Preserving History on the Banks of the Osage River
OSCEOLA, MO. – The Historic Commercial Hotel located at 210 Second Street in downtown Osceola, Mo. first opened its doors in 1868, just a few short years after the infamous Missouri-Kansas border raids, associated with the US Civil War. Before the sacking of Osceola by Confederate General James Lane, the hotel consisted of two log cabins with a walkway in between. The current building was then built in 1868. In its early years, the hotel welcomed guests and coming from the ferry boats off the Osage River which runs behind the hotel. The living room for the current owners was known in those early days as the ‘drum room’ as large drums of goods were received there and opened to the public for sale.
The hotel also boasted a restaurant that served guests and the community until the mid-1900s.
In 2009, Rob and Teresa Heckenlively and their children, Brandon, Holdt, and Kaj discovered the hotel was for sale while visiting family in the area. As Teresa put it, “we fell in love with the building and its history even though it had not been loved in a long time.”
Teresa also shared that coming from northern Iowa, they spent weekends and vacations preparing the hotel to open once again. They moved in and held their grand opening in 2011. On September 11, 2011, the south wall rolled out but with the help of the community the building was saved. The Heckenlivelys worked to ensure that the building was structurally sound before reopening in 2020 exclusively as an Airbnb and VRBO.
Past guests of historical renown include Frank and Jesse James as well as the Younger Gang, as the James brothers’ original home at Kearney, Missouri is situated just under two hours north of Osceola. In 1874, the Roscoe Gun Battle between the Youngers and Pinkerton detectives, one of whom also stayed at the hotel, took place nearby, costing John Younger his life. Harry Truman also stayed at the hotel three times while visiting friends in the area before becoming president.
Themed-rooms celebrating the hotel’s history include those named after outlaws like the James boys, and Hollywood stars from Tom Mix, one of cinema’s earliest cowboys to Karolyn Grimes, a child star possibly best known as Zuzu in It’s A Wonderful Life. She made a visit to the hotel, hosting an open house there in April 2024 and is scheduled to return there on April 27th, 2025. Another suite is named after Sally Rand, an American burlesque dancer of the 1930s. As a feather dancer, Sally Rand had family in the area and would stay at the hotel when visiting them. As a feather dancer, she was arrested twice in the same day for riding nude bareback down the main thoroughfare at the Chicago World’s Fair. Each of the themed-rooms and suites also includes displays of historical photos, hand bills, newspaper clippings and other related items.
The hotel also celebrates local events such as the annual Osceola Labor Day Rodeo; historical tours of sites related to the 1874 Roscoe Gun Battle between the Youngers and Pinkerton Detectives; and local bicycle races, just to name a few. They are also a major participant in the Osceola Trunk or Treat event each Halloween, including a major exterior Halloween decoration undertaking, decking out the entire hotel in festive colors and characters. Christmas is also a major event at the Historic Commercial Hotel.
Teresa Heckenlively concluded. “Our main goal through it all is to preserve the history and ensure that the Historic Commercial Hotel is a place the community and our family can be proud of.”
