Flames in the Flint Hills

Flames in the Flint Hills was the Google ad (right column) when I opened my Blog, tonight! Pretty neat!! It is a wonderful experience... I urge you to check it out. It is run by my good friend, Jan Jantzen and his partners in this package tour.


Prairie Burning, Country Boys Carriage and Prairie Adventures, and the Dance of the Prairie Chicken, all one fun filled weekend adventrue - a distinctive experience!
The prairie chicken, in case you haven't seen one:


See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Top 200 Towns for Outdoorsmen

The April issue of Outdoor Life Magazine lists two Kansas Flint Hills Communities among their Top 200 Towns for Outdoorsmen - following visits to all the towns, and more, I presume. Emporia and Junction City are the two communities. Congratulations! Come visit!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Maxwell Wildlife Refuge

If you are heading west from Hillsboro, toward McPherson, about half way, and little north, you will find the Maxwell Wildlife Refuse.

The Maxwell Wildlife Regue, located six miles north of Canton, Kansas, has over 2200 acres of prairie habitat. Tram rides to view the wildlife are available.

No other place in Kansas can buffalo and elk be viewed as they can at Maxwell (200 head of bison and 50 elk roam free). The Friends of Maxwell, a local non-profit organization who works with Kansas Wildlife and Parks to promote the historic and educational values of the refuge for all people to enjoy.

Enjoy your visit!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Kansas Flint Hills Traveling Exhibit - Update

The Kansas Flint Hills Traveling Exhibit moves to Hays on March 31, a week from today. It is nice to see the exhibit being displayed around the state. Hope everyone takes the chance to see it!

National Geographic's April 2007 issue examines the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas through the lens of respected photojournalist and Kansas native, Jim Richardson. The 22-page feature section, titled "The Flint Hills: A Kansas Treasure" captures a glimpse of the majesty of this unique Kansas prairie-land.

To complement the magazine spread and further celebrate the Flint Hills, The National Geographic Society and the Kansas Division of Travel and Tourism are sponsoring a traveling exhibit of 32 large-scale versions of the photographs featured in the magazine. As part of the celebration, posters featuring one of Richardson's Flint Hills photographs will be for sale with proceeds benefiting the Flint Hills Tourism Coalition.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Tri-County Historical Museum, Herington

The Tri-County Historical Museum represents Dickinson, Marion and Morris counties and is located near the corner of the three, in Herrington, Kansas.


You will find genealogy information, obituaries, local newspaper on microfilm 1882-1990, former Rock Island baggage car, and Cotton Belt caboose. Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Kansas Birding Festival

Plan NOW to attend the Kansas Birding Festival in 2008. Over 300 species of birds can be seen in the Milford Lake area.


APRIL IS THE BEST TIME FOR BIRDING This area is rich in birding opportunities during the later part of April. Not only are there native birds who inhabit the ara year round, but it is the prime season for birds that migrate. Combine this with Milford Lake, the wetlands plus the native prarie - and you have an opportunity for the best of all areas in America in one place April 25-26-27, 2008

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Spring Heritage Conference - Flint Hills Heritage Area

Linda Craghead, Executive Director
Flint Hills Tourism Coalition, Inc.
recently sent out this reminder, I will share with you (only slightly modified for this posting):

Mark your calendars now for the April 18th Heritage Conference at Rock Springs 4-H Center on Friday, April 18th. Registration form & news release for the event available on the www.kansasflinthills.travel website.

There is no doubt that this event will be extremely informative to all who attend.....from farm & ranch owners, county officials, state representatives & CVB reps to our museum curators, bed & breakfast owners, hoteliers, small business owners & local event coordinators...they will all have something to gain from this fantastic event. The Flint Hills Tourism Coalition has worked hard to put together a panel of awesome speakers......we will be honored with the presence of the Executive Director of the National Heritage Alliance out of Washington DC, Sue Pridemore from the National Park Service, Judy Billings from Lawrence who has spearheaded the success of the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area campaign as well as Dr. Jim Hoy, a professor of English and director of the Center of Great Plains Studies at Emporia State University.

See you at the Kansas Flint Hills Spring Heritage Conference! ;-)

Clements Stone Arch Bridge

Among the many stone bridges in the Kansas Flint Hills, one of my favorites is the Clements Stone Arch Bridge, in western Chase County.


In addition to the bridge, the location is just down the road from the Flying W Ranch, another of my favorite places and people!

Oct 2012 Update: Here is a website with a unique purpose: to preserve the bridge for future generations: www.clementsbridge.org
Website owner contact: G.R. Evans phone 206-853-5814 (per his email to me). Thanks! Best wishes! ;-) 

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Flint Hills Artist to participate in San Francisco Show

Newton artist, Carrie L. Lewis, has been invited to participate in the prestigious annual Grand National Rodeo Art Show & Sale from April 4 - 12, 2008. More than 500 pieces of western & equestrian themed art will be displayed. Over 100 international artists will be represented at this year's exhibit, which runs from April 4 through April 12. A painting from her website:Carrie also has a collection of 315 art trading card sized original paintings Carrie created as part of a personal challenge in 2007.

Check out all three of her web-sites or see her at her gallery in Newton.

http://www.Carrie-Lewis.com
http://www.the-horse-in-oils.com
http://www.miniature-oil-paintings.com

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills!  ;-)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Have a Great 'Staycation' says J.C. Yates

Jennifer C. Yates has a neat article for the Associated Press on tips for vacationing at home. I saw it in the Saturday Emporia Gazette. Google "Staycation Yates" and can see it in papers across the country. I like the implications for the Kansas Flint Hills. This is what I have been promoting just about every single day of 2008.

Her six tips are:
Tour your town
Try new restaurants
Spend time with the kids
Skip the chores
Get back to nature
Shop 'til you drop

Each of these can be done VERY WELL in the Kansas Flint Hills region, without spending very much on gas, overnight accommodations or food. Visit around your town or a nearby town that you've "been meaning to visit!" I'll be you can name five restaurants in 30 seconds that you've been meaning to try.

There are great parks and trails and lakes and rivers to explore in the Kansas Flint Hills - this is the year to try them out. And shopping! Every town would love to have you come "check us out!" You'll meet some great people - you will find some unique products - and I know you will find a "neat deal" before you are done!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Dirty Kanza 200 - May 31, 2008

75 riders. 200 miles. It is the Dirty Kanza 200 - Saturday, May 31, 2008. It is an ultra-endurance bike race through the Flint Hills. The 2008 event will begin and end in the parking lot of the Guest House Inn (formely the Travelodge) in Emporia, Kansas. Riders will be coming from all across the country.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

First Territorial Capitol State Historic Site

Have you visited the First Territorial Capitol State Historic Site in Junction City?


Step inside this wonderful stone building on an early military trail where proslavery forces tried to guide the fate of Kansas Territory when the first territorial legislature convened in July 1855. Contemplate the territorial and national conflict over slavery and see how people lived on the Kansas frontier. In 1928, the building was rebuilt from its ruins by the Union Pacific Railroad. Take a walk on the Kaw River Nature Trail where a magnificent view of the Kansas River awaits.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Pioneer Bluffs Foundation and Site

Congratulation to a successful first year of The Pioneer Bluffs Foundation, of Matfield Green, in Chase County. Pioneer Bluffs is on the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway, Hwy 177, one mile north of Matfield Green. For more information call 620-753-3414 or email info@pioneerbluffs.org.

From a brief history in the 2006-2007 annual report: "Imagine the vision and determination German immigrant Charles Rogler had when, in 1859, at age 23 he made the long walk from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Chase County, Kansas to claim a homestead on 160 acres of tallgrass prairie. That homestead and additional acreage acquired over the years became Pioneer Bluffs Farm and remained under the watchful eye of the Rogler family for 147 years - a cherished part of Chase County ranching and farming history."

Here is wishing the Foundation 147 successful years and more.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

LCL Buffalo Ranch

I love to watch buffalo. There are several herds in the Kansas Flint Hills region. Today, I am drawing attention to the LCL Buffalo Ranch in Washington County. If you will be in the area, check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Grass Fire Season - story two

The Topeka Capital-Journal had a good article, too. There will be quite a few, we can expect, over the next six weeks or so... some based on good range management, some from accidental burns.

Exercise proper caution for safety!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

New film on Flint Hills fires

The following article in the Lawrence Journal-World begins the season of prairie burning stories in the Flint Hills: Artist's filming of Flint Hills fires captures prairie cycles.
We also look forward to a 30 minute version of this film that will include additional educational information, possibly making it available for a PBS airing.
Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Carriage House Inn - Chapman

The Carriage House Inn, located in Chapman, KS, is a "majestic 3-story Neoclassical mansion with wrap around porches."
Whether your visit to the area includes Junction City to the east or Abilene to the west, you might consider a stay at the Carriage House Inn, in Chapman.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Rainbow Meadows: A passion for saving horses

In Sedan, I just became aware of the Rainbow Meadows Ranch and the Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirment, Inc. I read the story by Judith Zaccaria in the Winfield Courier, reprinted in the Emporia Gazette. It is a really neat story. Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Wamego Dutch Mill

Have you seen the Wamego Dutch Mill? It has an interesting story, in an interesting community, with a lot of other sites to see, as well. Check it out!

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Tourists as Cash Crop

The Emporia Gazette ran a great story yesterday: Tourists as a Cash Crop.
Check it out! I am pleased to have been part of the planning process that brought this program to reality.
Jan Jantzen has done a great job for the RC&D and these several farmers, ranchers, and artisans. He has willingly, even anxiously, shared his own experiences building his "experience based business" with all interested others - and it is really showing positive results.

In later postings, we will share share additional information about these new agri-tourism businesses - to give them a boost, and, provide you with the opportunity to get to know them and their products and services better.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Flint Hills Nature Trail

As spring approaches, make plans to check out the Flint Hills Nature Trail.


The photo is of a portion of the trail near Allen, Lyon Co. A five mile segment from Allen to Bushong opened 30 Jun 2007. The Flint Hills Nature Trail (115 miles) runs from Herrington to Osawatomie, near Herrington.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Bill Kurtis: In Praise of the Prairie

AmericanProfile.com has a great new entry on Bill Kurtis and his southern Kansas Flint Hills ranching and community development interests in the Sedan and nearby environs. Check it out an enjoy a good read - and some great photos, as well.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

8 Wonders of Kansas Architecture

The Kansas Sampler Foundation has begun a new set of contests created around the designated 8 elements of rural culture. They are now taking nominations in Architecture. Check out the criteria at the linked web site - we'd like to see a number of Kansas Flint Hills sites nominated, of course. Nominations for this round close on March 31.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Cowgirls: Contemporary Potraits of the American West

This exhibit discusses cowgirls in Contemporay America: "Cowgirls: Contemproary Portraits of the American West. It is located at the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum, in Arkansas City, KS, and runs from March 25 to April 30, 2008. More information is available at the web link.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)

Order Symphony Tickets on March 3

The 3rd Annual Concert of the Symphony in the Flint Hills is set for Saturday, June 14, 2008, near Council Grove, Morris County, Kansas.

Photo from 2007 Event

The Ticket Sale Date is Monday, March 3, 2008... they went very quickly last year, so, if you are interested, act early on Monday.

See you in the Kansas Flint Hills! ;-)