Exploring Weston, MO
Time needed in this town: It’s a day trip from Kansas City.
Weston, MO came recommended to us from someone that used to live in Kansas, saying it was a great little historic town with distilleries, vineyards, and breweries around it. We decided to check out Holladay Distillery, as well as walk around the town, and learned that all 22 blocks are on the National Historic Registry. It’s definitely a wonderful day trip from Kansas City!
The below information is a complete guide of the best places to dine and drink, as well as all there is to see and do. We’ve also included a summary of the history of this charming town.
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Where to Dine & Drink
Avalon Cafe
Quaint bar/eatery in an 1847 house offering gourmet American meals, Sunday brunch & outdoor seating.
Green Dirt Farm & Creamery
They feature cheeses made on their farm and ice cream made in their shop, plus lots other small-batch artisan edibles.
Noah’s Delicatessan
Farm-to-table fare with locally sourced ingredients. Unique dishes are thoughtfully and soulfully prepared.
O’Malley’s 1842 Pub
German Immigrant, John Georgian, opened a brewery in the mid-1800s, after digging his own cellars, 50 ft. underground. The domed, limestone cellar was built without cement, using the weight of each rock below it to support 2-3 ft.-thick walls. The story behind a tunnel running from the cellar to Georgian’s former home—today the Weston Brewing offices—is that he didn’t like to walk to work in inclement weather. It is now the oldest bar in Missouri.
Tin Kitchen
Per their website, “Located in Weston, Missouri, Tin Kitchen restaurant occupies the old Rumpel Hardware building on Main Street in the downtown historic district. Built in 1842, the building has been lovingly restored to preserve all of it’s warmth and charm. The dining rooms showcase the original pressed-tin ceilings and walls.
Tin Kitchen’s menu features pecan-wood-smoked barbecue meats straight from the pit. Slow-smoked for up to 16 hours, Pulled pork, brisket, chicken, and contest-style BBQ ribs are among the favorites. Grilled meats and fish, Southern-style side dishes, fresh, crisp salads, and mouth-watering desserts round out the menu.”
Things to See & Do
Cody Home
Buffalo Bill’s uncle, Elijah Cody, lived in a home in Weston, MO, which Buffalo Bill frequently visited. The home has been owned by the McCalley family, since 1947. While you can’t go inside, there is a plaque out front, commemorating ownership.
Historic Weston Orchard and Vineyard
Some of the Earth's greatest apples are grown right in the Missouri River Valley. They grow apples, strawberries, peaches, tart cherries, and pumpkins. You can explore seasonal u-pick fruit in the orchard, enjoy outdoor games and activities for all ages, and sample delicious donuts and wine in the spacious Cider Barn.
Holladay Distillery
A limestone spring was first discovered by Lewis and Clark, during their 1804 expedition, in what is Weston, MO today. A pure limestone spring was a rarity, of which brothers Ben Holladay and Major David Holladay capitalized on. After visiting the site, which was then a meat-packing house, the Holladay brothers divined an even greater purpose for that limestone spring: Bourbon.
Together, they founded this distillery in 1856. Ben Holladay went on to great fame and fortune as the “Stagecoach King,” running the stagecoach lines from Missouri to the West Coast that later became the Wells Fargo Express, and ultimately, acquiring the Pony Express as well. He was a serial entrepreneur who owned saloons, hotels, and silver mines, and by 1864, he was the largest individual employer in the United States. Little did he know that his distillery would become the lasting legacy that carried the Holladay name well into the future.
Jowler Creek Winery
The first “green” winery in the state of Missouri.
National Silk Art Museum
The creation of silk-woven tapestries dates back to the 1700s. They are composed of thousands of dots of color and were translated into punched paper cards, similar to binary code, and run through the loom. The size and color of the thread and other elements are changed to create different looks. For instance, the thickness of a black thread can determine the depth of field. Because tapestry codes were often based on actual paintings, tapestries have been used to recreate lost works of art.
Old River Landing
Nearly brand new to Weston is a hidden complex of fun experiences right at the Old River Landing. It includes an open air saloon, Coal Saloon, Coal House Lodge, Jeff’s Architectural Salvage, and J.T.’s General Store. While we didn’t get a chance to stop and take a look around, we hear it’s worth it!
The St. George Hotel
Beginning in 1845, The Saint George Hotel opened its doors to steamboat Captains, tradesmen, and travelers alike (it’s also home to O’Malley’s 1842 pub). While it still serves as a hotel (we do not recommend a stay there), they will also give you a tour if you ask.
Town Events
This little town has annual events that people from Kansas City and the surrounding areas, love to attend. This includes Weston Applefest, Weston Irish Fest, Tree Lighting Ceremony, Big Foot Search, and so many more.
wandering
Given that the entire town is on the historic registry list, it means they must keep (and maintain) all façades the way they were, which includes old signage and anything else deemed historically significant. They have a lot of wonderful shops and cafes, too. It makes for a great time just wandering around!
Weston Historical Museum
From rare Native American moccasins to early physician instruments to vintage clothing displays; the Weston Historical Museum has preserved local artifacts to enjoy today. Discover what life was like in Platte County from prehistoric days through World War II. Favorite exhibits include Civil War relics, a newspaper office, household items, tools, glassware, china, furniture, historic documents and everyday objects from the area's past. The 'Nostalgia Store' in the museum features a variety of books, games and candy.
Weston Red Barn Farm
Per their website, “In the spirit of preserving the American dream of farming, the Red Barn Farm offers visitors the opportunity to experience a real working farmstead. We feature traditional farm animals and crops found in Missouri during the 19th century. In addition to the working farm, we offer educational tours for children, a country store featuring fresh produce, gorgeous wedding facilities, and our signature fall festival featuring U-pick pumpkins, apples and flowers.”
A History Summary
12th - 18th century - Native Americans occupied the land known today as “Platte County”.
1803 - The Louisiana Purchase opened the territory for the eventual settling of Weston.
1804 - The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped in the Weston, MO area where City Hall is today.
1836 - Weston was the oldest settlement in the Platte Purchase and was therefore also the farthest western settlement in the U.S. It was considered the “crown jewel” of the purchase.
1837 - The town was established.
1838 - The city cemetery was chartered.
1842 - The Weston Brewing Company was first established in 1842 by German immigrant John Georgian, and was one of the first lager beer breweries in the U.S. Five arched, limestone cellars, dug to a depth of 55 feet below ground, were constructed to create the ideal conditions for Georgian's lager beer, which needed to be stored below 60 degrees.
1845 - The St. George Hotel was opened.
1850 - Over 265 steamboats a year docked at the Port of Weston.
1855 - The town had over 5,000 inhabitants, and a major fire destroyed 41 downtown businesses, storage warehouses and two homes.
1856 - The Holladay Distillery was established.
1858 - Another fire broke out but this time, over civil rights.
1860 - Industrial hemp reached peak production.
1861 - Railroad tracks were laid down.
1869 - A public school was established.
1881 - A flood shifted the river into an old channel some two miles away.
1885 - With the loss of the port and farmhands to work the labor-intensive crop, the last hemp was shipped from the town.
Late 19th century - Hemp production was replaced with tobacco farming. Also, Sebus Hardware, the oldest business still operating, was established.
1890 - St. George Hotel burnt down but was immediately rebuilt.
1893 - The Bank of Weston opened.
1904 - The town’s first phone system was established.
1912 - The first tobacco auction took place (its final was 2001).
1919 - Electric service was established for residents and businesses.
1942 - The Holladay Distillery was sold twice with name changes each time before the third owner, Isadore Singer, bought the McCormick brand name and a specific type of production process from a distillery in nearby Waldron, in this year. Today, it is the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi, operating on its original site.
1972 - All 22 blocks of the town are on the National Historic Registry.
