Always wanted to sleep in the past? Maybe visit a town that a big part of Native American history? Then Hootie Creek House Hotel is definitely place for you. With so much to learn about the town and the building you’ll be staying in, there’s much to learn, discover and enjoy when visiting this unknown little gem of a spot.
Michael, The Kindest Owner in Oklahoma
Owner Michael is no stranger to owning a business. Having had a successful one in California and then later again in Dallas, Texas, he’s familiar with the ins and outs of ownership. But when visiting the idylic town of Broken Bow, Oklahoma one weekend from the greater Dallas area, he happened upon the unheard of small town known as Talihina. When visiting the hotel he now calls home, he fell in love.
“I purchased the building (it was not operating as a business in any way) and reopened it in late 2019. Positive changes to the area have been an influx of people moving here from Texas and seeing an increase in economic growth,” he tells me. The strong Christian sat me down for a good 2 hours to educate me on the town, and the history of his beautiful and terribly unique hotel.
“My goal is to keep the hotel historically pure only having contents and history linked to the building, town or people in some way.”
His plans to start further renovations should come to an end in a couple of years, though it’s a 5 year process. The renovations include adding a gift shop on the lower level of the hotel, which just happens to be next door to the in-house massage therapist Julie. To learn more about her spa, click here.
Before 2025, he is also anticipating adding an additional 2 guestrooms to his current 8, and tries to keep everything o’natural here.
Michael makes special efforts to keep guests feeling welcome and at home, by offering complimentary coffee and snacks throughout the entirety of the hotel, including bottles of water in an upstairs fridge where guests can help themselves to as much as they like. And while the downstairs historic diner located inside the hotel isn’t in use for cooking – he does have complimentary bottles of alcohol that guests can help themselves to. My kinda business owner.
He also offers complimentary stamped postcards of the hotel, and local newspapers that guests may read and keep at their leisure.
The History of Hootie Creek and the Town’s Presence
So what’s all this amazing history that I keep insisting is a part of the hotel and the town? Well, perhaps Michael can explain it better than me.
“The town of Talihina, Oklahoma was incorporated around the year 1910 with a population of approximately 400. Its name was derived from 2 Choctaw Indian words “Tully Hena”, loosely translated as “iron road” from when the San Francisco & St. Louis railroads laid track through the Indian territory around the mid- 1880’s and 1890’s. This was the tribe’s name for the railroad.
Today, Southeast Oklahoma is recognized as Choctaw nation and has been ever since President Andrew Jackson enforced the Indian relocation Act. Which entailed moving the tribe on foot from Mississippi over the course of around 1833-1835. A tragic event now known as the “Trail of Tears”. The tribe’s history, influence, impact and current effect on the area is seen in every aspect of the community, be it schools, the medical industry, history and programs to support all tribal members, not excluding their own court system as well.”
He goes on to tell me more about the hotel itself and all the different hands it’s been under over the years since its inception.
“The first new commercial hotel was built in 1906 and operated until it burned down in 1947. This replacement hotel was built in 1948 on part of the footprint replacing the old commercial hotel and it was run by the Taylor family until 1999. Due to disrepair and a small fire, they unfortunately had to close it.
The hotel was boarded up and condemned. A few years later the Webb family purchased it and began bringing the old hotel back to life renovating about half of the hotel over a span of 10+ years. They then sold it to Bruce and Kris Ryan who continued the restoration until they closed it in 2018.
I found the building for sale in 2019 while looking for remote mountain land, and on a whim placed my residence in another state for sale and with no experience in the hotel industry, said ‘I’ll take it!’
Personally, I believe God will place us right where we are supposed to be, it’s up to us what we do while we’re there.”
But Michael is all about wanting to make his guests feel loved, appreciated and at home. Which is exactly how I felt the entire time I was there. Getting to know him was one of the highlights of my 3-week cross-country trip, and feel as though the Lord blessed me with getting to know him. His kindness, generosity, love for the Lord and for all of those around him, exude from his warmth and kindness. To that end, he makes it clear that he hopes his future guests will,
“… enjoy your stay.” He adds, “Everything is not always perfect in a building this old but the character sure is memorable. Everything you see in the hotel has a connection to the previous owners, the town or parts nearby, nothing is staged. Oh, and if your wondering about how the current hotel got it’s name … well I was told It’s named after the hooty creek cookie!
My Stay at Hootie Creek
There’s no question that staying in an historical hotel is a unique and unforgettable experience. It’s almost as though you get a chance to sleep in the middle of history. The expectations were met with something even more special and memorable here at Hootie Creek though.
Michael has kept this hotel in such impeccable order, it really is like stepping into a time machine. Although there are modern conveniences like a nice shower, and indoor plumbing (a private en suite bathroom makes anyone’s hotel experience just that much more comfortable), there was a sink in the room itself, giving you just a touch of the old fashioned.
I got to indulge in a massage downstairs at their spa, and upon arrival I was greeted with a cup of coffee and a lovely chat with Michael. He even showed me around town, proud as he is of the little spot he now calls home.
And Hootie Creek may be at the center of this small place called Talihina, but its the rest of the community’s charm that allows Hootie Creek to flourish all the more.
My stay was fantastic, and mainly because of the gracious hospitality I received from Michael while I stayed here.
In short, there’s really no reason not to visit and stay a night or two or even a week or two. Hootie Creek is a unique step back into a time forgotten, and it’s a special chance to touch the past. Just make sure that when you book your stay, you let Michael know that Lisa sent you!
Get Lost with Lisa 