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About the house
The Henry Weis House was completed in 1902 with architectural design by local firm Murphy & Ralston. It is a transitional design with both Queen Anne and Colonial Revival elements. Henry Weis was the owner of the North Star Egg Case Company which created cold storage egg case fillers locally on Commercial Street.
The home was passed down in the Weis family until the 1930's at which point it was converted into apartments. In the 1980's the home was converted into a Bed and Breakfast and in 1989 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2022, the Schmitz family purchased and reopened the house as The Historic Weis Mansion Bed and Breakfast.
The property is divided into 6 different units all uniquely decorated.
The home's original blueprints are framed and are displayed on site!
About the Owners
Chris and Kelly Schmitz
Chris and Kelly are Midwest natives who grew up in Minnesota and have spent their lives weaving through the heart of the region. After years of owning rental properties and caring for older homes, their appreciation for historic character grew into a dream: to find a truly special, time-honored house and turn it into a full-service bed and breakfast.
In 2021, they took a leap of faith—selling their rental properties and paring down personal belongings in preparation for a major move, wherever the right house might lead them. That journey ultimately brought them to Waterloo, Iowa, where a series of perfectly timed events led them to the historic Henry Weis House, which they were thrilled to call home.
Chris spends much of his time writing novels, with genres ranging from science fiction and fantasy to suspense, comedy, and nonfiction. When he’s not writing, you may hear the sound of bagpipes drifting through the house or find him tackling one of the many ongoing home projects.
Kelly has a passion for breathing life into historic spaces. When she’s not baking fresh bread, making yogurt, or tending to the comforts of guests, she’s on the hunt for antique treasures to thoughtfully decorate the home.
They live on site with their three dogs—Daisy (9), Fenris (7), and Festus (7)—who consider themselves part of the welcoming committee (kept separate from common space, but available if you want to pet them) . Chris and Kelly also have two adult children: Christian, who works in IT in Minnesota, and Sophia, who is attending Iowa State University, majoring in Electrical Engineering.
Together, they are delighted to share the history, hospitality, and character of the Weis Mansion with every guest who walks through the door.