Nearly a century later, local hotelier Jack DeBoer, founder of the Residence Inn and other all-suite hotels, purchased the historical Keen Kutter warehouse building with the idea of creating a truly unique Old Town hotel experience in Wichita, KS. What others saw as a timeworn structure, DeBoer saw as a blank canvas for something wonderful. So he closely managed a major renovation and restoration of the warehouse. Thanks to DeBoer’s vision, the Hotel at Old Town opened for business in 1999, giving the Keen Kutter building a second life as a restored, historic downtown hotel and Wichita landmark.
In celebration of its illustrious history, the Hotel at Old Town conducted a major search for Keen Kutter brand items, which resulted in the largest authentic collection ever assembled. These items are displayed on each floor at our Old Town hotel in Wichita in museum-quality cases adjacent to magnificent photos of the early area. The collection serves as a lasting tribute to the hotel’s history.
What was once the site of bustling industry and manufacturing is now Hotel at Old Town, where new meets old in the heart of Wichita's premier entertainment district.
