Welcome to Wabash BBQ

On May 9, 1927, workers began tearing down the old barn of the Excelsior Springs Riding Academy on Kansas City Avenue. The Wabash Railroad had chosen the site for their new passenger station. The 8.7mile Wabash line opened on Nov. 7, 1927 connecting Excelsior Springs directly to St. Louis, Buffalo, and New York City. The new line quickly became important to both incoming tourists and local businesses which used the line to ship products to the East. However, the building's life as a railroad station was short-lived. By 1933, highways were efficient enough to draw riders away from the train. On Sept. 9, 1933, the last train came into Excelsior Springs, arriving shortly after 4 p.m. Station furniture and supplies were loaded and the train returned to Moberly. Wabash service to Excelsior Springs was no more.

The building housed two local family-owned businesses in the years to 1996, when the building was vacated and put up for sale. Two life-time Excelsior Springs residents saw the depot and visualized a longtime dream — to operate a restaurant. In February of 1997, Jim and Cheri McCullough purchased the building and began renovating the old depot into the Wabash BBQ. We hope you make your visit to the Wabash one of your regular "whistle stops" and that you enjoy the friendly, historic ambiance as much as the food.