Innkeeper's Story

presenting

Innkeepers, Bob and Sherry Murray

from Munzesheimer Manor Inn

Visit Site reservation inquiry

Print

Born and raised as "Okies", Bob and Sherry came to
Texas in 1983 when Bob was transferred from
Oklahoma to Dallas with a large oil company.
Although they were surprised to learn that "Texas"
had five letters instead of four as they had been
taught, they fell in love with the Lone Star State
from the very beginning.

In 1984, the couple stayed in their very first bed
and breakfast in Jefferson, Texas. They discovered
a totally different type of travel accommodations
and, well, just listen as Bob tells the story:

"As I was lying in bed at the B&B, Sherry
whispered, ‘are you awake?’ ‘I am now’, I replied,
‘what do you want?’ ‘Well’, said Sherry, ‘I just
decided what we are going to do with that old
house.’

‘This really got my attention’, said Bob, ‘because
we did not own an old house – we had a new house
in a Dallas suburb’. ‘What old house,’ he replied?
‘The old house we are going to buy’, she said.
‘Oh, and what are we going to do with it’, he
stammered ?
‘We are going to do a bed and breakfast’, she
stated emphatically!"

And so, the couple returned to Dallas with much to
talk about. But, as you can guess, Sherry
prevailed and soon they were "out on the trail"
looking for "just the right house" and the right
town.

In July, 1986, the couple was at the same bed and
breakfast in Jefferson (they had become good
friends of the innkeepers) and Sherry picked up a
copy of an "antique paper" and saw a house "for
sale" in Mineola, Texas (the picture was very
small and black and white – for good reason).

"This is the house I have seen in my mind’s eye
for these past months", Sherry exclaimed, "but
where is Mineola, Texas"? To which Bob replied, "I
have no earthly idea".

After checking a map, it was determined that, with
a slight detour, they could drive through Mineola
on the way to Dallas. And……..they did!

The house was painted red and green, had been
vacant for almost two years, and was in terrible,
terrible shape. "This is perfect", Sherry cried.
As Bob tells it, "Sherry never lets a small thing
like money get in the way of something she wants
to do". And so, the house was purchased!

Following nearly a year of restoration, the couple
moved into their "dream house" and received their
first guests in December, 1987. And, as the saying
goes, "the rest is history".

In 1990, the Home Terminal, housing the Engineer
and Conductor rooms was added to meet the
increased demand and, in 1992, the Tack room was
built (complete with a "two-holer") on the site of
the original stable.

"Although our family and friends thought we were
crazy at the time, they all agree [now] that this
was the right thing to do", the couple said.
Sherry left "corporate America" in 1988 and Bob
followed in 1991 and "there have never been any
regrets". We love this little town and our home
and want to share them both with anyone who wants
to go to a place "Where Time Stands Still".

View Inn Listing

Sign up for our B&B Travel Newsletter

Send this Page
to a Friend

Subscribe NOW!

When you sign up for our B&B Travel Newsletter you are automatically
entered to Win:

1st Prize: $250 Gift Certificate to an Inn near you
2nd Prize: Set of King or Queen sheets from the Bed & Breakfast
2nd Prize: collection
3rd Prize: Signed copy of Sweets & Treats for your kitchen.

Tell your hosts Pamela Lanier sent you!

Accolades