“When I’m at one of your properties, I feel what I can only describe as a great deal of intentionality. It seems that everything around me has been done with purpose and intention. Whether it’s the angle of the bed, placed so I can immediately have a beautiful view out of a window, or a book that has been lovingly placed on a table in case I might want to read (and even more importantly the type of book that has been placed seems deliberate), or a light beside a path to guide me at night, or the feel of the stone beneath my feet, or the warm flicker of a gas lantern, or the view I see as I step out of the door of my room. Everything around me feels like it was carefully chosen, curated, and prepared.
This level of detail and intention might seem to some as simple as “good design” or “good hospitality.” But I experience something much deeper. I feel loved. I feel that whoever made all these choices really cared about me. They cared before I got here. They didn’t just want me to have a nice stay, they wanted me to feel loved. And perhaps equally important, or connected, is that I feel a desire to reconnect with my own sense of meaning and purpose as a result. Being in an environment where it’s so obvious that the creators have a deep connection to meaning, makes me want to be more intentional in my own life. About how I live, how I spend my time, how I interact with the natural world, my relationships, all of it. By stepping into your spaces, I feel connected to love and meaning, and feel invited to reconnect with that in my own life. I guess what I’m trying to communicate is that for me your spaces are so much more than refreshing or relaxing. They are inviting and inspiring. They make me want to live better and more fully. And they provide opportunities to begin that journey, whether sitting by a fire, looking at a creek and trees, or sitting in a comfy chair and looking out a window with a book, or talking with close friends at a bar after a hike.
So I think you are providing something very significant that goes so far beyond traditional hospitality. I’m not sure that you could ever put it into a mission statement for the web site or on your business plan, or even how you would state it. But I think that what you are offering your guests, whether they know it or not, whether they can recognize it or articulate it, is meaning. I think that what is communicated to your guests is something like, “We have a deep sense of our meaning and purpose, and we invite you to find yours.””
— Chad
“Cottonwood Suite was the perfect place to celebrate both our anniversary and my online graduation! The Walnut Pond trail is so lovely, and sitting on the dock soaking in the creek’s beauty will be important touchstones for us. Loved the soaker tub! And the sun coming up in the woods above to wake us. We have so much admiration for the way Prairiewood is taking care of this glorious piece of creation. We’re thankful to participate in that by being here and using it gently.”
— The Atchisons
“Your place is just what we needed are were looking for. We were feeling depleted and hungry for some beautiful, refueling respite. Your lovely location and home was exactly what life provided at the perfect time. Your attention to all the details left me feeling so embraced and my heart tended. Thank you for using your skills and resources to provide such a lovely experience. May all your endeavors be fruitful as you grow through it all. Eternal gratitude that you are you doing what you do.”
— Santalena
“This was the most relaxing, enjoyable, and beautiful getaway we’ve had in a while! Kayaking in the morning, hiking until lunch, soaking in the tub, fire pit at night, and resting was all so good for our souls. Thank you for creating this space!”
— The Rabers
“I’ve been a Prairiewood fan for many years and come back often. So when I decided to create a retreat for my marketing team, I knew where I wanted to go! My team was floored! The Prairiewood team made me a hero and helped us create lifelong memories. I cannot thank you enough for sharing this very special corner of the world with us. We are already planning our next trip.”
— The PGC Marketing Team
“Thank you for such a lovely weekend! Your attention to detail is phenomenal and we can’t wait to come back. This was the perfect place for our son’s and daughter-in-law’s wedding. StoneHouse was gorgeous. RetreatHouse was perfect for all our family and groomsmen and for the rehearsal dinner. What a great weekend — we appreciate you all!”
— The Pomeroys
“I think we found Provence in the middle of Kansas — and now we will skip the plane tickets and head straight here. The 21st birthday turned into a true dream experience. Thank you for every detail of this stunning home! We will be back!”
— The Bolins
“We had the best time celebrating the arrival of our new addition to the family, Axel Maverick, and second birthday of our precious two-year-old, Atticus Masan, here at RetreatHouse! The house and the prairie were beyond gorgeous, and we definitely enjoyed watching the turkeys, cows, horses, and squirrels playing outside. We hope to come back again one day.”
— The Muschetts
“Due to COVID we had to change our anniversary plans, and we are so glad we ended up at the Cottonwood Suite! The views are beautiful and peaceful, and the room is the perfect getaway that we needed. It was a great combination of relaxation and adventure. Thank you for the memories!”
— The Brungardts
“The new Warner family was here for our wedding! The rain that was forecast for 100% chance of thunderstorms held off until about 7pm, after we had a beautiful ceremony in the Meadow and started a fantastic reception in Blue Sage Barn. The staff was phenomenal and incredibly helpful and patient with making our day happen. I couldn’t imagine tying the knot anywhere else. Thank you for making our weekend absolutely, undoubtedly the most amazing and love-filled weekend it could have been.”
— The Warners
“What a wonderful weekend getaway. We did it all — hiked the trails, kayaked in the icy creek, played games, read by the fire, and enjoyed the Jacuzzi. And, wow, did we see so many birds from our window! Thank you for thinking of every amenity. ”
— Sara & Brian
“I’ve traveled a lot for work and stayed at many Airbnbs, and Willow Suite was one of the nicest I’ve ever been to! Thank you so much for accommodating us. Long story short, we had planned a trip to Ireland and with COVID-19 we ended up postponing it. Secretly, I had planned to propose to Sarah there but our getaway to Manhattan ended up being the perfect night and now we’re engaged! We found your story incredibly inspiring! I used to fix up old houses with my father growing up and now that I work in tech, the idea of working with my hands creating little retreats sounds so idyllic. You’ve created such a beautiful respite! Wishing you the best of luck in 2022. We’re keeping our eye on StoneHouse for a potential wedding venue.”
— Alexander
“Our visit was a surprise to me for my 41st birthday, with my family and friends staying here with us. We managed to find peace, adventure, and another weekend of memories! The property is beautiful. Prairiewood hasn’t missed a detail … StoneHouse is super cool to wander around exploring. Thanks for a great stay!”
— The Grovers
“This is our second anniversary trip spent at Prairiewood’s Cottonwood Suite. It was just what we needed — time to slow down and reconnect. We really love our yearly trips to this little oasis.”
— The Colemans
“We cannot say “Thank You” enough for allowing us to enjoy your beautiful home! The isolation this past spring and summer from staying at home to avoid COVID-19 had begun to take its toll, and we planned a last-minute getaway to celebrate our 20th anniversary. To say StoneHouse exceeded our expectations is a complete understatement. We want to live here all the time! The furnishings and décor are gorgeous and relaxing, and the outdoor space was perfect in the evenings. We look forward to our next stay!”
— The Campbells
“Our stay in Willow Suite was everything I was hoping for. My favorite part was kayaking on Wildcat Creek and listening to the sounds of nature. We loved the comfortable room — and the TUB! The fire pit and watching the birds were relaxing! Thank you for what you have done and what you offer to others! Our 24th anniversary will be one we never forget!”
— Autumn
“We had a great getaway to the Willow Suite for our 16th anniversary. We were able to slow down for the weekend. We went hiking, canoeing, and kayaking while there, we had the whole place to ourselves (or at least it felt that way). We enjoyed a private breakfast on the patio while watching the all the birds at the feeders. All the small touches like snacks, flowers, and a handwritten note made us feel so welcome. Absolutely would visit again!”
— Stephanie
“We stayed with two other couples for a weekend getaway. The house is absolutely stunning! We all loved it and plan to make it a yearly event! Beck and Kail were wonderful to work with. The house is equipped with everything you could possibly need. Don’t hesitate to stay at StoneHouse! It is perfect!”
— Diane
“Our stay at the Cottonwood Suite was amazing. The space itself was beautiful and pure comfort but the part that we truly loved was its connection to nature. We had access to hiking trails, kayaks, and canoes right in the backyard. If that isn’t your speed, you can sit back on the beautiful patio and quietly enjoy nature as well; we saw countless different birds and critters running around outside while we enjoyed our morning coffee. It was a wonderful time and we wouldn’t hesitate to go back.”
— Andrea
“What an incredible experience. It was like waking up in a dream! We can’t wait to return …”
— Nicole
“We had an amazing week here! It was the perfect getaway. We were in need of a small vacation and that’s exactly what we got here. We all enjoyed our stay here and were able to have a good quality time together! We thank you for sharing this property of yours with us, allowing us to have fun. It was a great blessing being able to come here and have family time. We would love to come back and create more memories. Thank you!”
— The Carmenate & Najera Families
“Serene, peaceful, relaxing, beautiful, stress-free, happy — all these words describe our stay here at Prairiewood. The perfect place to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. We enjoyed a canoe ride, sitting on the dock on Wildcat Creek, the comfortable and homey feel of our Cottonwood Suite. Thank you for providing a perfect getaway. We hope to come back again.”
— The Heidricks
“Willow Suite is everything you’d hope for in a retreat: tranquility, nature, luxurious, ambiance, with all the creature comforts. Absolutely perfect. Book it now; you won’t regret it.”
— Jessica
“Our entire group of frends and family thoroughly enjoyed the weekend here. The comments about how beautiful and great of a place this is were endless. This venue truly allowed us to have the celebration we always dreamed of. We will forever cherish the memories made here.”
— Cassie & Ben
“This was our second stay in the past three months and once again exceeded our expectations! A peaceful, hidden gem on the prairie, with lots of privacy and ambiance, our family enjoyed a relaxing long weekend. A true getaway.”
— Renee
“We chose Blue Sage Barn as our venue so that our wedding party would have a place to stay, we could have the rehearsal dinner onsite, and so that we could have an indoor wedding at the same location as our reception. We split the Barn in half, with the reception on one side and the wedding on the other. The chairs were cleared out for a dance floor after the ceremony. Prairiewood did a great job making sure that we had enough seating and tables set up exactly how we wanted them. We felt very welcome and the wedding party loved RetreatHouse, which also gave us a great spot to get ready and shoot formal photos.”
— Jill
“The Mullen family met with four generations for a reunion. A wonderful time was had here again. Eight years ago we celebrated our parents’ 50th wedding anniversary here. It looks many memories have happened since then. Love this place!”
— Jennifer
“This was the perfect getaway for us. Cottonwood Suite is super cozy. Pretty sure our favorite things about the room were the heated bathroom floor and the Jacuzzi tub! Although we didn’t get to do any fishing on this trip, we love that the option is there! Also, the view of the birds and trees was perfect! Was cool to have the turkey come around, too. This is for sure a place that we will recommend to others, and a place we will for sure come back to!”
— The McGraths
“Everything was great! Started with an excellent response when booking, then the personalized handwritten note when checking in, and finally the perfected details of everything in Willow Suite. We absolutely loved it. Kayaking was fun and the scenery was beautiful. We will be back.”
— Jenna
“We have nothing but great things to say about our stay at the Prairiewood. The Willow Suite provided a relaxing a peaceful getaway weekend. We spent a lot of time out on the trails taking in the breathtaking views of the Flint Hills. Our favorite spot was from the canoes on the creek. So still and calm. We even sighted some wood ducks! What a great place to be! Thank you for sharing this space. We hope to be back!”
— Olivia
“Absolutely perfect spot for a getaway. Close to all the amenities in town but so much more peaceful and quiet than staying in a hotel. Can’t wait to return!”
— Kayla
“What an incredibly charming place! We had a party of seven, kids included, and had more than enough room to relax and enjoy ourselves. StoneHouse was spacious, and we appreciated the fact that sound did not carry throughout, which made it easy for the adults to stay up and have fun after the kids went to bed! We spent the majority of our time just enjoying the outdoors and the hot tub, and we loved how isolated we felt from the world. Couldn’t have picked a better spot to celebrate my birthday!”
— Shannon
“What an amazing oasis right in the middle of Kansas. I will have a different decorating style for the rest of my life. From the linens to the EO toiletries to the dishes … no detail was left to be anything less than perfect!”
— The Stancliffes, Scholzes & Landers
“Our stay at Willow Suite was perfect! The room was so cozy and was stocked with cold filtered water, coffee, tea, snacks, and fresh-baked cookies. Even the bathroom had amazing shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion. The small personal touches were everything, and we really enjoyed the tips for local places to go. We loved how we could go for a morning hike from our room. The hiking trails were beautiful. It was a cold foggy morning, and it reminded us of Scotland right here in Kansas. We had the best quick weekend getaway and cannot wait for our next trip back!”
— Jenni
“What a beautiful home to spend the weekend in with family! The kids and grandkids loved swimming in the pool, hiking the trails, fishing at the pond, and exploring all over. Wonderful property for us to host our annual “Odell Olympics.” All of the grandkids wanted to live in RetreatHouse forever with all of their family. Thank you so much for letting us make such wonderful memories in this beautiful home!”
— The Odells
“My husband and I spent a wonderful weekend away in Willow Suite! Our lives are hectic with three kids and both of us working in helping professions. It was great to escape and reset. We celebrate our birthdays in January, and it was wonderful time spent togetner. We went on a beautiful hike to the lookout and around Willis & Walnut ponds. Thank you for creating this beautiful space. We will certainly be back!”
— The Schmidts
“We had our wedding at Prairiewood on Saturday and it was everything I could have dreamed of and more. This is one of the only venues that will let you rent for the whole weekend and it made all the difference. Close family and bridal party were able to stay on the property, which made everything so much easier. The owners are so sweet, the accommodations were pristine, and the land surrounding is breathtaking! Choosing Prairiewood made all the difference!!”
— Ariel
“You have created an extraordinary RetreatHouse, filled with extraordinary touches, on sacred land that you have now restored and protected in perpetuity. And, because of that, and the gift of your kind conversations and warm presence, I have had the most meaningful experience. With deep gratitude and eager anticipation of many future stays …”
— Chris
“We absolutely loved our stay at the Willow Suite! It was cozy, clean, private, and smelled so nice. The access to trails and kayaking right outside the door was great and the landscape and being surrounded by nature was perfect! Thanks again for the thoughtfulness you put into creating a retreat that was enjoyable and comfortable! All the little touches were perfect!”
— Sarah
“The property was exactly what we were in need of a nice quiet getaway from the craziness that has come in 2020. Fishing on Wildcat Creek as well as at Willow Pond, sitting outside by the bonfire and just exploring the trails … Inside, accommodations were beautiful — and oh those chocolate chip cookies!!!”
— Melissa
“I wanted to reach out to you to say THANK YOU for our stay. I had seen beautiful pictures of the room and property prior to visiting and had a friend recommend that we go, but we still were blown away. The property was outstanding and so well cared for. The Cottonwood Suite was absolutely top notch from the fixtures, finishes, bedding, towels, to the incredible bathtub which we used twice in one night because it was so spa like. We were amazed with how well done the room was. Every part was given so much attention in the construction and design. And with the views, bird feeders smartly placed, and windows that open … we were absolutely at a retreat. We enjoyed listening to last night’s storm from the comfort of the fabulous bed. I knew that this would be a fantastic get away but it exceeded my already high expectations. With a three month old at home, we needed some R&R and that’s exactly what we got! Thanks again for a fabulous evening. We will be back!!”
— Emily
“StoneHouse is an absolutely amazing place. Beautiful in every little detail and a joy to spend your time in. If you have the chance to stay, make sure you do.”
— Tom