The Smittle House has three rooms that are available year-round for visitors to reserve. As the owner of the bed and breakfast has previous experience in the culinary industry, dinner meals can be purchased at the establishment by those staying at the Smittle House or the general public. Furthermore, breakfast is provided to all guests of the inn every morning, which may consist of omelets, scones, and breakfast sandwiches, among other items. In addition to the meals that people can purchase, the Smittle House is also known for having historical significance, as it dates back to the early 1900s. The property is found near the city center of Columbus, Kansas. A couple of prominent cities can be found in the vicinity, namely Pittsburg, Kansas and Joplin, Michigan.
Located in the southeastern corner of Kansas, the Smittle House is situated on approximately four acres of land in the city of Columbus. The bed and breakfast offers a total of three rooms for patrons to occupy, all of which are found on the second floor of the two-story establishment. While every room is equipped with a Smart TV, each accommodation differs in terms of the provided bed size. The first and second rooms provide a queen size bed; however, the first room is the only accommodation with an ensuite bathroom. In view of the fact that occupants of the second and third rooms are required to share a bathroom, the owner of the Smittle House notes that they try not to rent these two rooms at the same time to different visitors "so that guests aren't competing for the bathroom." Because of the first room's ensuite bathroom, this unit tends to be more popular compared to the second and third rooms.
According to the owner, the shared bathroom contains original 1907 pictures that were added when the house was first constructed. He further explains that the decorations within the accommodations are "fairly modern," though some of the furniture resembles that of the "Civil War era." With the exception of the kitchen—which is designated for employees only—guests have access to most of the first floor of the inn over the course of their stay. Although, visitors should be aware that there are a few areas in the home marked as "private suites" that they must refrain from entering, as the owners live on-site in these areas. In addition to a couple of dining rooms, the first floor also comprises a parlor room where people can play a grand piano. The front of the house includes a wrap-around porch with seating for those who seek a place to lounge.
One of the most unique elements of the Smittle House is that dinner meals are available for purchase to patrons as well as the general public. The owner says that "everything is made from scratch in the home," including the breakfast served each morning to everyone staying at the inn. He mentions that "desserts are [his] specialty," as he creates several homemade cakes and other baked goods. With regard to the breakfast that visitors receive, some of the options that one can expect to be served are omelets, quiches, breakfast sandwiches, scones, cinnamon rolls, and a variety of baked goods. "We try not to cook the same thing; we try to pick something different every morning," the owner explains. For those who have dietary restrictions or food allergies, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan, the owner says that he can make accommodations upon request. Concerning the time that breakfast is served, the innkeeper notes that he can be flexible with guests' schedules. The night prior to when visitors will eat breakfast, the owner discusses with his patrons when they would like to be served their meal.
With the intent to help his guests feel comfortable, the owner of the Smittle House makes an effort to "talk to them and get to know them." As the innkeeper lives on-site, he says this makes it easier for him to be available to visitors should they have any questions or concerns during their stay. One former patron commented on this in a review, saying, "The owners are courteous and will try to help with anything. Ask about the history of the place, they love talking about it." Another visitor remarked, "The food was phenomenal. What a lovely home and location." On some occasions, the owner hosts small events for people to attend, such as murder mystery nights, which typically involve a three-course dinner. The owner mentions that some people who participate in the murder mystery night come dressed up in character.
The Smittle House implements a few policies that everyone is expected to act in accordance with during their time at the inn. As the innkeeper intends to maintain the historical nature of the establishment, pets are not permitted to stay with visitors. Moreover, smoking on the premises is prohibited as well. Those who are staying at the bed and breakfast must refrain from entering any places that are designated as a "private suite," as previously noted.
Open year-round, the Smittle House generally experiences its busiest season of operation from early fall to early winter, more specifically from October to January. The owner attributes this to his observation that a higher number of people are visiting family or coming home for the winter during this time. In the words of the owner, the typical demographic of patrons who stay at the bed and breakfast tends to be "older people" or "early-to-bed kind of folks." The demographic of those who purchase dinner meals from the Smittle House is a wide range of people, as reported by the owner.
The establishment is located in fairly close proximity to a couple of notable cities, including Pittsburg, Kansas, and Joplin, Missouri. The city of Columbus, where the Smittle House is based, is what the owner describes as "an old mining town." As such, several mining museums can be found in Columbus. One specific site that the owner mentions is Strip Pits, where visitors can see "one of the largest shovels in the world." This shovel is a steam-powered tool, and "one scoop can fill three train cars," according to the owner. While the owner recommends his guests purchase meals at the Smittle House, he also suggests Brush Creek Golf & Grill and Los Luna's Mexican Restaurant.
The Smittle House was built in 1907 by the Jones family. It was initially constructed to serve as a place of residence for the Jones' large family, though the course of their ownership did not last long, as the family decided to move out a few years later. The house had been in the hands of several owners throughout its history, and after many years, a man by the name of Mr. McCauley became the owner. The present owner of the Smittle House describes McCauley as "a prominent figure in the town," as he had owned a furniture business in Columbus and served as mayor at one point. The owner further notes that McCauley's wife set fire to the inn's third floor on account of a dispute. It wasn't until John and Ena Smittle became the owners of the Smittle House that the damage which was caused by the fire was repaired. The Smittles restored the home, replacing the shag carpeting with hardwood floors. Eventually, John and Ena opened the home as a bed and breakfast.
The present owner of the Smittle House expresses that he "wanted to keep John and Ena's legacy going" when he purchased the property. Since 2018, the current owner has been operating the business and managing the building's maintenance. He remarks that his favorite part of his job as the owner is the cooking aspect. The owner was led into the lodging industry through his interest in the culinary field, as he considers cooking to be one of his hobbies.
426 S Kansas Ave
Columbus, Kansas 66725
United States
Bed and Breakfast
