Flint Creek Inn, Arrow Rock
July 2019
"Population 56” read the sign as my husband and I drove into the National Historic Landmark Village of Arrow Rock. Located approximately 45 minutes west of Columbia and north of I-70, we had been looking forward to experiencing the tranquility and charm of this early 1800s river town. Lewis and Clark mentioned it on their 1804 expedition, and travelers along the Santa Fe Trail filled their water barrels at Big Spring, still visible today.
Flint Creek Inn sits nestled in gardens and surrounded by trees. A lovely patio and front porch invite birdwatching in summer and bald eagle viewing in winter. Owners Ardee and Penny Tyler, originally from Oklahoma, warmly welcomed us.
“We fell in love with Arrow Rock’s cleanliness and quiet,” said Penny. “So, in 2017, when Ardee semi-retired from his construction business, we bought the inn.”
After snacking on Penny’s saucer-size, homemade cookies and cheesy-herb dip from the common area refrigerator—also stocked with complimentary beverages, wine and beer—we hopped into a golf cart and toured Arrow Rock with Ardee. In this tiny berg, “weekenders” own a number of cottages, and locals sit on their front porches on Sunday afternoons. Visitors can walk to Main Street for shopping and to the Lyceum Theatre for Broadway-quality productions. Restaurants, such as Catalpa and J. Huston Tavern, the oldest continually operating restaurant west of the Mississippi, serve exceptional cuisine. Adjacent to the town, Arrow Rock State Park claims a number of short, hilly hiking trails, including several that lead to the Missouri River.
The Tylers have extensively remodeled Flint Creek Inn with relaxed, prairie-style décor. Guests check in on the main level. The lower level houses a large common area and five rooms with private baths, each named after the official state birds of the states along the Santa Fe Trail. Ardee built the beautiful, black walnut trestle table, where guests eat breakfast, as well as the Edison light fixtures on pulleys that will eventually grace each room. Intentionally, there’s no television, but catching a game or movie is no problem thanks to excellent internet.
For breakfast, Penny whips up her favorite recipes, culled from inns around the county. “Dinner at the Inn” is served family-style each evening, reservations required and at $22.50 per person. With the exception of her grandmother’s homemade salad dressing, which she uses for potato salad and coleslaw, Penny is happy to share recipes with guests.
Visit FlintCreekInn.com for more information.