National and State Registers of Historic Places
Beaumont Hotel
11651 SE Main Street
Beaumont (Butler County)
Listed in National Register
Feb 3, 2012
Architect: Unknown
Category: hotel
The Beaumont Hotel was originally built in 1879 as a railroad hotel, but was significantly remodeled in 1953 to serve as fly-in guests. The building took on its current form through the vision of local rancher James Clinton Squier. By the time Squier purchased the hotel and began remodeling it, his business associates were already using the adjacent pasture as a grass airstrip. Among the character-defining features from the mid-century remodel are viewing decks that were constructed to provide views to the surrounding Flint Hills landscape and the nearby grass airstrip. Soon, the hotel and its restaurant were attracting ranchers, hobby pilots, and day-trippers from nearby Wichita. In 1962, Squier removed the fence between the hotel and airstrip, thus beginning the tradition of pilots taxiing from the airstrip and parking their planes in front of the hotel. The building continues to serve as a hotel and restaurant. It was nominated for its local transportation and agriculture history.
