Phil Ruffin talks hotel plans, changes coming to Gilley’s and east-Wichita news

With last week’s news of a new music partnership at Gilley’s, Phil Ruffin Sr.’s Park City entertainment complex, the billionaire announced he’d be building a new 110-room hotel as well.

That’s all he shared about it at the time.

Now, Ruffin said, “We’re going to build a Fairfield on the property.”

It’ll be on the 80 acres where Gilley’s sits, just west of the building that houses Ruffin’s saloon and gambling hall.

Ruffin already has a Wichita Fairfield on East Kellogg near Webb Road by his longtime Marriott there.

He said a hotel at Gilley’s is a no-brainer.

“The casino’s demanding it. We get requests.”

Is there enough business to demand it?

“Yes, we’ll have that,” Ruffin said. "Especially when we have those eight full-time weekends that will bring in major guests.”

Meaning with the new agreement between Gilley’s and Kustom Entertainment, which is bringing Country Stampede Kansas and other musical events to the property, there will be more and more people from around the area and beyond visiting.

Ruffin said the hotel has yet to be designed, but construction will begin after that’s complete.

Almost immediately after Gilley’s opened in December, Ruffin considered expanding his saloon there.

However, he said he’s decided “we’re OK with it the way it is right now.”

The saloon can hold 700, and the new venue behind Gilley’s where Ruffin’s dog track used to be can hold thousands.

In addition to announcing the new partnership, Ruffin is tweaking some other things at Gilley’s, including some of his top staff members.

“Some of those were replaced,” he said.

“We just put the right people in the right place.”

He’s also adding a lot more games for young people to play, perhaps as their parents gamble.

“We’re making some major changes on the inside.”

Also, there soon will be a new restaurant on the third floor where horse racing is broadcast.

“It’s so busy,” Ruffin said.

Speaking of food, the barbecue restaurant next to the saloon has taken some hits on social media, but Ruffin said that’s news to him.

“I’ve never heard that,” he said.

Along with everything else, Ruffin said, “It’s working out fine. It’s working out just fine.”

Gilley’s isn’t all Ruffin is focused on in Wichita.

At his future development near the Fairfield and Marriott along East Kellogg, Ruffin said “there’s a lot happening.”

If all goes well, he should have news yet this summer.

“Some things are pending that are pretty substantial.”