Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Dodge City, Kansas

In the 1870s, Dodge City gained recognition as the “Queen of the Cowtowns,” serving as a pivotal terminal for cattle drives originating in Texas via the Chisholm Trail.

Over a century later, the cattle industry remains a vital component of the local economy, with expansive feedlots visible from the southeastern side of the city.

Dodge City’s notoriety dates back to the booming days when Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) served as an influential lawman.

Additionally, cultural references such as “Get the hell out of Dodge” stem from the long-running radio and television series Gunsmoke, which aired from 1955 to 1975.

In Dodge City, authentic history converges with folklore, as exemplified by the Dodge City Trail of Fame and the Boot Hill Museum, inviting visitors into an Old West experience accompanied by can-can dancers and gunslingers.

1. Boot Hill Museum

Dodge City’s primary attraction is an outdoor museum that chronicles the town’s early settlement history with an engaging narrative of its gunslinging past.

The name derives from the former cemetery located on the northwest corner of the property. “Boot Hill” was traditionally associated with Old West cemeteries, reflecting the numerous individuals who met violent ends “with their boots on.”

The Boot Hill Museum effectively combines captivating displays, including approximately 200 firearms from that era, with lively reenactments in a recreated town and boardwalk setting.

Live performances, including reenactments, can-can dance shows, and thrilling gunfights, significantly enhance the visitor experience.

2. Dodge City Trail of Fame

The Dodge City Visitor Information Center provides maps for a self-guided tour through the Old Dodge City National Historic District.

Marked by medallions embedded in the sidewalk, the Dodge City Trail of Fame, established in 2003, honors both celebrated and notorious former residents, including Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and gunfighter Doc Holliday.

Additionally, the trail features markers for actors whose portrayals have immortalized Dodge City in American culture, including Errol Flynn, Gene Barry from the TV series “Bat Masterson,” and Dennis Weaver from Gunsmoke.

3. Dodge City Days

The second-largest community festival in Kansas occurs in Dodge City during the peak of summer. With origins stretching over 60 years, Dodge City Days is a ten-day celebration held from late July to early August, attracting around 100,000 attendees for various events.

This festive occasion pays homage to Dodge City’s Western heritage, showcasing a parade, live performances, arts and crafts exhibitions, pageants, contests, and more.

The centerpiece of the festival is the six-day Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, recognized by Time Magazine as one of the “50 Authentic American Experiences,” featuring an action-packed schedule of bull riding, bronc riding, calf roping, and barrel racing.

4. Santa Fe Trail Remains

This historic site, located nine miles west of Dodge City, features a pull-off area along US 50 where the Santa Fe Trail Remains have earned recognition as a U.S. National Historic Landmark.

The site boasts the state’s longest uninterrupted stretch of visible Santa Fe Trail rut remnants.

Between the 1820s and the 1870s, the prairie was disturbed by the hooves of horses, mules, and oxen, resulting in grooves that remain visible today, reflecting the landscape’s historical significance.

Visitors will find a shelter at the site providing context about the trail and its complex interactions with the Apache, Kiowa-Apache, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Native Americans during the mid-19th century.

5. Wright Park Zoo

Wright Park, situated on the south side of downtown, has housed a zoo for nearly a century. Established in 1926, the zoo initially showcased a pair of black bears and raccoons.

Originally, animal enclosures were dispersed throughout the park until their consolidation in the 1980s, followed by significant expansion in the 1990s.

Accredited by the American Zoo Association (AZA), Wright Park Zoo presents a refreshing contrast to Dodge City’s rugged history, featuring over 120 animals from approximately 30 different species.

Among its notable residents are Siberian tigers, cougars, emus, buffalo, black bears, and of course, longhorn cattle.

6. Home of Stone

One of the oldest buildings in Dodge City, the Home of Stone, is a fine limestone residence erected in 1881 for John Mueller, a successful bootmaker who later ventured into the saloon business and cattle ranching.

However, by 1890, he faced adversity, losing his cattle to a blizzard and suffering a fire at his boot shop. Subsequently, he relocated to St. Louis, selling the house to the Adam Schmidt family, who occupied it for 75 years before selling it to Ford County in 1965.

The Home of Stone remains the sole limestone structure in Dodge City, set in a picturesque location on a hillside northeast of the downtown area.

From June through August, the Ford County Historical Society opens the house to the public, showcasing living spaces as they were during Mueller’s tenure in the early 1880s.

7. Long Branch Lagoon

Located at the north end of Wright Park, Long Branch Lagoon is a western-themed public water park that opened in 2016. Its attractions are cleverly named in homage to the cattle drive era.

Features include Cowboy Creek, a 720-foot lazy river, Wrangler Rapids, a wave pool, and Dalton’s Plunge, an exhilarating boomerang slide.

Younger visitors will particularly enjoy Fort Splash, a zero-depth pool featuring a large dumping bucket, water sprays, and cannons.

The park also boasts an Olympic-sized lap pool, a climbing wall, a diving well, water basketball hoops, and drop slides.

8. Cattle & Feedlot Overlook

To truly appreciate the magnitude of Dodge City’s cattle industry, a visit to the Cattle & Feedlot Overlook is essential. This scenic viewpoint is situated on a hill adjacent to the Dodge City Regional Airport, offering panoramic views of the feedlots to the southeast.

Certainly, the presence of numerous cattle is accompanied by distinct odors, particularly when the wind blows in their direction.

Despite this, the expansive vista is a necessary experience, serving as a powerful reminder of the city’s agricultural roots. An interpretive board provides insights into the historical context of Dodge City’s cattle trade.

9. Dodge City Brewing

Dodge City Brewing, which opened in downtown Dodge City in 2017, was the first establishment of its kind in southwest Kansas.

The master brewer, possessing nearly 20 years of brewing expertise, is a BJCP Certified Beer Judge.

Typically, six beers are available on tap, including the flagship cream ale, a Belgian-style Tripel, a Baltic Porter, an English Bitter, and an Imperial Bock.

In addition to beer, the brewery excels in its pizza, crafted in a brick oven with a distinctive dough and sauce.

10. Boot Hill Distillery

Situated atop the original Boot Hill Cemetery, where early Dodge City’s gunfighters, outlaws, and women of the night were interred in the 1870s, lies this small-batch craft distillery.

The Boot Hill Distillery operates from the old Municipal Building (constructed in 1929), which once accommodated the municipal court and multiple city departments.

The tasting room reflects this rich history, featuring a fully stocked Brunswick Bar, along with leather sofas, lounge chairs, and barstools.

The spirits available here are produced by a father-son farming duo who cultivate their grains. Offerings include various whiskeys, bourbons, vodka, and gin among others.

11. Dodge City Trolley

For those seeking to efficiently grasp the essentials of Dodge City, the hour-long Dodge City Trolley tour serves as an excellent option.

During the peak season, from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day, the air-conditioned trolley operates from the Visitor Information Center, departing four times daily, seven days a week.

With an engaging guide, participants will explore the original sites of Front Street, Gospell Hill, the Longbranch Saloon, the “deadline,” and more, including Fort Dodge and the historic Santa Fe Trail path.

12. Historic Santa Fe Depot

Positioned on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Dodge City served as the final rest stop prior to crossing an expansive undeveloped region to the west. In 1896, this resulted in the construction of a substantial station in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

The facility accommodated the Harvey House Hotel “El Vaquero,” one of numerous such hotels in the western United States, allowing for extended stays.

Though it currently operates as an Amtrak station, the site accommodates several tenants, including the Depot Theater Company, which offers guided tours of the complex by appointment.

13. Boot Hill Casino & Resort

In alignment with its historical significance, Dodge City is also a fitting location for a casino resort. Located on the city’s west side, it became the first state-owned casino upon its opening in 2009.

The interior design reflects the Old West theme and features over 600 slot machines and 18 table games, as well as 2 live poker tables and the Firesides restaurant offering steak, BBQ, burgers, and other casual dining options.

Adjacent to the casino is a 108-room Hampton Inn & Suites, while on the opposite side stands the United Wireless Arena, Dodge City’s primary venue for concerts, major sporting events, and more. In winter, the arena provides an ice skating space.

14. Wyatt Earp Statue

The notable three-year tenure of Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) as a lawman in Dodge City is memorialized through a larger-than-life bronze statue.

This statue is located on the southeast side of downtown, precisely at the tracks along 1028 E Wyatt Earp Blvd.

Positioned on a low pedestal, the statue depicts Earp in motion, holding his hat in his left hand and a drawn revolver in his right. This work, created by sculptor Mary Spurgeon, has been a part of the Dodge City Trail of Fame since its installation in 2004.

15. El Capitan Longhorn Statue

A hallmark image of contemporary Dodge City is the life-size statue of a longhorn steer, majestically placed at the intersection of Wyatt Earp Blvd and 2nd Ave.

This striking bronze sculpture commemorates the monumental cattle drives that occurred along the dusty path from Texas to Dodge City between 1875 and 1885.

The steer nicknamed “El Capitan,” who led these drives, became known for making multiple trips along the route. This artwork was crafted by artist Jasper D’Ambrosi from Tempe, AZ.