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True West’s Ultimate Historic Travel Guide: Southern Prairie and Plains

by | Nov 30, 2018 | Features & Gunfights

Ultimate Historic Travel Guide Southern Prairie and Plains True West Magazine
The four-story Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, was jointly built by The Frisco Railroad and the Eureka Springs Improvement Company in 1886. The historic hotel has 72 rooms and nine luxury cottages, set amid 15 acres of gardens. Don’t miss dining in the elegant 1886 Steakhouse in the Crystal Ballroom, and taking one of the popular ghost tours of America’s most haunted hotel.
— Photo Courtesy the Crescent Hotel —

The Southern Prairie and Plains region is a historically rich crossroads where America’s greatest Western trails originated and its biggest rivers defined the nation’s commercial, settlement and military history. The historic routes along the Mississippi and Missouri, Red and Arkansas, Kaw and Platte rivers can all be followed and  explored for their heritage. Beginning in St. Louis and the Kansas City area, travelers can follow National Historic Trails, including the Lewis and Clark, Santa Fe and Oregon, westward. The recently rededicated and renovated Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Missouri, is a great place to start a tour in the region.

When planning a trip to the Southern Plains and Prairie we recommend contacting the state office of tourism and then checking online or calling ahead directly to the restaurant, saloon or hotel you want to visit to ensure it is open or has a room available when you arrive. And don’t forget to schedule extra travel time to enjoy spontaneous stops in this history-rich region.

Arkansas

Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism

1 Capitol Mall, Dept 7701, Little Rock, AR 72201
800-628-8725 • Arkansas.com

The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa

239 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901
800-643-1502 • ArlingtonHotel.com

Capital Hotel

111 W Markham St, Little Rock, AR 72201
501-370-7062 • CapitalHotel.com

Crescent Hotel

75 Prospect Ave, Eureka Springs, AR 72632
855-725-5720 • Crescent-Hotel.com

Grand Central Hotel

37 N Main St, Eureka Springs, AR 72632
800-344-6050 • EurekaGrand.com

Inn at Carnall Hall

465 Arkansas Ave, Fayetteville, AR 72701
479-582-0400 • InnatCarnallHall.com

The Ohio Club

336 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901
501-627-0702 • TheOhioClub.com

Kansas

Kansas Travel & Tourism

1020 S Kansas Ave #200, Topeka, KS 66612
TravelKS.com • No Website

Abilene’s Victorian Inn

820 NW 3rd St, Abilene, KS 67410
785-263-7774 • AbilenesVictorianInn.com

Boot Hill Bed & Breakfast

603 W Spruce St, Dodge City, KS 67801
620-225-0111 • BootHillDodgeCity.com

Brookville Hotel

105 E Lafayette, Abilene, KS 67410
785-263-2244 • BrookvilleHotel.com

Hays House Restaurant

112 W Main St, Council Grove, KS 66846
620-767-5911 • HaysHouse.com

Historic Elgin Hotel

115 N 3rd St, Marion, KS 66861
620-382-3200 • HistoricElginHotel.com

Lyons Twin Mansions

742 & 750 S National Ave, Fort Scott, KS 66701
620-224-6053 • LyonsTwinMansions.com

Ultimate Historic Travel Guide Southern Prairie and Plains True West Magazine
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site in Olathe, Kansas, is a living history center with the 1865 Mahaffie family home the centerpiece of the complex. While visitors cannot stay overnight on the site, the home and barn can be rented for events, including weddings, anniversaries and family reunions.
— Courtesy Kansas Tourism —

Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site

1200 E Kansas City Rd, Olathe, KS 66061
913-971-5111 • Mahaffie.org

Noble House Inn

1230 N Waco Ave, Wichita, KS 67203
316-708-1508 • NobleHouseBNB.com

Rosberg House

103 E State St, Lindsborg, KS 67456
785-250-0508 • RosbergHouse.com

Trail City Bed and Breakfast

111 Elm, Coolidge, KS 67836
620-372-2414 • TrailCityBB.com

Louisiana

Louisiana Office of Tourism

PO Box 94291, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9291
800-994-8626 • LouisianaTravel.com

Bienville House Hotel

320 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130
504-529-2345 • BienvilleHouse.com

Ultimate Historic Travel Guide Southern Prairie and Plains True West Magazine
The Victorian-style Cornstalk Hotel was built as a residence on Royal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana’s French Quarter in 1816, although records prove that the first home on the site was constructed in 1730. In 1854, the signature cornstalk wrought iron fence was erected to ease the owner’s wife’s homesickness for Iowa.
— Courtesy the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress —

The Cornstalk Hotel

915 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116
504-523-1515 • TheCornstalkHotel.com

Dauphine Orleans Hotel

415 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112
504-586-1800 • DauphineOrleans.com

French Market Inn

509 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130
888-626-2725 • FrenchMarketInn.com

Hotel Monteleone

214 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
504-523-3341 • HotelMonteleone.com

Inn on St. Ann

1013 St. Ann, New Orleans, LA 70116
504-304-5572 • FrenchQuarterGuestHouses.com

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar

941 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116
504-593-9761 • LafittesBlacksmithShop.com

Le Pavillon

833 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70112
800-535-9095 • LePavillon.com

Royal Crescent Hotel

535 Gravier St, New Orleans, LA 70130
888-529-5173 • RoyalCrescentNOLA.com

Royal Sonesta New Orleans

300 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130-2213
844-208-6417 • Sonesta.com

Southern Hotel

428 E Boston St, Covington, LA 70433
844-866-1907 • SouthernHotel.com

Missouri

Missouri Division of Tourism

PO Box 1055, Jefferson City, MO 65102
800-519-2100 • VisitMo.com

Arthur Bryant’s BBQ

1727 Brooklyn Ave, Kansas City, MO 64106
816-231-1123 • ArthurBryantsBBQ.com

The Belvedere Inn

21 Bird St, Hannibal, MO 63401
217-799-6086 • BelvedereInnHannibal.com

The Dubach Inn

221 N Fifth St, Hannibal, MO 63401
573-355-1167 • DubachInn.com

The Elms Hotel & Spa

401 Regent St, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
816-630-5500 • ElmsHotelandSpa.com

Hotel Frederick

501 High St, Boonville, MO 65233
660-882-2828 • HotelFrederick.com

J. Huston Tavern

304 Main St, Arrow Rock, MO 65320
660-837-3200 • No Website

The Majestic

931 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106
816-221-1888 • MajesticKC.com

O’Malley’s Pub

540 Welt St, Weston, MO 64098
816-640-5235 • WestonIrish.com

The Saint George Hotel

500 Main St, Weston, MO 64098
816-640-9902 • TheSaintGeorgeHotel.moonfruit.com

St. Louis Union Station Hotel

1820 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63101
314-621-5262 • StLouisUnionStation.com

Nebraska

Nebraska Division of Travel & Tourism

PO Box 98907, Lincoln, NE 68509-8907
888-444-1867 • VisitNebraska.com

Ultimate Historic Travel Guide Southern Prairie and Plains True West Magazine
The Argo Hotel in Crofton, Nebraska, was built in 1912 as a convenience for rail passengers. Today, the historic property—which many believe is haunted—has a Victorian-era motif with antique decorations in the lobby and rooms. The dining room is open every morning for breakfast and Fridays and Saturdays for dinner.
— Courtesy Nebraska Tourism —

Argo Hotel

11 Kansas St, Crofton, NE 68730
402-388-2400 • No Website

Arrow Hotel & Suites

509 S 9th Ave, Broken Bow, NE 68822
308-872-6662 • ArrowHotel.com

Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn

1578 30th Rd, Minden, NE 68959
308-832-1323 • BurchellFarmHouseInn.com

Commercial Hotel

217 S Main St, Verdigre, NE 68783
402-668-2386 • CommericialHotelBB.com

Ultimate Historic Travel Guide Southern Prairie and Plains True West Magazine
For heritage travelers seeking a site in which to immerse themselves in the history of a region, Nebraska’s Fort Robinson State Historical Park near Crawford in the northwestern corner of the state is the perfect place to stay. Guests can book rooms in the restored officers’ quarters and enlisted men’s cabins from mid-April through mid-November.
— Courtesy Nebraska Tourism —

Fort Robinson State Park

3200 Hwy 20, Crawford, NE 69339
308-665-2900 • OutdoorNebraska.com

Grand Weaver Hotel

1800 Stone St, Falls City, NE 68355
402-245-2448 • GrandWeaver.com

Glur’s Tavern

2301 11th St, Columbus, NE 68601
402-564-8615 • No Website

Historic Golden Hotel

406 E Douglas St, O’Neill, NE 68763
402-336-4436 • HistoricGoldenHotel.com

Hotel Deco

1504 Harney St, Omaha, NE 68102
866-475-3326 • HotelDecoOmaha.com

Magnolia Hotel

1615 Howard St, Omaha, NE 68102
402-341-2500 • MagnoliaHotels.com

Prairie Creek Inn

2400 S 148th St, Walton, NE 68461
402-488-8822 • PCIBNB.com

Rowse’s 1+1 Ranch

46849 833rd Rd, Burwell, NE 68823
308-346-5530 • 1Plus1Ranch.com

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