Innkeeper's Story

presenting

Meet Denny & Jan

from Mission Oak Inn

Visit Site reservation inquiry

Print

Owners, Denny and Jan started going to B&Bs around
15 to 20 years ago. They visited their first one
in the Rochester, New York area and the owners
were so nice, they were hooked. Over the years,
whenever a trip was planned, they would seek out
B&Bs that weren't too far away. They found that
there weren't many in the area. They felt that
the area needed someplace where couples could get
away without having to drive a long way. Denny
and Jan Reed grew up in the Midwest and didn't
want to leave the area because their families were
here. While working for major corporations for
many years and going through multiple job cuts,
they thought it was time to come up with a back up
plan and hopefully take them into retirement
someday as well. So Mission Oak Inn was opened
while each were still working other jobs in
addition to the B&B. This year has changed that
to both Denny and Jan becoming full time
innkeepers and having a great time with it.
The Inn is a newer facility and was built in the
mission style with Denny's own touch in rich oak
woodwork. Denny designed and built almost every
piece of wood that is showcased in the inn. In
addition to innkeeping, Denny owns a custom
woodworking business. He specializes in custom
mantles and fireplace surrounds but will also
build some custom furniture.
Denny is also the inn chef. He first started
cooking when he was in high school because his
parents worked second shift jobs. When Denny and
Jan were married, Jan was cooking challenged and
gradually convinced Denny to take over all of the
cooking. There was a deal struck that Denny would
do the cooking if Jan would do the cleanup and
it's been working for many years. Denny will say
that he likes to cook because he likes to eat.
Jan does all of the cleaning and manages the
reservations and bookwork.
Denny and Jan started looking for property out in
the country many years before they found the 120
acre farm where they are located. Once they
purchased the property, the first order of
business was to find someone to engineer and build
the lake, which took a few years. Then the plans
got underway for the house that would be built
next to the lake that houses the inn. Once the
frame was up and enclosed, Denny and Jan completed
much of the inside work themselves, working
vacation days, evenings, and weekends since they
were still working full time for others. They
hope every guest can see and feel the loving care
that was put into the inn for their enjoyment.
Once the lake was built, the fish were stocked.
Denny often tells how the crappie were delivered
in a ziplock bag and looked so small. Now some of
them weigh over a pound. The bass grew over a
pound a year since they were stocked in late 2001.
The largest catch so far is a six and a half pound
bass that Denny caught in May, 2007.
Mission Oak Inn first opened their doors to guests
in December, 2006. In 2008 and 2009 they were
awarded best of bedandbreakfast.com awards. In
2009 the award was for Innkeepers of the year -
one of only 12 in the US. Their kitchen was
featured in 'Taste of Home' magazine and will be
part of an article in 'Midwest Living' in their
Sept/Oct 2010 issue.

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 collection
3rd Prize: Signed copy of Sweets & Treats for your kitchen.

Tell your hosts Pamela Lanier sent you!

Accolades