Timber Hills Lake Ranch: An outdoor enthusiast’s rural playground

Tucked away in the woodlands of Bourbon County, Kansas, lies a place where the outdoors aren’t just a backdrop—they’re the main attraction. About an hour and half south of Kansas City, Timber Hills Lake Ranch is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, with log cabins, private lakes for fishing and acres of land with deer and turkeys for hunting.

“We’ve built Timber Hills Lake Ranch to be more than just a hunting lodge,” says owner Joe Bisogno, who is best known as the founder of Mr. Goodscents. “It’s a place where people can reconnect with nature, test their skills and make memories that last a lifetime.”

Bisogno first conceived of his ranch retreat when he couldn’t find an adequate place to enjoy the outdoors with his children. The ranch now stretches across 1,500 acres of forests, fields and lakes, including rustic cabins and an event space. At first, Bisogno thought he would make his personal paradise a members-only venue. However, he feels so strongly that children and families need to enjoy the outdoors that he decided to go a different route and made the ranch open to all. 

The ranch hosts elk, buffalo and turkey hunts, as well as upland game bird excursions for pheasant and quail. Experienced guides and trained dogs make the hunts accessible even for first-timers.

Anglers can also keep themselves busy at the ranch’s 40-acre private lake and a series of stocked farm ponds. The waters are stocked with bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, and—seasonally—even trout. For families renting cabins on the property, fishing is included. For day-trippers, a modest fee opens the lake to casting lines from dawn until dusk.

There are also trails for hiking and ATV tours that will take you past historic stone walls from the Civil War era and remnants of early homesteads. Shooting enthusiasts have access to skeet ranges and pistol courses while water lovers can swim from the sandy beach during the summer or take a kayak out on the lake.

There are six private cabins that are outfitted with a small kitchen and can sleep up to four adults. For larger groups, there is a main lodge with an industrial kitchen and large space suitable for weddings, reunions and corporate retreats.

Even though the ranch’s original mission was to be a place for people to experience the outdoors, Bisogno, being continuously curious and ever optimistic, is using the ranch’s resources to learn and discover. He has been working with associates on animal tick prevention and other areas of wildlife biology. To learn more, visit timberhillslake.com.  

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