By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
ELLIS — Prairie Breeze Lodge of rural Ellis is expanding its offerings under new ownership.
The lodge, which is south of Old Highway 40 on 160th, has been a destination for hunters since it opened in 2021.
Charlie Carter and his family from South Dakota recently bought the lodge and have made it available for rental on Vrbo.
The 5,000-square-foot lodge has eight bedrooms with accommodations for up to 34 people. Six of the bedrooms have one or two beds. Those rooms share a communal locker room.
The suites have spacious en suite bathrooms with additional bunk beds for families.
Jenette Lewis, manager, said the lodge is heavily booked during the hunting season from September through January. Hunters come from as far away as the east and west coasts with many groups returning year after year.
"I know a lot of people who come out here to hunt and stay with us, they become extended family," said Lewis, who lives on the property.
Some families bring their children and have started marking their growth on a wall of the lodge. Others have joined in with signatures and dates.
Some hunters are already booking for next season. If you are interested in booking for hunting season, you will have to call Lewis directly at 785-491-1292. Those dates are blocked on the Vrbo site.
The lodge has an area where hunters can sight their guns or bows and a locker room off the back door where they can get out of their hunting gear.
Lewis said pets are not allowed in the lodge; however, a project is planned for a new building on the property that would include a dog kennel as well as an area where hunters could clean their animals.
Hunting packages come with a grab-and-go breakfast, sandwich lunch and a full hot meal for dinner.
The lodge does not provide land on which to hunt but regularly works with local outfitter Dan Cross. Hunters can work with other outfitters or hunt on public land.
The lodge has a full kitchen, bar, living room with TV and patio with outdoor seating. It offers Dish and free wifi. Laundry facilities also are available.
Although deer and upland birds have been the primary quarry for most visitors to the lodge, Lewis said she hopes to attract turkey hunters this spring.
Opening the lodge to bookings on Vrbo will allow people to book the lodge for other events. The lodge is booking for $709 per night for the whole building on Vrbo. Those rates may be adjusted in the off-season, Lewis said.
"I think a lot of it will be people who are from the area originally and are trying to gather in a central location," she said.
Lewis said the space would be ideal for a family reunion. She also has booked a wedding ceremony for this spring.
The lodge is on a slight hill, and visitors can look out onto the Kansas prairie for miles in all directions.
"We have beautiful sunrises and sunsets out here, because it is so wide open," she said.
Vrbo customers are not provided with food but have access to the kitchen if they want to make their own meals. Alcohol is allowed at the lodge but must be provided by the guest.
You also can reach Prarie Breeze by email at [email protected] or follow the lodge on Facebook.