The Great Plains Bunk House

09/03/2026

08/12/2026

Tonight is a night to LOOK UP!

August 12, 2026 is bringing us an incredible combination of astronomical events—and with the wide-open skies of the Great Plains, we have a pretty amazing place to enjoy them.

*The Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks
The Perseids are one of the most anticipated meteor showers of the year. Tonight into the early morning hours, dozens of meteors per hour may be visible under dark, clear skies. No telescope needed! Find a dark spot, give your eyes about 20–30 minutes to adjust, lean back and watch as much of the sky as you can.

*A New Moon Means DARK Skies
Tonight’s New Moon means there’s virtually no moonlight competing with the meteor shower. That makes this year’s Perseid peak especially exciting for those of us fortunate enough to have truly dark skies.

*A Six-Planet Parade
Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are all gathered across the morning sky. Mercury, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn can potentially be seen with the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or a telescope. Look before sunrise!

*A Total Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse also takes place today! The path of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia and Spain. We won’t experience totality here in Oklahoma, but it’s still pretty incredible to think about everything happening above us on the same day.

So tonight, turn off the porch lights for a while. Put the phone down. Grab a blanket or lawn chair, let your eyes adjust to the darkness and spend a little time looking up.

Sometimes we get so busy with what’s happening here on the ground that we forget just how much is happening above us.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” — Psalm 19:1 ESV

Enjoy God’s creation.

— The Great Plains Bunk House

08/08/2026

I like sharing reviews from time to time 🩵
We love what we do and the people we get to meet!
LuShane Maness, Parker Lee Maness, Lindsey Maness Cortese

08/05/2026

This summer has been such a blessing, and I realized I’ve done a terrible job taking photos! 😅 With so many wonderful guests coming and going, I just haven’t kept up. If you’ve stayed with us this summer and have photos, I’d absolutely love for you to share them in the comments or tag us. Seeing the Bunk House through your eyes means so much to us.

It’s been a record-breaking summer here at the Great Plains Bunk House! We’ve welcomed TAT riders, Airbnb travelers, families, stargazers, birders, and guests celebrating special events. One of our greatest blessings has been the conversations shared around the table and on the porch. We’ve enjoyed meals, stories, laughter, and getting to know people from all over the country. It has been such a joy to watch people embrace the quiet beauty and unique experience the Oklahoma Panhandle has to offer.

This year also brought some exciting firsts. Our Bunk House garden has been thriving, and we’ve had our first wildlife rehabilitation guests through the Prairie Life Learning Initiative Foundation. Caring for God’s creatures of the Great Plains has been both humbling and rewarding, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow.

To every guest who has stayed with us—thank you. Your support means more than you know, and we look forward to welcoming many more of you to the prairie.

08/05/2026

This beautiful Ferruginous Hawk is a juvenile, which means he’s still learning to survive on his own. After leaving the nest, young hawks spend several weeks following their parents and begging for food while they learn to hunt.

He was found after spending several days in the same park, repeatedly giving the loud, high-pitched begging call young hawks use to get their parents’ attention for food. He may have become separated from his parents or simply struggled to make the transition to hunting on his own.

The good news is… he’s eating! That’s a very encouraging sign, and we’re hopeful that with a little time and proper care, he’ll be ready to return to the wild where he belongs. Rehab1006.

06/26/2026

Meet the newest Honorary Directors of Public Relations for Prairie Life Learning Initiative Foundation and the newest members of The Great Plains Bunk House Welcome Committee…

Idgie & Ruth
If their names sound familiar, it’s because they were inspired by two beloved characters from one of our family’s favorite movies, Fried Green Tomatoes. Their story of friendship, loyalty, and resilience left a lasting impression on our family, making these names an easy choice.

Idgie and Ruth will be eight weeks old this Monday. Right now they’re still babies, eating a special baby skunk formula four times a day and sleeping much of the day. This season is all about bonding, so you’ll usually find one of them curled up in our arms as we spend as much time with them as possible. Before long, they’ll trade sleepy snuggles for playful adventures, and we can’t wait to share every step of the journey with you.

Around here, we believe some of the best classrooms don’t have four walls, and some of the best teachers have four legs.

As our Honorary Directors of Public Relations, Idgie and Ruth will help introduce children and families to the mission of Prairie Life Learning Initiative Foundation. Through educational programs and hands-on experiences, they’ll help us teach about wildlife, conservation, responsible animal care, and the natural world around us.

Let’s be honest… skunks aren’t usually the first animals people fall in love with, and that’s exactly why we chose them. We hope these two girls will spark curiosity, encourage learning, and help people discover the incredible wildlife that shares our prairie home.

Because we live here at The Great Plains Bunk House, guests will likely spot Idgie and Ruth around the property as they settle into prairie life.

We have a feeling they’re going to be very good at their jobs, both as Honorary Directors of Public Relations and as members of The Great Plains Bunk House Welcome Committee.

This is just the beginning of Idgie and Ruth’s story, and we can’t wait to share every adventure and every lesson they bring to Prairie Life.

Educational Note:
Idgie and Ruth are domestically bred skunks, not wild skunks. They were obtained from Keystone Waterfowl & Exotics, a licensed breeder, and are vaccinated, receive routine veterinary care, and have been descented by a licensed veterinarian. Because they have been descented, they do not pose a risk of spraying guests.

Idgie and Ruth are not part of our wildlife rehabilitation program. They are educational animals whose purpose is to help children and families learn about wildlife, conservation, responsible animal care, and the incredible diversity of God’s creation.

Laws regarding domesticated skunks vary by state. If you’re interested in owning one, please research your state’s regulations and work only with a licensed breeder. Wild skunks should remain in the wild and should never be taken from their natural habitat.

A special thank you to Keystone Waterfowl & Exotics for the exceptional care and dedication they put into raising these wonderful animals. We are excited to continue their journey here on the prairie.

Lindsey Maness Cortese

06/18/2026

Many of you know us through The Great Plains Bunk House. What began as a family dream to create a place of hospitality and share the beauty of the Great Plains has also become a place where we’ve shared many of the things we love most—animals, wildlife, gardening, practical life skills, dark skies, nature, and the unique heritage of prairie living.

Over the years, many of you have followed along as we’ve shared those passions, and today we’re excited to share how all of those pieces are coming together.

We’re proud to officially introduce Prairie Life Learning Initiative Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, conservation, and community here on the Great Plains.

If you’ve followed this page for very long, you’ve probably noticed that we love sharing the things we’re passionate about—whether that’s caring for animals, identifying birds, growing a garden, preserving food, learning practical skills, exploring the night sky, or simply appreciating the beauty of the prairie.

Over time, we realized all of these interests and experiences were connected. They weren’t just hobbies or things we enjoyed sharing—they were pieces of a larger vision. That realization eventually led to the creation of Prairie Life Learning Initiative Foundation.

Our goal isn’t simply to teach information—it’s to create experiences that inspire curiosity, stewardship, compassion, and a deeper connection to the world around us.

Our hope is to create opportunities for people to connect with the land, the animals, and the practical skills that have shaped life on the prairie for generations. Through hands-on workshops, educational programs, community events, and online resources, we hope to inspire confidence, learning, and a deeper appreciation for the world around us.

We envision families, homeschool groups, guests, and community members having opportunities to learn together—whether that’s through practical life skills, conservation education, wildlife experiences, agriculture, nature exploration, or even dark sky education.

Whether someone visits for a weekend at the Bunk House, attends a workshop, follows along online, or uses one of our educational resources at home, our hope is that they leave with a greater appreciation for the Great Plains, the natural world, and the practical skills that connect us to both.

In addition to workshops and in-person learning opportunities, we will also be creating educational resources that families can access from anywhere. We plan to share educational content through the Great Plains Bunk House page, our website, and books and learning materials available on Amazon, making it possible for people to continue learning long after they leave the property.

One of the most exciting parts of this journey is that we are now an officially licensed Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, serving our county and surrounding communities.

Wildlife rehabilitation provides temporary care for injured, orphaned, and displaced native wildlife with the goal of returning healthy animals to their natural habitats whenever possible. In rural areas like ours, those resources can be limited, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to help fill that need.

To us, wildlife rehabilitation isn’t separate from this mission—it fits perfectly alongside it. It provides opportunities to care, to learn, and to develop a deeper appreciation for the wildlife that shares our prairie home.

Many of you may not know that our family recently moved on-site at The Great Plains Bunk House. This move allows us to be more available to our guests, care for wildlife around the clock, and continue developing the educational opportunities we envision for both the Foundation and the Bunk House.

The Great Plains Bunk House will always remain a place of hospitality, rest, and connection. At the same time, it provides a beautiful setting where people can learn, explore, and experience prairie life firsthand.

We believe some of life’s most valuable lessons happen outside the classroom—while caring for an animal, planting a garden, watching a sunset, identifying a bird, learning a practical skill, or standing beneath a sky full of stars.

We’re also incredibly grateful for the individuals who have agreed to help guide this mission as members of the Prairie Life Learning Initiative Foundation Board of Directors:

• Lindsey Cortese – President
Providing leadership, overseeing daily operations, and guiding the Foundation’s vision and educational programming.

• Arron Cortese – Vice President
Supporting operations, facilities, agricultural initiatives, and hands-on project development.

• Jennifer Adee – Secretary & Compliance Officer
Helping maintain organizational records and ensure nonprofit compliance and accountability.

• Talisha Valdez – Education Overseer
Providing guidance and oversight for educational content and learning opportunities.

• Jarod Allen – Farm & Ranch Practices and Heritage Advisor
Sharing insight into agriculture, ranching traditions, practical skills, and the heritage that has shaped life on the Great Plains.

We certainly don’t have all the answers, and we’re sure there will be plenty to learn along the way. But we have a vision and a dream and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Whether you’re a guest at the Bunk House, a volunteer, a supporter, a community member, or simply someone who enjoys following along, we’re grateful you’re here.

Thank you for being part of this journey. We can’t wait to see where it leads.

Above all, we thank God for this opportunity and pray that He will always be honored as the Creator of the land, the wildlife, and the incredible world around us.

Prairie Life Learning Initiative Foundation
Learning from the land. Sharing its story.

06/01/2026

One of my new favorite apps is Merlin.

It allows you to record the birds around you, and in real time it identifies each species by sound. As a bird sings, its name on the screen turns yellow so you know exactly which bird you’re hearing at that moment.
This evening I sat by the pond at The Great Plains Bunk House for about 10 minutes and listened. These were the beautiful birds that graced me with their presence and songs.
What I find especially fascinating is how different the bird activity is depending on the time of day. The birds I heard this evening weren’t exactly the same birds I heard this morning or in the middle of the afternoon. It reminds me that nature is constantly changing, even when we’re standing in the same spot.
I think even if you’re not a huge bird enthusiast, you would find this fascinating. It’s amazing how much life and beauty surrounds us every day when we simply slow down long enough to notice it.
Nature has a way of reminding us that some of God’s greatest masterpieces aren’t found in museums—they’re right outside our door.

Which birds do you notice most often where you live?

05/18/2026

Years ago, I had a vision… that one day the pile of rubble we now call The Great Plains Bunk House would be enjoyed by people, travelers, star gazers, and those seeking quiet, nature, and simplicity. People who would appreciate the history, the hard work, and the unique themes woven into each room.

Most people thought I was crazy. First, how could old broom corn johnnies that had sat abandoned for years ever become a place people would want to stay? And second… why would anyone want to stay in the middle of nowhere?

But we believed this place was meant to be shared. We believed our way of life, the dirt roads, the dark skies, the quiet prairie sunsets, would not only be visited, but deeply appreciated by people from all over the world.

Today, 12 years later, that vision has become reality. We now host guests from near and far who often leave as friends.

This photo was taken last night by guests staying here at the Bunkhouse. Moments like this remind us that dreams really do come true. And sometimes… they keep growing.

What started as restoring a forgotten place has slowly grown into something even bigger than we imagined. We are now beginning the next chapter through Prairie Life Learning Initiative, a nonprofit focused on education, nature, prairie life, agriculture, dark skies, and giving children and families opportunities to reconnect with the land, creativity, and simple living.

Turns out, the middle of nowhere was exactly where this story was meant to begin. 🤍

Photo by: Bobby Ford
LuShane Maness Parker Lee Maness Lindsey Maness Cortese

05/06/2026

Out here on the Great Plains, you never know what’s going to come down the dirt road next.

One of the best parts of running The Great Plains Bunk House is meeting people from all walks of life—and seeing the incredible, creative, and downright unforgettable vehicles they travel in. From classic rigs and adventure builds to one-of-a-kind creations like this, every guest brings a story with them.

We’ve met travelers, dreamers, builders, stargazers, road-trippers, and families making memories together. And honestly, we wouldn’t trade it for anything.

There’s something special about a place where strangers gather under big skies, swap stories around a fire, and leave as friends.

To everyone who has made their way down our dirt road: thank you for making this little place in the Oklahoma Panhandle so interesting and full of life.