Visiting the Pioneer Woman’s Merchantile

My mother is guest posting for me today! She met up with her college roommates in Pawhuska, OK to visit the Pioneer Woman's Mercantile, and she's sharing her experience.

A Trip to the Merc with Old Friends

by Liz Williams

While looking for a way to connect with friends, a plan came together to visit the Pioneer Woman’s store in Pawhuska, OK.  The Mercantile is a destination bakery, deli and general store featuring the Pioneer Woman's collection of books, mugs and bowls.  It is in the heart of Osage County, OK.

Since it is about four hours from the DFW area, we needed a place to spend the night. The Wah-Zha-Zhi House is a two story home newly renovated into four spacious rooms, which comfortably accommodates families of up to three or four—or three ladies wanting their own bedroom space.  Each room has it’s own living area, two bedrooms, and kitchen, with coffee and a full sized refrigerator to keep cool any food or beverages you bring.  It is very charming and close to the downtown area in Pawhuska!

The Merc

On our first visit to The Merc, we stood in line to get into the restaurant for dinner.  We had a 45 minute wait, but it was enjoyable as we visited with the friendly folks waiting with us.  There are benches along the way to sit on, which helps pass the time.  The food was outstanding with generous portions and courteous waiters wearing bandannas.

We could see the store from our table which added to the overall atmosphere of the restaurant. The night we were there the store stayed open late to accommodate the shoppers still eating at closing time.  The store was neatly arranged with lots of P.W. books and dishes but also contained interesting utensils, linens, pillows and artwork that adds to any home decor.  

The friendly staff was very helpful with any questions and available for  photo taking. On the night we dined in the restaurant, we saw Ladd Drummond. While chatting with a worker, she told us that Ladd, Ree, or Ladd’s father visit on a daily basis. We especially enjoyed eating at the bakery upstairs that sells a wide variety of delicious items which are baked right in the on site kitchen!

Heading to the Lodge

The highlight of our trip was being invited to visit The Lodge where the Pioneer Woman Cooking show is filmed.  It is about twenty miles out of town near the Drummond Ranch. On the drive you see cattle, wild horses, and lots of pasture land.

The Lodge is beautiful and stocked with all the dishes and cookware needed for the cooking segments filmed there.  It is very open and roomy with a large fireplace and farmhouse table for the family dinners.  The fireplace was burning and made for a friendly and inviting visit.  Guides were there to answer any questions and the family dog was snoozing on the couch.

The trip was great for spending time with friends, seeing a part of Oklahoma never visited before, and feeling welcomed by a celebrity family that opened their doors to folks from near and far.  Such a wonderful time with fun memories and knowing that we would always be able to meet there again.

Betsy

Betsy Strauss is an unexpected homeschooler, mother of three, who is in a relationship with a sweet man for life. She loves reading books, drinking coffee, and learning anything with her kids.