time and brought back with them wonders from throughout the world to display in their homes in cabinets to share with their friends and families. These were known as Cabinets of Curiosities. They were a place for collectors to house miscellaneous trinkets, oddities, and museum-worthy specimens. A cabinet of curiosities was especially popular among collectors in the Victorian era to display odd trophies from travel and curious gifts from faraway lands. Some of the items were merely amusing while other items could send shivers up your spine. That became our inspiration and vision for RavenWolf Manor.
THE PLAN:
While brainstorming outside on the wrap around porch, a few times some people shouted out from their vehicles, “HEY! Your house is haunted!” or ” You bought a haunted house!” Upon meeting the neighbors, it became clear that not only did the neighbors believe the manor to be haunted but several of the previous owners did as well.
With our vision in mind, and now equipped with this new information, our plan became clear: to create an exclusive bed and brunch and event space with dark, gothic themed bedrooms and share our home with those who love the obscure and are looking for a one-of-a-kind immersive experience.
THE DECOR:
We take interior decor and design very seriously. At RavenWolf Manor, you will not find any Halloween decorations like plastic skulls or resin box store Halloween merchandise. We enjoy storytelling through decor. Cardboard signs that say, “Haunted House” we feel take away from the experience. We prefer a room to speak to you and for you to feel what it is telling you and not be told what someone wants you to think with Halloween paraphernalia.
RavenWolf Manor was built in 1890 which is in the decade that both Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Oscar Wilde’s. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” take place. Oscar Wilde was heavily influenced by Edgar Allan Poe. That knowledge set the stage and served as inspirations for our three guest bedrooms.
IS RAVENWOLF MANOR FOR YOU?
RavenWolf Manor was not conceived with the idea of making it pleasing for the broadest audience possible. Most places cater to individuals who enjoy bright spaces, white walls, and minimal/modern furnishings. We wanted to create a place for that small niche audience who like dark environments, maximalist decor, and has an appreciation for places that most people think are creepy and spooky. If the scents of aged wood permeating through the walls and the rich aroma of old books draws you in, If the possibility of a place being haunted makes you curious, and the moans of an old house settling makes your imagination run wild, then you will enjoy the one-of-a-kind experience at RavenWolf Manor.
THINKING OF BEING AN OVER NIGHT GUEST AT RAVENWOLF MANOR?
There has been considerable interest since we posted the first pictures and videos of RavenWolf Manor and announced our intentions with our property. Due to an overwhelming amount of inquisitiveness and the fact that the Manor is our private home, we have decided that rentals of the bedrooms for overnight guests would be exclusively by Host Invitation Only. In order to be considered to stay in our home as an overnight guest, you must go through the application process.