By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A new couple has assumed ownership of the historic Bissing House, 117 W. 13th in Hays.
Casey Kelly and his wife, Manamee Guha, bought the house several months ago.
The couple became interested in owning the bed and breakfast when Guha was hired at Fort Hays State University. Casey works in IT and his work is remote. The couple just moved to Hays from Miami.
The couple is living on the third floor of the historic home and renting the three bedrooms on the second floor. The living room is shared space with the guests.
The home was formerly owned by Kris and Larissa Munsch, who remodeled the home and ran it under the name The Inn at 117. Prior to that, the home was operated as the Tea Rose Inn.
Kelly said he and his wife plan to amp up breakfast and make other changes to enhance their borders' stays in the house.
The name Bissing House came from the original builders and owners of the home. The house was built in 1909 by a prominent Hays entrepreneur and carpenter, Justus Bissing Jr.
After living in the home for a few years, he sold the home to the Basgall family. The Basgall family loved and cared for the home for over 80 years. The home is filled with antiques that have been luckily inherited from the Basgall family, original to the house.
Each suite is named after a historic figure tied to the house with a history binder relating to that person/family.
Kelly said despite the hit the hospitality industry took during COVID, their business has been busy since they took over the bed and breakfast.
"People are wanting to get back together," he said. "In the summer when we first moved in, we were getting the tail end of the summer road trip — of people who were kind of feeling cooped up a little bit.
"They wanted to get out, but they wanted a nice place to stay. I can't say anything for 2020, but I think things have really picked up again."
Kelly said he loves downtown Hays.
"Given, yes, I've lived everywhere, we've neither of us have really lived in suburbs or rural or just out of the way," he said. "We like walking to Gella's on a Friday. We like walking to the Golden Q and just grabbing a bite, but with the caveat that we can still jump in the car and go to Vine or Salina."
He added, "I'm excited about how downtown is going to be. It's kind of on the move up."
You can book a room at the Bissing House through AirBNB. You can access bookings through the AirBNB app or click the AirBNB icon on the Bissing House website.