An Enid bed and breakfast recently was named to the Reader’s Digest list of “The Most Charming Small-Town Bed and Breakfasts in Every State.”
The list, published Monday online by Reader’s Digest, selected Southard House Bed and Breakfast Inn, 518 W. Pine, as Oklahoma’s pick for the list. One bed and breakfast was selected for each state.
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department lists 89 Oklahoma bed and breakfasts on its travel site, travelok.com.
Reader’s Digest noted Southard House’s “four beautiful rooms,” the parlor with baby grand piano and the on-site gift shop with handmade products “from lavender linen sprays to handmade olive oil soaps.”
Tammy Neal, owner and innkeeper at Southard House, said she and husband James were honored to be chosen for the Reader’s Digest list.
“I feel very honored,” Neal said. “There are a lot of very beautiful bed and breakfasts in this state, and it’s an honor to be chosen to be the representative for the state of Oklahoma, and to represent Enid. We put a lot of hard work into our business, and it feels good to have some recognition for the hard work that we do here.”
Neal said she opened Southard House five years ago to provide a peaceful atmosphere for both business travelers and romantic getaways.
“I wanted to open the inn for people to have a special place to stay when they come to Enid — a place of pampering and a place of respite and peace,” she said. “People lead really busy lives, and we can get caught up in that sometimes, but we need a time to step back and rejuvenate and refresh, and I wanted to be able to give people that opportunity.”
Neal said her faith inspires her work at the bed and breakfast, and motivates her to provide her guests a place of healing, where they can find rest and quiet time to “hear the voice of God.”
More than just a room and a meal, Neal said Southard House is designed to foster building and restoring relationships.
“I believe we are called to be in relationship with one another, and the inn allows us to provide people with an opportunity to have relationship with God, relationship with the people they bring here, and with themselves — to just step back and have quiet time to reflect on that inner voice,” Neal said. “It also allows us to form relationships with our guests and let them know they’re cared for while they’re here.”
Visit Enid Director Marcy Jarrett said unique local businesses like Southard House are important attractions for the community and its economy.
“Travelers seek unique experiences when they visit a community — local restaurants, local shopping and even the place where they lay their heads at night,” Jarrett said. “By renovating the historic Southard House into a bed and breakfast, Tammy and James Neal have brought a piece of Enid history back to life that they can share with their guests. Southard House is a tremendous asset for Enid, and it’s very exciting to see it get national recognition.”
For more information on Southard House visit southardhouse.com, and for more attractions in Enid go to visitenid.org. To see the full Reader’s Digest selection of “The Most Charming Small-Town Bed and Breakfasts in Every State” visit rd.com/advice/travel/small-town-bed-and-breakfasts.
Story by: Enid News & Eagle
