PLNU Alumni House

One of the oldest buildings on campus may not be well-known by PLNU students. The Alumni House, located near the Admissions Office and Student Financial Services, was built in 1902, but it is still serving its purpose to house alumni, guest speakers and families of current PLNU students.

“I didn’t even know we had an Alumni House until I spoke to an alum who vacationed there with her family,” says PLNU sophomore applied health science major, Zoey Zoerner.

The house is rich in history. It was built by Katherine Tingley in order to fulfill her vision of creating a “White City,” continuing with white buildings, according to a historical report from 1988. This “White City” became known as Lomaland, and it became the home of PLNU in 1972, says PLNU archivist, Linda M. Hasper.

The PLNU house was originally known as the President’s House. Past university presidents resided in the home during their time in that role. It wasn’t until later years the university decided to transition the building into a house that accommodates past students of PLNU.

The Alumni House has five rooms, including the Guest Cottage that is detached from the main house. The house is often booked, and “many guests stay with us [PLNU] for a getaway, family vacation or weddings they are attending,” says the PLNU Director of Alumni Relations, Kendall Lucas.

“Alumni of PLNU are given priority to stay in the house and are able to make reservations up to a year in advance,” says Lucas. “If you are not an alum of PLNU, but are a parent or grandparent of a current student, you may make reservations by calling seven days before your preferred date of stay.”

PLNU makes their guests’ stay in the Alumni House more affordable. However, the cost per night varies depending on which room is booked. The suggested rate for the master bedroom is $75 per night, and the suggested rate for the other three bedrooms and the Guest Cottage is $55 per night. However, Lucas says, “Effective January 1, 2019, the Guest Cottage’s suggested rate will increase to $75 a night.”

The house has been with PLNU from the beginning. “The Alumni House is a great example of the love of beauty and craftsmanship that characterized the Lomaland community,” says Hasper. “We are very fortunate that PLNU has restored and preserved this and the other historically important buildings on campus.”