This week in Kansas has been so hot! The 100 degree temperatures are great for the wheat harvest. I had a decision to make, stay home and enjoy the climate controlled comfort of home thinking of places to go OR load up and enjoy a day exploring. Load up Wylie!!
We headed west to Barton County, an area known as Post Rock County. This area is approximately 200 miles from the Nebraska border to Dodge City.
Boyd, KS was a station and shipping point for the railroad. All that is left is a grain elevator, a farm and this abandoned station. Was so surprised to see the two gas pumps!
Scales at Boyd Station
On our way to Olmitz we saw this jackrabbit. Our rabbit population is mostly cottontail, but the jack is making a comeback.
Olmitz was established in 1885 mainly by Austrians. It is quiet little town, population 114, the catholic school has closed, kids are bused to Otis, about 6 miles away. This little bar The New Place, was a great stop on a hot day. I will post photos of the beautiful catholic church in the series of Churches of the Prairie, I can’t wait for you to see it, it was SO beautiful!
From Olmitz, we traveled north on the backroad to find ruins of Barton County. The temperature was 103 and we had a few people stop to see if we were okay. Thank you Barton County for checking on “an old grandma and her pup”.
I see so many of these abandoned places and there are some that I would love to refurbish.
Someday I would love to go into one of the cellars! There is a group in the Flint Hills that gives tour of the Kansas stone cellars. Sign me up!
What a beautiful home.
The entrance at one time was quite impressive
This homestead out grew its original stone home and later built on the wood frame addition
This was where the Lutheran church held their Sunday school classes.
Just up the road is this homestead
A little farther north driving along the river bottom and I was thinking “what a great place for a home”, someone else thought that too! The stories these homes could tell.
Cellar at the river bottom home
Farmer Days 
I love this! Kansas has a lot of really neat old farms and old towns. I will shortly be venturing there myself 🙂
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So good to hear that you are coming to Kansas. I hope you enjoy the heat as it’s been really hot. Safe travels
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My son just graduated from KU. I know all too well that hot humidity!
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I’ve already said this about a gazillion times, but you really make me want to pack my bags and come see Kansas. I love those old homesteads! Can you even imagine the families raised there and their adventures? What a beautiful place to live!
103 is crazy hot! Yikes! PS when are you going to do that churches post?? I want to see that church! 🙂
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I’m glad you enjoy seeing the back roads of Kansas. I was visiting with a couple traveling through the other day and he didn’t care for Kansas. The interstate doesn’t give you a very good impression of my state. But now days, everyone is in such a hurry to get somewhere else and don’t realize what’s right in front of them. No one likes to travel with me (except Wylie) because I can’t go from point A to point B. There’ always something I have to go explore.
It is hot! I have a granddaughter coming this weekend and the temps next week are to be from 100-106.
Look for my series of Churches of the Prairie this weekend!!
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Hi- I came upon your post and your pictures as part of a project I’m working on with my 89 year old mom who grew up in Kansas. She remembers taking grain to Boyd’s station and going to the general store that is in your picture! She is putting together her stories from her childhood, and I wanted to ask if we could include your picture (it’s for personal use). In any event, I enjoyed seeing the Kansas she often talks about!
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