Ellinwood’s Underground Tunnels – Ellinwood, Kansas
Connecting the downtown area buildings these tunnels were used for coal storage during the coal era. The history of these tunnels is worth visiting. The coal was delivered to the stores by horse and wagon and dropped into the tunnels when the wooden sidewalks were raised. The workers of the shops could then go to the tunnel and get the coal as they needed it for heating their businesses.
When the 1930’s brought about the use of natural gas instead of coal the tunnels were no longer needed for coal. They were cleaned, the limestone storage rooms in the basement were turned into shops and businesses with the tunnels connecting them so shoppers could go from one to the other without having to go outside. Sounds like the modern day malls, doesn’t it?
The tunnels were also a great place to avoid the government revenue agents during the prohibition years. Although it was a subject not printed in the paper, it was a known fact (locally) that they were a "safe" place for the business of liquor.
The tunnels were also used during the tornado season to protect the citizens from these storms.
Most of the tunnel system remained open and in use through the 1930s, but since the Second World War, separation walls have been built to block access from one building to another. Then in the summer of 1982, with the building of new sidewalks on Main street, most of the remaining tunnels were filled with sand, retained, but blocked. Now only the tunnels under the Dick Building, the Wolf Hotel, and the 1883 are open, with those under the Dick Building the only ones opened regularly for visitors.
Tours Are Conducted Only by Advance Reservations
Location: N.W. corner of Main & Santa Fe, U.S. 56 at the stoplight, Ellinwood, Missouri 67526-0306
Phone: 620-564-2400
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