Walnut Street Inn on market after co-owner’s death

PHOTO COURTESY WALNUT STREET INN

Gary Blankenship, above, and his wife Paula bought Walnut Street Inn in 1996.

Two months after its co-owner’s sudden death, Walnut Street Inn has been listed for sale.

Murney Associates, Realtors posted the property for sale with a price tag of $899,900 on Jan. 3. The listing includes the inn at 900 E. Walnut St., as well as a carriage house, a separate property at 916 E. Walnut St. and 24 surface parking spaces.

The inn has 14 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms spanning 10,480 square feet, according to the posting. It features original leaded-glass windows, Corinthian columns and millwork throughout. It was built in the mid-1890s and is known as the McCann-Jewell House.

Gary and Paula Blankenship purchased Walnut Street Inn in July 1996 from Gary and Nancy Brown, who in 1987 turned the century-old house into a bed and breakfast, according to WalnutStreetInn.com.

“They wanted a family business, and owning a bed and breakfast had been a dream for many years,” the site reads.

In November 2019, Gary Blankenship died of a heart attack. During his career, he was past president of the Historic Walnut Street Association and taught classes for aspiring innkeepers at Missouri State University, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The inn has a long history on the historic Springfield street. The property was built by Charles McCann, co-founder of Springfield Grocer Co., and another former owner includes Harry Jewell, who previously owned the Springfield News-Leader.

Paula Blankenship could not be reached by deadline for comment on the property listing.