Things To Do

The town of Boonville is a charming town with a population of around 8,000 and has a rich history.   Located in central Missouri, half-way between Kansas City to the west and St. Louis to the east, the Grand Victorian Manor and Cottage B&B is an ideal location to ‘nest’ while striking out to visit and take in the rich history and year around events occurring in central Missouri.

Below we are listing some local sites to visit, but there are numerous events and celebrations occurring throughout the year in and around Boonville.  We encourage you to check out our Boonville Events webpage or our local Chamber of Commerce website for other “Things to Do” in and around our town.

Katy Bike Trail passes through the center of Boonville and provides over 200 miles of trails between Kansas City and St. Louis specifically designed for pedal biking enthusiasts.  The trail earned the nickname “Katy” as a shortened version of its initials “MKT”, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad.  The rail corridor was eventually repurposed as a recreational trail for walking, running, biking, and other outdoor activities now known as the Katy Trail. The trail stretches across Missouri, passing through picturesque landscapes and historical sites. 

Our Inn is located one block from the trail and is a convenient stopping point for pedal-bikers.  Our onsite storage shed provides our guests with secure, covered bike storage, complete with charging stations for “e-bikes”.

Budweiser Clydesdales breeding facility of Warm Springs Ranch.

Everybody loves the Clydesdales, right?  If so, you’ll enjoy touring this ranch located just 15 miles from us.  Built in 2008, the Warm Springs Ranch is home to more than 70 Clydesdales ranging from foals to stallions.

The ‘state-of-the-art’ property is on 300-plus acres of rolling hills and features a mare/stallion and foaling barn, veterinary lab, and 10 pastures: each with a customized walk-in shelter.   You may even get to enjoy a beer while on tour!  Want to visit the ranch?  BE SURE TO BOOK AHEAD AS TOUR RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED!

The historic Village of Arrow Rock is an ideal getaway for a day or an entire weekend. The town of only 60 or so population is a National Historic Landmark and evokes the warm spirit of the past with friendly people, restaurants, boutique shops, and a fascinating historical self-guided tour.  For generations prior, the Arrow Rock bluff was a significant landmark on the Missouri River for Native Americans, explorers, and early westward travelers.

This flint-bearing, high limestone bluff first appeared on a 1732 French map as “pierre a fleche,” literally translated as “rock of arrows.” Archaeological evidence shows that for nearly 12,000 years indigenous cultures used the Arrow Rock bluff as a manufacturing site for flint tools and weapons.  A must see is to take in a show at the world famous Lyceum Theatre.  In 1961, in an historic old church, the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre began entertaining audiences.  The theatre is housed in an intimate 416-seat auditorium where audiences truly are a part of the action. Each year, more than 33,000 patrons enjoy Broadway-caliber productions created by professional theatre artists carefully chosen from around the country.

The Missouri Pacific Railroad operated throughout the central United States and headquartered in St. Louis and played an important role in the city’s early development.  The railroad established a large freight yard and depot in Boonville, which served as a vital link in the transportation of goods and people throughout the region.

As a crucial form of transportation, the railroad had a major positive impact on the local economy transporting agricultural products, manufactured goods, and other commodities.  Today, the historic Boonville Depot building has been restored and is now home to the Katy Depot where visitors can explore the museum exhibits and the community center.

Katy Bridge is the oldest standing railroad bridge spanning the Missouri River.  It was constructed in 1932 and was in use until it was abandoned in the 1980s.  In 1996, a local citizens group formed to save the bridge and enabled pedestrian access to the bridge as part of the Katy Trail State Park since 2006. 

The bridge serves as a key landmark along the trail and is notable for its unique design consisting of a vertical lift span which allows boats and barges to pass underneath.  Today, visitors can enjoy scenic views of the Missouri River from the bridge’s pedestrian and bike path, which is open year-round. The Katy Trail State Park also offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The Louis Miller’s Mitchell Antique Motorcar Collection.  Located in Downtown Boonville, just three blocks from our Inn, this is one of the finest and most extensive collection of anything and everything related to the Mitchell wagons, bicycles, motorcycles and automobiles of the 19th and early 20th centuries. 

Lewis Miller is a direct descendent of the Mitchell and Lewis families and has one of the largest collections of the various products sold by their respective companies, including The Mitchell Wagon Company, Wisconsin Wheel Works, and the Mitchell-Lewis Motor Company. This private collection is constantly in the process of growing and being renovated and is now open to the public! Stay tuned for updates about the Mitchell Collection’s permanent home, on-going projects and the development of the museum!