Meet the Owners
Harlen & Liesl Hays
Inspired by her love of the Gilmore Girls, small towns and a passion for hospitality, Liesl Hays had a dream of opening an Inn one day. Liesl grew up watching Hallmark Christmas movies with her family where people with high profile corporate jobs would leave their busy hectic lives to pursue small town life. She remembers being captivated by those stories and finding magic in people pursuing a life many perceived as simple. Several Hallmark movies and Christmases later, Liesl found herself working 60 hours a week at her corporate job with little time for her family or the things that she felt brought joy to her life. In June of 2016, her husband Harlen found the real estate listing for a home located at 202 SW 3rd Street in Downtown Lee’s Summit. He knew the home would make the perfect Inn. After many hours of trying to convince Liesl to take a bold step, they toured the house together with their two kiddos: Mady & Ethan. It was in that moment that their dream came to life and the vision for The Historic Browning became a reality.
Today, Liesl and Harlen own and operate the Historic Browning. Their weeknights are spent with their family decorating the Browning in the latest seasonal decor, raking leaves (jumping in them too), and trying out Liesl’s latest breakfast recipes. While the family does not live in the home (because nobody wants to vacation with two small kiddos & two large dogs), they have a resident manager named Lisa Sweeten who lives onsite.
Explore Our Rooms
Check into your farmhouse-inspired room that is professionally designed by our local partners at Cameron’s and Very Violet Boutique. Shut yourself in your room and watch movies on the 40 inch TV or don't turn it on at all.
Preview Breakfast
Our food is so delicious we promise we’ll even win over your non-breakfast eaters. We make our recipes from scratch and plan our menus seasonally. We accommodate allergies and picky eaters alike. We even have a variety of ways for you to enjoy your breakfast!