When planning our trip I asked my wife to find us a place to stay at the halfway point between Branson and Texarkana so we could have one more night on the road and break up the drive a little. She found a gem near downtown Little Rock that we had never heard of before, a Bed & Breakfast called "The Hornibrook Mansion, Empress of Little Rock," and it was fantastic.

Sometimes you need to splurge a little, treat yourself, do something other than simply find the cheapest room rate available. When you're ready for a special weekend or overnighter in Little Rock, this is a place you're going to want to see.

The new owners have been running this B&B for about thirteen months and have done a superb job with the decor and furnishings - everything is elegant and beautiful. If you like antiques and beautifully restored grand staircases and hardwood floors, this place is for you. There may also be a little mystery afoot as well. Reports of spirits in and around the Empress might make you sleep with one eye open so you don't miss anything.

Be sure you check out the secret poker room upstairs in the attic where the smell of cigar smoke still lingers. We tried to make contact with little result but who knows, they might come out and play for you.

If you scroll through the pictures below you will see two bears on the bed, it's a long story but they begged us to go, their names are Geddie and JJ.

A delicious morning breakfast was served on fine china and silver out on the veranda, making a perfect end to our stay. The Empress receives two big thumbs-up from my wife and I. We look forward to staying there again soon.

More information is available on their website or on Facebook.

Empress of Little Rock

 

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