Category Archives: Day Trips

Pasture Art and Yard Art

I enjoy art museums, especially when they are outdoors. Here’s some photos from around Kansas that feature some great works of art.

Weekend Trip

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Herrington City Lake on a cold snowy day. I saw a couple of eagles, but couldn’t get a good picture of them.

Cedar Point, KS

I liked the old bicycle by the door.

Cedar Point is located in Chase County, KS Population 28

Drinkwater & Schriver Mill This mill has been purchased and is currently being renovated.

Another Lark Inn property in Cottonwood Falls. This is Fox Hollow, as with all their properties, a wonderful place to stay!! Comfortable 2 bedroom cottage, within walking distance to downtown Cottonwood. We ate at Ad Astra Food and Drink, and also at the Grand Central Hotel, so good!!

A trip to this area wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Lower Fox Creek School

Howard, KS

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Howard, Kansas is the county seat of Elk County. Founded in 1870, Howard is named after Oliver Howard who was a Civil War General of the Union Army. Current population is approximately 700.

Elk County Courthouse, Howard, KS

Filling Station

Howard National Bank

I didn’t open an account here, but what a beautiful building!

Kansas has so many beautiful barns. This one is just north of Howard.

Back Roads to Maxwell

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I had my day all planned out, and none of what I had planned worked out. It is a cool, breezy overcast day and the place I was wanting to go in the Flint Hills would be better photographed on a clear day. Wylie and I loaded up and took the back roads over to Maxwell Wildlife Refuge near Canton, Kansas. Here’s what we saw today.

Abandoned bridge outside of Assaria, KS

I didn’t find any information on Hallville, KS. There is one home currently occupied, I could find no other remains of any buildings. It was along an abandoned train track.

Olive Springs School was built in 1885 and was used as a school until 1947. It is now an art gallery displaying the painting and prints of a local artist, Maleta Forsberg.

Bridge near the entrance to Maxwell Wildlife Refuge

Maxwell Wildlife Refuge is home to 200 head of bison and 50 elk. They roam free on the 2800 acre natural prairie.

Just west of the Refuge is McPherson State fishing lake, where we saw this lone eagle.

Exploring just West of Home

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It was so beautiful that I just had to get out! Just a few minutes from home there is this old sandstone homestead. It sits in a great location, out in the middle of a pasture with sandstone bluffs to the south. What a beautiful place to live and raise a family.

Wide open spaces

You never know who is watching you!

Sandstone formation

The barn is the only thing left of this homestead. Built in 1910

Old barn with a rock fence

Another abandoned homestead, they have cleared the trees from around this home. Maybe someone will fix it up.

Elk Falls, KS

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Elk Falls, is located in Elk County, KS. It is named after the falls that are located near the town on the Elk River. Elk Falls claims to be the World’s Largest Living Ghost Town with a population of approximately 100, and also the Outhouse Capital of the World.

I love this sign that directs you to the falls.

There is a well travel path that takes you from the bridge down to the river.

This outhouse says it all! Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving they give outhouse tours.

Buffalo National River, Arkansas

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In 1972 the Buffalo River was declared a National River, one of the few remaining free-flowing, undammed river in the lower 48 states. It originates at the highest part of the Boston Mountains of the Ozarks and flows 135 miles before joining the White River. The National River is popular for camping, float trips, and fishing. There are over 100 miles of hiking trails. The best way to see the river are by the trails or a float trip. I’m looking forward to a return trip to explore the river!

Parker-Hickman Farmstead

This looks like a trail tree!!

Rocky Mountain Elk were introduced to the region a few years ago. The herd now numbers around 800.

Swan

Flint Hills

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I always love spending time in the Flint Hills. I stayed at another property owned by Lark Inn, as usual it was a very comfortable and certainly enjoyed our stay.

Lark Inn on Main, Cottonwood Falls, KS

On the way home I had planned on hiking at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, but the weather had changed and I wasn’t prepared for the cooler temperatures! I did explore around the Lower Fox Creek School

Homestead

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I always love to take the road that is less traveled.

This low water crossing opened up to bottom land that is now cultivated farm ground.

As I traveled up from the crossing thru the field I went up to an abandoned homestead. I can only imagine what life would have been like for this family. This place is so isolated even to this day. I always think I would have loved to have lived in Kansas during this time. The beauty of the land, so unspoiled, no noise pollution, just the sounds and sights of nature. So dark at night.

I read a book titled Homesman, which is also a movie starring Tommy Lee Jones. It’s about a woman and Tommy Lee who take three women from the Nebraska territory, who unfortunately have been driven mad by life on the prairie, back east to their families. As I stood at this homestead I thought about some of the hardship these pioneer women went thru. My grandmother was out in Western Kansas during the 1930’s dust storms and she didn’t want to talk about it. Now I feel bad when I complain about the dust on windy days!

I find so many of these old sites that I wished I could buy them and restore them. Such a loss.