Nestled in the Wolf River Valley, near the St. Joe Road of the historic Oregon-California Trail, My Hiding Place is a homestead rich in history and timeless charm.
In the mid-1860s, during the American Civil War, pioneer Samuel Dixon Gilmore and his wife, Elizabeth, left their home in Agency, Missouri, and built the original farmhouse. Its remarkable two-foot-thick walls, constructed from native Kansas limestone, have stood for more than 150 years. The nearby cellar was likely built using leftover stones from the farmhouse. Around 1900, Edmund and Susie Kent added the frame wing, expanding the home while preserving its original character.
During the Great Depression and the decades that followed, the property belonged to Byron Sly Hunter, president of the Missouri Livestock Commission. Known as Hunter Ranch, it became a successful ranching operation that provided local young men with work and a hearty meal.
In 1958, Harold and June Rush entered into a 50/50 farm lease with Hunter’s widow. After raising their family and moving to Highland, Kansas, they purchased the farm in 1981 and rented the house sporadically for a few years. Shortly thereafter, the house was abandoned and subject to ruin.
In 1993, the Dorrell family purchased the neglected farmhouse and its 10 acres with a dream of restoring it to its former grandeur. The preservation has been an ongoing labor of love, with each renovation thoughtfully honoring the property’s history, character, and charm.
Through the years, one thing has remained constant: the sense of peace and tranquility people experience here—a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. That feeling inspired the decision to open the property to others as a place to gather, celebrate, and reconnect.
Today, My Hiding Place welcomes guests for outdoor weddings, celebrations, retreats, and gatherings of all kinds. We hope that when you visit, you experience the same comfort, peace, and beauty that have made this place so special to our family.
“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.”Psalm 32:7
