The Lodge
Medicare Jet-Setters give The Lodge a Groovy Review
My bucket list day continued when our little group of three went to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, to do everything Pioneer Woman.
When you visit, make sure it is on a day that The Lodge is open for tourists. I enjoyed The Lodge even more than my delicious meal.
To get to The Lodge is an adventure. You will drive by miles and miles of the Drummond ranch. It is amazing how one family can accumulate so much land. Eventually, you will come to a dirt and rock-filled road. It is six miles to The Lodge on this bumpy, winding path. I would suggest if you own a fancy car, leave it at home, and come in your pick up or SUV if you have one.
Once you arrive and step out of your car, you can't help but pause for a moment to take in the breathtaking view. It feels as if you are on top of the world and able to see nature's gift of beauty for miles and miles.
There is a front porch with rocking chairs, and around the side, a huge deck. From the deck, the views are camera-perfect. I let my mind wander for a moment and could picture myself throwing the perfect cocktail party just at sunset on that deck. After all, dreams are fun.
Once you go inside, it is a self-guided tour. Friendly helpers, which were all Medicare Jet-Setter aged, at least on the day we were there, are ready to answer any of your questions. The Lodge is seven thousand square feet of spectacular. Boots of each of the Drummond family members are all lined up in the mudroom, complete with ranch dust on them.
The bedrooms are beautiful. Light and airy with large windows to capture the view.
However, it is the kitchens we were most interested in seeing. We first wandered into the prep kitchen. Stainless steel counters and appliances gleamed from every corner. The refrigerator took up an entire wall. We toured the pantry, which was the size of most people's living rooms. All the spices, sugars, flours, and more were on the shelves. The very same items that you probably have in your own kitchen pantry.
The highlight of the day came when we wandered into the TV kitchen. It is just as cheerful and well organized as it looks on the Pioneer Woman cooking show. I couldn't resist. I stepped behind the counter, grabbed a Pioneer Woman mixing bowl, and posed for a picture. Once again, I started to dream. Maybe the Pioneer Woman would want to host a Medicare Jet-Setters group on her show. They always say, "If you're going to dream, dream big."
For more information and to see when The Lodge is open, go to The Lodge (thepioneerwoman.com)
On tour days, the Lodge is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can pick up your tickets at The Mercantile, where an employee will give you instructions and directions. There is no limit to the number of tickets given out on tour dates, and they are totally free.
The Lodge gets a Medicare Jet-Setters Groovy Rating.