Two Ponds Farm B&B, Weston
November 2024
Bud and Leann Hendrix’s log house is situated on one side of the gravel driveway while my destination lay on the other side. Leann spearheads the bed and breakfast while Bud, a retired union pipe fitter, manages their 25 acres. The Hendrixes lived in Independence for 26 years before buying the land. Only 45 minutes from downtown Kansas City and 40 minutes from Arrowhead and Kaufmann stadiums, this spot felt worlds away.
“Before we built our log house, we put up a Morton building,” says Leann. “Bud created an apartment on one end where we stayed on weekends. When our house was finished, we wanted others to enjoy it, so we turned it into a bed and breakfast.”
Leann’s flair for decorating is evident throughout the studio. Inside, a comfy sofa and wing back chair anchor interesting touches such as a farm-style wire cage floor lamp. Currier and Ives blue and white dishes rest on white shelves above the kitchen sink, and the compact kitchen supplies every amenity for cooking. The king bed downstairs and queen in the sleeping loft are accompanied by a tiled double shower, flat screen television and wifi. One wall features a rectangular electric fireplace for a cozy touch in winter. Built by Bud, the industrial-vibe air conditioner’s exposed pipe hangs suspended from the vaulted ceiling. He also built the loft from repurposed solid oak crates that once shipped commercial condensing units.
Guests can take out the canoe or two-seater boat and fish for bluegill, crappie and bass in the stocked pond for catch-and-release or take home. There’s plenty of space for camping, if several couples want to come together, and ample room for parking a horse trailer, making the acreage a lovely place to ride. Leann also rents the property for events or weddings.
A full continental breakfast includes fruits, cheese, juice and, this morning, delicious cinnamon rolls from an Odessa bakery and Leann’s lemon blueberry bread. The stocked refrigerator offers soft drinks, bottled tea and water.
“Our guests are looking for someplace to get away that’s very private. People come and don’t want to leave, so they just stay right here,” says Leann. “However, we’re a short drive to six local wineries and 15 minutes from Odessa’s restaurants and shops.”
Visit TwoPondsFarmBedAndBreakfast.com for more information.
The Hatchery House, Weston
August 2024
As the home’s fifth owners, Richard and Julie Jones moved from Dallas/Fort Worth in mid-2022. Richard’s family lives in Weston and the surrounding area so they spent holidays here. During those visits, the couple fell in love with Weston’s small-town charm and diversity of activities.
“Each shop on Main Street is unique,” says Julie, a retired nurse. “The pace of life and being able to walk everywhere is wonderful, but we’re still super close to Kansas City and only 20 minutes from a major airport.”
The Jones welcome guests primarily Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, plus additional nights for holidays, festival weekends and business retreats. All four guest rooms, plus the separate cottage, boast fireplaces. Some contain jetted tubs. A unique gathering spot, the former root cellar-turned-speakeasy and event space sits directly behind the house. Richard saw potential and sandblasted its original brick walls and ceiling, built a bar and added barrel tables. The cellar comfortably accommodates 12 people plus another dozen right outside the door. Guests can bring their own alcohol and food or opt for a package with local beverages and snacks.
Upon check-in, my husband and I dug into Julie’s complimentary welcome box. We sampled charcuterie and chocolate, accompanied by local wine and beer. Homemade cookies are available 24/7, as are loads of snacks in baskets near the coffee and tea bar, creatively contained in a vintage white enamel stove.
Julie’s buffet breakfast is noteworthy—one of the best at any bed and breakfast we’ve enjoyed. In the cheery dining area, formerly a second-floor porch, guests sit at separate tables after serving themselves. We raved about the savory cheese and egg frittata, maple-bourbon sugar bacon, blueberry cornmeal muffins, creamy scalloped potatoes and strawberry pecan salad drizzled with homemade poppyseed dressing.
“I’m happy to accommodate any dietary need, and I’m always on the lookout when we travel for new spices to use in our breakfast dishes,” says Julie. “We support local and get our wine from around the corner and our beer from Weston Brewing across the street.”
Visit Hatcherybb.com for more information.
Hotel Frederick, Booneville
May 2024
Coming full circle, it started as a hotel before being converted to a Greyhound bus depot and then a retirement center. Abandoned and in disrepair, a four-million-dollar restoration brought the property back to life.
Enter current owner hometown girl Holly Bozarth Simpson, who loves all things historic. After she returned to Boonville, she worked as executive director of Friends of Historic Boonville and at Missouri Preservation. She took the job of the hotel’s general manager in 2013 and thrived in hospitality.
“I bought this hotel in 2020 during Covid,” says Simpson, “I actually live on property and often check guests in and enjoy meeting them and catering to their needs.”
Public areas sport original black-and-white tile flooring and are furnished with 19th-century antiques found at estate sales. Guests appreciate the artwork: prints from an antique field notebook, folk art, reproductions of antique maps detailing area trails and early settlements, and black and whites featuring Boonville’s 1940s architecture.
Rooms might be described as artsy and Old World with high ceilings, exposed brick walls, and Carrera marble or mosaic tile in the bathrooms. In some of the 30 rooms, Simpson made the bedframes from repurposed barn wood. Other rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass bathroom walls decorated with artsy etched designs for privacy. Come morning, a hearty continental breakfast and coffee/tea bar are complimentary. The hotel also rents single and tandem bikes.
Adjacent to the lobby, the lounge’s arched doors and cozy leather couches invite guests to order draft beer, craft cocktails and wine along with a full menu. The Fred serves dinner Tuesday through Saturday. The scratch menu changes twice annually incorporating local produce and house-smoked chicken. One floor below, the speakeasy-style Brick Room hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
“During Prohibition, locals would go into a smaller room just off The Brick Room to play cards and drink from their own bottle of liquor which they would store in the rafters for a return visit,” says Simpson.
Given its central location, Hotel Frederick hosts numerous corporate retreats and meetings, offering guests and groups a personal touch as well as in-house catering.
Visit HotelFrederick.com for more information.
Lake Breeze Resort, Camdenton
February 2024
For water-lovers, Lake Breeze is a gem with a floating swim dock, water trampoline, tiny sand beach, barbeque grills and an outdoor fireplace. Mornings, we paddled the stillness with kayaks and paddle boards. Hydro-bikes, pontoon boats, a fishing boat and boat slips are also available for rent.
“This spot reminds me of childhood memories and old-fashioned fun. I spent family vacations at small resorts and California lakes,” says Gena. “While living in Colorado, Bruce and I would bring our boys to the Ozarks for vacation.”
Situated just off the Highway 5 Niangua Bridge, 17 totally remodeled cabins and units host approximately 70 people. Gena, who manages the resort, traveled the world as a software specialist. Bruce still works as a network administrator but spearheads upkeep. Living in Colorado for 20 years, Bruce never wavered on his dream of owning a marina. On a whim, they looked at properties in the Ozarks enroute to Iowa for Thanksgiving.
Although the resort was built in the 1950s and very rundown, the Aldrich’s saw potential. After purchasing Lake Breeze in 2011, they basically gutted each unit and replaced roofs and windows. Several units, such as numbers 11 and 12, lean toward a condo-like interior.
“Each unit is meant to be a bit vintage but cute and fresh,” says Gena. “We spend lots of energy cleaning. I traveled extensively in my former career, so that’s very important to me.”
The pool area contains complimentary floats and children’s life jackets. Ping-pong, games, books, more than 700 DVDs and loaner fishing poles are available. Fishing off the docks yields catfish, croppie and some walleye; guests need to supply bait. Guests can put ice creams or ice on their tab using the honor system.
The venue by the resort’s entrance hosts parties and weddings. Guests can grill out along the lakefront for a rehearsal dinner. Public events include Bikefest in September, a Memorial Day weekend craft fair and a haunted house at Halloween.
“We have 65-75 percent repeat business. Guests can book for the next year, and I’ll hold it until January when they can put down a deposit,” says Gena. “We like to think of ourselves as a home base for our guests and enjoy making them feel welcomed.”
Visit LakeBreezeResort.com for more information.
The Mansion at Elfindale, Springfield
November 2023
“Our guests are always surprised at how quiet it is even though we’re very close to one of the city’s main roads,” says Myra Skiles, Elfindale’s manager. “The mansion’s thick limestone walls act as an insulator to both noise and temperature.”
Built in 1892 by John O’Day, one of the region’s first millionaires, the 27,000-square-foot home offers 13 suites. O’Day’s wife, Alice, chose the name Elf-in-Dale because she imagined elves frolicking on the property in the early morning mist.
Fifty stonemasons from Germany quarried the limestone from the former 400-acre farm. The first-floor ballroom, with its hand-carved mantle from the French Pavilion at the 1904 World’s Fair, once served as the state dining room for Missouri’s governor.
Alice eventually sold the property to a French order of nuns from St. Louis. Until 1964, the nuns operated Saint de Chantal Academy for Girls within its walls. They built a chapel next door and commissioned European artisans for the 14-karat gold leaf mosaic above the marble altar, which guests can view upon request.
Several owners later in 1990, a bed and breakfast concept took shape to offset general upkeep. Central air and heat were added, and closets and hallways were converted to bathrooms. The main oak staircase was extended between the second and third floors; originally, a narrow servant’s staircase connected the upper floors.
That same year, the Springfield Symphony designated Elfindale as its designer showcase home. Decorators adopted each room, and their flair still pervades the mansion. On the upper floors (no elevator exists) suites contain clawfoot tubs with showers, Keurigs and mini-refrigerators. The turret room incorporates a curving staircase while other rooms showcase original stained glass.
The inn is family friendly and welcomes kids. A handicap-accessible suite is available on the first floor. The inn hosts various, including weddings which are held next door at the chapel.
My husband and I stayed in the second-floor Saint de Chantal room incorporated into the turret with a half-moon, curved wall that cocoons the king bed. Breakfast included biscuits and gravy, eggs, sausage and fruit. Nearby, we explored Wonders of Wildlife, Relics—the largest antique mall in Missouri—and the Route 66 Car Museum.
Visit MansionAtElfindale.com for more information.