The Elms Hotel was built in 1888 by the Excelsior Springs Company. It's a three story hotel that had broad verandas. It is built on a 50 acre site. The hotel burned down twice in the early 1900s but the owners were determined to rebuild. As soon as it opened, it quickly gained popularity again. It was believed that many known gangsters like Al Capone has stayed in this luxury hotel but Harry Truman was its most famous guest. The hotel is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The hotel has 152 guests rooms and 11,000 square feet of meeting space including a 3,900 square foot ballroom. The hotel boasts early 20th century furnishings. It's amenities include restaurants, lounges, a 1,000 square foot spa, an indoor European swim track, an indoor jogging track, a fitness gym, an outdoor pool, a challenge course, a walking trail and a volleyball court. The amenities may be quite developed but visitors can still feel the 20th century atmosphere of this historic hotel.