About Our Granbury Bed and Breakfast On the Lake

Your Hosts: David and Melissa Reitz are the 10th owners of the property at 511 South Baker Street and are excited for this next chapter in the history of this century-old house!  They actually met at a bed and breakfast and married after a brief whirlwind courtship.

David graduated from Rice University on a USMC scholarship and after four years as an infantry officer, had a career with Southwestern Bell/AT&T. Melissa has had a catering business and most recently retired from her job at a local architectural firm. They have six grown kids, including one in the Air Force, and two dogs who work tirelessly keeping the squirrels away from the many pecan trees on the property.

Hebrews 13:2  Do not forget  to show hospitality to strangers for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

The Journey of the Lancaster House

In 1890 Samuel B. Lancaster and Nannie Millikan Lancaster purchased the tract of land where the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast now sits. It was purchased from Nannie’s brother, Robert Milliken. The Milliken’s family moved to Granbury from Kentucky where her father had three mail routes.  Samuel Lancaster was postmaster in Granbury in 1894. They lived in the home until December 12, 1899, when Martha Wright (the second wife of the sheriff of Granbury, Jack Wright) purchased it for $990.

There were six owners of the house after Martha Wright, and it was also leased to various occupants through the years, due to estate settlements, owners living in other states, etc. The current owner of Martin’s Office Supply, Cody Martin, is the grandson of a couple who leased the house for a time and his father was born in this house. Cody is also a member of the Genealogical Society and provided some of the history posted here.

Owners of the Lancaster House:

  • Samuel and Nannie Lancaster 1892 – 1899
  • Martha Wright 1899 – 1926
  • B. W. Kennon 1926 – 1939
  • Milton and Nell Kennon 1939 – 1968
  • Willie and Carol Mhoon 1968 – 1993
  • Kim Barnard and Renee Koch 1993 – 1995
  • Chad and Rebecca Hollingsworth 1995 – 1998
  • Bill and Betty Moss 1998 – 2008
  • Perry and Terry Wray 2008 – 2020
  • David and Melissa Reitz 2020 – ????
Historic Lancaster House (Now bed and breakfast)
Historic Lancaster House in Granbury
Our Inn 1 - Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast

Changes to the Lancaster House

Kim Barnard and Renee Koch 1993 – 1995
Renovated the kitchen; added a utility room behind the kitchen with almost finished bath adjacent; added balcony and built-in cabinets to south bedroom upstairs; added built-in cabinets to an upstairs game room; added dormer area to north bedroom upstairs (Mary’s room); added floor to ceiling shelving & credenza to the dining room; stripped paint from original woodwork & restored to original; added central heat and air in 1994; raised ceilings back to 14’ in front of the house; extended back porch; added white picket fence; added stone pillars and security gate; removed vinyl siding and replaced it with original siding; removed wrought iron railing from porch.

Chad and Rebecca Hollingsworth 1995 – 1998
Built steps for both sets of French doors (east and west sides of house); finished kitchen cabinets and windows, refinished floors.

Bill and Betty Moss 1998 – 2008
Added wallpaper in entry way, crown molding and wallpaper border to parlor and master bedroom, shelves above windows in kitchen; added bath area and wallpaper to balcony room; added bath to east bedroom upstairs; converted partially finished bath in utility area to office & storage; rebuilt part of front porch; added rails to back porch; added rails to dock; added gazebo; converted house to bed & breakfast.

Perry and Terry Wray 2008 – 2020
Tore down old barn and added new building for storage and workshop; Painted the house in historic colors. Added light poles to front and back. Enlarged the pathway to the gazebo Redid the boat dock and deck; built waterfall/Koi pond; painted most rooms; redid porch in the back and rails in the gazebo. Added fencing, parking places, jetted tub to upstairs east bedroom; redid bath area to a balcony room and added roof and siding to the balcony.

David and Melissa Reitz 2020 – 
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, repainted inside and out. Added rails to front porch and rebuilt rails on the back porch. Converted office to walk-in pantry. Renovated boat dock and deck. Converted storage shed to bridal retreat; rebuilt kitchen cabinets and upgraded appliances. Restored fireplaces to original and added mantels using local cedar. Restored master bedroom back into a parlor and Dr. Doyle Suite into master bedroom. Removed walkway from front door and replaced with grass, building new walkway from front door around to the parking area. Rebuilt two old storage sheds into a single storage shed.  Expanded powder room under the stairs. Added landscaping to front of the house. Added Wi-Fi throughout the house, wireless security camera.

Hope you enjoy your stay at our bed and breakfast and watch for other improvements! We’re just getting started!

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