CityBeat
BUSINESS
BY JULIE JONES
Be their guest
The Kennedy Mansion in north Tulsa is transformed into a
European-style Bed and Breakfast thanks to its eclectic new owners.
Located at 506 W. Fairview St.,
the Kennedy Mansion was built
in 1925 by Samuel Kennedy,
one of Tulsa’s founders.
TUCKED AWAY in north Tulsa throughout Europe for more than
is a historic district of mansions 2,000 concert performances.
unbeknownst to many Tulsans. Darell says he knew it was true
Native Tulsan Darell Christopher love when Françoise agreed to
and his wife, Françoise, discov- move back to Tulsa with him and
ered one of these hidden jew- then on the plane said, “Now,
els and transformed it into a whereis Tulsa?”
European getaway — the Kennedy Once back on Tulsa soil,
Mansion Bed and Breakfast. Darell began work for the Tulsa
“There’s something lacking in Metropolitan Ministry, taught
America,” Darell says. “We don’t sociology at Tulsa Community
have time to take time.” College and continued to sing jazz;
But the couple are working to Françoise painted and honed her Darell Christopher
change all of that and make the hotel management skills at the and his wife, Fran-
mansion an elegant retreat that’s Hotel Ambassador and Marriott. çoise, met in Europe
close to the hustle and bustle of Today, it’s her ability to com- but returned to Tulsa
downtown. bine those skills with her cooking so Darell could live
“We wanted a historic home to experience to create a successful closer to his mother.
show people,” Françoise says of business with European gourmet
their Osage Hills purchase. “And meals. ings and décor. The couple say says. “He was one of the movers
we have the best sunset and the The Christophers bought the it’s always a work in progress, but and shakers.”
best sunrise.” Kennedy Mansion in good shape they have enjoyed every step — Many celebrities took up resi-
The couple — Darell is American in December 2006 and opened from purchasing pieces in Europe dence in the mansion after the
and Françoise is French — met in its doors to guests in March 2007. to greeting their first guests in family left, including the band
the mid-1990s at Pegasus Spa in The original blueprints were lost, front of the sweeping red gum Aerosmith, who used the ball-Germany, where Françoise was a but previous owners Phil and wood staircase in the foyer. Next room as a recording studio, and
co-owner. Marilyn Elder had used home up: turning the third-floor ball- Dana Plato from the television
“I was planning to stop my mem- movies of the Kennedys to put room into a penthouse. show “Diff’rent Strokes.” The cel-bership the first day she came into the house back together before “We feel like pioneers,” Darell lar was even used as a speak-easy
work,” Darell says. “Eight months the Christophers purchased it. says. during prohibition times.
later, I was in great shape.” “I give them credit for doing The Kennedy Mansion was built Today each of the mansion’s
Although neither was look- that,” Darell says. “It takes some- by oil pioneer Samuel Kennedy in five bedrooms offers a different
ing for a relationship, the two one saying that this is worth sav- 1925 and owned by the Kennedy personality and each has a private
quickly fell for each other. Soon ing and have a vision.” family until the early ’40s. terrace. Weddings are often held
Françoise became Darell’s jazz It was up to the Christophers “Sam Kennedy is a forgotten in the gazebo near the sunken
band manager, and they traveled to finish the project with furnish- founding father of Tulsa,” Darell garden and pool in the mansion’s
