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Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview, a Historic Glimpse Into Wichita’s History

June 28, 2021 by Vanessa Whiteside Leave a Comment

Disclosure: The Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview sponsored this post, however, all opinions are my own. All of the photos were taken by me.

To enjoy an overnight stay at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview in Wichita is more than your average hotel experience. It’s a step back into time, a historic glimpse into the city’s history while surrounded by luxury. Today, the hotel provides 200 guest rooms and a host of comfortable amenities for travelers.

As a native Wichitan, I appreciate learning about the people and places that make the city unique. Owned by George Siedhoff, The Broadview Hotel’s grand opening took place on May 15, 1922. Originally built to give railway passengers added convenience when traveling, it was the premier hotel of the Midwest. In fact, you can still see the train depot’s stone archway entrance on the east side of the building.

hotel east entrance — Look closely to see the imprinted words above the arched entrance.

Additionally, travelers along the Chisholm Trail also stopped at the building’s horse and buggy station for respite from their journey. Much of the building’s original design has been preserved including the front entrance, lobby elevator, crown moldings, ornate chandeliers, and an authentic mail drop station. The grandeur of the lobby is impressive and immediately takes you back to a moment in time.

Hotel Lobby — The hotel’s main elevator is original to the building.

During my recent stay at the hotel, I gazed upon the building and wondered how many people must have passed through its front door. Upon entering my room, I was greeted with contemporary furnishes and a plush king-size bed. I originally chose a two-room king suite for my accommodations, but quickly switched rooms simply because I wanted a room with the expansive view of the Arkansas River and the Keeper of the Plains iconic statue at sunset. For me, it was worth it.

The room also has a workstation area, a desk with soft lighting to facilitate business travelers, and a coffee maker.

My room came with a TV, microwave, refrigerator, iron, ironing board, hairdryer, and free WiFi. A pet-friendly hotel, I was happy to be able to bring our pup along with us for a comfortable overnight stay. The oversized bathroom included marble floors and granite countertops with complimentary toiletries provided. Like me, exhausted travelers will appreciate the extra comfy bedding and mattress that promises a good night’s sleep. The blackout curtains were a bonus that helped me to fall asleep fast. The rooms must be well insulated because I hardly heard any hallway traffic from within my room. I loved the peace and quiet.

The rest of the hotel was equally impressive. The Drury Hotel Plaza Broadview features an indoor pool and whirlpool, business center, fitness center, guest pantry, and outdoor hot tub. Soon after checking in the hotel, I made my way to their free 5:30 Kickback®, a “happy hour” kind of event open to guests every evening. I presented my Kickback® card to the bartender and was given three complimentary drinks (wine, beer, or cocktails) to accompany self-serve appetizers. You’ll love this amenity! Should you desire upscale dining instead, AVI Seabar & Chophouse is connected to the hotel. The steakhouse will also deliver food to our room for a $2 surcharge from 10 am-9 pm.

Located in the heart of downtown Wichita and only a short walk from shopping and dining, its prime location is perfect for adventure seekers who want to enjoy the city. I hopped on the Q-Line free shuttle near the hotel to take me to District Taqueria for tacos. Using downtown transit is easy and there is a map available online to plan your Douglas Avenue route here. Later, I visited another historic building down, River City Brewing Company, where I enjoyed a craft beer on their second-floor patio overlooking Old Town. I can’t think of a better way to top off your stay at a historic hotel than by also walking the brick streets of this downtown district to admire the 19-century architecture.

tacos — District Taqueria (917 E. Douglas Ave.)

The next morning, I made my way to the second-floor mezzanine where an elaborate breakfast buffet awaited my arrival featuring a full lineup of delicious menu options. Adjacent to the buffet was a cereal station, coffee counter, and make your own waffle setup. I chose biscuits and gravy with a side of sausage. The freshly brewed coffee was just what I needed to give me a boost for the day.

Later at the hotel, I continued my historical journey by viewing the framed prints adorning the lobby’s walls. Did you know the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview once had a basement and rooftop that was the place to be in the 1920s? In fact, the hotel had a secret speakeasy in the basement where drinking and gambling took place. The promenade offered guests a 360-degree view of the city while they dined and danced into the late hours of the evening. The hotel’s original name, The Broadview, is a nod to the view that people enjoyed from the top floor. The 8th floor that you see today when visiting the hotel was added during its renovation.

If given the chance to walk into one of the hotel’s larger event spaces, the ballroom, you can view a mosaic designed by American Indian artist, Blackbear Bosin. He is the same artist who designed the city’s iconic Keeper of the Plains sculpture that stands proudly amongst the downtown skyline. The 1,550 square foot mosaic is the largest continual mural in Kansas. Ask the front desk attendant if the ballroom is accessible to view it.

All in all, I adored my experience as a guest at Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview for the comfortable stay and its historic value. It’s an ideal lodging destination for individual guests, groups, and business travelers. I believe that to truly appreciate a city’s history, you have to walk inside its buildings, talk to residents, and visit its significant spaces. Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview offers all of that and more for people who want to travel happy.

Going Underground in Historic Ellinwood, Kansas

February 10, 2020 by Vanessa Whiteside 14 Comments

The best part about saying “yes!” to adventure is discovering a destination you didn’t know existed. That was my experience after visiting Ellinwood, Kansas to tour the town’s underground tunnels and The Historic Wolf Hotel. Make sure you add Ellinwood to your central Kansas trip itinerary.

Established by German immigrants in 1870 along the Santa Fe Trail, the town was designed to include two blocks of main street stores with stairs leading underground to additional retail spaces, saloons, brothels, a bathhouse, and an authentic barbershop. Early residents of the town made their income from farming wheat and producing flour. References to wheat can be seen everywhere in the centrally located Kansas town that is located ten miles outside of Great Bend and less than a half-hour drive from Lyons.

Ellinwood’s Underground Tunnels allow visitors to walk some of the original passageways while tour guides share early prohibition and entrepreneurship stories in the area. I was enthralled by the antique relics of the past found deep within the tunnels. The town’s early residents used the tunnels for refuge during WWI, to possibly bootleg alcohol during Prohibition, and to support cowboys and families traveling through the area by providing services to them.

A manhole cover seen from below the town of Ellinwood’s sidewalk along Main Street, the colored glass is illuminated by the afternoon sun.

The best part of the tunnels? They have remained nearly untouched! During your tour, you will see items sitting exactly where they were left before the tunnels were abandoned in the 1940s. Much of what you see in these photos are authentic to the space.

Make your way down this hallway to discover a barbershop, brothel, and bathhouse. Hot Baths 15 cents, Used Water Baths 5 cents.

Why build tunnels under the town? Imagine how hot the dry summers were in Kansas thanks to open plains and midwestern heat! The underground tunnels were much cooler in temperature and visitors could escape the blustery Kansas wind.

Tom Drake’s Harness Shop was established sometime between 1890-1900.

While walking the long, dusty hallways into rooms where the turn of the century shopkeepers ran their business, you begin to wonder if you’re being watched by the ghosts of Ellinwood’s past. According to our tour guide, the underground tunnels were active from 1887-1920.

William Young’s Barber Shop. Ask about the medical instruments in the case, and don’t leave the room without looking for the bullet holes.

No longer accessible, this stairway once connected to The Wolf Hotel’s tunnels across the street.

If you want to tour the underground tunnels and The Historic Wolf Hotel, the admission is $10 per person. The first leg of our tour was led by Ellinwood Emporium owner, Richard Casagrande, and the final leg of the tour took us back to the hotel for a tour led by Chris McCord. Additionally, I highly recommend making a reservation at The Sunflower Room for a country-style lunch of fried chicken and homemade side dishes followed by a slice of pie.

Tourists who appreciate learning the rich history of the area will love the renovated The Historic Wolf Hotel, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1894 by John Wolf at the corner of Sante Fe and Main Street to be a grand focal point of downtown Ellinwood. (The total cost of building it was $10,000.) Today, it serves as a bed and breakfast and event center. However, you don’t have to stay overnight to enjoy its restaurant, The Sunflower Dining Room, or “The Underground” restored saloon.

Ellinwood native, Christopher McCord, purchased the brick and limestone building in 2013 to restore it.

The Sunflower Dining Room opened Easter Sunday 1924 with a live orchestra playing for visitors to enjoy.

When not serving guests a meal on Sundays, the dining room doubles as a reservable event space for meetings, private parties, and weddings. The room is rich in architectural history and well restored from its original flooring and windows to the decorative columns.

During Sunday Bunch dining service, the place setting above is set for Bernard Millit. I don’t want to ruin the tour for you by telling you why, so be sure to as your tour guide the story behind it — and don’t forget to look up to the ceiling.

These beautifully stained glass doors were photographed from inside The Wolf Hotel in an area that was once a bank.

If you’re someone who appreciates learning the historic roots of a town and about the hardworking people who established it, many of which were immigrants to the area, then I recommend taking a step back in time and visiting Ellinwood, Kansas. Want to discover more about the early construction of The Historic Wolf Hotel and the surrounding area? Read this document available from the National Register of Historic Places.

My time in Ellinwood concluded with a photo sitting upon an antique shoe shiner’s station, and by the looks of my dusty boots, I could use one.

Love learning about Kansas history? Learn more about Abilene, Kansas, the boyhood home of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

How to Enjoy Vegas Luxury at The Bellagio on a Budget

October 12, 2016 by Vanessa 13 Comments

A week prior to my fortieth birthday in Las Vegas, my first trip there, I heard Elvis singing in my head.

So, you have no idea how pumped I was to hear the flight crew cue up “Vive Las Vegas” as we waited to exit the plane. Not a gambler, I was unsure if I would place my bet on Vegas. I did and I can tell you with confidence that Vegas is a must-have life experience you simply can’t miss out on. It’s that fun.

I want to share with you the many ways you can get the most out of a few days in Vegas using my super, awesome insider tips when staying at The Bellagio. Yes, you can enjoy Sin City without completely blowing your budget. Let’s do this!

The Flight

We booked our trip two months in advance with Allegiant. It’s not easy departing so late at night (9pm) and the airline’s many cost restrictions didn’t help. But when you’re as hyped for The Strip as we were, it was worth the booking it direct with them.

You need to realize when flying Allegiant that they charge you for EVERYTHING. Want to check a bag? It’s a fee. Want to bring a carry-on? It’s a fee. Drink water? Say it with me…it’s a fee. Oh, and don’t have the agent print your boarding pass. That’s a fee! And don’t expect reclining seats or free snacks either. The reason your flight is so cheap is because they charge you for every detail of your experience to maintain their discount airline status. You may wonder why so many people fly Allegiant. Because it’s a direct, inexpensive flight.

But, I know how to help you survive flying Allegiant!

Roll your clothes in order to get three days worth of clothes into your carry-on. I packed for my boyfriend and myself in one carry-on bag. Yes, three nights in one carry-on for two people and that included three pairs of shoes too. It’s possible to pack efficiently if you roll your clothes and carry a backpack per person on the plane. (I did not carry a separate purse but stashed a clutch bag and an empty cross body bag inside my backpack.) Pay for your bags online in advance and be sure to download the Allegiant app to receive notifications.

Pro Tip: Pack light snacks and an empty water bottle. Fill the bottle at the drinking fountains after you pass through security. Don’t forget to also pack a neck pillow and eye mask. When you sit super close to neighboring passengers on a discount airline, falling asleep on a dark plane is awkward when you doze in their direction. Your neck pillow keeps you comfortable and upright when sitting in the middle seat. Ladies: The cabin is very cool on the flight there, so I recommend wearing socks and sneakers to keep your feet warm rather than some bedazzled sandal and to pack a light sweater.

Transportation from the Airport:

Now you’re ready to head to the hotel and start the Vegas fun! You have several transportation options from the airport to your hotel. Taxis and shuttles are always lined up outside of baggage claim exits. However, be prepared to wait awhile for one. If you don’t mind stopping a numerous hotels in route to your own, take a shuttle with strangers. Prefer a private taxi? Get in line…a l-o-n-g line that winds for a mile inside of a sectioned off area near the street. Share a cab (up to 5 people) and you’ll spend probably spend about $25 to your hotel on The Strip not including tip. When the cabbie asks you, “Do you want to take the route of The Strip or the highway?” opt for The Strip. It will cost much less and you can see the city scenery. Vegas cabbies are typically not friendly and drive incredibly fast.

Pro Tip: If taking a cab from the airport to your hotel, ask them to stop at a liquor store on the way. Stock up on canned beer and wine enclosed in plastic (to take to the pool later). Our cabbie turned off his meter for us so we hurried to make our purchases. The final cost, including the stop, to The Bellagio from the airport was $21 plus tip.

See the bridges over the streets? Pack your walking shoes because to cross the 2.5 miles of The Strip means you're going to have to walk over bridges and take escalators often. — See the bridges over the streets? Pack your walking shoes because to cross the 2.5 miles of The Strip means you’re going to have to walk over bridges and take escalators often.

The Hotel:

You have dozens of choices for hotel accommodations in Vegas. While you could save some money by staying off The Strip or at an older hotel, I want to give you the information you need to stay at a luxury hotel for less cost. We booked The Bellagio as part of a package deal with flight on Allegiant’s site at $800 per person for 3 nights and four days. While that sounds like a lot, consider that the same hotel charged $700 a night only a week later on their site. If there are conventions in town (and when isn’t there in Vegas?), the hotels jack up the prices. Our booking also included a buffet meal allowance of each day. Once we arrived, we used The Twenty Dollar Trick and mentioned that it was my birthday (true) to try to score upgraded accommodations. It worked! Not sure what The Twenty Dollar Trick is? Read about it here.

Conservatory gardens are surrounded by tiny shops and a cafe.

Main entrance to the conservatory gardens. Bellagio staff works on the flowers during early morning hours.

The lobby ceiling is feet of breathtaking hand blown glass.

The desk agent upgraded our room to the floor directly below the penthouse suites that included a nice view of the pool. He called his manager to try to give us a room with the view of the famous fountains, but it was a no-go. We were given a VIP business card that allowed us to the cut the l-o-n-g line at the hotel’s buffet. Our package deal included $80 per room per day in buffet credit, which was deducted from our itemized bill at the end of our stay. Don’t underestimate the buffet! The food options are endless and include more than the usual omelette or prime rib station. You can enjoy endless mounds of crab legs and shellfish or sushi. They serve king crab legs cold, but will heat them up for you by request. Prefer a culinary delight from another country? The Bellagio serves that as well from pastas to unique salads. If you want to eat like a high roller, dine on caviar or eggs benedict at brunch at no extra cost.

Caviar for brunch anyone? The Bellagio buffet options are definitely not basic.

We highly recommend opting for a bar seat when dining at the buffet. The bartenders are hospitable, hilarious, and they work hard to make sure your dining experience is top-notch. One of our bartenders had worked there for 18 years! Each one took an interest in where guests traveled from, how they preferred their drink, and even answered concierge-worthy questions. You can pay at the bar so by-pass the cashier station when you arrive.

Pro Tip: Get a table for the buffet at 2:45pm and enjoy a cocktail while you wait for the kitchen staff to switch lunch to dinner. You’ll get to enjoy savory dinner entree options or the price of a lunch ticket. Sit at the bar to avoid a wait. Sometimes the bartenders will come out and recruit guests to sit at the bar instead of regular seating. Go! It reduces your wait by 30 minutes or more.

The Room:

From the tile bathroom floors to the pillow top mattresses, the room is luxurious. Guests can hang their clothes on wooden hangers in a well-lit amoire that also contains an ironing board and iron, a must-have item when you roll your clothes to pack everything in a carry-on bag. Sit in velvety soft chairs to view the oversized flat screen television or use the provided barware to pre-game before hitting the strip. The only drawback to the room is that it does not include a coffeemaker. After a night of drinking, you need your own bottled water and coffee in the room.

bellagio-hotel1 bellagio-hotel2

Each bathroom comes with a large glass enclosed shower and deep bathtub.

If you prefer your room temperature on another setting, you can change them using this life hack to override the thermostat. It worked for us!

Pro Tip: Do not drink or eat from the provided snacks in your room. In fact, don’t move an item at all to make room for your liquor store booze. The hotel charges $50 if they have to replace items. Call the front desk and tell them you need a courtesy refrigerator brought to your room. The same size refrigerator is wheeled to your room at no cost.

Four elevators whisk hotel guests up and down each section of the hotel. You never wait more than a minute for an elevator.

The Pool:

Swimming or lounging at The Bellagio pool is amazing. The weather, the people watching, the water, the view…oh my! Vegas weather in October was a perfect 75-80 degrees the day we visited so we dipped our toes in the water. It’s not so warm that you can’t enjoy one of their many hot tubs and it’s warm enough you can swim at your leisure in their temperature-controlled pool.

Pro Tip: Don’t order poolside drinks, including water, from the waitresses. A Bloody Mary ($17) in a plastic cup with lid will set you back quite a few bucks and the bar charges a “service fee” on top of your cash tip. If you order a filtered water, you’ll pay $10. If you bring an empty bottle, you can fill it at a water station near the bar service area. Thankfully, we (and other guests we witnessed) were able to bring in liquor store booze in cans and plastic containers without issue.

The pool staff never searched our bags or asked us about it while we openly drank. Also, if your friends are staying at another hotel, have them meet one of you in the lobby and slip them one of your room cards. Couples only need one room card to enter the pool area. Each person is issued a towel upon entry.

Head down to the pool before 10am to claim your chairs.

The Casino:

You can wear casual to business attire on the casino floor and fit in just fine. You will see people dressed sequins and birthday sashes to jeans and t-shirts. You’ll be hard-pressed to get a spot to play a table game on a busy night during a holiday weekend. If you’re not willing to wait, take Uber ($11) to Old Vegas and walk right up to one of Binion’s tables. (Note: Uber is the safest, cheapest, and easiest way to get around Las Vegas. Just remember that Uber drivers are not allowed to pick you up in hotel valet or limousine pick-up areas. Sometimes signs indicate where Uber picks up, but if not, follow the small crowd around the corner to the side of the casino. Ask the valet where Uber pick up is located. When in doubt, call your Uber driver and ask where they will pick you up.

Pro Tip: Like many hotel casinos in Vegas, as long as you’re gambling, you’re drinking for free. Well, nearly free. Don’t forget to tip your waitress. A good rule-of-thumb is to tip them $2-5 the first time they stop by your gaming table or slot machine and then a $1 per drink after that. The more you tip, the more likely they are to visit you. The casino floor is busy on a Saturday so don’t expect to see them often. However, the early morning shift of waitresses is depending on your tips since it’s not as busy so tip big and take advantage of speedy service. The drinks are not weak! You can sip on anything you desire from champagne to craft beer.

Head to Old Vegas (Freemont Street) to enjoy cheaper bar drinks and easy access to gambling tables. This LED sign seems to sum up Vegas pretty well, don't ya think? — Head to Old Vegas (Fremont Street) to enjoy cheaper bar drinks and easy access to gambling tables. This LED sign seems to sum up Vegas pretty well, don’t ya think?

The mega LED screen over Fremont street plays a music video show every hour on the hour.

The Grounds:

Many of Las Vegas’ best venues are on the grounds of the hotel. It has impressive restaurants and bars, a Cirque du Soleil show “O”, high-end shopping, and botanical gardens. If you want to watch your budget, window-shop. While it may be tempting to buy a designer purse or watch in one of the many fancy stores, don’t.

The Bellagio has a grab and go convenience shop that is a bit hidden. At one point, I was hungry for a snack while other guests slept in until the brunch hour. I was able to buy whole fruit ($2) in a store across from the convention rooms. Did I mention how important it is to pack your own snacks for Vegas?

Pro Tip: Buy show tickets on the day of the show from the hotel ticket counter, but do it early in the day. If you’re staying at The Bellagio, you save 20%. You can also buy discounted tickets on the strip the day of the show from Tix4Tonight. We opted to see Penn and Teller’s show at The Rio instead, which set us back about $100 per person including taxes and fees for lower level seating close to the stage. Some Vegas show tickets start at $100 or higher, so consider any show under that price a good deal.

This show sold out after we bought our tickets the same day or the show. Buy your tickets during early morning hours.

Not interested in a show? Put on comfortable walking shoes and cruise the hotel. The Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Garden changes with the seasons and is a whimsical wonder of flowers and outdoor features. It’s free and makes a nice backdrop for selfies or family photos.

Just around the corner from the gardens you will spy a floor to ceiling chocolate fountain behind glass. It’s nestled inside a grab-and-go cafe that sells gift items. It’s a must-see stop for dessert lovers!

Sometimes it's fun to leave the Bellagio and check out other hotels and features on The Strip. This photo was taken inside the Mandarin Oriental hotel restaurant, a stop on the Bellagio free tram. — Sometimes it’s fun to leave the Bellagio and check out other hotels and features on The Strip. This photo was taken inside the Mandarin Oriental hotel restaurant, a stop on the Bellagio free tram.

The Fountains:

A breathtaking water show, the Bellagio fountains run on a frequent schedule and are best witnessed at night. The most surprising element about viewing the fountains is how powerful the water canons are to spray water to the height of the hotel’s top floor windows. Amazing! A crowd forms around the fountains and cheap beer and water can be purchased off of local vendors with coolers for $5.

View the Fountains of Bellagio schedule here.

Check Out:

One look at the checkout line on Sunday and we knew we were not going to wait in it. We called the front desk and asked for a late check out, an accommodation they provided at no cost. Usual check out was 11:00am but they gave us until noon. Does that mean the cleaning crew is knocking on your door at noon? Probably not. While guests in our party on another floor were asked if the cleaning crew could get in their room at noon, we were not. The hotel key card will work one hour after your check out time.

Pro Tip: Use your room’s TV remote to go to the channel “Check Out” and simply check out with a few clicks of a button. As long as you agree with the charges on the screen, the hotel will automatically charge the card on file. Don’t agree with the itemized invoice? Call the front desk. Bypassing the long lines in the lobby affords you the time to relax before catching your flight home or try one last attempt to win at video poker.

If you’re one of those travelers that has put off a trip to Vegas because you think it’s just a mecca of 21-year-old partiers and high rollers, you’re wrong. Vegas has something for every kind of traveler. Book a trip this year!

Let me know what you think of Vegas in the comments below. What questions do you have? Ask me!

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