Posted on Jun 26, 2023
How Excelsior Springs revived its historic downtown and avoided the fate of declining rural towns...
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The Missouri tourist town once faced the same stress as many rural areas, with a declining population and abandoned buildings. But a conscious effort to fix the downtown's infrastructure and beautify public spaces has turned the economy around.
Downtown Excelsior Springs, Missouri, literally drips with history.
In the 1880s, a farmer discovered the healing properties of the reddish-brown waters of Siloam Spring – claiming his daughter was cured of her tuberculosis after drinking and bathing in the waters. Word quickly spread and a town blossomed around the spring, as did more than 40 wells, each delivering a different slurry of minerals.
Excelsior Springs soon became something of a health care tourism destination. Presidents and gangsters, as well as everyday folk, would travel from all over to stay in town, drink from the wells and soak at the spas.
Downtown Excelsior Springs, Missouri, literally drips with history.
In the 1880s, a farmer discovered the healing properties of the reddish-brown waters of Siloam Spring – claiming his daughter was cured of her tuberculosis after drinking and bathing in the waters. Word quickly spread and a town blossomed around the spring, as did more than 40 wells, each delivering a different slurry of minerals.
Excelsior Springs soon became something of a health care tourism destination. Presidents and gangsters, as well as everyday folk, would travel from all over to stay in town, drink from the wells and soak at the spas.
How Excelsior Springs revived its historic downtown and avoided the fate of declining rural towns...
Posted from kcur.org
Posted 11 mo ago
Responses: 1
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“I think there’s a lot of residents in Excelsior that don’t realize … if (downtown) hadn’t taken off, if this hadn’t done what it has, it would have been bad,” Rice said.
He fears the population would have dwindled and taxes would have been much higher to keep up the town.
It’s no time to lay off the gas.
The next step is to increase accommodation. Rice said many people are interested in moving to Excelsior, but there’s not enough housing.
Increasingly, he meets people who come to town, not expecting to care for such a rural place, but ending up loving it here.
He recalled an interaction with the top executive of the hospital in town, who wasn’t sure if she’d stay in town when she moved. Now she’s on the chamber board and helping out with Waterfest.
“She says it’s just contagious — talking to people who live here and how excited they are to live here,” Rice said. “She’s just a big fan now.”"
..."“I think there’s a lot of residents in Excelsior that don’t realize … if (downtown) hadn’t taken off, if this hadn’t done what it has, it would have been bad,” Rice said.
He fears the population would have dwindled and taxes would have been much higher to keep up the town.
It’s no time to lay off the gas.
The next step is to increase accommodation. Rice said many people are interested in moving to Excelsior, but there’s not enough housing.
Increasingly, he meets people who come to town, not expecting to care for such a rural place, but ending up loving it here.
He recalled an interaction with the top executive of the hospital in town, who wasn’t sure if she’d stay in town when she moved. Now she’s on the chamber board and helping out with Waterfest.
“She says it’s just contagious — talking to people who live here and how excited they are to live here,” Rice said. “She’s just a big fan now.”"
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