Exploring Natoma, Kansas

In the midst of the Mount Os Expedition of July 2010 members of Osborne County Tourism went to several other sites as well. 

Saturday, July 17, 2010, 6:15PM - unfortunately, Natoma's new restaurant, the Shaylite Kitchen & Bakery, is only open Monday thru Friday and thus was closed when member of Osborne County Tourism came through.  Have to really try to come over during the week and try the place.

Luckily next door is the soon-to-be-opened-at-last Pohlman's Community Museum.  We got to take the tour of the place!

They had to rebuild and repoint the walls, restore the ceiling, put all new wiring inside - pretty much fix the place from the ground up. 

Bob Eickhoff of the Natoma Heritage Seekers gave everyone an up-to-date report on how the future museum building is coming along.

We took a bit of a drive off on scenic backroads south and west of Natoma, even into Rooks County, where among other sites is the one-time location for the Hungry Ridge One-Room Schoolhouse.  Now that's got to be one of the best names for a school I have ever heard. 

The brief drive enabled us to view some historical markers that were put up oh, around five or six years ago and see how they were doing.  Some, like the Tapley Post Office marker above, are in desperate need of being replaced.

Back in Natoma, in the southwest part of town, One comes across this place.  I kid you not. 

A closeup of some of the mayhem.

Pretty much the whole story in a nutshell.  Make that oildrum.

You can't see it, but behind the metal shovel thingy is a Septarian Concretion hanging down.

Across town in the southeastern part, one visionary citizen continues his dream of turning his home into a castle. 

Asn as we came home we managed to stop by the Hoot Owl Farm.  But that is certainly another story!

Birthday Trip Across Kansas, Part 2

2:20PM, June 5, 2009 - After leaving Partridge, Kansas KE #4419 and myself venture northeast into Hutchinson, where we take part in a guided tour of the official 8 Wonders of Kansas, the Kansas Underground Salt Museum. The only one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, this tour takes you 650 feet below the ground into 67 miles of tunnels and storage sites of this still-active salt mine.

An exhibit of a wooden rail car holding explosives used in the mine's early days.

A shot of polyhalite, a red salt seen occasionally throughout the mine.

Our tour guide gave our group time to look over a pile of salt and take a souvenir piece home - as long as it was "palm-sized" or less.

Here KE #4419 stands next to a huge block of salt crystal that is 98% pure. The tour is well worth the experience!

Upon leaving the Kansas Underground Salt museum we headed on back roads north through Buhler and to the The Barn, the headquarters of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. KE #4419 had never been here before. We were a bit surprised to find the inside decorated for a wedding rehearsal, featuring 80 guests! There were actually two extra chairs, but for some reason we were encouraged to continue on our journey. Sigh. Always the bridesmaids . . . .

We then headed east on backroads through Moundridge and then north on Kansas Hwy. 15, where we came upon the historic Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. Then we turned east on US Hwy. 56 and then State Hwy. 150 into the Flint Hills. In Chase County we turned north onto State Hwy. 177 and the Flint Hills Scenic Byway toward our destination of Council Grove, where we anticipated an excellent supper at the iconic Hays House Restaurant.

Downtown Council Grove consists of several architectural gems that at another time would entice us to explore a bit, but right now we had a single thought on our minds: FOOD!

At last! We spied the Hays House Restaurant, still located in its original site since 1857. It is the oldest restaurant in the United States west of the Mississippi River. A cavalcade of cars and motorcycles form other customers on this busy Friday night made it a bit tough to find a parking space, but we made it.

Inside my "8 Wonders of Kansas" T-Shirt drew instant attention by our waitress, as the Hays House is one of the current finalists for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Cuisine contest. I also mentioned that it was KE #4419 who sent in the actual nomination of the Hays House for the contest, and that was all it took for us to get free desserts! Sometimes there are perks to being an Explorer.

We each ordered the Prime Rib dinner with beef & noodles soup, homemade bread and sides. Then came the dessert - cinnamon ice cream! The Hays House is one of four places in the Sunflower State that makes their own ice cream.

I know what you are thinking, but no, we firmly believe that the bright light you see upon the ice cream came not from the camera's flash but rather From Heaven Above. Once again, the first taste of this incredible taste feast was an ephipany of taste in epic proportions.

And once again, I need a moment. Just the memory of that taste . . . .

Wow.

It was that good.

Trust me.

A truly fitting end to a great day. We reluctantly turned back west and north and rolled back into Osborne at 11PM, having driven 482 miles in the Sunflower State and never left it.

And that's the way it should be. Happy Exploring!

Attention, Kansas Explorers! - Quiz #1 on Osborne County

This past year the Kansas Explorers Club has been flirting with the 5,000-member mark. That's a lot of people out there, prowling back roads and being fascinated with the quirkiest things you can simply cannot imagine that the Sunflower State has to show everyone.


So Captain 8 (Kansas Explorer #8) is throwing the gauntlet down. You call yourself an Explorer? The following are a few photos from Osborne County, Kansas. See if you can identify them; you have until June 15th to do so. If you can, I'll treat you to a mess o' Chili Cheese Fries down at Daddy O's in Osborne. But if you can't . . . well, you'll know that there is always more to come back to Osborne County and Explore!




Currently being under renovation, this town's Heritage Seekers plan to have this building open soon as a community museum. What town are we talking about?



This group of octogenarians waited their entire lives to stand at last on this unique point located on a high lonesome hill in southeast Osborne County. What point is this?

Wander around the oldest building in this unicorporated village and you will find Explorer gems like this carving, now 130 years old. What village are we talking about?

And no, my math is not faulty; the carving was actually done in 1879, and the 1873 date refers to the formation of District No. 10. An Explorer Tidbit!

People love to gather at this community's newest food & drink establishment. Be sure to try the Four Berry Smoothie the next time you stop by! What place and town are we talking about?


Osborne County is the Homestead Literature Capital of Kansas, this site being one of the reasons why. Freshly mowed and awaiting the adventurous Explorer, this shelter, picnic table and stone monument are the starting & ending point for a tour of the sites made famous in what great Kansas book?


And Finally - An original copy of the March 1872 Volume I, Issue 2 of the Arlington Express, the oldest known Osborne County newspaper in existence, can be found hanging in this architectural gem that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. What great Osborne County building are we talking about?


There you have it. Good luck, and may The Explorer Wind be forever at your back!


ANSWERS: (1) Natoma; (2) Geodetic Center of North America; (3) Bloomington; (4) The Gathering Grounds in Downs; (5) Sod-House Days by Howard Ruede; and (6) the Osborne County Courthouse.