Smittle House in Columbus Kansas, a Victorian home and bed and breakfast, is filled with genuine Midwestern charm. Gourmet food, historic surroundings, and the owners' enthusiastic hospitality make Smittle House a stay to remember for travelers through southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri.
About Columbus, Kansas' Smittle House Bed and Breakfast
Smittle House is the 1907 home of retired Columbus, Kansas school teachers John and Ena Smittle. The couple lovingly restored a grand Victorian lady over twenty-five years before sharing her with their night and meal guests.
The couple's world travels and personal interests are evident in their cuisine and collection of antiques and momentos. Much of the house, open to guests, blends the historic beauty of the Victorian home with European antiques, John's pottery, historical artifacts, and personal touches. A collection of china rabbits solicit a smile in the upstairs hallway, and a Spanish-American War uniform proudly salutes guests from its display case in the main parlor.
Smittle House not only offers a taste of Columbus and Kansas history but also a beautiful and comfortable space for travelers and guests to rest, relax, and share stories with their friendly hosts. Hot tea and coffee, as well as chocolate, are always available,
Rooms at the Smittle House Bed and Breakfast in Columbus, Kansas
Up the main oak staircase, guests of Smittle House enjoy three different rooms. The red Lincoln Room accommodates up to three guests. It is papered with a reproduction of the wall paper in the Ford Theatre booth where President Lincoln was shot. The couch and bed are family heirlooms that pre-date the Civil War, and a wreath of human hair above a bed marks a bygone age.
The Jones room offers an intimate space for a couple with its large four-poster bed and fireplace. The room includes an adjoining bathroom with a jacuzzi and shower.
The McAuley room, done in velvety greens, offers a queen sized bed and a beautiful green and white checkered ceiling. Down the hall, guests use a historic bathroom with the original 1907 claw-foot tub adapted with a shower, sink, and pull-chain toilet.
Food at Smittle House in Columbus, Kansas
The Smittle House serves food by reservation and breakfast to overnight guests. Fine dining meals include a five course meal with an appetizer, salad, soup, main course, and dessert all made and served by John and Ena. Contact the Smittle House for dates and possible menu options.
Breakfast at the Smittle House in Columbus, Kansas is a meal to remember. Served in one of two passionately restored Victorian rooms, guests enjoy fine china, cloth napkins, and a delicious full breakfast. The couple make all of their breads and pastries from scratch. The French toast, made from fresh baguette slices, is so light and fluffy that it melts in the mouth.
How to Get to the Smittle House Bed and Breakfast in Columbus, Kansas
Smittle House is located in Columbus, Kansas, a small town twenty miles southwest of Pittsburgh, Kansas and forty minutes west of Joplin, a city in southwestern Missouri with a regional airport. Smittle House is forty minutes west of I-44 going south between St. Louis and Tulsa.
Making Reservations at the Smittle House
Smittle House welcomes night and meal guests by reservation. Note that weekends and holidays fill up quickly certain times of the year, so plan ahead to celebrate a family meal or spend the night in this beautiful place.
Smittle House's combination of Victorian charm, warm hospitality, and delicious cuisine make it a stay to remember, for both travelers and local residents seeking a night or meal away from home in quiet southeast Kansas.
Smittle House Bed & Breakfast and Fine Dining
426 S. Kansas
Columbus, KS 66725
620-429-2420
Sources:
Interviews with John and Ena Smittle, Smittle House Bed and Breakfast, December 2010.
"Smittle House Bed and Breakfast" website, accessed January 2011.
Melissa Roberts - A trained hospital chaplain, Melissa is a freelance writer, teacher, retreat leader, and spiritual director.
