If you’ve ever wandered through UMKC’s campus, you’ve probably come across the sprawling lawn and castle-like facade of the Epperson House. Built in 1920 by insurance tycoon Uriah Epperson, the 24,000-sqft, 54-room mansion was eventually acquired by the University of Missouri Kansas City and has sat empty for over a decade... until now.
A local development group is set to bring new life to the property, transforming it into a a 14-room boutique hotel complete with:
- Small library bar + café
- Full-service restaurant
- Intimate event space
- Hydrothermal spa, “offering body and facial treatments, ancient European baths, hot and cold therapies,” and wellness retreats
History-lovers, put down your pitchforks. All these new additions will be balanced with historic preservation of the home’s unique features — like its ornate woodwork and indoor swimming pool — led by Heritage Consulting Group.
Anxious to see inside? “Within the next few years” is as close to a timeline as you’ll get — meanwhile, we recommend daydreaming of future staycations and wedding receptions inside its brick + stone walls. Now, about those ghosts...
