Kansas Attractions - Calling Mr. Kalal

[Yankee Dog]

I plan to pass through Southern Kansas or Northern Oklahoma on my way from Colorado Spings to Southern Missouri. Current plan is to drop down to Hwy 50 then drop again to Hwy 160 and take it all the way across Kansas and Missouri. But my plans and route are flexible depending whim and happenstance.

So whats good to stop and see along the way. Doesnt have to be spectacular stuff. I am easily pleased. Just a little distraction will do the trick.

You know, stuff like this

a Windmill Museum


Or the bith place of James Kirk



Or maybe a rock zoo

[Daniel Kalal]

There's plenty of this if you want it...


Your plan to take 160 across the bottom is a good one.  Stuff to see?  Well; perhaps nothing that will jump out at you, but it is an interesting area.  The best advice I can give you is to not just blow through every little town.  You need to find Main Street and park the bike a bit.  Remember: the highway does not generally go through the old Main Street.  You'll need to turn towards the tracks to find that.  Generally Main street will be perpendicular to the railroad tracks.  Depending on the towns you stop at, chances are good that none of the buildings will be in use.  That's just the way it goes.

Look up Sun City.  You might see if you have time to jog up there for a beer at Busters  The eastern half of Kansas (along 160) is actually much more hilly and green than you might expect.  If you see signs for Big Brutus; take a look.

[Yankee Dog]

Daniel - Thanks for the advice. We plan to come through in mid-August. Hot I know, but that is when the schedule will allow the trip. And we will check out the little towns. We shall see what we see.  

Yankee Dog

[DogBoy]

DO NOT miss the 8000 lb. Prairie Dog in Oakley. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11444

[Yankee Dog]

DO NOT miss the 8000 lb. Prairie Dog in Oakley. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11444

Cool  

Just the kind of thing we like.  And not too far out of the way. Thanks,

YD

[Daniel Kalal]

History buff?

you'll be riding through the area where Jedediah Smith was killed by Comanache.



southeast Kansas looks a lot like this:

[Liftrat]

You might also check out Greensberg (http://greensburgks.org/). They had an EF5 tornado go through a couple of years ago; the damage was still very evident in '09. Also it's home to the World's Largest Hand-dug Well! We took 160 and 400 east to west that spring and really enjoyed it. Not sure I'd do it in August, though.

[Yankee Dog]

Jedidiah is a for certain.





And the well it right on the way.  I have heard of it before so I have added it to the list.




whose says Kansas is no fun.  

[bdhszy1]

The town of Coffeyville KS is worth a stop, go to the museum to see the Dalton gang history. If you have time, about 30 miles south in Dewey OK is the Tom Mix museum. If you're not a fan I would pass on this as Dewey is a town with a lot of lights.

[Yankee Dog]

The town of Coffeyville KS is worth a stop, go to the museum to see the Dalton gang history. If you have time, about 30 miles south in Dewey OK is the Tom Mix museum. If you're not a fan I would pass on this as Dewey is a town with a lot of lights.

Coffeyville is right on the route as I will be dropping down into Southern Missouri right about then. I will put Dewey on the list but it will depend on the time available. I just missed Dewey a few years ago. I passed though Bartlett from West to East on 60. Dont remember the traffic being all that bad.

[boogeyman]

Big Brutus!  Just a bit off 160....

http://www.bigbrutus.org/index.html

It's pretty cool actually.  You can go into it, but not up to the top of the boom.

[Playinthestreet]

Big Brutus!  Just a bit off 160....

http://www.bigbrutus.org/index.html

It's pretty cool actually.  You can go into it, but not up to the top of the boom.

Brutus is bigger in person that what it appears to be in most photos.  Neodesha is the site of the first commercially producing oil well west of the Mississippi River.  Just a replica but interesting little museum.

[Daniel Kalal]

Brutus is bigger in person that what it appears to be in most photos.  Neodesha is the site of the first commercially producing oil well west of the Mississippi River.

Heh.  You'll see a few mentions of "...oldest...west of the Mississippi..." statements.  I think in all cases that works because California is ignored as being part of the US (California was pumping commercial oil thirty years prior to Neodesha).

Incidently, not far east of Brutus you'll find this station (no longer pumping gas):