In 1901 the C & E I (Chicago & Eastern Illinois) railroad constructed and operated a large modern hotel at an original cost of some $50,000.00. There was real sentiment connected with this building by the train crews and other employees who have had an occasion to "lay-over" at Thebes. It was particularly prominent when the C & E I operated the hotel. People went out of their way to take advantage of the food and other facilities of the hotel. The hotel was well patronized until the completion of the Thebes Bridge and finally outlived its usefulness. The hotel was sold and torn down. The furnace room was used as the depot. The brick from the hotel was used in the construction of a school building at Olive Branch. And eventually, the school at Olive Branch as well as the depot at Thebes were torn down.

The C & E I then maintained a local station force of some 25 men at Thebes. The largest volume of traffic was northbound and the principal commodities were forest product, cotton, fruits and vegetables. During the watermelon season, it was not unusual to receive a solid train load of melons from the Cotton Belt.

Most of the material for the popular book "Show Boat," was gathered in the vicinity of Thebes and Cairo. Edna Ferber, the author, spent some time at Thebes, securing data, but very few people knew her or what her mission was in the community. Adaptation of the book to both screen and stage has long since been made.