In case you haven't figured it out yet, I am slightly obsessed with Ree Drummond, AKA "The Pioneer Woman". Like many people, I first became acquainted with Ree through her TV show. Since then, I've read her blog, bought her book, memorized her cookbooks, and indoctrinated my child with her Charlie the Ranch Dog series.
I have a problem.
I have a problem.
Ree, along with Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist, was one of my inspirations for starting Soul Food Time. Her love for cooking, for her family, and for life is contagious! So yeah, I was beyond excited when my husband offered to take our family to Pawhuska for spring break. It was a dream come true.
We left Cincinnati on the Sunday before Easter and drove 8 hours or so to The Lodge at Old Kinderhook in Camdenton, Missouri. Located about 30 minutes off of the interstate, this lodge and golf resort was an unexpected treasure. I had flashbacks to our spontaneous discovery of the beach at Lake Ogalala in Nebraska. Just absolute beauty in the middle of nowhere.
A tip: We booked our room only a day in advance on Orbitz, and because it is Kinderhook's off season, the rooms were cheaper than the local Hampton Inn! Woot woot!
A tip: We booked our room only a day in advance on Orbitz, and because it is Kinderhook's off season, the rooms were cheaper than the local Hampton Inn! Woot woot!
People, I felt like a QUEEN! We arrived to the lodge through a gated entrance (oooohh), and it looks over a beautiful golf course on all sides (aaahhh). There was an indoor pool, jacuzzi, outdoor pool, volleyball court that is transformed into a skating rink in the winter, two restaurants, and an elegant lobby area with a fireplace and piano that played by itself (that kept Reed occupied for a very, very long time).
Can I go back? Pretty please?
After a night and morning of relaxation and fun, we ate breakfast and left literally 2 minutes before the checkout deadline.
If you're ever in the land of the Ozarks, you have to check this place out.
We left Old Kinderhook behind, spurred on by the promise of The Mercantile's twice-baked potatoes. Four hours later, we checked into a hotel in Bartlesville, OK, about 30 minutes from Pawhuska and all things Ree Drummond. Bartlesville was a fantastic town with plenty of restaurants and shopping. Reed and I managed to sneak out to the mall for a minute or two... or ninety.
At last, on Tuesday, we made it to The Mercantile!
A few notes here:
1. I was so excited to see the Merc, I forgot my nice camera! So the pics from here on out are from our iPhones. Sorry! I lost my wits, seriously!
2. Let me take a moment and commend my awesome husband. I mean, what kind of man drives 11+ hours to take his wife to a town in the middle of nowhere so she can be a crazy fan-girl with mostly middle-aged women in cold, rainy March? This guy! There should be monuments built in his honor. He should hold seminars and charge lots of money. And then he should use that money to take me back to Kinderhook and Pawhuska.
Is that selfish?
Wait a second... didn't I camp out in the middle of nowhere IN A TENT for 10 days so he could look at antelope?
That's right, my ladies. It's all about the give and take.
But still, thank you, Jacob. You are an amazing man.
A few notes here:
1. I was so excited to see the Merc, I forgot my nice camera! So the pics from here on out are from our iPhones. Sorry! I lost my wits, seriously!
2. Let me take a moment and commend my awesome husband. I mean, what kind of man drives 11+ hours to take his wife to a town in the middle of nowhere so she can be a crazy fan-girl with mostly middle-aged women in cold, rainy March? This guy! There should be monuments built in his honor. He should hold seminars and charge lots of money. And then he should use that money to take me back to Kinderhook and Pawhuska.
Is that selfish?
Wait a second... didn't I camp out in the middle of nowhere IN A TENT for 10 days so he could look at antelope?
That's right, my ladies. It's all about the give and take.
But still, thank you, Jacob. You are an amazing man.
We arrived at The Merc around lunchtime, so the first thing we did was eat! We waited for about 20 minutes and then were seated at our table by the most adorable, friendly waitress. The size of The Merc was the most shocking thing to me; it just went on and on and on. About half of the bottom floor was a restaurant, the other half a store, and then the top level was a bakery with seating to relax and enjoy the 360 view of Pawhuska. We stayed for about two hours; I could've easily stayed for four.
The food at The Merc restaurant was some of the best I've ever had! And it's not just the rose-colored glasses, Jacob agreed! He kept saying over and over, "Wow, this is a lot different than what I expected!" and then I would fill him in on another 5 minutes of random Pioneer Woman trivia. I really think he had a great time.
So ladies, don't be afraid to bring along your husbands. The food will make the trip worth it.
He ordered the steak dinner, Reed ordered mac n' cheese, and I ordered the half chicken parmesan. We split chips and queso, and even after stuffing our faces we had enough leftovers for dinner at the hotel.
So ladies, don't be afraid to bring along your husbands. The food will make the trip worth it.
He ordered the steak dinner, Reed ordered mac n' cheese, and I ordered the half chicken parmesan. We split chips and queso, and even after stuffing our faces we had enough leftovers for dinner at the hotel.
Thanks to Charlie the Ranch Dog, may he rest in peace, Reed is almost as obsessed as I am with Ree Drummond. He could narrate her mac n' cheese recipe and he had her seasoned salt recipe memorized at age 2. He was sooooo excited to be in cowboy country. Whenever a cowboy walked by he would smile creepily and watch him until he was out of sight.
Where does he get this weirdness?
Oh, yeah.
Where does he get this weirdness?
Oh, yeah.
After eating and shopping, we went upstairs to the bakery. I ordered a cupcake for later (it was dreamy) and a latte.
I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.
I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

We spent a few more sweet minutes at The Merc before grabbing tickets to the Lodge and heading out back in the rain for the 30 minute trek to Ree's guest house and TV studio. If you make the trip to Pawhuska, be sure to check The Merc Webpage for lodge visits. The tickets are free and easy to get, they just aren't available every day.
The drive to The Lodge was long, but it was so worth it! Although there was a tour guide there to take questions, we were allowed to explore the TV studio and guest house on our own!
Ree is so cool like that.
Ree is so cool like that.
I have so many design ideas now for when I become a rich and famous cowgirl someday!
Ok, and maybe some practical ones, too!
Reed and I stood behind the stove and pretended we were cooking for the camera. #nerds
Sneek peek into the props closet! See that box of Dr. Pepper?! Ree Drummond is a kindred spirit, I'm telling ya.
The view from the lodge is just as beautiful as it looks on television. Reed is a little distracted by the ranch dogs here, not by his psychotic mother.
At least that's what I'm telling myself.
At least that's what I'm telling myself.
Time to head home! Our day in Pawhuska was amazing. If you ever get the chance and you are a Ree Drummond fan like me, you have to make the trek to Oklahoma.
You just might have to go camping for ten days first. It's worth it.
Oh, and Reed learned a new sleeping-while-traveling trick on our roadtrip. Experienced little fellow!
You just might have to go camping for ten days first. It's worth it.
Oh, and Reed learned a new sleeping-while-traveling trick on our roadtrip. Experienced little fellow!
Want to read more about our family adventures? I tend to keep them on The Little Outdoorsman's page; here are some of my favorites!