If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to spend the night in the Haines Shoe House, one of PA’s most recognizable roadside attractions, you’re in the right place!
Not only am I going to share with you what it’s like to stay in this 5-story roadside giant, I’m writing this article FROM the Haines Shoe House!
As i type these words, I’m sitting in the living room of the Haines Shoe House, an architectural oddity that has been captivating passers-by since its completion in 1949.
Originally constructed as a promotional gimmick by the owner of a shoe store chain, the house has at various points been a honeymoon retreat, a museum, and an ice cream parlor.
In late 2022, it reopened in its latest incarnation as a vacation rental, receiving a bit of a facelift while retaining much of the original character and architectural details that made it an iconic symbol of the York area.
History of the Haines Shoe House
The Haines Shoe House was the brainchild of Mahlon Haines, a flamboyant businessman and self-made millionaire who understood the value of clever marketing.
By the time Haines commissioned the construction of the Shoe House, he had built an empire of nearly 50 shoe stores, focusing on keeping costs low and selling larger volumes than his competitors.
One of the ways Haines kept costs down was by utilizing free publicity, and he knew building a shoe-shaped house and giving people a chance to win a free stay in it would generate a LOT of free publicity!
Construction of the Haines Shoe House
The Shoe House was completed in 1949, at a cost of $26,000.
The Shoe House is 48 feet long, 25 feet high and 17 feet wide.
The Shoe House has 5 levels, including a basement rec room that was originally designed as a garage.
Examples of attention to detail are everywhere, like the shoes on every panel of fence surrounding the house.
Staying in the Haines Shoe House
As I write this I’m spending my second night here in the Shoe House, and I have to tell you, it’s been a wonderful experience!
Modern touches that have been added to the exterior since the house’s “rebirth” as a vacation rental include a fire pit area (pictured above) and an outdoor hot tub (pictured below).
At the rear of the property you’ll also find a dog house, built as a scale replica of the Shoe House.
Don’t get too excited – no pets are allowed (same as virtually any other vacation rental I’ve ever stayed in).
But at one time in the 1950s, a Great Dane named Countess really did call that dog house home (at least while visiting the Shoe House).
Inside the Haines Shoe House
Entering the Shoe House through the front door, you are literally greeted by a stained-glass likeness of Mahlon Haines.
To the right of the entrance you’ll find my favorite room in the house – the living room in the “toe” of the house.
Beyond the living room lies the largest of the three bedrooms at the Shoe House, the Instep Suite.
This is the room I stayed in – the bed was very comfortable and the attached full bath had plentiful hot water and great shower pressure (you can’t say that about every old house, to be sure).
Passing back through the living room and up a flight of stairs brings you to the kitchen of the Shoe House.
The built-in breakfast nook is beautiful, and is featured in many old photos displayed in the house, dating back to 1950.
Going up another flight of steps brings you to the Shoelace Space, the second-largest of the three bedrooms in the Shoe House.
As the name implies, this room is situated beneath what would be the shoe laces on the outside of the house.
Heading up yet another flight of steps brings you to the top floor of the Shoe House.
Here’s you’ll find the Ankle Abode, the smallest of the three bedrooms in the Shoe House (although it has arguably the funkiest paint scheme!).
There’s also a full bath on the top floor, to be shared with the Shoelace Space.
Heading all the way down to the basement (stairs are through the kitchen), you’ll find the largest and most-modern room in the Shoe House.
Here the former garage has been bumped out and repurposed into a rec room, complete with a big screen TV, wet bar, full-sized refrigerator, and a half-bath.
Renting the Haines Shoe House
The Haines Shoe House is now available to rent through VRBO, with rates running anywhere from $215 to $323 per night, depending on day of week and season (I paid $249/night for a Wed/Thursday stay in mid-November).
The property sleeps up to six people, and a minimum 2 night stay is required.
To rent the Haines Shoe House for your own memorable stay, please visit the OFFICIAL WEBSITE of the Shoe House.
Nearby Attractions
The Colonial Complex in York includes some of the oldest and most historic buildings in the city, which served as the Capital of the Nation for nine months during the Revolutionary War!
The York County Agricultural and Industrial Museum features thousands of artifacts and exhibits highlighting York County’s contributions to the areas of agriculture, transportation, and manufacturing.
Since 1958, the York County Historical Society Museum has used artifacts and exhibits to highlight the region’s rich heritage and historical significance.
York, PA and the First National Thanksgiving dives into the fascinating backstory of this Revolutionary War-era event, which had nothing to do with Pilgrims and turkeys!
Schull’s Rock Overlook in York County is a fantastic rock outcropping and vista on the west bank of the Susquehanna River, located at Susquehanna Riverlands State Park.
Mount Pisgah Overlook in York County, at 885 feet above sea level, offers a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding Susquehanna River Valley.
Related Articles
If you enjoy quirky vacation rentals (or just enjoy reading about them), the Presidential Train Car Bed and Breakfast at Doolittle Station should intrigue you.
This one-of-a-kind “mansion on rails” was built originally for a railroad president, and was once also used by a United States President!
Another quirky place you can spend the night is the Silence of the Lambs House in Fayette County.
As a big fan of horror films myself, the chance to spend the night in the house where the dramatic conclusion of “The Silence of the Lambs” was filmed was one experience I thoroughly enjoyed!
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