Prairie House Manor Bed & Breakfast is located in De Smet, South Dakota, which is known as the hometown where Laura Ingalls Wilder, the author of Little House on the Prairie, grew up. Five of her Nine books were written about her life in De Smet. The Bed and Breakfast itself was the home of "Banker Ruth," who is also mentioned in her books and is two homes away from the Ingalls family home. The business has five suites that are available year-round. Breakfast is made by the owners and is provided each morning from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The house is available for events of up to 25 people.
Prairie House Manor Bed & Breakfast has a total of five units that are available for reservation. The owner describes the building as being "an 1890s colonial revival mansion." One suite is on the first floor, and the other four are on the second floor. Each room is different from the others, and they are all uniquely decorated. Most of the rooms have queen-sized beds, with the exception of The Rose Garden unit, which has a king-sized bed. The typical occupancy limit of these rooms ranges between two to four guests, although The Americana Medley suite can sleep up to six people. Regardless of which unit is reserved, each has a personal bathroom, central heating and air conditioning, refrigerator, microwave, and an invitation to breakfast.
Breakfast is included with the reservation rates and is typically served from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The meal is cooked by the two co-owners who have made many dishes such as scrambled eggs, waffles, french toast, oatmeal, and more. They are capable of making accommodations for people with specific diets or allergies as well. A few diets that they can make food for include gluten-free, sugar-free, and several others. Breakfast is served in the dining room, which can fit up to 16 people.
A number of common areas are available for guests to use at their leisure, such as the dining room or breakfast room, the living room, and an enclosed patio found on the first floor. The enclosed patio offers games and toys for children and books for reading. Outside, the home has a front yard with grass surrounding the house. There are also a few gardens and flower beds that characterize the yard space. Prairie House Manor Bed & Breakfast is found on the corner of the street in a more rural area of the town, with the Ingalls house situated a couple of blocks down on the same street.
There are several significant attractions within the town connected to Laura Ingalls, most notably the homestead, which is about a mile south of the city. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes, another popular tourist location, are a cluster of buildings with which the Ingalls were associated, including the school house from "The Long Winter," the Surveyor's house from "The Shores of Silver Lake," and the Ingalls family home. Eric, one of the owners, mentions that there are many pheasant and deer hunting locations in the vicinity. A number of lakes can be found nearby, including Lake Henry, Lake Thompson, and Lake Whitewood, which offer water recreation such as fishing and boating. Eric also enjoys telling visitors about the restaurants in the area. Some that he likes to name are 1481 Grille and Ward's Store & Bakery.
The Prairie House Manor Bed & Breakfast owners would like their guests to feel relaxed when they stay at the business. "I want them to feel like they are staying in a home, not a motel," Eric explains. In an effort to help their patrons have a positive experience, an automated check-in process has been implemented to help make guests' arrival easier. Additionally, snacks and refreshments are available throughout the day. The owners mention that they interact with visitors often and are happy to chat with them, but they also try not to bother people if they prefer to be more reserved. The owners usually interact with guests during breakfast, which is also when they like to share information about the town and attractions that can be found nearby.
The establishment has hosted various events in the past, including several wedding parties, Christmas parties, and local clubs that have utilized the home as a place to gather. Eric mentions, "We don't have a ton of room to have a big event." He explains that one event held at Prairie House Manor Bed & Breakfast involved most of the movie Little House on the Prairie cast, who stayed at the inn for some time. The living room and dining room are most often used when an event is hosted at the business, but if the weather permits, the front porch can also be used.
There are several policies that the owners would like guests to be aware of when they make reservations to stay at Prairie House Manor Bed & Breakfast. Smoking is prohibited on the property. Currently, no pets are allowed, however, children of all ages are welcome to stay at the inn. The owners also ask that visitors treat the house with respect, as it is a historic landmark.
Many people have stayed at Prairie House Manor Bed & Breakfast since it first opened in 1990. A few aspects of the business that are mentioned include the location, the interior, and the customer service provided by the owners. One patron who recently stayed at the inn wrote, "The accommodations were very comfortable, the whole house was lovely, the breakfasts were delicious, traditional meals and the hosts were so friendly and helpful, giving us great advice about the town." The best season of operation tends to be what Eric calls "the tourist season," which occurs between the months of May and September. According to Eric, the typical demographic of patrons that visit the property is mixed. "In the tourist season, they're mainly families, but during the rest of the year, we receive more couples that are between the ages of 50 and 60."
The home was built in the late 1800s by Colonel Thomas H. Ruth, who founded the first bank in the town, Kingsbury County Bank, with his brother. Throughout his life, Thomas Ruth had several occupations, including mayor in 1889 and captain of the Co. E Dakota National Guard. Thomas Ruth is also mentioned in the Little House on the Prairie books. The house was eventually sold and used as an apartment building for almost 50 years. The original owners of the bed and breakfast learned that it was a historic building and restored the home to be an inn in 1990. Due to its extensive history, the house has been placed on the register of National Historic Places.
The current owner of the business, Eric Fairchild, explains that he and his co-owner both lived in Denver and worked in the retail industry. When they came to De Smet on vacation to see Laura Ingalls' home, they found the bed and breakfast for sale. He saw the chance to own his own business and "have a different way of life." After doing some research and inspecting the house, they decided to purchase it. In Eric's own words, "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to own a piece of history plus having a business on top of it."
209 SD-25
De Smet, South Dakota 57231
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Eric Fairchild
