The Ultimate 'Midwest Princess' Pilgrimage to Chappell Roan's Hometown
Feel free to relive the ‘HOT TO GO!’ music video, but don’t be one of those fans.
“Midwest Princess” Chappell Roan has catapulted to icon status in the past year. The “Good Luck, Babe!” singer’s small-town girl authenticity is one of the many reasons fans adore her, and Chappell isn’t shy about her humble roots, which come up frequently in her discography and interviews.
Despite what you hear in “Pink Pony Club,” Chappell is not from Tennessee, but Missouri. She was born and raised in a suburb of Springfield, a mid-size Midwestern city with a small-town Southern feel. Her official music video for the hit song “HOT TO GO!” showcases many of Springfield's iconic landmarks.
Despite being in the middle of so-called flyover country—and often being considered the “Buckle of the Bible Belt”—Springfield has more than enough to see, eat, and do to fill a weekend. As a fellow Zillennial Springfieldian, I give the inside scoop on the places shown in Chappell’s music video and the spots she would have frequented before becoming a megastar.
If you don’t do anything else: Visit the spots in Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!” music video
Chappell Roan’s official music video for “HOT TO GO!” is centered on iconic landmarks in her hometown of Springfield, Missouri. In the video, she goes to characteristic local hotspots that, when combined, create an itinerary for the most quintessentially Springfieldian evening.
Your first stop should be to see a show at the historic Gilloiz Theatre, where Chappell performed before she made it big. It was there that, just a year ago, she kicked off her international tour with a free show. The Gilloiz usually has an artist performing or a popular local event, like the annual interactive Rocky Horror Picture Show screening, but if not, you can take a tour of the theater. After the show or tour, scrounge up $3 in cash to go mini golfing at the 18-hole course in Chappell’s video. The gritty Fun Acre mini golf course is popular among all locals, but it was a particularly favorite high school pastime. All the best evenings in Springfield end at Andy’s Frozen Custard. In her music video, Chappell leads a crowd in the HOT TO GO! dance in front of the Andy’s location on East Sunshine Street.
You can spend half a day doing a self-guided tour of the other sites in the video if you rent a car for your stay in Springfield (which is highly recommended, anyway). Get your photo in front of the world’s largest fork or the 30-by-300-foot mural of running horses on the backside of Springfield’s Alamo Drafthouse. The vintage Sinclair gas station Chappell dances in front of is a bit out of town but worth the drive if you’re into Route 66 memorabilia.
Fill the Weekend with
A Rodeo or Monster Truck Show: Dive into a southern Missouri culture with a show at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. There are all kinds of events going on—from rodeos and reptile exhibitions to vintage car shows and seasonal festivals. Chappell’s “Hot To Go” music video features the highly anticipated monster truck show; the next one will be in late January 2025.
Local shopping: If you decide to go to a rodeo or want a traditional souvenir, get a custom-fit cowboy hat or genuine cowgirl boots at Cavender’s PFI, a Western warehouse with an iconic light-up horse sign. Otherwise, the city has local shops and boutiques for unique gifts: the cutest LGBTQ+ shop, Culture Flock; the best retro and vintage shop, Hakaar’s Bazaar; and downtown gems, like the used bookstore BookMarx (with its resident cat, Googey) and Heirloom Candle Bar.
Cultural activities: One of the city’s major attractions is the Bass Pro-affiliated Wonders of Wildlife, a nature museum my generation visited on school field trips that is now a nationally ranked 350,000-square-foot aquarium. Fishing enthusiasts will make a bee-line next door to the Bass Pro Shops’ headquarters and Outdoor World, which is a massive store-slash-museum (imagine: indoor rock waterfall features, miniature ponds filled with reptiles, and hundreds of taxidermied wildlife, from bears to mountain goats).
Where to Eat and Drink in Springfield
Coffee: Enjoy single-origin coffee at Coffee Ethic on downtown Springfield’s adorable Park Central Square.
Brunch or lunch: For healthy and light teahouse fare, locals go to Tea Bar & Bites on Pickwick Street in the Rountree neighborhood—one of Springfield’s historic and highly coveted addresses. Sip a gourmet tea and try the quiche of the day in the cafe’s quaint courtyard. For classic diner-style breakfasts, including the famous home fry skillets, grab a bar seat at Gailey’s downtown. If they’re booked, around the corner is Prairie Pie, which serves homemade savory pot pies and mind-blowing sweet pies, available whole or by the slice.
Dinner: Have a casual dinner at Leong’s, where David Leong created Springfield-style cashew chicken—deep-fried chicken topped with cashews and gravy made with oyster sauce—in the 1960s. A more upscale option is Bruno’s, which serves innovative spins on Italian classics. Bruno hails from Sicily, so the arancini and cannoli are a must (and yes, they serve Aperol Spritzes).
If you like the finer things, Ariake Sushi & Robata is hands-down the best high-end restaurant in Springfield. Ariake is the latest and greatest in a series of upscale local sushi restaurants opened by executive chef and owner John Jung and Young Jung. The restaurant’s plush interiors, expert staff, and extraordinary plating, like the tuna “cigars” served in a smokey cigar box, create a night worth remembering.
Drinks: Start your night out with posh drinks and great views at the swanky Hotel Vandivort’s Vantage Rooftop Bar, or try unique coffee cocktails at the Mudlounge. But a true Chappell-style party can only be found at Martha’s Vineyard, a local LGBTQIA+ nightclub with a 30-year history. The bar is famous for its drag shows (two RuPaul's Drag Race contestants got their start here), and it’s the only club in town where people actually dance. I’m sure I’ve unwittingly rubbed shoulders with Chappell on the dance floor.
Where to Stay in Springfield
The city’s best hotels are in or near downtown, where you’ll find most of the top restaurants, bars, shops, and events within walking distance.
Budget: The Moxy, Marriott’s popular line of hotels for younger travelers, recently opened an outpost in downtown Springfield. The aesthetic-forward hotel has a cocktail bar on the first floor and a rooftop bar and kitchen, the Eyrie, with enviable views of downtown.
Splurge: The boutique, 97-room Hotel Vandivort has a seriously luxurious vibe that makes you forget you’re not in a big city. The lobby restaurant, The Order, serves modern dishes with Midwestern flavor; the Wagyu Smash Burger is a popular choice. For post-dinner drinks, the hotel’s rooftop bar, Vantage, is the most exclusive in the city.
Our pick: The Walnut Street Inn Bed and Breakfast is the perfect blend of good hospitality and local culture. Walnut Street is a walkable, tree-lined historic district of Queen Anne-style homes, many of which have been converted into local businesses, such as Pagination Bookshop. Just a 5-minute walk from downtown, the homey B&B has guest rooms and suites in the main home, the cottage inn, and the carriage house.