The Elms Hotel and Spa: History, Spa Services, and Famous Guests

Spa size: 28,000 sq ft ·
Location: Excelsior Springs, Missouri ·
Notable historic guest: Al Capone ·
Historic hotel status: National Register of Historic Places

Five facts that define The Elms Hotel and Spa, one pattern: the property has repeatedly reinvented itself — from mineral-water health resort to Prohibition hideout to modern spa destination — each time anchored by Excelsior Springs’ natural springs.

Did Al Capone stay at the Elms?

Al Capone’s visits to Excelsior Springs

• According to the hotel’s official history (the property’s own archival records), Al Capone is said to have visited during Prohibition, participating in illegal gambling and bathtub-gin parties. Confidence in this claim is medium, based on oral tradition rather than documented registration logs.
• The hotel’s history packet notes that “Al Capone, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Bugsy Moran reportedly hosted illegal gambling and bathtub-gin parties” at the hotel (The Elms Story Begins PDF).

Evidence and stories of his stays

• The Great Depression pushed The Elms into bankruptcy in 1931, just as the Capone era was ending with his tax evasion conviction in 1932.
• Capone’s burial location is at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Illinois, not in Excelsior Springs.
• Local lore holds that Capone used the hotel as a hideout when federal pressure in Chicago became too intense, though no arrest records place him at the property.

What famous people have stayed at the Elms Hotel?

Gangsters and politicians

• Harry S. Truman, a Missouri native and former U.S. President, was a guest at The Elms during his political career (The Elms Hotel & Spa).
• Jesse James reportedly stayed at the original 1888 wood-structured Elms Hotel, though documentation is limited.
• Numerous Prohibition-era gangsters visited, including Pretty Boy Floyd and Bugsy Moran, according to the hotel’s own history packet.

Hollywood celebrities and sports figures

• The hotel became a notable national health-resort destination in the 1920s, attracting wealthy socialites and early Hollywood stars.
• In recent decades, the hotel has hosted wedding parties and events, though specific celebrity names from the post-war era are not consistently recorded in public sources.

The pattern: The Elms has always been a magnet for people who needed both discretion and luxury — from outlaws to presidents to modern spa-goers.

What is The Elms hotel known for?

Historic architecture and Prohibition era

• The current limestone building, which reopened in 1912, survived the second fire that destroyed the 1909 wood structure.
• Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
• The hotel’s Prohibition-era reputation as a gangster hideout remains its most cited claim to fame in travel media.

The 28,000-square-foot Greenhouse Spa

• The Greenhouse Spa covers 28,000 square feet and includes indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms, and a swimming pool.
• The spa was significantly expanded in the 2000s as part of a renovation that repositioned the hotel as a luxury wellness destination.
• It offers a full menu of massages, facials, body treatments, and hydrotherapy.

Wedding and event venue

• The Elms is a popular wedding venue, with indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces.
• Event packages include the spa, pool, and historic grand lobby for receptions.

Who owns The Elms Hotel?

Current ownership details

• As of 2024, The Elms Hotel and Spa is operated by a hospitality management company. The precise ownership entity is not publicly confirmed in official state business records or press releases, making this a point of uncertainty.
• The property has changed hands multiple times since the 1912 opening.

Previous owners and management groups

• The Great Depression forced the hotel into bankruptcy in 1931, but new ownership brought it back by 1932.
• The city of Excelsior Springs participated in ownership or management at various points during the mid-20th century, though specific dates are unclear.
• In the 2000s, a private investment group funded the major spa expansion that created the current Greenhouse Spa.

The implication: The Elms’ ownership history mirrors its physical history — multiple reinventions, each driven by a different group with a different vision for the property.

What spa services does The Elms Hotel and Spa offer?

Spa treatments and packages

• Massages: Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone, couples, and prenatal options.
• Facials: Customized anti-aging, hydrating, and detox treatments.
• Body treatments: Scrubs, wraps, and hydrotherapy using local mineral-water elements.
• Hydrotherapy: Indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, sauna, steam rooms, and the main swimming pool.

Fitness and wellness amenities

• The spa includes a state-of-the-art fitness center and a spin studio.
• Yoga classes and wellness workshops are offered seasonally.

Booking and pricing information

• Spa day passes are available for guests who are not staying overnight, though exact pricing varies by season and package.
• Overnight packages combine accommodations with spa treatments and dining credits.
• Pricing transparency is limited: neither the official website nor booking aggregators consistently list treatment prices publicly, so calling ahead is recommended.

Timeline: The Elms Hotel and Spa through the decades

• 1888: First Elms Hotel built as a wood structure in Excelsior Springs. Less than a year later, it burned down.
• 1909: A rebuilt Elms Hotel opens. Burns down again in 1910.
• 1912: Current limestone hotel opens as a full-service property on September 7 (The Elms Story Begins PDF).
• 1920s–1930s: Prohibition era. Al Capone, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Bugsy Moran reportedly visit. The Elms becomes a national health-resort destination.
• 1931: The Great Depression forces The Elms into bankruptcy. New ownership takes over by 1932.
• 1978: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 2000s: Major expansion and renovation creates the 28,000-square-foot Greenhouse Spa. Property repositioned as a full-service spa resort.

“The Elms Hotel has been a landmark in Excelsior Springs since 1912, hosting notable figures from Harry Truman to Al Capone.”

— The Elms Hotel & Spa official history page (The Elms Hotel & Spa)

“Al Capone, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Bugsy Moran reportedly hosted illegal gambling and bathtub-gin parties at the hotel.”

— The Elms Story Begins PDF (The Elms Story Begins PDF)

Related reading

• TUI BLUE Sensatori Biomar: Reviews, Facilities & Booking — another hotel-and-spa property analysis
• Manchester Things to Do: Attractions, Hidden Gems & Tips — a travel destination guide similar in format

For anyone planning a visit to Excelsior Springs, the choice is simple: The Elms delivers a rare combination of Prohibition-era lore and modern spa luxury. If you’re after history with a side of hydrotherapy, this is the place. If you need ironclad proof that Capone slept here, you’ll have to reconcile the legends with the gaps in the records.