Entry No. 23 — the Kansas City file — filed under: speakeasy
The Forge
Tucked inside a historic blacksmith shop along the Santa Fe Trail, this 1920s-style speakeasy is hidden behind a facade that looks like an old tool shed. To gain entry, you must pick up a vintage rotary phone on the wall and speak the password 'Joe sent me' to the operator.
The story
Gardner isn't usually where you expect to play Prohibition-era games. Positioned along the historic route of the Santa Fe Trail, this corner of Johnson County built its reputation on dust, wagons, and blacksmith hammers. But at 117 South Elm Street, inside the brick walls of an old blacksmith shop, that industrial heritage conceals a hidden nightspot. You aren't looking for a bright neon sign; you're scanning the side of the building for what looks like an unassuming tool shed.
Walk up to that unmarked entrance and you'll spot a vintage 1920s rotary telephone mounted on the wall. Lift the heavy receiver, wait for the line to pick up, and speak the password into the mouthpiece: "Joe sent me." If the operator on the other end accepts your credentials, the latch releases, the secret door swings inward, and you step out of small-town Kansas into a dim, 1920s-style cocktail room built right into the bones of the old forge.
What it's like
Approaching the side door feels slightly absurd—you'll feel like you're trespassing on an alleyway storage shed until you pick up the rotary phone. Once the secret wall opens, the vibe shifts instantly into a polished, intimate speakeasy. The bar program leans heavily on craft presentation, featuring specialty drinks like cocktails brought to your table infused with real smoke inside a glass-fronted box. Because space inside the historic structure is tight and schedule changes happen, confirm their current hours online before driving out to Gardner.
The move: Walk up to the unmarked side door of the brick building, lift the receiver of the 1920s-era rotary phone, whisper the password, and once the secret door swings open, order a specialty cocktail served smoky from a box.
- 📍 Gardner, KS
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 117 S Elm St, Gardner, KS 66030
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Powell Observatory — Pair your back-alley speakeasy drinks in Gardner with late-night stargazing through a massive 30-inch telescope just down the road in Louisburg.
- Drastic Measures — Turn your night into an unmarked cocktail tour by heading north to Shawnee's sign-less, James Beard-nominated cocktail den.
- Museum of Odd — Trade Prohibition-style secrecy for a trip to Lawrence to tour a private residential house packed with estate oddities and curiosities.
Good to know
How do you get into The Forge?
Find the unmarked side entrance that looks like a tool shed at 117 S Elm St. Pick up the vintage rotary phone on the wall and give the operator the password: "Joe sent me."
What kind of drinks should you expect?
It's a full-service craft cocktail speakeasy, known for theatrical presentations like specialty cocktails served smoky from inside a box.
Where is it located?
The Forge is located at 117 S Elm St in historic downtown Gardner, Kansas, along the Santa Fe Trail corridor in the southwest KC metro.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · kansascity.com
last checked: 2026-07-21