Dodge City Kansas

Usually, Dodge City, KS conjures up images of the Old West in the minds of those who know a little bit about history. It is a place with a rich and violent past that almost defined America in its heyday. Today, Dodge City is a diverse community with not a whole lot there reminiscent of days gone by.

Dodge City resembles a lot of cities in the Midwest; there is agriculture, industry, cattle, and small business, but unfortunately, not a whole lot of preserved history. The Boot Hill Museum is a replica of what once stood two blocks to the East. There is a lack of placards and signs on Wyatt Earp Blvd. noting famous gunfights and events, and it almost borders on boring. Dodge City has a huge Hispanic population. Driving through town almost felt like driving through Tijuana, with all the signs on stores written in Spanish, and all the Hispanic people going about their business.

Dodge City seems to be in the process of reinventing itself. Aside from trying to attract tourists to the museum, the word from the bartender at the Long Branch Saloon is that Dodge City may be getting a huge casino soon. Perhaps this will bring back the gunslingers, brothels, and the criminal element once so abundant in the late 1800s.

Other than Boot Hill, and a few good restaurants in town, I suppose Dodge City is just another city in America’s heartland trying to reinvent itself. It is sad that the original Front Street has been torn down and a parking lot fills the once famous place. There are a few small businesses with names of famous people, like Doc Holiday Liquor store, but for the most part, much of the history seems to have vanished.

Quick Tips:

Most of what is worth seeing is on Wyatt Earp Boulevard.

Best Way To Get Around:

I did not notice public transportation, but I guess a car or walking is the best way to get around.

I have a weakness: I love Thai food. Whether it’s in Bangkok, Thailand, or Dodge City, KS, I love and crave authentic Southeast Asian food. I was thrilled, while visiting Dodge City, to have spotted a Thai restaurant on Wyatt Earp Blvd.: Sarocha’s Thai Restaurant.

My wife and I settled in to our no-frills motel room just a few blocks from Sarocha’s first and quickly decided on Thai food for dinner. We asked the motel worker about Sarocha’s and she tried to steer us to another Thai restaurant close by. She said they had been in business longer. We did drive to where she had told us, but thank goodness they were closed. We then decided on our first choice, and headed just a few blocks northwest, to where we had started.

I immediately noticed the decor. Even before stepping through the door, the Thai statue greeted us from indoors. As we entered, we were quickly greeted and given a choice of where we’d like to sit. Our waiter suggested the Thai tea. I took him up on his offer and ordered one. Because my wife makes excellent Thai tea and I have been to Thailand a few times, I would rate their tea a mediocre to pretty good. The cream on the top of the tea, instead of mixed together, threw me off for a couple of seconds.

We ordered three entrées and a bowl of rice, and ate Thai style; sharing the main courses, and eating off of our plates. Our food was excellent! We had a spicy squid dish, a curried, and very coconut-flavored prawn dish, and my favorite Thai salad: Laab. Laab is usually ground pork or chicken flavored with lime, onion, peppers, mint, other items, and cilantro. It is mainly served with a small bed of cabbage and grated carrots, as it was here.

The menu here is large, and one could easily get lost trying to decide just where to begin their experience. It is nice to have so many choices available. Luckily, the menu is categorized and is easy to navigate.

Sarocha’s offers a daily lunch buffet and is open from 11am to 10pm. Located near the historic area of town, right on West Wyatt Earp Blvd., it is also easy to find. Everyone from the waiter to the cook and the manager were very friendly and courteous, and made us feel welcome and appreciated. The prices here are reasonable considering the work that goes into preparing these awesome meals.

Although there are two Thai restaurants in Dodge City, given our great experience with Sarocha’s, when in town again, we will return and treat ourselves to this wonderful hidden gem.

Not far from Dodge City, KS, at the intersection of Highways 50 and 56, on the west edge of Kinsley, KS, is an important, but not well-known, geographical point of interest and museum. What makes this a unique place is that it is located at an intersection in travel, and is the midway point between San Francisco, CA, and New York. It is exactly 1561 miles from here to both locations.

The Edwards County Historical Society, established in 1958, has done a wonderful job of preserving, collecting, and displaying American history. Most of the items here were donated. Although most of the items are local in nature, they tell many stories of life in much of the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. It was the first time I saw a ration book from World War II on display, along with dozens of other items from that time period.

The re-creations of a blacksmith shop, a 1910 parlor, a 1920s kitchen, and a Victorian music room are well done and are just a few of the many permanent exhibits. Also located on the premises is an authentic sod house and sod cutter. The interior of the sod house is wonderfully decorated and is an exhibit within an exhibit. It is housed and protected in a covered area on the south side of the museum.

The museum is only open May through September, but the photo-op is always present of the landmark sign on the grounds displaying the miles to New York and San Francisco. The museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10am–5pm, and Sunday 2–5pm. The price to enter the museum is FREE, but donations are always appreciated.

The Boot Hill Museum is a non-profit organization committed to preserving Dodge City’s history and that of the Old West. Although only a reconstruction of what once stood two blocks to the east, it is filled with artifacts and exhibits. These alone are worth the price of admission to view. The admission was $7 per adult or $20 for a family the day we visited.

The entrance to the museum is located in the gift shop, and this where you buy tickets for the walk through a familiar street in the TV show Gunsmoke.

The visitor begins in a small room with an information video and then ascends the famous Boot Hill, which is fenced in and has no bodies buried in its dirt. As the visitor moves on the exhibits and artifacts are showcased in a rather large section of this Front Street replica. Most were very interesting and informative.

After touring the museum the visitor moves through buildings, like the Long Branch Saloon, where beer and sarsaparilla can be purchased for a fair price. The employees are into their work, and entertain as they also serve thirsty guests. Aside from the watering hole there is a restaurant and other places tourists can spend their money. Artifacts, such as pistols and weapons, and old children’s items, are also on display throughout these Front Street buildings.

During the summer season visitors can indulge in coach rides, gunfights, old-fashioned photos, can-can shows, and other entertainment available in the compound.

The Boot Hill Museum is located at Front Street in Dodge City, Kansas, just off of Wyatt Earp Boulevard. Their website is www.boothill.org.

Summer hours: 8am to 8pm Daily
Winter Hours: 9am to 5pm Mon-Sat
1pm to 5pm Sunday

Information is also available by calling (620) 227-8188

While playing poker with my friends in Tacoma, Washington I had always fantasized about being wealthy enough to fly myself and my friends to Dodge City, Kansas to play poker together. Unfortunately I am not yet wealthy, but I was able to fulfill just a small part of my two-decade fantasy. I was able to play poker in Dodge City. I was able to do this thanks to Peppercorn’s Bar and Grill.

My wife and I had just eaten supper at Sarocha’s, on Wyatt Earp Blvd., and were feeling like a drink or two to end the day. We spotted Peppercorn’s between Sarocha’s and our flea-bitten motel, and were glad we stopped in. Our drinks were made well, our server was attentive and quick, despite how busy it was inside, and the food others were eating looked great.

Peppercorn’s decor is busy. There is a lot to look at. Most of it is alcohol and sports related, with a few unusual items. The one piece of decor that caught my attention was a sign for Kansas Hold ‘Em. The Kansas State Lottery has a game much like Keno, but in the style of Hold ‘Em poker, which runs continuously and can be played for multiple dollar amounts. I believe the minimum is a two-dollar bet, with the big payout being as much as $10,000. The game is addictive and is odds based.

Thanks to Peppercorn’s I was able to slightly indulge in a partial fantasy of playing poker in Dodge City, although it was with my wife and not my buddies back home. The alcohol drinks were tasty and left us with a slight warm feeling in our body and a nice way to end our short trip to Dodge City. If we had not just eaten we would have loved to order from the menu, as the food looked delicious.

Peppercorn’s is located at 1301 West Wyatt Earp Blvd. in Dodge City, Kansas. It is not far from the Boot Hill Museum and other attractions in the historic area. Whether it’s a tasty drink, food, poker, or just people watching after touring the local area, Peppercorn’s is sure to impress.