ELSAH - Megan Cunningham always dreamed of running a bed-and-breakfast, and so it seemed like a natural fit when she bought the Green Tree Inn in historic Elsah last October.
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Located at 15 Mill Street in Elsah, the Green Tree Inn is a bed-and-breakfast that welcomes guests from across the region. Cunningham, a California native who came to St. Louis for a job, didn’t anticipate moving to Elsah to run the inn. But she is grateful that this is how it worked out. She loves the Green Tree Inn and enjoys meeting every guest and getting to know her new hometown.
“Running a bed and breakfast is something that I had always dreamed of,” she shared. “This opportunity really just came out of nowhere. The universe offered it up to us, and it seemed a little scary at first because I left my job as a food scientist, doing the things that I was doing and having a comfy salary, to pursue this dream of mine. It was a little intimidating and it was definitely a tough decision. But I’m really glad I did it because if you don't pursue your dreams, they just remain dreams.”
Cunningham shared her goal of one day owning a bed-and-breakfast with her husband when they first started dating. When Green Tree Inn owners Connie and Gary Davis retired and put the inn on the market, Cunningham and her husband decided to give it a shot.
In the past year, they’ve kept the heart of the inn the same but added a few touches to make it their own. As a trained chef, Cunningham enjoys cooking the meals every morning and sharing a cup of coffee with her guests. The guests often eat together, family style, and trade stories and local recommendations.
Cunningham emphasized that you don’t get this at a hotel or Airbnb. The experience at the Green Tree Inn is “a lot more personal.” People get to know and connect with each other. You get a homey feel and, Cunningham joked, none of the chores.
“At a traditional bed-and-breakfast, you get all those comforts of home. You get a fresh cooked meal in the morning. You get really good coffee. You get taken care of,” she said. “It just feels really personal and like you’re over at a friend’s house or a family member’s house. But you still get to relax, which is nice, because we don’t make you clean.”
Cunningham also loves the small-town vibe and historic charm of Elsah. This is her first time living in a small town, and she has been pleasantly surprised by the kindness of her neighbors.
“Everyone’s been really welcoming of us,” she said. “We’ve gotten nothing but support from our friends and our neighbors, and we really like living there. I think it was a really good move for us in that way, too.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to promote Elsah’s tourism. She wants to eventually host small groups and events, and she believes there’s plenty of room for the Green Tree Inn to grow.
Her ultimate goal is to ensure that the tradition of the Green Tree Inn is carried on for years to come. Cunningham loves her bed-and-breakfast, and she can’t wait to continue pursuing her dream in Elsah.
“There’s a lot of growth that I think we would like to see over the next five years,” she added.
For more information about the Green Tree Inn, including how to book your stay, visit their official website or call 618-374-2821.
This featured article is sponsored by the Green Tree Inn. To get your business or organization featured on www.RiverBender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
