Get the Heck into Dodge



Dodge City is the epitome of the Wild West ... and, today, the meet production and processing capital of the U.S. The Santa Fe Trail, opened by William Becknell in 1821, became an important commercial route between Franklin, Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico until 1880. Thousands of oxen-driven wagons and loaded mules traveled through Dodge City.

Fort Dodge was established in 1865 on the Santa Fe Trail - not much to see there nowadays -, offering protection to wagon trains and serving as a supply base for troops involved in the Indian wars. 1872, Dodge was founded 5 mi west of Fort Dodge and became a center for travelers and Buffalo hunters. In the same year the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad arrived to town and commerce grew especially on famous Front Street.

Dodge City acquired an infamous reputation of lawlessness and gun-slinging and shootings where common. By 1875, when the Buffalo were extinct, the longhorn cattle of Texas came into town. For ten more years, over 5 million head were driven up the Chisholm and Western Trails to Dodge City. Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp (pic) looked after law and ordern and became the famous fictional character of Marshal Matt Dillon out of Gunsmoke (Rauchende Colts). There were two Front Streets, one on either side of the railroad tracks, the Southern one was the "rowdy" one, with saloons, brothels and a lot of gambling, entertainment etc.

When a cattle disease took over and a quarantine line was installed, Doge fell into a deep sleep and it took quite a bit until the city was reanimated: first in the 1930s with the movie "Dodge City," later with the TV series "Gunsmoke" Starting in the 1960s the meat industry became the primary industry in Dodge City. Cargill Meat and National Beef both operate huge facilities in the city, in addition to huge feedlots (where cattle are fed for the last 3 months or so). Amazingly, the population in Dodge City is about 50 % Mexican and so is the infrastructure in town.

Well, enough history. We went all the way and had an excellent guide: Marshall Brent (Harris), who is pictured on every poster and brochure in Dodge (see pic on top). He and Melissa from the City office drove us around and first showed us the newest development: Heritage District, where a new restaurant, hotel and RV Park is about to open. A wild-west themed water park (pic) was already open this summer and in the next years an expansion of the Boothill Museum over the railroad tracks is planned. The beautifully restored Depot (railroad station) with its dinner theater and Fort Dodge were other stops en route before lunch: great burgers at Central Station Bar & Grill.

In the afternoon we had the opportunity to visit the newly opened first distillery in town: Boot Hill Distillery. Besides having done a great job in restoring the Old City Hall (which was completely run-down), they are producing great spirits. The distillery is owned by three farmers from the region, who provide the grain, and Mark is an excellent marketing director, full of ideas, and, in addition, a very knowledgeable tour guide. Wished, they would already have sold their produce, but they are still waiting for some sort of permission. At least, we got a chance to taste their vodka and white and red-eyed whiskey at a fantastic historic bar (see pic). Especially loved their wodka: extremely smooth and soft.


On to the main attraction of town: The Boot Hill Museum. Marshall Brent - quite a character and the heart and soul of the Boothill Museum and best ambassador for Dodge City - was in his element and though we've been visiting before, it was a wonderful experience. In various rebuilt structures a gigantic collection of authentic memorabilia of all kinds is shown, which makes the museum special.

In the evening we had steaks at Casey's, considering that most of the processed meat in the U.S. comes from Dodge City, it had to be good - and it was. I had a rib eye, Peter a strip steak, with a baked potato and beans, and both were different, but equally delicious. Since we met the owner, Mike Casey, who showed us his restaurant, we ended up at the bar after dinner and had some local brews and political discussions. It became late.