Scottish Rite Center Under New Ownership For First In Over A Century

For the first time in over a century the Wichita Scottish Rite Center located at 332 E. 1st Street N., in the heart of downtown Wichita, KS has been sold. The Wichita Scottish Rite Center, originally known as the Y.M.C.A. Building, is a historic building in the Romanesque style.

Originally constructed between 1887-88 for the Young Men's Christian Association. The building was sold to the Scottish Rite Freemasons in 1898. The original building was designed by architects Proudfoot & Bird of Wichita. It was expanded in 1907 and in 1956. The 1907 expansion was an "elegant north addition" designed by Wichita architect C.W. Terry. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 as Scottish Rite Temple.

The interior of the building is an eye-catching mixture of the ornate and opulent. The Egyptian Room hints at the mysteries of ancient Pharaohs and the morning light cascading into the Crystal Room is a scintillating experience. The Library offers the staid sedateness of a London men’s club. The Auditorium rivals the opulence of the world’s finest opera houses and provides stage, scenery, and lighting opportunities that any Broadway producer would be happy to have at his disposal. In all, the interior spaces are elaborately finished.

Today, the Scottish Rite Center hosts the activities of the area’s Masonic Lodges, and their affiliates such as the Signature Theatre and the Knights of St. Andrew Wichita Valley. The building will continue to be home to the Scottish Rite for the foreseeable future as the sale is accompanied by a lease back to the Scottish Rite.

In addition to being the fraternal home of the Scottish Rite, the beautiful and ornate Scottish Rite Center is also one of the premier Arts & Events venues in the center of Wichita. It is used for weddings, corporate events as well as theatrical and musical events. The transaction allows the building and the Scottish Rite to continue to use the Scottish Rite Center for its activities exactly as it has for over 100 years.

Going forward, new owner BCG Historic Wichita, LLC will partner with TempleLive Wichita, LLC to bring additional theatrical and musical events to Wichita’s downtown.

Lance Beaty, President of Beaty Capital Group, Inc. said “we are very pleased with the transaction and look forward to working with the Scottish Rite to preserve this piece of Wichita History.” Beaty added “We have a history with these historic structures across the country and every time we acquire a new historic building, we are always a bit overwhelmed with the enormous responsibility it places on us to step into, touch and become a part of the history of each community in which we operate. This building has been a part of thousands of lives over more than century and we are committed to preserving and honoring that history while preserving the building so that it can be enjoyed by the Wichita community for another century”.

The transaction was brokered by NAI Martens of Wichita. The Buyer was represented by Foulston Siefkin, LLP of Wichita and the Seller was represented by the Hinkle Law Firm also of Wichita.

About Beaty Capital Group, Inc.

Beaty Capital Group, Inc. is a closely held investment group primarily focused on real estate and investments in tertiary markets in the central United States. The firm specializes in development and repositioning of unique and historical assets to create value enhancement and capital appreciation for its stakeholders.

About TempleLive -- TempleLive Wichita, LLC is an affiliate of Beaty Capital Group, Inc.

TempleLive produces and present arts, music and entertainment to the communities in which it operates by offering its entertainment presentations in historically significant venues that, through its operating activities, it restores, preserves, maintains and operates so that its entertainment presentations may be experienced and enjoyed by all in the historic buildings and theaters in which it operates thereby preserving and maintaining significant pieces of American architecture and presenting them to future generations.

With community-based leadership in each market in which it operates, through its TempleLive brand, Beaty Capital Group, Inc. provides value to its stakeholders by fostering and producing high quality entertainment, preserving and maintaining historically significant buildings thereby providing communities across the country with a rich cultural, entertainment, architectural and educational experience.

Mike Brown, Vice President of Operations for TempleLive Wichita, said, “The Wichita Scottish Rite Center fits in very nicely from a routing standpoint with our other venues and provides both fans and artists with an exceptional venue to experience live performances in a beautiful historical setting.”

Brown also stated that “TempleLive Wichita will enhance the existing private event and banquet options available at the Scottish Rite Center by adding additional banquet staff, equipment, and expanded catering options.”