Chetolah, Ellis County

Abstract

The lost town of Chetolah, located in Ellis County, Kansas, was settled by three diverse groups of people at different time intervals: the Pawnee Indians, optimistic railroad investors, and hopeful gold miners. The town struggled to survive after missing the railroad and finally drifted out of existence after being subjected to a false gold rush. Although the town was never completely revitalized, in the 1920s it became a tourist attraction known as Golden Springs Beach. This study provides a history of Chetolah using maps, newspapers, photographs, and an interview of the longtime property owner.