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Located between 1st & 2nd street in town on US-183.
This is an amazing preservation of Kansas history! The limestone buildings constructed on this ranch in the early 1880s are unspeakably jaw dropping!! I could have watched the buffalo roaming in the natural prairie for many more hours than I did! The many trails are a great way to experience the land, natural habitats, and breathtaking views. Plan to stay an entire day here as it is well worth it!!! I'll be going back!
This was a great stop on a trip from Wichita to Topeka. We had planned on spending two hours here but ended up hiking for four. You hike to get to the pasture where the bison graze. It was a breathtaking experience to find the herd. Just make certain to wear appropriate sun protection (as there is no shade) and to bring water. There is also an old school house you can visit. The visitor center has a water fountain with a bottle filler and restrooms. The park rangers were friendly and helpful. They also offer a van tour.
This place is a must stop if anywhere in the area. Best deal around, free, and what a history lesson. Plan to be here a couple of hours to experience all this place has to offer. You are able to go into a large barn with turn of century equipment, a 4 story mansion and outbuildings. There are multiple trails and a one room school house. Experience yesteryear and make this a stop.
Wide (really wide) open space on rolling hills and gulches. Magical for its serenity, silence, far horizons, and history. Seeing the undisturbed bison herds in the distance was special. Take a camera or phone with a good zoom lens but don't forget to look down at the watering holes and wallows as you walk. The sky is endless.
Born and raised in the Flint Hills of Kansas, I love the beauty in its simplicity. Post-university, I’ve enjoyed living in and experiencing big cities around the country and traveling internationally, but my heart always brings me back to visit Kansas, especially my native Flint Hills. Once you learn to appreciate the vast and romantic barrenness of this wild Kansas landscape, your awe for dramatic mountains, oceans and city skylines changes and amplifies. Your perspective evolves, your eye will see the world in a new way. Listening to the waves of wind hitting the tallgrass, it can be hypnotic. While at first you might feel alone, stand still and you can sense the centuries worth of inhabitants and travelers who preceded you; the indigenous people, European explorers, Santa Fe Trail pioneers, homesteaders, farmers, bootleggers. A rich history. Hike the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, and get lost in its meditative charm. It is a one of a kind experience. I recommend reading PrairyErth by William Least Heat-Moon before your visit.
