El Dorado, Kansas

Overview

Though it was the discovery of oil that prompted Captain J. Cracklin to exclaim “El Dorado”, the endless venues for shopping, dining, and sightseeing is what makes the city a true treasure. El Dorado of Butler County is brimming with opportunities. The county’s most populous city has 300 hotel rooms, 17 unique restaurants, and several attractions. El Dorado was recently designated as A City of the Arts, with several performances, private galleries, and public sculptures seen throughout its beautifully kept tree-lined streets. Laced by the Walnut River and the El Dorado Lake, the city provides guests with acres of natural venues for recreation.

Tourist Attractions

El Dorado has a lot of historical markers to offer. The Freedom Memorial was built through cumulative voluntary efforts. Its brick path features replicas of the Statue of Liberty and the Sovereign Wings. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot has been renovated several times. Tourists can also visit El Dorado’s first library, the Carnegie Library, which was built in 192. The 19^th century Butler County Courthouse was designed by one of the state’s most renowned architects.

Entertainment and Nightlife

A diverse set of musicians play genres like Celtic, country, blues, and folk music at the Iron Horse Concert Hall. Located just behind the Circle Gallery, the hall offers fresh popcorn and beer alongside an intimate setting of original artwork and exposed brick walls. Four high-quality theater productions are offered to the public. Dance, vocal, and instrumental concerts offer the residents of El Dorado nothing but high-quality entertainment. Book your El Dorado Hotels with Reservations.com.

When to Visit

The Frontier Western Celebration has been touted as one of the region’s fastest growing festivals. The event features the biggest little bull riding event, the Extreme Bull Blowout; the championship Barbeque contest, Smoke on the Prairie; and the barrel racing show Frontier Can Chaser Classic. Other activities such as a ranch rodeo and a cowboy mounted shooting complete the festivity in August. On the first week of each month El Dorado celebrates the Freezing Frenzy on Fridays. Hundreds of residents and guests head to downtown to celebrate an evening of great sales, excellent food, and live entertainment.

Best Museums

The Coutts Memorial Museum of Art was built as a memorial to a late son. Warren Hall Coutts’ masterpiece is an unexpected delight, with more than a thousand works found beyond its heavy doors and classic columns. The museum has works of regional painters such as Frederic James and Thomas Hart Benton. Monthly exhibits, musical performances, and Prairie Printmakers’ prints can be found in the establishment. The discovery of oil in 1915 brought big changes to the city. One may step back in time at the Butler History Center and Kansas Oil Museum, which has excellent exhibits and meticulous research on the period of oil exploration. The museum features two styles of operational drilling rigs and an actual pump house. Baseball enthusiasts will love the El Dorado Baseball Hall of Fame. The museum has memorabilia, photographs, and baseball artifacts of outstanding contributions to the sport.