Hotel Eklund

The restaurant was great, the staff were wonderful, and the bed was comfortable, with a hot shower too. It’s a historic hotel right downtown in Clayton, full of charm and atmosphere. The cats out front make a precious welcome committee. Why settle for a chain when you can stay somewhere with history?

We stayed in one of the three front balcony rooms for a birthday treat. The rooms share a huge balcony across the front, and even though it was cold, we went out to enjoy it. Our room was lovely and spacious, with a fridge and microwave, and the bathroom suited the period nicely. It was the priciest room on our Kansas City to Phoenix trip and back. We called the day before to reserve it. The restaurant and bar weren’t open in the evening, though there were a few places to eat in town. Breakfast was nice, if you get up in time.

I came for the restaurant and had a good time looking at the pictures and maps on the walls. The food was good, but expensive. A steak was close to $50, and many items felt costly for someone like me who doesn’t have much to spend, though I can see they’d be affordable for people with more money. I also expected to see bullet holes in the ceiling because the place and its reviews advertise them, but there weren’t any. The owner said I might have been in the wrong place, but I’m sure I was. Maybe the holes were in the other dining room, which was closed that night. I still enjoyed being there and learning about Black Jack Ketchum and the area’s history.

Joe Beth took such good care of us. She’s a sweet proprietor, and we loved the breakfast and slept cozily in the charming rooms. The place felt like walking into an old western movie. The saloon and dining rooms were beautiful, with chandeliers, velvet seating, and velvet walls. Upstairs, the huge skylight over the staircase and the enormous plants were the finishing touch. We loved everything. Thanks, Joe Beth, for such a wonderful experience.