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Some places draw you in, like a storybook you didn’t know you were eager to read. That’s how I felt about the Beard and Lady Inn along historic train tracks in Chester. Nestled in a quiet mountain town that most folks pass by, this landmark building has embraced a new kind of magic, blending century-old charm with earthy, apothecary alchemy and raising more questions about the mystery of the mountains.
And it’s not just the building’s past that’s enchanting. The people fill its rooms with stories, potions, and plants plucked straight from the hills. After a day spent wandering its creaky hallways and talking with the warm-hearted, wise-beyond-her-years Eden, the Inn’s resident potion maker and herbal educator, I walked away not only wanting to stay a night but also to dig up some roots and learn how to make redbud jelly.
What Is the Beard and Lady Inn?
Located in Chester (population: tiny), the Beard and Lady Inn feels like you’ve stepped into the main scene of a bank robbery in the 1880s. It’s part boutique hotel, part creative gathering space and part working apothecary. However, it is truly historic and unique, surpassing anything I’ve ever experienced. Guests can book a room for the night, take a class on foraging and herbal remedies or shop for handcrafted salves, plants and seasonal tinctures.
But don’t let its polished edges deceive you; the Beard and Lady Inn is deeply rooted in local lore and traditions. It’s the kind of place where art and herbalism converge, with spooky tales lifted from history books, and the resident potion maker brings generational knowledge to life. Essentially, it’s a place where you come to learn and linger.
The Inn is a perfect spot for a quiet getaway where authors sit in corner windows and work at typewriter desks. Passersby drop in for an evening on their way to the next travel destination or couple’s retreat to dream about a different time and relive the past. Sip tea on the balcony and watch the train. Wander to the Saturday morning farmers market and grab a bite at the local country café.
A Little History from Chester, AR
Chester was once a bustling railroad town with a rich and rowdy past. The Inn, built in the late 1880s, has lived many lives: it was once an old hotel, a brothel and even a movie set. (Yep, bullet holes upstairs still whisper stories from when Frank and Jesse was filmed here.) It is the only building in town that survived two tornadoes and two catastrophic fires.
There’s something wonderfully eerie about its preserved wooden floors, the original leaning stairs, and tales of old saloons and benefit dinners. You’ll hear about Room 11, where the town doctor once traded pig fat and apples for house calls, the bullet holes in the ceiling from a miscommunication, and the original saloon “Butler’s” that once stood next door.
These days, it’s all restored with a touch of whimsy and reverence, including a room-by-room playlist. Guests and local events bring the spaces to life, and a conjoined apothecary reminds you that the surrounding hills can heal.
Mixing It Up: The Apothecary Inside the Inn
Step into the Beard & Lady Apothecary, and you might find Eden restocking elderberry syrup, blending a new salve, or preparing for one of her popular herbal classes. She is a fourth-generation native of the surrounding mountains and has, quite literally, been drawn to this building her entire life.
Because sometimes, the most unexpected places carry the richest stories—and the wildest remedies grow right under your feet.
Eden now forages and creates herbal products from ingredients sourced directly from the hills, such as redbud jelly, mullein leaf kits, and tinctures for a range of conditions, including anxiety and stubborn coughs. Lacey, who manages the apothecary’s more traditional beauty and skincare side, complements Eden’s medicinal focus with serums and self-care products.
They offer herbal walks once a month, during which Eden teaches guests to identify wild edibles and sometimes creates a tincture for them to take home. You can also book a custom class if you’re planning a retreat or wedding stay at the Inn, or looking for a creative outing for a family reunion or a group of friends.
Nature’s Pharmacy: Wild Arkansas in Summer
One of the most unexpected aspects of my visit was how inspired I felt to walk outside and pay attention. Eden’s knowledge of the land is both practical and poetic. When foraging, we recommend that you educate yourself before consuming plants from the wild.
Wild Foods to Forage in Summer:
- Blackberries & Mulberries – Juicy and ready by June.
- Lamb’s Quarters – A nutrient-dense spinach substitute.
- Purslane, Chickweed, Curly Dock – Great salad greens or steamed vegetables.
- Dandelion Leaves & Mint – Add to summer drinks or garnish fresh dishes.
- Basil – Foraged or garden-grown, a seasonal favorite.
Summer Remedies from the Forest:
- Passionflower (Maypops) – A calming tincture for anxiety and insomnia.
- Purple Coneflower & Echinacea – Immunity support, best harvested later in summer.
- Yarrow – A go-to for wounds, fevers and antiviral protection.
- Jewelweed – Nature’s remedy for poison ivy.
- Wild Lettuce – Used historically as a mild pain reliever; best as a tincture, not a tea.
Eden says it best: “We’re just teaching forgotten stuff. These were everyday remedies for our grandparents. We’ve just lost the knowledge because we’ve had the luxury to forget.”
Worth the Drive: Popular Medicinal Items
Many of the items you’ll find at the Beard and Lady Apothecary are made right here in Chester, handcrafted, rooted in generations of mountain knowledge, and inspired by what’s blooming just beyond the front porch. Whether you’re stopping by the shop in person or browsing at a local farmers market, these customer-favorite products are worth the trip (and a few extras for your friends):
- Mullein Tincture (Sweetened Elixir) – A gentle yet powerful remedy for respiratory issues, mullein is your preferred choice for coughs, bronchitis, asthma and mucus congestion.
- Wild Lettuce Tincture – Known as “poor man’s opium,” this remedy from the Civil War era offers mild pain relief and sedative effects.
- Passion Flower Tincture – A calming aid for the central nervous system, perfect for anxiety, restlessness or sleep issues.
- Elderberry Syrup – A seasonal favorite that warms the throat and supports immune health.
- Pain Away Salve – Herbal first aid in a tin. Made with comfrey, arnica, wild lettuce, peppermint, lemongrass, and other inflammation-fighting plants, it promotes healing, improves circulation, and alleviates bruises, arthritis, and more.
- Natural “Icy Hot” Salve – A plant-based rub that features cayenne, peppermint, turmeric, clove, oregano and other warming botanicals.
- Essiac Tea Blend – A traditional herbal tea derived from an ancient recipe with deep roots in folk medicine, combining burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm bark and rhubarb root.
You will always walk away with both remedies and genuine knowledge of how to care for your body using the gifts of the land. As Eden puts it, “We don’t just sell things here. We pass things down.”
Beard and Lady Inn and Apothecary
411 E First Street, Chester
- Book a Room
- Shop around – open Wed-Sun
- Book a Class
- Host an Event
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