Echoes of the Santa Fe Trail Beneath Ellinwood, Kansas

Settled in 1870, Ellinwood, Kansas, was an important stop along the Santa Fe Trail and later along the railroad that replaced the trail. At the intersection of Santa Fe Blvd (Hwy 56) and Main Street stand two buildings that don’t look too out of place—especially for a Kansas town founded by German immigrants. In fact, the two-square-block business district of Ellinwood, at least above ground, still resembles its layout from the late 1800s.

The Historic Wolf Hotel sits to the east of Main Street, and the Ellinwood Emporium sits to the west—both within eyesight of where the Santa Fe Trail passed more than a century ago. These two buildings act as a front porch for the southeast Barton County town. For many who pass by on Highway 56, they may not realize what lies just below this little town with a big history.

Our tour of the Ellinwood Underground started in the Ellinwood Emporium, where we met Rick, our tour guide. Rick greeted us with a smile at the front desk in a building filled with a wide variety of trinkets and souvenirs from days gone by. The tour began above ground with a brief history lesson about why Ellinwood has an underground and how, in the 1980s, Adriana Dierolf saved a small section of the tunnels beneath the town.

Built by the German immigrants who founded Ellinwood, the underground was constructed as a place for teamsters traveling along the Santa Fe Trail—and later railroad workers—to escape, relax, and freshen up with a bath and a shave. After hearing about the tunnels, it was time to explore them for ourselves.

Rick opened what looked to be an ordinary cellar door and ushered us down a set of steps and into Tom Drakes harness shop, where we were instantly transported back to the late 1800s. The harness shop was filled with old tools, and supplies used to keep the Santa Fe trail moving. We then made out way through the dimly lit, dirt-floored passage and into another, slightly wider tunnel. The hum of traffic along Highway 56 became more pronounced here. Rick quickly explained why—we were beneath the sidewalk and near what would have been one of the original entrances to the tunnel system.

Our next room on the tour was Jung’s Barber Shop. Mr. Jung was quite the businessman and offered a variety of other services, including an adjoining bathhouse. Our time under the Emporium had come to an end, but the tour wasn’t complete.

Our next stop was just across the street at the Historic Wolf Hotel. Built in 1894, the building still serves as a hotel, as well as a gathering place for the community. Similar to the Emporium, the hotel also has an underground. Though not as raw, the hotel’s underground has seen several renovations and a wide variety of uses over the years. Several rooms are still set up to showcase what once existed there.

At one time, the town’s library was housed underground, but the most notable recent renovation has returned part of the space to a speakeasy. Tales of ghosts and spirits haunt the tunnels, and in recent years a number of paranormal investigators and film crews have visited.

If you’re looking for a day trip to a unique Kansas gem—or to spend a night in hopes of connecting with the spirits—the Ellinwood Underground is just the place. Tours are offered Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. To reserve your spot, visit ellinwoodunderground.com. Article and photos by Tanner Colvin