About

The History

Sketch of homestead

Originally traversed by Native Americans and then homesteaded by various families, The Shamrock Ranch has had a colorful history. It boasts 323 acres of tree-lined rolling hills and rock bluffs, with centerpieces that include a cabin built in the early 1920s and a 100-year-old Quonset barn. As the land was transitioned through new generations of owners,  the cabin was restored and an additional large green barn was built on the property.

When the Ranch’s current owners, the Rileys, purchased the farm in February 2019, they did so with the intent to use it for weekend getaways. In addition to serving as a place for hunting, fishing, hiking in the woods and relaxing, Mike and Denise envisioned passing it down to their boys one day to honor its multi-generational roots.

Read more about The Ranch’s rich history.

The Renovation

After hosting a few gatherings of friends and family, the Rileys decided the Ranch was a treasure too special to keep to themselves. With a little research and a lot of planning, an intensive renovation began. Mike oversaw the design and construction process while Denise worked to ensure every detail was handled with care. The dozens of locust trees surrounding the original cabin and barn that were obscuring the beauty of the property have since been removed. The Quonset barn was remodeled with reclaimed lumber and a new metal roof; the addition of heating and cooling and speakers quickly turned it into a small event venue for 150-200.

The reception barn was updated to handle overflow or to serve as a separate dining space. Its deer-cleaning room has been expanded to pass the Ray County Public Health Department as a certified catering kitchen with a refrigerator, prep area, sinks, hand washing station, ice maker and microwave. Two unisex, ADA-compliant bathrooms have been installed between the two buildings for easy guest access. A second fishing pond was created and stocked, and the cabin has seen the most incredible transformation of all.

In addition to adding a hearth room, all windows and flooring have been updated, the kitchen fully gutted and remodeled, and a half-bath added. The Rileys sought to keep as much character of the original cabin as possible while making it more user-friendly. It features four bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs, as well as a full bathroom downstairs in the basement and laundry area. A 14-foot deck off the hearth room connects to a patio that wraps around to the newly redone porch at the front of the house, while providing easy access to the property’s apple and peach orchard.

Finally, three RV sites with electric hookups, a spigot for filling water tanks and a portable fireplace overlook the spring-fed pond. These can accommodate 40+ foot camper and trailer models, perfect for housing friends, family or additional guests at your next event.

The Rileys

The Rileys are a hardworking Midwestern family with a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Mike has spent the last 17 years owning, managing and growing a leading building automation systems company in Lee’s Summit. In addition to raising their two boys, Denise transitioned from her 20+ year in human resources and is now an avid runner with a huge heart for numerous philanthropic causes. For the past seven years, she has run for Team World Vision raising money and awareness for sustainable clean water and health sanitation in third-world countries, with a specific focus on South Sudan in the last three years. In addition, she and Mike teamed up to chair the American Heart Association Greater Kansas City Heart Walk in 2021 to raise money for a cause that has impacted their family.

Their boys, William and Nathan, grew up entrenched in Boy Scouts, sports and school. Nathan is currently a junior at the University of Missouri studying civil engineering. William, a civil engineer at Burns & McDonnell, and his new bride, Kelsey, started their recent wedding festivities with the The Shamrock Ranch’s first major event in November 2021 — their rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

In the shamrock tradition of hope, faith and love, we hope you enjoy your time on the Ranch as much as we do.

God Bless,
Mike & Denise

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