Converted Churches, Schoolhouses & Other Unexpected Rentals

Some buildings have a second act. A church that no longer holds services. A one-room schoolhouse that closed decades ago. These properties carry the bones of their original purpose — high ceilings, oversized windows, a sense of gravity that a purpose-built vacation home rarely has — and a handful of owners have taken that raw material and turned it into some of the most memorable stays around.

Phillipsport Church House — Wurtsboro, NY

From place of worship to peaceful Catskills getaway, Phillipsport Church House keeps the architectural drama of its original form — soaring ceilings, tall windows — while functioning as a full five-bedroom retreat for up to six guests. Read the full story of the church's second life.

Wheatland Schoolhouse No. 7 — Churchville, NY

Restored by owners Nicholas & James, this historic one-room schoolhouse near Rochester, NY has been converted into a design-forward retreat that keeps its original character intact. Book Wheatland Schoolhouse direct, or read the full restoration story.

The Owners Who Saw the Potential

Both of these conversions took vision most buyers would have walked past. Read the full restoration story behind Phillipsport Church House and how a decommissioned church became a five-bedroom retreat. Nicholas & James took on a similar challenge with Wheatland Schoolhouse No. 7, preserving a one-room schoolhouse's original character while making it livable for modern guests.

Why These Properties Are Worth Seeking Out

Buildings with a former life tend to have design elements you simply can't replicate in new construction — pressed tin ceilings, oversized original windows, structural details built for an entirely different purpose. They also tend to get buried in search results on large platforms, where algorithmic ranking favors volume and reviews over architectural distinction. We wrote about that dynamic in You Didn't Build an Ordinary Home. Don't List It Like One.

More Unconventional Stays

If churches and schoolhouses have you hooked, treehouses are the other end of the same idea — see Muddy Brook Treehouse in Phoenicia, NY and The Pine Mountain Club Treehouse in California. We rounded up several of these unexpected buildings together in Sleep in a Church, a Schoolhouse, or a Treehouse: Halloween-Ready Stays for Design Lovers — though honestly, they're just as good outside October.

Browse the Full Collection

See all curated stays on Locèlle, or explore the Catskills collection where both properties above are located.

Own a building with an unusual past? We'd love to hear its story.

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