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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! Book your stay with us as you visit the WaKeeney area.
408 Russell Ave
WaKeeney, KS 67672
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. Book your stay with us and visit the Christmas City of the High Plains.
200 Main St.
WaKeeney, KS 67672
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. Book your stay with us and try one of our old fashioned soda fountains.
125 North Main Street
WaKeeney, KS 67672
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. Book your stay with us and visit the Historic Fort Hays.
1472 US Highway 183 Alt
Hays, KS 67601
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. Book your stay with us and visit the Smoky Valley Scenic Byway.
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 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. Book your stay with us and visit the Butterfield Overland Dispatch Trail.
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. Book your stay with us and visit the Castle Rock.
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. Book your stay with us and visit the Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site.
14432 US-24
Studley,, KS 67740
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. Book your stay with us and visit Nicodemus.
304 Washington Ave
Bogue, KS 67625
IMCA racing is held at the WaKeeney Speedway throughout the spring & summer. The track is located on the Trego County Fairgrounds.
100 N 13th St
WaKeeney, KS 67672
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. Book your stay with us and visit the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
3000 Sternberg Dr
Hays, KS 67601
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. Book your stay with us and visit the Iwo Jima Memorial.
704 S 13th St
WaKeeney, KS 67672
Located near the small town of WaKeeney, Kansas, experience exquisite, locally made wines.
Looking for something to do and don't mind driving 30 minutes to Hays to do it?? Check out their events calendar for a wide variety of activities!
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Make checkout easy by booking all your reservations at once. Add your sites from different campgrounds into your shopping cart* and then choose checkout.