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All the United States Kansas Wolf Hotel

Wolf Hotel

This historic Ellinwood hotel is also home to underground tunnels that were a popular haunt during Prohibition.

Ellinwood, Kansas

Added By
Ian Lefkowitz
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The Historic Wolf Hotel   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
A sign at the entrance of the Wolf Hotel.   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the underground tunnels of Ellinwood, Kansas.   Carol M. Highsmith
The Ellinwood underground tunnels were home to businesses, including a barber shop.   Carol M. Highsmith
The entrance to the Wolf Hotel.   ianlefk / Atlas Obscura User
A view of the historic Wolf Hotel.   Carol M. Highsmith
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About

Many of the historic hotels in Kansas date to the same era—the days of rail expansion when a station on the railway system literally would put a town on the map. The Wolf Hotel is one such building, but today, it may be more notable for what takes place underground.

The town of Ellinwood, Kansas, was founded in 1871 in speculation that the railroad was coming to town. By 1881, a branch line opened, putting the town on the map. The Wolf Hotel soon followed, built across the street from the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad station. This classical hotel was designed by Wichita architect S.S. Voigt and completed in 1894. Originally an addition to the Delmonico Hotel, today, the Wolf Hotel is all that stands.

Underneath the Wolf Hotel, a tunnel system once connected the businesses of Ellinwood. The lower passageways connected shops, and even had an underground economy of its own. During Prohibition, the tunnels were especially useful as a place to store and distribute bootleg alcohol.

The Wolf Hotel had many uses over many years but has been operating once again as a hotel and event space since 2013. In addition to hotel rooms, the Wolf Hotel also hosts comedy shows, an escape room, a prohibition-era-themed saloon, and of course, tours of the underground tunnel system.

Related Tags

Prohibition Railroads Hotels

Know Before You Go

The Historic Wolf Hotel is a working hotel. Reservations must be in made in advance for the underground tunnel tour. The hotel management is currently requesting donations to keep the tunnel system alive for tourism.

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ianlefk

Published

August 30, 2023

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  • http://ellinwoodhistoricalsociety.com/2015/09/26/wolf-hotel/
  • https://www.ellinwoodchamber.com/ellinwood-underground-tunnels
Wolf Hotel
1 N Main St
Ellinwood, Kansas, 67526
United States
38.353773, -98.580816
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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Kansas

Kansas

United States

Places 126
Stories 12

Nearby Places

Cheyenne Bottoms

Great Bend, Kansas

miles away

Jack Kilby Square

Great Bend, Kansas

miles away

Father Padilla Cross

Lyons, Kansas

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Kansas

Kansas

United States

Places 126
Stories 12

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