The Eldridge Hotel is the only business in town still operating on the
corner where it stood before Kansas was admitted to the Union. Also
known as the Free State Hotel, the Eldridge Hotel was built and
rebuilt over the years, as pro-slavery forces destroyed it (1856),
Quantrill's raiders attacked it (1863), and its owner demolished it to
make way for the five-story hotel that stands today (1924). During
Kansas' bloody territory days, the hotel offered refuge to settlers
promoting the Free State cause; after its destruction owner Shalor
Eldridge pledged that each time the hotel was destroyed, it would be
rebuilt and another story added. Today the all-suite hotel (built in
1926, restored and reopened in 1986) offers warmly-furnished suites
stocked with amenities and enjoys tree-lined, university town
surroundings in historic downtown Lawrence.
Their amenities include 48 suites, courtesy van for local
transportation, room service, refrigerator, cable TV. Convenient to
shops and restaurants; golf nearby. The Eldridge hosts the annual
"Eldridge Hotel Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade" the first Saturday in
December each year featuring over 100 horse-drawn vehicles.
Dining... there is Shalor's which is the ?in-house? restaurant. They
serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The well-stocked Jayhawk Pub
(nearby) offers a variety of beverages and American food. And to top
it all off, the street the hotel is located on has tons of other
places to eat...from Italian, American, Tai, BBQ,.. you name it and
its most likely near by. After speaking with Niki at the Front desk
she told me there would be no problem finding good dining in that
area. Most of the time the hotel can provide you with information on
just about anything you want to know. When you arrive there ask for
any literature they can provide on food and entertainment. They will
be happy to assist you. |
