Cimarron Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Cimarron Hotel is an historic hotel
located in Cimarron
, a small town located in southwest Kansas
. Cimarron, settled in 1878, was a notorious branch point on the historic Sante Fe Trail. At Cimarron, the trail divided, one branch heading southwest, the other following the Arkansas River to Bent's Fort (near La Junta, Colorado
), then south over Raton Pass. Cimarron is the first town west of Dodge City on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad line.
The hotel was built by Nicholas B. Klaine
in 1886, at an investment of $15,000. With the completion of the first floor of the three-story brick structure, he launched the New West Echo, a Republican
newspaper. The newspaper occupied the north half of the first floor of the hotel. The hotel opened as the New West Hotel and operated as one of seven serving pioneers who needed to come to town for supplies or for cowboys and ruffians who literally wanted to “get the heck out of Dodge”.
Despite several severe economic depressions and droughts in the late 19th Century, Klaine continued to operate the Cimarron Hotel under several managers, until 1902. In that year, the New West Echo ceased publication and Klaine sold the hotel to the Luther family. The name was changed to "The Luther Inn." The Luther family owned the hotel until 1947 when they sold the hotel to Else Bartlow, who had been the secretary at the hotel. She changed the name to the "Cimarron Hotel." In 1977, the hotel was purchased by its current owner, Kathleen Holt.
In the 1980s, the hotel underwent substantial renovations and became a restaurant, bed and breakfast
lodging, and private home to the owner and her family. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983. As of August 2007, a portion of the building is occupied by a quilt shop that also conducts quilting classes and seminars. The third floor of the building still comprises overnight quarters for guests.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
located in Cimarron
Cimarron, Kansas
Cimarron is a city in and the county seat of Gray County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,184.-Geography:Cimarron is located at...
, a small town located in southwest Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. Cimarron, settled in 1878, was a notorious branch point on the historic Sante Fe Trail. At Cimarron, the trail divided, one branch heading southwest, the other following the Arkansas River to Bent's Fort (near La Junta, Colorado
La Junta, Colorado
The City of La Junta is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Otero County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 7,568 at the U.S. Census 2000. La Junta is located on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado east of Pueblo.-History:During...
), then south over Raton Pass. Cimarron is the first town west of Dodge City on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad line.
The hotel was built by Nicholas B. Klaine
Nicholas B. Klaine
Nicholas B. Klaine was born in Bordentown, N. J., on February 5, 1839. He came with his parents to Rock Island, Ill., in 1851, where he lived until 1859. He was married in August, 1859, to Miss Julia Kinkaid, a native of Missouri. He then moved to St. Louis, Mo. He enlisted in August 1862, in...
in 1886, at an investment of $15,000. With the completion of the first floor of the three-story brick structure, he launched the New West Echo, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
newspaper. The newspaper occupied the north half of the first floor of the hotel. The hotel opened as the New West Hotel and operated as one of seven serving pioneers who needed to come to town for supplies or for cowboys and ruffians who literally wanted to “get the heck out of Dodge”.
Despite several severe economic depressions and droughts in the late 19th Century, Klaine continued to operate the Cimarron Hotel under several managers, until 1902. In that year, the New West Echo ceased publication and Klaine sold the hotel to the Luther family. The name was changed to "The Luther Inn." The Luther family owned the hotel until 1947 when they sold the hotel to Else Bartlow, who had been the secretary at the hotel. She changed the name to the "Cimarron Hotel." In 1977, the hotel was purchased by its current owner, Kathleen Holt.
In the 1980s, the hotel underwent substantial renovations and became a restaurant, bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
lodging, and private home to the owner and her family. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983. As of August 2007, a portion of the building is occupied by a quilt shop that also conducts quilting classes and seminars. The third floor of the building still comprises overnight quarters for guests.