Western Kansas

QueSi2Opie · Post by **QueSi2Opie** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 8:45 pm

Does anyone have any ideas on how to make Western Kansas along I-70 more interesting? All the scenic spots are at least 20 miles or more off the interstate (Castle Rock, Monument Rocks, Chalk Pyramids, Arikaree Breaks, etc.). The area along I-70 is so flat and treeless from the Colorado border to Russell. It's a definite cure for insomnia! Maybe the state could plant pines along that stretch of road along with some giant sunflowers? How about monuments or art work? Every grain elevator along I-70 needs to be brought to life with murals. I'm tired of everyone stereotyping the entire state of Kansas by what they see West of Salina!

The canyons of Arikaree Breaks near St. Francis...

KCK · Post by **KCK** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:49 pm

Ive seen those canyons before when I was much younger. I70 is truly the most horrible view of Kansas. Huge farm fields that seem to go on forever. I was thinking though, does Colorado have legalized gambling? If not, then I suggest a casino on the western Kansas border if we ever get these gambling laws passed. Maybe we can get some Denver traffic. By the way western Kansas people hate Eastern Kansans, they think we get all the breaks. Believe me, Ive talked to quite a few of them.

Devin if you are reading this, believe me that 5 days out in some of these western Kansas towns would make you cry for JOCO.

nota · Post by **nota** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:47 am

Good idea-why don't you write or call all those grain elevators and tell them your idea?

I love western Kansas. I have relatives in ST. Francis. Lots of them.

Western Kansas may be flat and uninteresting, but to me it is beautiful in a different way. "The fruited plains" and all that.

I love to drive along I70 in May/June and get out of the car on a spot where you can look in any direction and see wheat and nothing else except with that small ribbon of highway going through it.

But why drive I70 only. Get off the beaten path.

DanCa · Post by **DanCa** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 11:22 am

I don't think you could plant pine trees out there. There's a reason why the rest areas are solid cement block on the high plains. I've made the drive many times and I know how hard the wind can howl in that part of the state. Once I stopped at a rest stop (the last one before the CO line) and a north wind was so strong you couldn't hear inside the bathroom because of all the howling wind.

I don't think casinos would work because there are already casinos up in the mountains above Denver - in Central City and one other town. People in Denver generally don't travel east unless it's by airplane.

What about the world's largest parie dog? I was disappointed to find out it's cement. But the 5-legged cow was cool. And then there's the Cathedral of the Plains. I never stopped there though.

Post by **bahua** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:07 pm

I would recommend raising the speed limit, so people can get to Colorado faster.

QueSi2Opie · Post by **QueSi2Opie** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:47 pm

DanCa wrote:I don't think you could plant pine trees out there. There's a reason why the rest areas are solid cement block on the high plains. I've made the drive many times and I know how hard the wind can howl in that part of the state. Once I stopped at a rest stop (the last one before the CO line) and a north wind was so strong you couldn't hear inside the bathroom because of all the howling wind.

Kansas means People of the South Wind. The wind is definitely strong in the High Plains, but feels awesome in the Spring and Summer.

DanCa wrote:I don't think casinos would work because there are already casinos up in the mountains above Denver - in Central City and one other town. People in Denver generally don't travel east unless it's by airplane.

Colorado has casinos in Central City and Blackhawk outside of Denver and in Cripple Creek outside of Colorado Springs.

DMW, I don't think peeps in Denver are goin' to drive 180 miles to the Kansas border to gamble.

DanCa wrote:What about the world's largest parie dog? I was disappointed to find out it's cement. But the 5-legged cow was cool. And then there's the Cathedral of the Plains. I never stopped there though.

You were disappointed? You really thought they had a 500 pound prairie dog? Also, when is that damn 5-legged cow gonna die?

I've been to Prairie Dog Town in Oakley...a fine example of an animal roadside attraction which features inhumane wildlife cruelty. The prairie dogs have it made, but the raccoons in the lil' cage, the small cages featuring coyotes and badgers on concrete slabs, prairie chickens in small box cages, cows and buffalo in a tiny pen, etc. make me sick. I was pissed to see these poor creatures roasting in steal cages during the 100 degree weather 3 summers ago.

A nice attraction to visit in Oakley is the Fick Fossil Museum...also take Highway 83 about 25 miles south to the Keystone Gallery, Monument Rocks, Chalk Pyramids, El Cuartelejo Ruins, and the hidden paradise known as Scott State Park (listed by National Geographic Magazine as one of the 50 must-see state parks in the U.S.). http://www.naturalkansas.org/lake.htm

The Cathedral of the Plains in Victoria is nice. The Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays is definitely worth a visit.

Northwest Kansas attractions I still need to visit include Prairie Dog State Park near Norton and the Prairie Museum of Art and History in Colby.