Dodge City
Around Dodge City
Photo: Gerald B. Keane · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Kansas · 34k people
Dodge City
“The Wickedest Little City in the West”, “Queen of the Cowtowns”, “Cowboy Capital of the World”
Cowboy country with a warm heart
Wheat GoldPrairie Sky BlueSunset Orange
Welcome to Dodge City, where the Old West meets the modern prairie. Whether you're here for the rodeo, the history, or just to catch a steak, you'll find a friendly community ready to share a story. Come on in, the wind's always blowing but the welcome's warm.
Clubs for Dodge City
No clubs for Dodge City yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Dodge City. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Dodge City. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Boot Hill Museum Old West history, gunfighters, and the original Boot Hill cemetery.
- Historic Front Street Recreated 1870s street with saloons and shops.
- Fort Dodge Frontier military post on the Santa Fe Trail.
- Santa Fe Trail Wagon route that made Dodge City a cowtown.
- Arkansas River Runs through town, a natural landmark.
- United Wireless Arena Events, rodeos, and concerts venue.
- Outdoors Walk the historic Santa Fe Trail
- Outdoors Float the Arkansas River
- With kids Visit Boot Hill Museum
- With kids Tour Fort Dodge
- Evenings Country music bars
- Evenings Dance halls
- Locals love Rodeo grounds
- Locals love Steak houses
Through the year
- Dodge City Days August Community festival with parades, concerts, and rodeo.
- Dodge City Roundup Rodeo June Professional rodeo at the fairgrounds.
- Santa Fe Trail Days May Living history events along the trail.
Dodge City has a semi-arid climate with hot summers, cold winters, and frequent winds. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to be out.
Getaways
- Garden City Lee Richardson Zoo and Finney County Historical Museum
- Liberal Mid-America Air Museum and Coronado Museum
- Great Bend Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area
- Hays Sternberg Museum of Natural History and Fort Hays State University
Local flavour
Rooting for Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), Kansas City Royals (MLB), Kansas Jayhawks (NCAA), Kansas State Wildcats (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Dodge City steak Thick-cut beef from the local cattle industry
- Bierocks German-Russian meat pies, a regional comfort food
- Chicken fried steak A classic prairie diner staple
Where people go
- Historic frontier streets Recreated Old West main streets like Front Street
- Cattle ranches Working ranches that continue the cattle drive legacy
- Wheat fields Vast golden fields that stretch to the horizon
- Rodeo arenas Home to the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo
- Boot Hill and pioneer cemeteries Historic burial grounds and museums
Heritage and traditions
Dodge City is proud of its Wild West heritage as the 'Queen of the Cowtowns,' where cattle drives, lawmen, and the Santa Fe Trail shaped the American frontier.
This time of year in Dodge City
- Hunting season Fall Pheasant hunting in the fields.
Say it like a local: “Cowboy up” — To toughen up
Festivals
- Cinco de Mayo May Celebrates Mexican heritage with food, music, and dance.
- Christmas on the Prairie December Historic Front Street decorated with lights and carolers.
Landmarks with a story
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe The cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dodge City.
- Mueller-Schmidt House Also known as the Home of Stone, a limestone house from 1881.
- Dodge City Trail of Fame A sidewalk of stars honoring notable figures.
- Fort Dodge Jail Part of Fort Dodge, a military post.
Food traditions
- Cowboy coffee Strong black coffee brewed over an open fire, a nod to trail drivers.
- Mexican food Tacos, enchiladas, and tamales from the Hispanic community.
- Buffalo burgers A nod to the buffalo hunting era.
- Sarsaparilla A root beer-like drink served at saloons.
Music and arts
- Western music and cowboy ballads Live performances and local radio keep the cowboy song tradition alive.
- Gunfight reenactments on Front Street Daily summer shows recreate the town's Wild West shootouts.
- Cowboy poetry gatherings Local and regional poets share verses about ranch life and the prairie.
- Western art at local galleries Paintings and sculptures of cowboys, horses, and landscapes are showcased in town.
A little history
- 1872 Dodge City founded as a buffalo hunting town.
- 1870s-1880s Cattle drives from Texas bring cowboys and lawmen.
- 1878 The famous gunfight on Front Street involving Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson.
- 1880s Railroad arrives, solidifying Dodge City as a shipping point.
- 1930s Dust Bowl impacts the region.
Rivalries
- Dodge City vs Garden City Football and basketball showdowns.
- Dodge City vs Liberal Close games and bragging rights.
- Dodge City vs Great Bend Long-standing sports rivalry.
- Kansas vs Kansas State College football and basketball.
- Game day Rodeo events at the fairgrounds
- Game day High school football on Friday nights
- With kids Visit the Dodge City Zoo at Wright Park
Locals speak with a Midwestern accent tinged with Western twang, using phrases like 'you bet' and 'fixin' to.' Spanish words from the Hispanic community are common.
Only here
- The Boot Hill Cemetery, where outlaws were buried with their boots on.
- Daily gunfight reenactments on Historic Front Street.
- The Long Branch Saloon replica.
- The Santa Fe Trail ruts visible outside town.
New here? A few tips
- Expect strong winds and temperature swings; bring layers.
- Learn to pronounce 'Dodge City' as 'Dodge' like the car, not 'Dodges'.
- Try a bierock at a local bakery.
- Visit Boot Hill Museum to understand the town's history.
- Be aware of the summer heat; stay hydrated.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaMeadeKansasBig skies, warm hearts, and endless prairieGarden CityKansasWhere the plains open wide and the beef is king.LarnedKansasWhere the wheat fields meet the endless sky.LiberalKansasHeart of the Golden PlainsScott CityKansasWhere the wheat meets the skyPrattKansasThe prairie's gentle heartGreat BendKansasWhere the wheat meets the skyHaysKansasWhere the prairie meets the sky
Dodge City, KS. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.