A Sit Down with Manager, Myra Skiles
SPRINGFIELD, MO. – Mrs. Myra Skiles has managed The Mansion at Elfindale for 45 years. She is truly a wealth of information on its history, daily operations, and the surrounding grounds located in the heart of Springfield, Missouri. It felt a bit like stepping back in time, straight to the Victorian era, when I visited the Elfindale for the first time in November 2025.
Whether a local resident looking for a change of scenery close to home, or an out-of-state traveler in search of a comfortable and inviting home away from home for the holidays, The Mansion has everything you could want…and more.
Nestled in the heart of Springfield, near the intersection of Kansas Expressway and Sunshine, The Mansion at Elfindale is surrounded by the tranquil woods and flowing stream of nature, but still noticeable from nearby thoroughfares. The mansion boasts 13 uniquely designed rooms, each with its own attached restroom and complete with a Victorian theme that could inspire a best-selling gothic romance novel.
The Mansion at Elfindale is popular for European visitors that seek to travel the historic Route 66 highway. Many tourists stop in Springfield, the home of Bass Pro, Buckee’s, Brad Pitt, and just a hop, skip and jump from Springfield’s theatrical neighbor, Branson. The mansion can be booked via website or by calling directly at 417-831-5400. It also shows up on travel sites such as Expedia.com and Tripadvisor.com.
The mansion’s history is nearly as intriguing as its impressive appearance. Elfindale was built by John O’Day in the late 1800s when he was married to his second wife, Alice. He soon focused his sights on his future third wife, Sue, who was currently his brother’s bride. After telling Alice he wanted a divorce, she pled with him to reconsider. After several animated conversations, Alice agreed to accompany her husband to St. Louis for a meeting with his attorney to discuss the dissolution of their marriage.
Unfortunately, the meeting did not go as dear Alice hoped. Back in her private room at the Lindell Hotel, she shot herself…. twice with her handheld derringer gun. While not fatal, a gun shell lodged in her lungs, requiring immediate attention. John obligingly agreed to stay with Alice throughout her recovery. However, he soon proceeded with his divorce to her in efforts to marry his former sister-in-law turned third wife. Oh, the complications!
While Alice was devastated from the divorce, she did receive $200,000 in the marital settlement. She used the funds to complete the construction of The Mansion at Elfindale. Mrs. O’Day (the second) was responsible for the naming of the mansion, which also recognizes the entire vicinity of this northwest commercial area of Springfield. As history reveals, Mrs. O’Day took her breakfast in what is now The Governor’s Suite, which offered a beautiful view of the lake in the valley below. She claimed that looking out over the landscape in the early morning mist, she felt a sense of elves dancing on the dell, and thus called the mansion, Elfindale.
Mrs. O’Day (the third) sued Alice (the second)) upon the death of John O’Day (the first). Having never lived in the mansion, the Judge denied Sue’s claim and while she did receive money from her deceased husband’s estate, none of the funds came from Alice O’Day’s marital settlement. Sue O’Day was pregnant with John’s child at the time he passed away in 1901 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He was survived by two sons from his first marriage, as well as his third wife’s two sons, whom he had previously adopted.
Alice O’Day could no longer afford to keep up with the financial demands of such a large estate, not to mention the surrounding acreage. She sold the mansion and while little is known of her life after the sale of Elfindale, she is rumored to be buried in an unmarked grave at an insane asylum in Florida. John O’Day’s family has a presence in the Jewish portion of Hazelwood Cemetery off Seminole and National, near what is now the Battlefield Mall.
The mansion has changed hands several times in its nearly two centuries of life. In 1905, The Sisters of the Visitation from St. Louis purchased The Elfindale to be used as a private boarding school for girls. The girls lived in what is now the bed and breakfast and the nuns lived in what is now the three-story administration building next door. The nuns installed a convenient tunnel from the girls’ residence to theirs for easy access, as well as an elevator in their living quarters next to the girls’ residence.
Due to an increase of popularity in public schools, as well as the financial burden of operating such a large residence and school, the nuns closed the school in 1964 and put it on the market. After a $55,000 fundraising project by The Symphony Guild, The Elfindale was magically turned into what is known as “Missouri’s largest bed and breakfast Inn” in 1990. Each suite was meticulously updated with careful attention to maintain the period style of the mansion’s origins. While the mansion recently decided to no longer serve breakfast, due to the large amount of food waste and cost, they are grateful to keep the nightly rates competitive with local hotels and Airbnb’s.
While each room has a separate entrance and restroom, guests must keep in mind that there is no working elevator. There is, however, an accessible suite on the ground floor. Each suite, with the exception of the accessible room on the first floor, offers an old-time clawfoot tub as well as a modern rain shower and private key-only entrance.
After managing the mansion for nearly half a century, Skiles was enthusiastic to share several heartwarming stories of guest history. She is used to the typical squeaks and creaks of an old building, especially in the tunnel that joins the mansion to the church. Though she assured me that the only spirit that currently resides at The Elfindale is The Holy Spirit. “I love meeting the people that visit Elfindale.” says Skiles. She spoke of a folklore group with members from all over Missouri that stayed recently, renting three of the meeting rooms along with six lodging suites, making for a full house. She enjoyed hearing them sing old hymns and harmonize within the old walls of the quaint mansion. She talked of the many Christmas parties hosted at Elfindale over the years, as well as princess tea parties, retirement get-togethers, and family reunions. The management loves to host holiday parties and works with caterers to make the events festive and enjoyable, though alcohol is not allowed for private parties.
The mansion has seen her share of weddings. Many of which are housed in the chapel next door. Couples often take advantage of the picturesque grounds at the mansion for pre-wedding photo shoots. “Many couples that were married at the mansion enjoy coming back to celebrate their anniversary. We get to know the guests personally and enjoy catching up with them each year.” shared Skiles.
While The Elfindale Mansion qualifies for the National Historic Register, the present owners do not wish to comply with the strict requirements. Being owned by the King’s Church, an Assemblies of God affiliation with the Hawaiian District, they wish to maintain a sense of independence when it comes to the significant daily maintenance and upkeep of this historic home in Springfield’s center.
While most guests stay for only a night or two, Skiles said there have been guests that have requested an extended stay for two to three weeks. “We offer a unique hospitality experience at the Mansion at Elfindale. It is very much like family; we just leave the keys out and tell our guests to come in and make themselves at home. While there is plenty of privacy, there is also a sense of community at The Mansion. It really is the best of both worlds.”
For more information on the history of The Mansion at Elfindale, to book a room, or to peruse the mansion’s many festive holiday events, please visit the website at: https://www.mansionatelfindale.com/.
