Brookville, Kansas and the Famous Brookville Hotel
I am always surprised with how many people I have come across who know about The Brookville Hotel. It was opened in the late 1800’s as a restaurant. I hear it makes a mean Chicken Dinner and that is what people remember Brookville for. My mother actually worked there as a waitress in 1941-42. I was recently contacted by a cousin I did not know and he worked there also but it was in 2009. I am told the restaurant has been moved but it is still in operation today and it still run by the same family my mother worked for.
Have you heard of the Brookville Hotel and it’s chicken dinners?
notsofancynancy 
Nope.
By: shermangerherd on August 25, 2012
at 10:18 am
While I have not heard of the place, the chicken dinners sound “down home good”! Congrats from hearing from an unknown cousin, too!
By: Mustang.Koji on August 25, 2012
at 10:24 am
Oh yes, I remember the Brookville Hotel — the big platters of fried chicken, bowls full of coleslaw and mashed taters and light flaky biscuits. My mom managed to get their coleslaw recipe. But my favorite was the homemade ice cream for dessert. I’ve long since moved from Kansas and hadn’t thought of that place for many years. It was a favorite place for special occasion dinners when my family lived in Salina then later when I moved back to Salina for college.
By: espirational on August 25, 2012
at 10:38 am
Brookville is such a small town it amazes me that people know of the fried chicken place. I have family in Salina and the surrounding area. My great grandparents homesteaded in Brookville in the late 1800’s. My Mom moved to Cali in the 40’s but I still have a lot of family there that I don’t know.
By: notsofancynancy on August 25, 2012
at 11:10 am
The Brookville Hotel never really was just a small town restaurant. People would drive from miles around for special occasions and to take visitors. I’m sure there were even tourists who made a special effort to eat there. It was nicely decorated to fit the historical theme of the building and was always crowded — reservations may have even been needed. The food was served family style and was not cheap — even many years ago. They would bring platters of chicken and big bowls of side dishes to the table. It is — or at least was much more than just a chicken place. It’s been years since I’ve been there though.
By: espirational on August 25, 2012
at 2:02 pm
I have been hearing the tale of the Brookville Hotel chicken all my life. Whenever someone who knows Kansas asks where my family was from they ask “Is that where that wonderful fried chicken place is?” I have never been myself, well since I was a kid and I don’t remember that. Now I just moved it up on my “things to do before I die” list.
By: notsofancynancy on August 25, 2012
at 2:10 pm
Nope. Never heard of it, but I’m hankering for a chicken dinner!
By: robincoyle on August 25, 2012
at 11:25 am
The food must be very good if they’ve been around that long. Chicken dinner you say? I best start thinking about our supper.
By: Boomdeeadda on August 25, 2012
at 12:24 pm
It does sound good! But I have never fried a chicken before. lol you know the whole “I am notsofancy” thing. lol If I ever get back to Kansas that is on my list of things to do.
By: notsofancynancy on August 25, 2012
at 12:44 pm
I never heard of the Brookville Hotel until this post, but now I’m ready to book a flight to Kansas to check it out!
By: Madame Weebles on August 25, 2012
at 1:20 pm
I know, Right?
By: notsofancynancy on August 25, 2012
at 1:34 pm
Yes, I have heard and seen but not eaten at the Brookville Hotel. My husband is from western Kansas, and we lived thirty years in Kansas before moving to New England. Small cyber world we have here.
By: Judy on August 26, 2012
at 3:55 am
I love that you have heard of it. I really think it is awesome that a place in such a small town has such a good reputation.
By: notsofancynancy on August 26, 2012
at 5:17 pm
No, but I do love chicken!
By: Photography Journal Blog on August 26, 2012
at 9:58 am
Me too!
By: notsofancynancy on August 26, 2012
at 11:19 am
never heard of it, but then being uk, I like the fact that people still talk about a place that has been going for 70 ish years in the same family and the same wonderful dinner, you need to go and do a blog about it, let us know when you do.
By: jas45 on August 26, 2012
at 10:52 am
I truly hope one day I will make it back there.
By: notsofancynancy on August 26, 2012
at 11:16 am
OK, so we have determined that the Chicken was Wonderful!!!! How about the coffee and desert????? 🙂
By: morningstoryanddilbert on August 27, 2012
at 1:37 am
I am not sure but if everything else is so good It must be homemade pie!
By: notsofancynancy on August 27, 2012
at 7:06 am
What I would find interesting is taking the old photos you’ve posted and compare them with recent snapshots. I love to see the changes.
I’m assuming this is the same place: http://www.brookvillehotel.com/
By: santaflash on August 29, 2012
at 6:47 am
Yes that would be very cool. They moved the Hotel in 2000 to Abilene. They made the new place to look like the original store front.
By: notsofancynancy on August 29, 2012
at 8:42 am