Hangar Kafe in Miller, Missouri

​Detour on Route 66

​I left Springfield, MO on a Monday in April. I had 2 days to drive home to Houston, so I meandered on Route 66 a bit.

By 11:30, I had a coffee headache. I had been so busy grinning over passing barns and vintage gas stations and old motor courts, that I'd forgotten to grab breakfast or coffee.

​"A Must See"
​
This is the first sign that caught my eye. I was on a 2-lane road in the middle of nowhere. What was this sign pulling me towards? I pulled over and studied the sign's hot air balloon and airplanes.  

 Above the words, I saw the cute little design with knife, fork and spoon. I eagerly continued on, until I saw the next sign.

​​A Mirage?

This sight from my car window was almost too good to be true. I needed a restroom & coffee break and  it looked like I could get that, right along with a little adventure!

I zoomed in for this photo. The rounded structures were actually much further away. I  laughed out loud. It just seemed so whimsical, to come across this Oz-like image across the fields. Best of all, I was being invited by the signs to stop in!

Tables and Cars
​
​I parked beside some work trucks and walked across a spacious patio with enough tables for a large crowd. 

There were a couple of small planes on green field and two sweet vintage cars under the shelter. I smiled and headed inside.

In the Hangar
​
​I stepped through the doors and found the colorful dining area nearly empty. Roberta, in the pink sweatshirt, welcomed me in and I asked about coffee.

Then I realized how hungry I was and asked if they were still serving breakfast.

Taking It In
​
​She rushed off to check with the cook and I sat at one of the cute little diner tables and stared in every direction. Bright, planes and hot air balloons swooped above me. A runway, right beside my table, lead to the Men's Room. 

The women's room door was also painted with field and sky to fit in with the wall mural. There was no need for a TV, with all the amusement, but at least I got to see a little retro "Andy Griffith" along with my comfort food breakfast... which arrived not long after my coffee.

Table With a View

I had no idea how hungry I was, until my plate was in front of me. I don't know about the rest of the food, but my simple scrambled egg breakfast was perfect. I was ready to devour my food, but heard a roar behind me.​​

I turned around towards the wall of glass, to see where the noise was coming from. Outside, one plane had landed and another was just heading off to the grass runway. I grabbed my camera and left my plate.

Inside and Out
​
The planes outside were just as adorable as the ones decorating the restaurant ceiling. I spent a little time squinting into the noon sun, watching the plane activity.  

Back inside, Roberta offered to reheat my breakfast, but I assured her, it was fine. I let her fill me in, a little more. I learned that the other nearby hangar was where sky diving and crop dusting classes were held. I also learned about the Kingsley Brothers. Kiman, Kaleb and Kaland are 4th generation farmers in the Miller, MO area. The 3 farmers and cropdusters, opened the cafe a number of years ago. Roberta tole me their mom was helping in the kitchen at the moment. I saw Mrs. Kingsley come out for a little break, at one point.

Balloon and Flight Stories
​
​After I finished my eggs, I wandered to the additional room, where private parties are often held. I studied the photos of tractors and crop dusters, skydivers and hot air balloons. I wondered about the people in the photos and their stories. Roberta introduced me to a pilot who had just parked his plane. "He might want to eat lunch with you," she added. I wondered if she maybe she'd never served a woman eating by herself before.

I would have gladly shared my table, but the very nice pilot wasn't stopping to eat. It would have been fun to have heard his stories, but I actually have plenty of my own to share.  

I could have told about my 5-dollar flight lesson in 1975...or my hot air balloon ride, with a crash landing... or my one time parachuting experience, with twisted lines..." He probably would have thought I'd made up those stories anyway. ​ 
​
Photo Covered Walls

I only spoke a few words with the pilot, but a gentleman sitting nearby noticed me looking at the photos. He struck up a conversation.

He owned a horse ranch (I believe) and had taken up photography in recent years. The photos were his and they were quite entertaining. 

​From Above

​I loved this photo, taken from a plane, I can only assume. Seeing the photos made me wish I didn't live so far away. 

What fun to come back on a weekend and eat lunch, watching people jump from planes, or dancing to a live band in the evening.

​Balloon Basket

When it was time to pay my $5.00 bill, I walked over to the hot air balloon basket where the cash register was held.

That's about the size of the basket that I was in, when it smacked ground and dragged through an oat field in 1974. Oh what fun, being reminded of some of my own past, sky-adventures!

​A Quick Pic
​
​Before heading out, I asked Roberta if I could get a quick photo of her. Next thing I knew, she was introducing me to Kayland Kingsley and his friend. 

They graciously put up with the interruption. Then Roberta asked me to sign the guest book with my address, so I'd be on the mailing list.

​Few Days Later

​A few days later a card arrived in the mail. What a surprise! 

When I read the note, I learned "Bert" is Roberta's preferred name. And I learned that Bert has some pretty good drawing skills!

​​Back for Pie
​
After reading the note, I decided I will have to get back that way just to show Don this wonderful little Missouri oasis.

Also, I'll need to have some of Bert's pie!

​​One More Update!

In November 2019, I returned to Hangar Kafe, with my husband and my dad!

What a treat to have a meal with family and another visit with Bert! 
​