Things to do in Ellinwood, Kansas

Welcome to Historic Ellinwood!

Ellinwood's surrounding landscape is incredibly scenic. Sitting roughly 30 minutes from the Cheyenne Bottoms Refuge and around 40 minutes from Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, there is plenty of natural beauty for visitors to see. The community is also not far off the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway, which is one of the most pristine drives in Kansas.

Located along the old Santa Fe Trail, the town was a social and cultural center of mostly German immigrants in the 1870s. Early on the town grew quickly as the competition of the railroad enabled the community to be easily accessible. In 1894, the Historic Wolf Hotel was built and remains iconic in the town still to this day.

Interior of Kansas Wetlands Education Center

Wetlands & Wildlife

Along the byway, you'll encounter landscapes and communities shaped by the powerful forces of motion and change. You're entering a region formed by ancient and ongoing geological movement, a land of stunning bird…