Reviving Burlingame, KS: Shepard House

04/19/2026

Today we celebrate 1 Year of owning the Shepard House!

At the time, it was a big vision… and a lot of unknowns. Today, we’re proud to say it’s no longer just a vision -it’s happening!

Over the past year, this 1906 landmark has gone from sitting unused for so long… to becoming an active, growing part of downtown Burlingame again.

Here’s what’s been brought back to life so far:

- The Den - Burlingame reopened just six months after the fire. What was lost has been rebuilt into a space full of energy again - food, families, friends, and a place people can gather.

- Stone Hall at The Shepard House: Burlingame KS is now open with the Dining Room fully restored. We’ve already hosted events in the space, including a family reunion just today, which is exactly what this building was meant for!

- 3 apartments have been fully renovated and are now leased, with more coming soon.

- Sweet Savings Bank Ice Cream Parlor has officially opened for its second season - bringing people through the doors, filling the space with the smell of fresh homemade waffle cones, and creating new memories inside a historic setting.

- And the Shepard House Laundromat - Burlingame KS is open and serving the community. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s functioning, improving, and meeting a real need while we continue working on it.

But this is just the first chapter!! Looking ahead to the next year:

- 3 additional apartments will be completed and available for rent upstairs soon!
- Continued upgrades to the laundromat, including replacing and repairing machines
- Renovation of the Stone Hall Ballroom, opening a second event space for larger gatherings

And beyond that… there are still multiple apartment units in the southwest portion of the building, some already at drywall stage, others down to the studs, waiting for their turn in the renovation process. Piece by piece, we’ll keep moving forward.

The Shepard House has stood in Burlingame for over a century. It’s seen different businesses, different generations, and different seasons of life in this town. Now, it’s being built back into something that serves today’s community, while still respecting everything it’s been before! Piece by piece, we’ll keep moving forward.

We also want to take a moment to say thank you!

This project wouldn’t be possible without this community. The support, encouragement, patience, and belief in what we’re doing has carried us through this first year.

If you’ve followed along, shared a post, stopped in, told a friend, or supported one of the businesses, you’ve been a part of this progress!

And if you’re wondering how you can continue to support us as we move into year two:
• Share our posts and help spread the word
• Visit and support the businesses inside the Shepard House
• Tell friends and family about the space
• Leave reviews on Google and Facebook for Sweet Savings Bank Ice Cream Parlor, Stone Hall at The Shepard House: Burlingame KS, Shepard House Laundromat - Burlingame KS and The Den - Burlingame

Every little bit truly makes a difference.

If you want to learn more about what’s here and what’s coming: https://shepardhouseenterp.wixsite.com/shepardhouseks

Thank you for being part of this first year with us. 💜
Enjoy the Year 1 Photo Drop!
— The Garrisons & Ridgeways

04/18/2026

Graduation season is almost here… and dates are filling faster than you think 👀🎓

If you’re planning a graduation party, family gathering, bridal shower, or summer celebration, Stone Hall at The Shepard House offers a one-of-a-kind historic space right here in downtown Burlingame.

✨ Full-day or short-duration rental options in our Dining Room
✨ Beautiful historic charm with modern flexibility

Whether you’re celebrating a graduate or hosting a summer get-together, we’d love to help make it special 💜

📅 Now booking graduation parties & summer events
📞 Call or text: 785-422-0507
💬 A refundable deposit is required to reserve your date

Don’t wait - secure your spot before the calendar fills up!

04/17/2026

Does your group need to raise money for an upcoming trip, activity, uniforms, or something else?

Instead of the same old fundraisers… why not bring the fun to one of our upcoming Burlingame Chamber events?

We’re looking for local groups and nonprofits to set up and run activities like:
Cow Pie Bingo 🐄
Mud Volleyball Tournament 🏐
Cake Walk 🎂
Kids Games 🎯
Face Painting 🎨
Concession Stand 🌭🍿
…and more!

These activities don’t just help you raise the funds you need—they also make our events even better for the whole community. Win-win all around 🙌

✔️ No cost to set up a booth for local nonprofits
✔️ Built-in crowds at our events
✔️ A fun way to engage with the community

Let’s help you hit your fundraising goals while making Burlingame events even more fun!

Contact us today to get signed up 📩
[email protected]

04/06/2026

Okay… we might be a few days late getting this posted 😅 but there’s still a lot happening in Burlingame this April!

Now that Spring Fling and garage sale weekend is behind us, we’re rolling right into a full month of community events, meetings, and things happening around town.

You’ll still find:
✨ Local library events and programs
✨ City Council & Chamber meetings
✨ Arbor Day celebrations
✨ And plenty of opportunities to stop downtown

Take a look through the calendar and mark your favorites - you won’t want to miss what’s still to come this month!

As always, we’ll keep sharing reminders along the way and send us a message if you have an event for the following month!

Happy Easter Everyone! 💜

04/02/2026

Our March $500 grant winner is The Shepard House in Burlingame!

The Shepard House is a restored historic landmark in downtown Burlingame, now home to Sweet Savings Bank Ice Cream Parlor, Stone Hall at The Shepard House: Burlingame KS event space, a community laundromat, and The Den - Burlingame Bar & Grill. It’s a space designed to bring people together while breathing new life into the heart of the community. Check out the Sweet Savings Bank Grand Opening on April 4 🍦 and for more info on all things Shepard House, visit bit.ly/4lWilMW.

We're drawing a monthly $500 business grant winner every month in 2026 so don't forget to make sure your business is listed in the Osage County Business Directory at osageco.org.

For more info, contact Colleen Mendoza at [email protected].

Sponsored by Osage County Kansas Economic Development

03/22/2026

The laundromat is opening TOMORROW!
Help spread the word by sharing the post.

Thank you for your support!

🧺🎉 IT’S FINALLY TIME, BURLINGAME! 🎉🧺
Our laundromat at the Shepard House will officially be OPENING TOMORROW — Monday, March 23rd!

We’re excited to get the doors open and start serving the community!

📍 Location:
107 N Topeka Ave
Burlingame, KS

🕗 Hours:
Open daily from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
🫧 Last wash starts at 7:00 PM

⚠️ A few important notes as we get started: ⚠️
• Our change machine is currently being repaired, so please bring your own quarters for now
• A few washers and dryers are temporarily out of order (clearly marked) while we wait on parts

The laundromat is still a work in progress, but we wanted to open as soon as possible for the community. We appreciate your patience as we continue improving the space — and we’re so excited to finally bring this service back to Burlingame!

Please help us spread the word — share this post!

03/14/2026

The Stone Hall at The Shepard House: Burlingame KS is open today (3/14) until 4pm for an open house!

Go see the newly renovated space!

03/01/2026

🌷 March is FULL in Burlingame! 🌷

Longer days are coming and so are some great reasons to get out and enjoy downtown. From community gatherings to special events, there’s something happening all month long.

We’re proud to be part of a town that shows up, supports local, and keeps Santa Fe moving. 💜

Take a look at what’s coming up, mark your calendars, and tag a friend you want to attend with!

And as always — if we missed an event, drop it in the comments so we can help spread the word.

📅 Planning an April event? If you’d like it featured on next month’s calendar, send us a message with the details so we can help showcase it!

Let’s keep reviving Burlingame… together.

03/01/2026

02/26/2026

Another Big Announcement! 🎉

We’re excited to announce the launch of the brand-new Shepard House website — your one-stop spot to explore everything happening inside our historic downtown building!

From:
🍦 Sweet Savings Bank Ice Cream Parlor
🍽 The Den - Burlingame
🎉 Stone Hall at The Shepard House: Burlingame KS
🧺 Shepard House Laundromat - Burlingame KS
🏠 Apartments & more

You can now find details, photos, rental information, and updates all in one place.

Take a look and explore what’s happening at the Shepard House: https://shepardhouseenterp.wixsite.com/shepardhouseks

Downtown Burlingame is growing — and we’re so glad you’re part of it. 💜