KOA Journey campgrounds are the perfect oases after a day on the road. Whether it’s along the way or a quick getaway, they’ve got you covered. Located near the highways and byways of North America with long Pull-thru RV Sites, they deliver convenience to the traveling camper. Pull in, ease back and take a load off.
KOA Journey campgrounds are the perfect oases after a day on the road. Whether it’s along the way or a quick getaway, they’ve got you covered. Located near the highways and byways of North America with long Pull-thru RV Sites, they deliver convenience to the traveling camper. Pull in, ease back and take a load off.
Exit 127 off I-70: go south 1/4 block on US 283 to South Interstate, turn east in front of Conoco station on the paved road and go 2 blocks.
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WaKeeney, Kansas, is a rural community steeped in history and nature. The town has been a holiday destination for decades, while stunning natural landscapes keep visitors returning for more. From the rolling grasslands to the breathtaking bluffs, WaKeeney is home to many holiday festivities that are sure to please your senses.
Whether you are looking for information about local attractions or need ideas on what to do during your next trip, we have you covered. Book your stay at WaKeeney KOA Journey to have access to the best attractions around.
If you are looking for something to do in WaKeeney, Kansas, your options are limitless. Whether you want to witness the views of Trego County, Kansas, or spend time at one of the many local attractions, you have plenty of fun ahead of you. For more local area information, visit the WaKeeney Chamber of Commerce or read about the early history of WaKeeney before your trip!
Discover rural America in a small town where community values are still important and neighbors continue to help their neighbors. During the Christmas season, WaKeeney has a unique display that has been an annual tradition for over fifty years. Although the decorations are only displayed for a couple of months, the spirit of Christmas is present the entire year.
200 Main St.
WaKeeney, KS 67672
The Trego County Genealogy Trail is a volunteer-driven initiative to help people from the WaKeeney area find their forgotten history. If you are a genealogy buff, the trail's volunteers will help you discover your family history by browsing biographies, obituaries, newspapers and other records found in the county courthouse archives.
The Trego County Historical Society Museum, along with the recent addition of a one-room country schoolhouse, is located on the Trego County Fairgrounds. There is a vast collection of pioneer possessions on display.
128 N 13th St
WaKeeney, KS 67672
If your interests include searching out old settlements, then take a look at Trego County. The following is information about different communities or towns in Trego County that at one time had Post Offices. Out of the twenty listed, only three still have post offices, three still have community gatherings, and the other fourteen are ghost towns, some of which haven't been heard of before.
WaKeeney has the distinction of having two old fashioned soda fountains on Main Street. Be a kid again and visit the Cleland Drug Store and Gibson Health Mart. Climb up on one of the bar stools and enjoy an old fashioned ice cream soda or a malted milk.
General George A. Custer, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody and James B. "Wild Bill" Hickok are part of the history of this outpost on a military trail. Established in 1865 in the land of Cheyenne and Arapaho, Fort Hays protected railroad workers and travelers on the Smoky Hill Trail.
This historic limestone church is located on the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway 7.5 miles south of Ogallah on KS Hwy 147. Take the Cedar Bluff Reservoir, or #135, exit off I-70.
This prairie church was constructed in 1902 of native limestone quarried near Threshing Machine Canyon located along the Smoky Hill Trail. P.A. Nelson quarried all of the stone for the church plus his nearby home. Mr. Nelson would pack a sandwich and a bottle of water and ride his horse each day to the quarry site. The main builder of the church was Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Schutte from Ellis constructed its arches. The church was established by early settlers from Sweden and was originally named the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Emanuel Church.
In April 2000, the still active congregation, celebrated its 100th anniversary. Today the church is a member of the Prairie Faith Shared Ministry based out of WaKeeney.
The Smoky Valley Scenic Byway offers an abundance of wildflowers and endless sunsets to its visitors.
The Smoky Valley Scenic Byway greets its visitors with picturesque windmills, grazing cattle, unique limestone bluffs, and wonderful wildflowers as well as wonders of the past. The byway passes through the Smoky Hill River Valley in Trego and Ness Counties and is 60 miles long -- from Exit 135 on I-70, south on KS Hwy 147 to KS Hwy 4, west to US Hwy 283 and north to WaKeeney, eventually forming a U shape. Named for their “hazy, blue-gray” appearance at sunrise and sunset, the Smoky Hills provide a transition between the mixed-grass prairie and the short-grass prairie of the plains.
The Scenic Byway is filled with abundant history of the pioneer, westward movement. Look for the historic Emanuel Lutheran Church, Threshing Machine Canyon, Butterfield's Overland Dispatch, and the Wilcox School. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy Cedar Bluff Reservoir, State Park, and Wildlife Area and its many possibilities. Don't miss the many varieties of native wildflowers along the byway. Coneflowers, yucca, Indian blanket and sky blue pitcher sage abound in season.
David Butterfield established Butterfield's Overland Dispatch in 1865 from Atchinson/Fort Leavenworth to Denver. The BOD essentially followed the Smoky Hill Trail along the Smoky Hill River. Originally the BOD was established to run freight on and then later transported passengers.
The BOD was the shortest route to the Rocky Mountains and the gold fields, but it was not always the safest. Since the BOD proved to be very hard and dangerous, the route was in operation for only a short time. Plus the railroad was moving west during this same time period and replaced this type of travel. The BOD crosses the southern part of Trego County. Today limestone markers can be seen where the trail crossed the north-south roads. One marker is located on KS Hwy 147 below the dam and one is northwest of the Wilcox School on US Hwy 283 (This marker is under repair). There are numerous other markers in this area. Plus if you look really hard in certain locations, you can still see some of the wagon ruts.
The Smoky Hill Trail Association was formed in 2007 to promote interest in the trail and to preserve its history.
Castle Rock is a chalk pinnacle rising from the prairie, approximately 47 miles southwest of WaKeeney. It was a landmark on the Butterfield Overland Dispatch trail, and can be seen for many miles. These limestone rocks were carved 80 million years ago by erosion. The site was once the floor of a vast inland sea called the Chalk Ocean. This area includes high bluffs, rock walls, and unusual limestone formations. "Castle Rock" stands alone a short distance from sandstone bluffs. The bluffs of this area are a fossil hunter's delight. Castle Rock is on private property, so please respect the property when visiting.
Walk the grounds and tour the house of this relatively unchanged rural ranch and take in the austere beauty of the South Solomon River traversing the High Plains. Constructed from 1885 to 1896 by John Fenton Pratt, Cottonwood Ranch incorporates architectural elements from his English homeland. Explore the ranch where the Pratt family flourished and John Fenton became a successful sheep rancher and businessman.
Nicodemus, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, stands today as the only entirely African American community in Kansas. Nicodemus National Historic Site preserves, protects and interprets the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period (1865-1877) following the Civil War. The town is symbolic of the pioneer spirit of African-Americans who dared to leave the only region they had been familiar with to seek personal freedom and the opportunity to develop their talents and capabilities.
IMCA racing is held at the WaKeeney Speedway throughout the spring & summer. The track is located on the Trego County Fairgrounds. Click for the 2012 schedule.
Boot Hill Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of Dodge City and the Old West. Dodge City was founded in 1872 and quickly became the world's largest shipping point for Longhorn cattle. Dodge was the wildest of the early frontier towns, but law and order was soon established with the help of men such as Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, and Bill Tilghman.
www.boothill.org
The Sternberg Museum of Natural History is located approximately 35 miles east of WaKeeney, in Hays, Kansas, right along I-70. The museum is an exciting and educational destination for travelers, school groups, and families. The Sternberg Museum features interactive natural science exhibitions, many traveling and temporary exhibitions, an acclaimed Discovery Room, and a Museum Store.
A silhouette of the Iwo Jima Memorial was designed and built by local volunteers and veterans. Just off I-70 Exit 128 and near the Kansas Veteran's Cemetery.
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