Visit Wabaunsee County for a true Flint Hills experience- June 15-17, 2007! In addition to the concert and educational activities at the Symphony site.  There will be wonderful activities in many of the communities including Alta Vista, Alma, Eskridge, Lake Wabaunsee, Paxico, Maple Hill, McFarland and Harveyville.

Food, shopping, art, history, demonstrations at working ranches, stone architecture tours, music and much more are on the agenda for 'Symphony Weekend in Wabaunsee County'!

Please visit our communities and take part in the fantastic activities we have planned!  Also on June 16 you will be able to obtain information from kiosks located on the outskirts of Alma, Paxico and Eskridge-- look for the big flags and signs!  Check this site frequently for the latest information!

Download Wabaunsee County Map HERE

Welcome to a ‘Weekend in Wabaunsee’

Alma

Native Stone

Stop by Alma for breakfast, lunch or supper; offering a variety of choices!  At Deb’s Restaurant you may enjoy a meal off the menu or the specialty buffet, or perhaps you are in a hurry, grab a boxed lunch.  Cornerstone Café will be offering a choice of brisket & ham sandwiches, homemade side dishes & desserts, as well as their fresh salad bar.  Want to experience a bit of Wabaunsee County heritage?  Then you should visit the Chamber of Commerce’s German Meal, including sausages, home-made bierocks and more!  A stop by the Alma Bakery & Sweet Shoppe, Alma Creamery and Grandma Hoerner’s  are all “must-do’s” when visiting the City of Native Stone!  Alma Creamery will offer plant tours throughout the day.  Stop 2 Shop will serve a lunch special, beginning at 11:00am, of BBQ Pulled Pork or BBQ Beef Brisket with chips and a drink.  D.J.'s Bar & Grill, located near the creamery will be open for lunch, as well.  Downtown antique stores and gift shops are great for all those things you just “have to have”.  Perhaps you would like to join us in the park for a hearty 'ranch country' steak dinner complete with the fixin's.  Beginning at 11:00am there will be entertainment in the park including cowboy poets, bluegrass music and more!  Extraordinary water color paintings by Arthur Short Bull will be on display at the park house in Alma City Park throughout the day- do stop by!  Guided bird & wildflower walks will be offered throughout the morning in two great locations in the county.  And you can’t forget the self-guided Native Stone Structure tours, which will include a scenic drive through the countryside.  A great way to experience  the Flint Hills is to observe working ranch demonstrations between 9:00am & 11:00am by real cowboys on a Wabaunsee County Ranch, June 16.  Also that morning from 10:00am-Noon the museum will be hosting a book signing with Jim Hoy, author of the book  Flint Hills Cowboys.  A quaint country town amidst the Kansas Flint Hills….stop by to see us! 

Eskridge

Art

For those wishing for a bit of art, feel free to visit “Art in the Park”, a showing of Flint Hills’ artisans.  In downtown there will also be an art exhibit in the James Cook Studio; including works by Jim Waid, Ted Waddell, DeAnn Melton, James Cook and others.  Also in downtown Eskridge there will be an exhibit of Kansas Flint Hills images by National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, a showing of Flint Hills photographs by Judith Sabatini, as well as the Kansas Masters Invitational Art Show, Flint Hills landscapes.  While downtown be sure to stop in and admire the historic Waugh Bank Building.  You will find most of the remnants of the old bank– teller cages, the old vault and beautiful stained glass! Enjoy a 4-H Horse Show at the Eskridge Rodeo Grounds, beginning at 9:00am.  Experience history through guided tours of a decommissioned Cold War Atlas E missile base('Subterra'), built in 1961, just north of Keene, Kansas (between Dover and Eskridge off Hwy K-4).The Hippie Goddess Shop will have Native American art, music and more.  Another great feature is Maisie’s Pool; Maisie Devore collected  aluminum cans for 30 years so her community could build a swimming pool!  Buffalo Inn will make you feel like you stepped back into the Old West; check out Gary's decanter collection, old-fashioned saloon bar and the fantastic western murals!  If you are hungry there is Annie Mae’s Café.  Or perhaps some hometown favorites: homemade ice cream, bierocks and more with the United Methodist Women, buffalo burgers with the ’Friendly Farmers 4-H’, Pulled Pork sandwiches with Wabaunsee Pines Golf Course or delicious breakfast or lunch with the community PRIDE group!  Visit Solomon’s Porch Market to enjoy BBQ ribs, fresh foods, live entertainment and gourmet coffees.  We hope you will enjoy your experience in Eskridge, “Gateway to the Flint Hills”!

Paxico

Antiques

Discover Paxico’s Historic Antique District while adventuring through Wabaunsee County.  You will find yourself learning that there are wonderful antique stores, world-class, handmade pottery, a Kansas winery, R.V. Park and Campgrounds, antiques stoves, classic cars and much more!  If you are hungry you can get a bite to eat at Sisters & Co., Don’s Place or Ramblin’ Rose.  Join us for a Symphony pre-party! 

Lake Wabaunsee

Gem of the Flint Hills

Lake Wabaunsee, a natural spring-fed lake in the midst of the Wabaunsee County Flint Hills is a beautiful lake like no other!  Gem of the Flint Hills, as it is called, offers a variety of activities from fishing, water sports, picnics, swimming and more!  You may also want to learn about the unique history of the Lake or stop by one of the lovely picnic areas.  Camping and RV Parking are also available.  Let us be your “Gem in the Flint Hills!” 

McFarland

Railroad

Discover the rich railroad history in McFarland.  Located in the scenic Mill Creek Valley this lovely bedroom community remains proud of their history with the restored Rock Island Railroad Depot(open by appointment only) which houses many artifacts and shares the story of times past.  Although there is little business in McFarland the population grows each year.                   

Harveyville

Artists

Stop by a small town with great personality!  Harveyville is home to The Harveyville Project, which is an old school house that is being renovated into an artists’ colony and retreat.   Please visit there website to learn more!  Need to grab a bit to eat?  Visit Riggin's Market & Deli in downtown Harveyville; daily specials or great sandwiches are always on the menu!  Also you must stop by Bell Wildlife Specialties and visit with Dan Bell about a wildlife adventure.  Bell is gone hunting alot, but he may be around on June 16 between Noon and 2:00!  Don’t forget Jepson Pottery Studio see up close how these artists make their beautiful works! (Jepson Pottery will be gone to an art show on June 16th, but please stop by another time!) We’ll see you soon! 

Maple Hill

History

Experience the ranching heritage of the Wabaunsee County Flint Hills as you stroll through this quaint town or drive along the scenic roads of the countryside.  While you are in town don’t miss The Walking Turtle art studio and Puffy’s Steak & Ice House.  Be sure to visit the Historic Old Stone Church in the Flint Hills west of Maple Hill.  Have a great time!

Alta Vista

Heritage

Alta Vista a community with a wonderful Agriculture Heritage, which is showcased at the Ag Heritage Museum.  Explore Alta Vista...Sunflowers & Sodas Alta Vista Antiques, Barnyard Café, The Bulldog Inn in downtown for a wonderful old-time soda fountain, treasure or great food.  As you continue east on Highway K-4 don’t miss Prairie Thunder Elk’s registered elk herd along the north side.  Wishing you a great time in our county!

Native Stone Scenic Byway

As you travel to the site of the 2007 Symphony in the Flint Hills, you will probably drive along the Native Stone Scenic Byway.  The byway follows K-4 through Dover, Eskridge,  Lake Wabaunsee and then north on K-99 through Alma.  We invite you to experience the awesome scenery and pieces related to the abundance of native stone in the area.  Houses, barns, bridges, fences and walls are all commonly built out of native stone.  The Native Stone Scenic Byway will officially be opened on June 15, 2007 at 7pm, near Lake  Wabaunsee. 

Lodging for the Weekend 

You are probably saying where is there to stay in Wabaunsee County?!  Well we have some lovely places for you to enjoy an overnight stay and we are fortunate to have many lodging options within a short drive of Wabaunsee County.

The British Ranch, Barb Downey & Joe Carpenter, www.thebritishranch.com, 785-456-8160

Mill Creek Campground, Dan & Judy Meinhardt,  www.millcreekcampground.com, 785-636-5321

Lake Wabaunsee Camping/RV Parking, www.lakewabaunsee.com, 785-449-2507

The Gem Resort, Jim & Cindy Hafenstine, www.thegemresort.com, 785-449-2353  BOOKED SYMPHONY WEEKEND

The Paxico Inn, Steve Hund, Jr., www.paxicomerchants.com, 785-636-5520  BOOKED SYMPHONY WEEKEND

The Lodge, Marie Blythe, 785-499-5634  BOOKED SYMPHONY WEEKEND

Additional accomodations may be available in Council Grove, Wamego, Manhattan, Topeka and Emporia.

Worship Services in the communities are available on June 17

Additional Details on the items included above can be obtained by contacting:

Wabaunsee County Economic Development

Katie Carlgren

226 Missouri Ave-  PO Box 5

Alma, KS 66401

wcedc@earthlink.net 

785-765-4655