Marydale Inn, Jameson

marydaleinn
by ELIZABETH HEY
Getting away from it all is effortless at the Marydale Inn located 80 miles north of downtown Kansas City near the Amish community of Jamesport.

A quarter-mile gravel driveway leads to the white New England-style farmhouse. Cornfields stretch to the horizon in all directions. Sunlight shimmers off two ponds in the front yard.

Named after its owners, Dale and Mary-Jo Christensen, Marydale took three years to build before opening to guests in 2009. The couple met at Boston College and eventually made their way to the Midwest after raising their family. They bought the acreage in the 1980s, and the cherry red barn still stands in its original spot. Innkeepers Art and Dian Kelly moved here three years ago to help out and live in the lower apartment. Dian and owner Dale are brother and sister.

Upon our arrival, we were enthusiastically greeted by Dian and her entourage—Jose, an endearing golden-colored mutt and Pierre, a gangly black lab puppy. A quick tour of the sprawling home revealed that guests have the run of the first floor’s two family rooms, wrap-around porch and expansive back deck that overlooks a koi fish pond and grove of trees with picnic tables.

Our bedroom, the largest of the two downstairs, was named the Oak Ridge Room, because the room’s lovely oak furniture was bought from Jamesport’s Oak Ridge Furniture store. Upstairs, two more bedrooms with individual bathrooms connect via a common sitting area.

Breakfasts are hearty country affairs served around a farm-style table. On Saturday morning, we chatted with fellow guests while indulging in a cheesy sausage and egg casserole, homemade cinnamon rolls and fruit. Other days, eggs benedict, fruit parfaits and scones might be on the menu. During the day, Dian likes to keep her favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookies on hand—a recipe committed to memory during her 47 years of marriage.

“Dale and Art love trees and have planted most of them on the property, and we harvest apples, peaches and pears from our small orchard,” says Dian. “Our homemade applesauce is used for our breakfast German pancake, called phannkuchen, which the guests really like.”

After a full day of shopping in Jamesport or Hamilton, guests who bring their rods can fish for blue gill, wide mouth bass and catfish. Other diversions include exploring the walking paths mowed around the numerous ponds and woods that lead to the Missouri River or simply reading in the backyard hammock.

Visit Marydale.com for more information.