Historic Plains Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In the late 1800s, the City of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was called “The Magic City of the Plains,” so it was only appropriate that a luxurious hotel opened in 1911 and called itself the “Plains Hotel.” The concept of the elegant hotel was born at the annual $1 dinner of the Industrial Club (now the Chamber of Commerce) in December 1909.
During the meeting, Thomas Heaney, club President, interrupted the other discussions to express his opinion that Cheyenne badly needed a new and modern hotel. At the time, the leading hotel in town was the Inter-Ocean, which had become outdated and had become more of the city’s principal watering hole.
Though Heaney had said this somewhat jokingly, the other men agreed. By February of the following year, the Cheyenne Securities Company was organized to build a new hotel. Moving quickly, architect William Duboise designed the hotel, and in March, a contract was awarded to build it. Construction started in June 1910, and in March 1911, it was completed for about $250,000, including furnishings.
Plains Hotel Lobby in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
On March 9, 1911, the hotel held a lavish grand opening. Men in formal evening attire, distinguished Army officers, and a crowd of elegantly dressed women attended. A band played music until the early morning hours while guests danced and admired the hotel’s magnificent decor and furnishings, which boasted modern designs down to the smallest detail.
The five-story hotel featured three elevators, 100 guest rooms, lush velvet carpets, fine furnishings, private baths, and telephones in the guest rooms, luxuries not seen in most hotels of the time.
The lobby was lighted through a mission art panel skylight decorated with heavy brass fixtures and leather furniture. Its floor was finished in tile and mahogany. The staircase leading from the lobby was made of solid marble and steel. The lobby bar gleamed with plate glass and mahogany fixtures. On the Mezzanine level, an orchestra entertained guests.
The hotel soon attracted numerous cattle barons, oil tycoons, and travelers to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. These included celebrities like Charles Lindburg, Emily Post, Robert Kennedy, and Ernest Hemingway. At one time, the hotel was the Governor’s Mansion for Nellie Davis Tayloe Ross, the first female governor in the United States. Guests raved about the hotel’s amenities and services.
The Historic Plains Hotel has been a cultural landmark and society favorite of presidents, movie stars, and cattle barons for more than 100 years. Located in the heart of downtown and surrounded by Cheyenne’s greatest attractions, The Historic Plains Hotel celebrates the rich legacy of the American frontier.
Plains Hotel in Cheyenne, Wyoming, courtesy of Google Maps.
Today, the Plains Hotel continues to cater to the many travelers of Cheyenne. Offering 130 fully restored guest rooms and suites, the rooms are furnished in an “Old West” style, with original artwork and photography by Wyoming artists. Though maintaining its historic heritage, the hotel offers all the modern amenities expected of today’s travelers.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated February 2025.
Contact Information:
Plains Hotel
1600 Central Avenue
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001
307-638-3311
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