Open House at Lark Inn Guest Houses
Special to the Gazette
Saturday, July 23, 2011
COTTONWOOD FALLS — Originally Okies from Tulsa, Okla., Kris and Pat Larkin moved to Cottonwood Falls after living in southern California for over 20 years.
After their visit in the spring of 2008, they knew they were done for. The natural beauty of The Flint Hills, the charm of Cottonwood Falls itself but mostly, the spirit of the people, captivated them. The Larkins returned to California with a new dream… move to the Flint Hills. They sold their business and properties in California and moved to Cottonwood Falls in October of 2010.
With former lives focused on property management, building, development and “sharing their stuff” (teaching things they are good at), they are naturals for buying and renovating properties. It made perfect sense that they would be gifted to be proprietors of guest houses (B & B without the second “B”) and teachers of cooking classes.
After nearly a year of renovation, The Lark Inn Guest Houses are finally open for business. Built in the late 1800s and early 1900s on the historic “Cowboy Trail” and long since forgotten, these two guest houses have been saved from the fate of demolition and have been carefully renovated to re-capture the magic of their era while making sure that today’s modern conveniences and technology are fully incorporated.
Located literally just steps from the 1870s Chase County Courthouse (the oldest operating courthouse in Kansas), historic downtown Cottonwood Falls, just minutes from the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve and Pioneer Bluffs in Matfield Green. The Lark Inn Guest Houses are a convenient location whether attending one of the monthly cooking classes or get-a-way lodging for a few nights just to relax, regroup and drink in the serenity of the picturesque Flint Hills.
Proprietors Kris and Pat Larkin are inviting all to an Open House event. Kris stated, “We just wanted to be sure that the public knows about this new resource for lodging and cooking classes in the Flint Hills. That is why we have invited everyone to come and enjoy the friends, fellowship and food on Sunday, July 31 from 4 to 6 p.m.. Come and see what we’re all about.” The Lark Inn Guest Houses are located at 421 Main Street and 116 State Street (north east corner of State and Main Streets) in Cottonwood Falls. For more information please call 620-273-1135 or visit their website www.TheLarkInn.com.