Clover Cliff Ranch Bed & Breakfast Gets a Make-over
It was a bright cold day in March when we boarded an early-morning flight to North Carolina – on a mission to find authentic period furniture that would bring honor to the historic stone home at the Clover Cliff Ranch. Thirty-six hours later we returned to Kansas. We had three weeks to get ready for the moving van that would deliver the treasures we found.
Where to begin? Clearly we needed to recruit teams of artisans and crews with specialized skills. The lists were long but we were fortunate to have help from the best! Landscaping, wallpaper removal, new wallpaper, fresh paint, new finish on bathroom fixtures, new fireplaces, a new look for ceilings, a stone hearth and a new roof were the most visible projects. Behind the scenes were talented plumbing and electrical professionals. We’re happy to have the benefits of technology and a security system without compromising the character of a 19th century home.
The furniture arrived. It fit just as well as we had predicted and looks as beautiful as we had imagined. We were ready for guests – the most valuable part of the adventure. We greeted our first guests at the end of April. Since then we have welcomed dozens of guests, who now feel like friends. We’ve hosted a wedding, a hunting event for Wounded Warriors, several business meetings and family gatherings. We’ve joined both the Chase County Chamber of Commerce and the Emporia Chamber, hosting ribbon cuttings with each group. We are also proud of our membership in the Kansas Bed and Breakfast Association.
With the main house essentially finished, we’re well underway with restoring the bunkhouse. Although the space is smaller, some of the challenges have been similar. We’re thankful for helpers who bring good ideas and an extra measure of willingness to do hard work.
We look forward to meeting many new friends and hosting lots of interesting events in this beautiful Flint Hills setting.
