The Elms Hotel and Spa

The Elms Hotel and Spa is a historic resort hotel located at Regent and Elms Boulevard in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, approximately 30 miles northeast of Kansas City, Missouri. Originally established in 1888, the hotel has long been associated with the region’s mineral spring tourism and health resort culture. The current structure, completed in 1912, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located within The Elms Historic District. The property operates today as a Destination by Hyatt hotel and spa.

The first Elms Hotel opened in July 1888 as a 200-room resort developed to serve visitors drawn to Excelsior Springs' mineral waters. An annex with 75 additional rooms was added in 1889. The original structure was destroyed by fire on May 9, 1898.^[2]

A second, larger hotel opened on July 31, 1909, with approximately 300 rooms. It was destroyed by fire on October 30, 1910.^[3]

The current Elms Hotel was constructed of native stone and opened on September 7, 1912.^[3] Designed in Tudor Revival and Gothic Revival styles by architects Jackson & McIlvain, the building reflects the architectural character of early twentieth-century resort hotels.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Excelsior Springs benefited from its proximity to Kansas City and the broader regional resort trade. Contemporary accounts associate the hotel with Prohibition-era activity and organized crime figures connected to Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast. The hotel also hosted notable guests including boxer Jack Dempsey and President Harry S. Truman. In 1948, Truman spent election night at the hotel and learned of his presidential victory there the following morning.

Ownership changed several times during the twentieth century. The property was acquired by the Eppley Hotel Company in 1932 following bankruptcy. In 1956, it was included in a large transaction involving the Sheraton Corporation. It later operated as the Sheraton-Elms Hotel before reverting to its historic name. The hotel closed in 1971 and remained shuttered for several years before reopening in 1977 following community investment efforts.^[2]

In 1995, the City of Excelsior Springs acquired the property and facilitated a major restoration. A $16 million renovation was completed in 1998. The hotel closed again in 2011 for a comprehensive $20 million rehabilitation and reopened in 2012 in conjunction with its centennial celebration.

In April 2018, the property was purchased by Horizon–Midway Group and managed by Two Roads Hospitality under the Destination Hotels brand. Later that year, Hyatt Hotels Corporation acquired Two Roads Hospitality, incorporating the Elms into the Destination by Hyatt portfolio. A multi-year renovation completed in 2022 modernized guest rooms, spa facilities, and public spaces while retaining historic architectural elements.

The 1912 structure is constructed of native stone and features Tudor Revival and Gothic Revival architectural elements. Its design includes steeply pitched roofs, decorative half-timbering details, and masonry ornamentation typical of resort architecture of the period. The hotel is a contributing property within The Elms Historic District and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 1985.

Excelsior Springs developed in the late nineteenth century as a health resort centered on mineral springs believed to have therapeutic properties. The Elms Hotel became a principal accommodation for visitors seeking treatments and rest cures associated with the mineral waters. Although scientific evaluations in the 1930s questioned the medical claims of mineral water therapies, the town’s identity as a spa destination persisted.

Today, the hotel continues to operate a full-service spa that references this historical mineral spring heritage. Facilities include treatment rooms, a spa grotto, and wellness amenities.

The hotel currently operates as The Elms Hotel and Spa, a Destination by Hyatt property, with approximately 153 guestrooms and suites, dining venues, meeting facilities, and event spaces.

Contemporary travel publications have identified the hotel as a focal point of tourism in Excelsior Springs. A 2026 feature in Travel + Leisure described the property as central to the city’s mineral-water heritage and highlighted its spa offerings and proximity to downtown attractions, wineries, and parks.^[4]

The hotel also serves as a venue for weddings, conferences, and regional events.

The Elms Hotel and Spa is located near the Hall of Waters and within walking distance of downtown Excelsior Springs. The community’s development as a mineral spring resort shaped its early growth and continues to influence its tourism identity.

• Official website
• National Register entry