Underground Attractions

STRATACA!

If Kansans seem like the salt of the earth, maybe it’s because their state sits atop 250 million-year-old deposits of sodium chloride. At Strataca in Hutchinson, put on a hard hat for the 650-foot descent into a museum carved out of an active salt mine. Expeditions include riding the Salt Mine Express train where miners toiled, and taking a Salt Safari past the striking crystalline formations.

 

STRATACA

STRATACA

  • 3650 E. Avenue G
  • (620) 662-1425

Strataca/The Kansas Underground Salt Museum is one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas. Located 650 feet beneath the earth's surface in a salt bed formed 275 million years ago during the Permian Period, Strataca is a truly unique destination. Experience the Dark Ride, the Salt Mine…

Historic Wolf Hotel

Long before man caves, an elaborate tunnel system ran beneath Ellinwood, connecting basements and providing services for a mostly male clientele. This netherworld of businesses included barber shops, bathhouses, saloons, and purveyors of companionship. Book an underground tour through The Historic Wolf Hotel to see artifacts such as a barber’s chair and mirror, then belly up to a speakeasy for “giggle water” (libations).

The Historic Wolf Hotel

The Historic Wolf Hotel

  • 1 North Main
  • (620) 639-6915

Come stay with us! We have rooms to suit every taste and budget. From our Suite with all the amenities of home to Grandma's room with a shared bathroom. Enjoy your morning coffee in our well-stocked kitchen or our sitting room. Feel free to rustle up some breakfast with goodies…

Dalton Gang Hideout

In Meade, one little house on the prairie has a past that’s not so Laura Ingalls Wilder wholesome. It’s the Dalton Gang Hideout, the former home of Eva Dalton Whipple, sister to the outlaws. A tunnel between the house and the barn let gang members come and go undetected. Visit a small museum in the barn, then take the tunnel to the house, which is furnished in period style.

 

Dalton Gang Hideout Museum & Souvenir Shop

Dalton Gang Hideout Museum & Souvenir Shop

  • 502 S Pearlette
  • (620) 873-2731

Home of Eva Dalton Whipple, sister to the famous Dalton Brothers Gang. Restored as it was in 1887. Consists of the outlaw hideout, escape tunnel to the barn, museum of western artifacts, and a western souvenir shop. The Weherle House, which was owned by John Weherle and built…

Big Well Museum

The Big Well Museum in Greensburg tells two stories. The first is about the well itself: a 109-foot-deep, hand-dug marvel that once supplied the town with water. (You can descend a spiral staircase into the yawning shaft.) The surrounding museum and observation deck, built in 2012, speak to Greensburg’s rebirth after a devastating 2007 tornado.

 

Big Well Museum & Visitor Information Center

Big Well Museum & Visitor Information Center

  • 315 S Sycamore Street
  • (620) 723-4102

Welcome to the Big Well in Greensburg, Kansas – a museum that boasts two extraordinary marvels under one roof! The Big Well, an engineering feat, was completed in 1888, with its 109-foot depth and 32-foot diameter originally serving as the town's water supply. Descend into…

Top-Shelf Underground

Speakeasy spirit lives on at these below-the-street establishments that raise the bar for cocktails.
 

MANHATTAN

324 Speakeasy

Membership has its privileges at this club in the basement of downtown’s old Marshall Theatre. Visitors can purchase a day pass ($25 per couple) for admission on weekends or use the weekly password (on the club’s Facebook page) to get in Tuesdays through Thursdays. Enjoy classic speakeasy ambiance and expertly mixed cocktails from a seasonal menu. 

324 Speakeasy

324 Speakeasy

  • 324 Houston St
  • (785) 324-2840

A classic Speakeasy experience in the heart of downtown Manhattan. We transport our guests to another era with our artful, handcrafted cocktails and 1920's ambiance. 324 Speakeasy is an exclusive membership lounge. We offer three tiers of memberships, but if leery of commitment…

WICHITA

Dockum

House-made bitters and syrups, fresh-squeezed juices, scrumptious small bites, and live music cater to discriminating palates at this swanky bar in the basement of the Ambassador Hotel. Decor pays homage to the historic Dockum Drug Store that was housed in the 1926 Union National Bank Building, which morphed into the downtown hotel.

Dockum

Dockum

  • 104 S. Broadway
  • (316) 239-7100

Introducing Dockum, a Speakeasy-style bar serving exquisite craft cocktails in downtown Wichita. The housemade bitters and syrups, fresh-squeezed juices, and selection of small bites will cure any ailment. Packed with intrigue, this subterranean lounge will bring you to another…

LAWRENCE

John Brown’s Underground

Yes, this basement speakeasy is named for the abolitionist. No, its vibe is not as volatile—but the cocktails may be. Order from an always-artistic menu with help from highly hospitable staff. The menu changes with the seasons, but Let Me Be Clear, a clarified Jungle Bird, always seems to make the cut. 

 

John Brown's Underground

John Brown's Underground

  • 7 East 7th St
  • (785) 840-8800

A speak-easy with an intimate atmosphere and some sophisticated drinks. Named for the American abolitionist who brought his campaign against slavery to Bleeding Kansas, the ambiance of this little hideaway is much calmer than its namesake. Find it on 7th Street, between…

Above ground and below, you’ll discover countless treasures in the 2024 Official Kansas Travel Guide.