Flamingo Motel Then and Now

2406 W Wyatt Earp Blvd

For the past couple weeks, I have attempted to write a thorough and accurate story about the Flamingo Motel in Dodge City. Unfortunately, the physical place where I must connect to the Wi-fi in order to access the digitized Globe archives from 1928 through 2011 has experienced technical difficulties two Saturdays in a row. So bear with me; I’m doing the best I can.

Lloyd and Dixon Nicely built the Flamingo Motel around 1957. At that time, the site was just east of the King Cole Bake Shop operated by Milton Bailey. It appears the Nicelys sold the Flamingo by early 1958 and began constructing the Holiday Motel just down the road. They also built at least one motel in Garden City.

This postcard was printed around 1959 when Agnes Lucus (not Lucas) owned and managed the Flamingo. The motel advertised being “Duncan Hines Approved” with 22 new modern units.

The original Flamingo had a standard mid-century U shape with a heated pool in the middle. Also, I’m a sucker for pretty letterhead.

The Flamingo expanded with an adjacent U to the east in the 1960s. Francis Campbell assumed management of the facility, which boasted 40 deluxe units.

Under Francis Campbell’s management, the motel became part of the TraveLodge brand around 1969.

Gerald Klinginsmith, Marvin Pfannenstiel, and Glenn Kuhlman formed GMG, Inc. in July of 1972. The Dodge House Restaurant & Saloon was built directly west of the TraveLodge around 1974. Ultimately, GMG operated both of those establishments plus the Holidome, which wasn’t physically connected to the Dodge House Restaurant at that time.

Around 1982, Dodge City TraveLodge was renamed Dodge House Motel. The hotel northwest of the restaurant was still called the Holidome so it was logical to have the restaurant and the motel to the east share a name.

In the late 1980s, the Holidome became the Dodge House Inn. That structure became physically connected to the Dodge House Restaurant, and the Dodge House Motel was still located the next door over at the old Flamingo. I have officially lost track of how many establishments in this town have been called “Dodge House” something or the other.

Around 1991, the former Flamingo became known as the Drover’s Inn. It continued operating with that name until around 1997, when it was renamed The Harbor House. However, that establishment was very short-lived and the motel was demolished sometime between 1998 and 2002. A La Quinta has occupied the space since around 2007.

This is how the site of the former Flamingo Motel looks today:

My regular publishing frequency has been biweekly with the exception of instances when I have been unable to access the necessary archives to write a complete story. I have pursued resolution for the past couple years and will continue doing so. If these efforts prove unsuccessful, I may have to rethink the Then and Now series. Stay tuned.

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