Chase County Living 2017

Living Her

2017

INSIDE

Legacy A Refreshing Escape a look inside Clover Cliff Ranch

Day Trip Destinations explore six historical places

Grand Experiences

hear from Grand Central owner Suzan Barnes

Stronger

than YeSterdaY 24/7 Fitness Center with key card accessability!

EXPLORE

PLAY D I N E 1722 B 210 Rd Cottonwood Falls

620-481-1320

Find us on

SLEEP

From Swope Park to historical landmarks, and from downtown shopping to bed and breakfast lodging establishments, Cottonwood Falls offers a variety of activities and services — come visit and stay with us!

PET FRIENDLY HOTEL

Patio Dining Available (Pets Welcome on Patio)

FINE DINING

Elegant Rooms — Featuring Creekstone Farms Premium Meats

COTTONWOOD FALLS, KS | 620.273.6763

GRANDCENTRALHOTEL.COM

www.cwf ks.org

2017 PUBLISHER

Chris Walker E D I TO R

Laci Rusco A RT D I R E C TO R

Kelsey Barker CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jessie Wagoner Melissa Lowery P H OTO G R A P H Y

Jason Dailey Mark Feiden Dave Leiker D E S I G N & L AYO U T

Picante Creative A DV E RT I S I N G S TA F F

Cassi Ellis-Olinger Ronda Henery Tayler Lyons Leann Sanchez P RO D U C T I O N D E S I G N

Margie McHaley Dan Ferrell Phillip Miller Katie Potter

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TABLE OF 26 CONTENTS Grand Experiences

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Experience the beauty of the Victorian Dance Society

Editor’s Note

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A Refreshing Escape Take a look inside Clover Cliff Ranch and see why people love it so

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A Family Affair

You don’t have to be grown to lend a hand on the Flying W Ranch

Learn more about Grand Central Hotel and Grill from owner Suzan Barnes

Dancing in the Flint Hills

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Limestone markers and teepads keep in tune with the scenery and help local economic development

Share in the magic in this photo package

Disc Golf Takes Off

River Suite

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Calendar of Events

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Day Trip Destinations Explore six historical places in Chase County

C O P Y E D I TO R S

Zach Hacker For more information, please contact: 306 Broadway P.O. Box K Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845-0436

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Chase County Living Magazine is a publication of Chase County Leader-News

On the Cover: Josie Hoy [Photo by Mark Feiden.]

4 | CHASE COUNTY Living

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“

“

Mike and Jane Mayes are not only good people, but they are great customers of Clint Bowyer Autoplex. They have bought multiple vehicles for their business and personal use, and we perform their service work as well.

We appreciate their patronage and look forward to working with them in the future.

— Steve Vaughn, General Manager

W W W . C L I N T B O W Y E R A U T O . C O M

Ropes | Equine Health Products | Tack Western Apparel for the Whole Family | Women’s fashions Purses | Turquoise Jewelry and much more!

Cottonwood Falls, Kansas | 620-273-6381 |

THISTLE

COTTAGE

‘ H O M E ’ Matfield Green, KS

Andrea Kennedy 316.323.3810

Hours: Friday 10am-6pm Saturday 9am-4pm All other days by chance or appointment.

Home

Interiors that say

facebook.com/thistlecottageinteriors

Welcome to Chase County Living Magazine!

Laci Rusco Magazine Director Editor

We at the Chase County Leader-News are proud to have partnered with the Chase County Chamber of Commerce to bring you a magazine focused on the wonderful people that make this community such an enticing place to live, work and visit.

While developing the stories for this magazine, we have found the people of Chase County to be incredibly proud of their towns, their heritage and their history. There are definitely many reasons to visit Chase County — the restaurants, the amazing ranches and B&Bs, the local artists, shops and historical sites.

However, we have found the main reason so many return time and again is the people.

Thank you for your kindness and willingness to share the great stories that showcase this amazing community.

Our hope is that this publication is not only something that inspires locals to enjoy their community, but also encourages the continued economic development of Chase County.

We would especially like to thank our advertisers who make this magazine possible.

By continuing to shop local, you support these businesses and the community.

We are also grateful to several gifted individuals — our incredible writers, Melissa Lowery and Jessie Wagoner, who brought the stories to life for this publication. Kudos to our photographers, Jason Dailey, Mark Feiden and Dave Leiker, for capturing the essence and beauty of the Flint Hills. The ad staff worked tirelessly to deliver high-quality advertisements.

Kelsey Barker, thank you for your constant assistance with production; I am forever grateful.

And, a huge thank you to Gisela Swift for her talent and creative design for this new magazine.

Finally, thank you to the Chase County Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Boyce Baumgardner, who have supported this magazine from the start and have provided a wealth of cultural information and historical facts about Chase County, along with many terrific ideas.

Your contributions are greatly appreciated.

I hope you enjoy reading the first edition of Chase County Living as much as we enjoyed putting it together. We look forward to many more editions to come.

- ANTIQUES - VINTAGE - ART -

January-March Friday & Saturday 311 Broadway

April-December Thursday-Sunday Cottonwood FAlls, KS

ADVERTISERS INDEX Ad Astra. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Flint Hills Technical College. . . . 6

All in Fitness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Grand Central Hotel. . . . . . . . . . 3

Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Griffin Real Estate. . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover Kansas Graphics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Butler Community College. . . . 8 Lark Inn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 C4 Food Pantry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover Newman Regional Health. . . . 15 Chase County Chamber. . . . . Back Cover Pioneer Bluffs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Citizens State Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover Prairie Wheel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 City of Cottonwood Falls. . . . . . 3 Salty Cow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Clint Boywer Autoplex. . . . . . . . . 5 Thistle Cottage Home. . . . . . . . 6 Cottonwood Falls Collectables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Wash O Rama. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Dynamic Discs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

WoodFest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Emma Chase Cafe. . . . . . . . . . . 15

A

Refreshing

Escape

WRITTEN BY JESSIE WAGONER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON DAILEY

A stately home stands at the top of the hill, inviting guests to enter and explore Clover Cliff Ranch Bed & Breakfast.

10 | CHASE COUNTY Living

isitors enter, taking a step back in time to 19th-century gracious living. Meticulously decorated bedrooms offer rest, relaxation and perhaps a bit of romance.

The veranda offers a healthy dose of sunshine and a delectable breakfast served by owners Warren and Susie Harshman.

A simple step outside treats guests to a center stage view of the Flint Hills.

Wildflowers in bloom and birds singing provide beautiful sights and sounds to enjoy while exploring the land surrounding Clover Cliff. Hiking trails and a private 18-hole disc golf course lead to adventure and fun.

Clover Cliff guests come to stay for a variety of reasons — a simple weekend getaway, family reunions, an opportunity to connect with nature. Whatever motivates their visit, the Harshmans strive to make every guest feel refreshed.

“We have found a majority of people are overwhelmed with life,” Susie said. “There is so much stress and everyone is busier than they used to be. People just kind of need a refreshing. To come here and relax, get outside, see the stars — they leave rejuvenated.”

Warren says Clover Cliff is much more than a home or a business for the couple.

Clover Cliff serves as an opportunity for the couple to connect with others while maintaining a property which has been a part of their life for years.

SUMMER 2017 | 11

“We live in a stone house not far from here,” Susie said.

“We would drive by Clover Cliff every day and admire it and the history of the property.”

The Harshmans had their eye on Clover Cliff for years.

They drove by the property almost daily and had always had a fondness for the home.

After a failed attempt to purchase the property years earlier, they were finally able to take ownership Feb. 13, 2014.

Sharing the space with guests is as fulfilling for the Harshmans as it is for those who come to visit. The couple recalls guests who have traveled from around the world to experience the beauty of the Flint Hills. A woman who had always lived in the city recently experienced stargazing for the first time at Clover Cliff. A little boy from Japan had never been able to run and play in a yard, so he spent days running and exploring Clover Cliff — an opportunity he will likely remember forever.

“I think we have a new appreciation for what we have always had here,” Susie said. “When you see it through someone else’s eyes, it is like you are seeing it for the first time, too. To share that and see people refreshed

12 | CHASE COUNTY Living

keeps us going.”

The Harshmans enjoy hosting special events and serving as a venue. One event in particular has a special meaning for the couple. “A Night To Remember” is a yearly event for Valentine’s Day. The event serves as a celebration of the anniversary of the Harshmans’ purchase of Clover Cliff as well as a way for other couples to celebrate Valentine’s Day. “Josh Hoy does the catering for it,” Susie said. “We do a fiveto-seven course gourmet meal with wines. We have live music and a photographer here to take every couple’s picture. It is an

When you see it through someone else’s eyes, it is like you are seeing it for the first time, too. To share that and see people refreshed keeps us going.

SUMMER 2017 | 13

Jolene Ratzlaff, artist | jolener@cox.net | 620-217-1086 409 N. Oak | Cottonwood Falls, KS | Fri-Sat-Sun 10:30am-6pm

Serving families of the Flint Hills since 1881

Susan D. Alexander

Funeral Director - Grief Facilitator Certified Celebrant

Tel: 620-273-6311 Fax: 620-273-6312 E-mail: bbafh@hotmail.com

201 CHERRY ST. • COTTONWOOD FALLS

www.brown-bennett-alexander.com

intimate affair and they spend the night and then we fix them breakfast.”

Clover Cliff has also served as a venue for special events like Flowers in the Flint Hills and Wounded Warrior hunts.

Weddings, family reunions and company retreats are also hosted at Clover Cliff.

“We love being a venue,” Susie said. “You bring the party and we will provide the space.

Weddings are fun.”

The number of events hosted at Clover Cliff will soon expand with the addition of The Pavilion. The Pavilion is currently under construction and is situated behind the main house. It will provide additional conference and event space in a beautiful setting. The couple looks

forward to hosting families and businesses looking for a place to hold their special event. Construction is moving along nicely and the pavilion will likely be completed by the end of the summer.

While the couple has many plans for Clover Cliff in the future, their goal remains the same — providing a place of refreshment for their visitors. Whether guests travel to Clover Cliff from overseas or from just down the road, they will all be greeted by the Harshmans and treated to the best the Flint Hills has to offer.

“The community has been so good to us over the years,” Warren said. “This is one way we can be of service and share with others.” J

H

I R O IST

Prairie heritage experiences Community events Music & Festivals

PRETTIEST LAUNDROMAT • I N T H E • MOST BEAUTIFUL TOWN I N K A N S A S DOWNTOWN COTTONWOOD FALLS, KS

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For a complete list of all services provided by Newman Regional Health, visit us at: www.newmanrh.org

1201 W. 12TH AVE. | EMPORIA, KS | 620-343-6800

C

H C N RA

Rustic barn weddings Flint Hills art School field trips

Visit 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays

PIONEERBLUFFS.ORG 695 KS HWY 177, MATFIELD GREEN

(620) 753-3484

A Family Affair Written by Jessie Wagoner Photography by Jason Dailey and Mark Feiden

The Flying W Ranch, nestled in the Flint Hills, is a destination ranch for travelers from around the world.

For 13-year-old Josie Hoy, Flying W is her home.

Three generations of the Hoy ranchers.

16 | CHASE COUNTY Living

“I’m lucky this is my home,” Josie said. “When you live here, it’s like the world comes to you.”

Flying W Ranch is a 7,000-acre working cattle ranch, owned and operated by Josh and Gwen Hoy and their daughter. Josh is a fifth-generation Flint Hills rancher and Josie is actively following in his footsteps. She isn’t just a helper on the ranch, but is an integral part of everyday operations.

“Josie is a fully functional, super competent, skilled stockman,” Josh said. “She cowboys with us and we rely on her like we would someone we would hire. She knows that intimately. I don’t think she is even aware how much she knows about that because it is just so natural for her. It is so nice to know she has the competence and skill and knowledge to do things here.”

SUMMER 2017 | 17

While many teens her age are known for sleeping in, Josie is known for rising early to complete ranch duties — though she admits she isn’t hesitant to sneak in an afternoon nap when needed.

Her days may start early, but she doesn’t mind because her days are filled with one of her biggest passions — her animals.

Cattle, horses, miniature donkeys and her beloved herd of dogs are all near and dear to her heart. She loves caring for and communicating with them. From infancy, Josie’s parents exposed her to the ranch animals, teaching her to love and respect each one.

The exposure resulted in Josie developing a unique connection with each animal on the ranch.

“Josie is very fluent in dog

18 | CHASE COUNTY Living

Josie on her horse, Coosa.

“

Not very many people speak animal.

speak,” Josh says. “She can get a herd of dogs to do anything she wants.”

“Not very many people speak animal,” Josie said. “My parents are really good at it. They taught me how to interact with animals as animals and not as toys.”

One of Josie’s favorite ranch activities is going on trail rides, which she now leads — treating guests to authentic horseback rides through the Flint Hills. She

also enjoys the cattle drives.

“We aren’t nose-to-tail on our rides,” Josie said. “We are in a group and every trail ride is different. We don’t take the same route every time. We are grouped together so we can talk while we ride, talk about what we see. It is more authentic.”

Part of that talking on trail rides helps Josie connect with and learn from the guests who visit Flying W. Guests from around the

Tips from Gwen and Josh Let your children get dirty and have fun.

n

n

n

Put away the electronics, go outside and play.

Always be respectful around animals.

SUMMER 2017 | 19

“

Tips from Josie n

Take care of animals and nature.

n

Enjoy time outside.

n

Stay calm around animals.

n

Try new things.

n

Take an interest in other people.

20 | CHASE COUNTY Living

world have visited the ranch to experience life in the Flint Hills. While they visit, Josie is able to learn about their cultures as well.

“We have people from all over the world come to visit,” Josie said. “I like to talk to them, get to know them. I learn from them and they learn from us.”

Recently, Josie has been learning a new skill from her dad — cooking.

Feeding ranch guests is extremely important. Josh and Josie both have a passion for creating delicious meals for their visitors.

While she has become quite skilled at creating a variety of dishes, her favorite thing to whip up is macaroni salad using a special family recipe. Her passion for cooking has sparked an interest in possibly attending culinary school in the future.

“I like making tacos and sliders and meatloaf,” Josie said.

“Macaroni salad, I love to make that. My grandmother has a really good recipe for macaroni salad.”

Life on the ranch is obviously filled with many responsibilities for the entire Hoy family. Yet, making plenty of time for fun and experiencing the freedom of childhood is a priority for Josie and her parents.

“It’s not all work, we really want Josie to experience the magic of childhood and have fun,” Josh said. “She is still a typical 13-year-old girl who plays and romps two-thirds of her day.”

“With the responsibility comes a lot of freedom,” Gwen said. “Josie has the chance to have a lot of fun every day.”

Josie agrees with her parents, explaining how much fun she has being able to explore and be outside. She feels a bit sorry for “city kids” who haven’t had the chance to be outdoors and explore the way she has.

“I’m free out here,” Josie said.

“I can ride my horses and play and be outside. Lots of other kids don’t have that chance.”

Josie isn’t certain what her future holds. She anticipates leaving the ranch at some point for a “walk about.” She wants to travel and try new things, yet she is convinced she will return to the ranch as it is her home forever.

When she thinks about what she wants for Flying W in the future, it takes her a bit to find the words, but once she does, they perfectly describe her love for the ranch.

“I would just want more,” Josie said. “More land, more animals, more of all of it.” J

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CHASE COUNTY

HISTORICAL SITES

1. Old Cedar Point Mill, Cedar Point 2. Clements Stone Bridge, Clements 3. Four Room School, Elmdale 4. Santa Fe Depot & Railroad Park, Strong City 5. Old Chase County Jail, Cottonwood Falls 6. Historic Bridge and Dam, Cottonwood Falls

DayTrip

Destinations

By Melissa Lowery | Photos By Dave Leiker

1 Old Cedar Point Mill — Cedar Point Officially named the Drinkwater & Schriver Mill, the Old Cedar Point Mill began as a lumber mill. In 1867, Cedar Point Postmaster O.H. Drinkwater built a wood dam across the Cottonwood River and constructed the original wooden-frame mill for sawing lumber.

The following year it was converted to grind flour and named Cedar Point Mill.

In 1870, Drinkwater partnered with Peter Paul Schriver and the name was changed yet again to Drinkwater & Schriver Mill. The original wooden sawmill and dam were replaced by stone structures in 1875. It used stone burrs to grind corn and wheat into flour with a capacity of 75 barrels per day.

The mill sold flour to the local area and bakeries to the East until 1941 when the machinery was converted to grinding cattle feed.

The Drinkwater & Schriver Mill ground feed into the 1960s. About 100 years after it was built, the stones stopped turning and the mill was abandoned. The town of Cedar Point itself boasts less than 30 inhabitants now, losing many citizens after the mill closed.

The Drinkwater & Schriver Mill mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. A restoration project is underway with plans to create a museum celebrating the history and function of grist mills as well as a surrounding park to give visitors a place to enjoy the river and scenery.

The mill is the first thing you see as you cross the bridge over the Cottonwood River, coming into Cedar Point. It is located about three-quarters of a mile south of U.S. Highway 50, eight miles east of Florence, 17 miles west of Strong City and approximately 30 miles west of Emporia.

22 | CHASE COUNTY Living

It is too dangerous for visitors to go inside the mill until work is completed; however, good views are available from the bridge and walking around the mill. Bring your camera to capture the structure and landscape, and remember your bug spray!

2 Clements Stone Bridge — Clements The Clements Stone Arch Bridge was built in 1887 of native limestone. The two-span bridge with a main span of 57 feet and a length of 175 feet is now open only to pedestrians — a newer steel bridge a few hundred yards away provides vehicles with passage over the river.

Tucked away at the edge of a field, the bridge is lined with massive rectangles of locally quarried limestone, from which you can see beautiful views of the Cottonwood River and ranch land. If you want a good view of the 28-foot double arches that give the bridge its name, you will need to head down the road a bit, especially during the summer and autumn months when the vegetation is lush.

The Clements Stone Arch Bridge crosses the Cottonwood River about one half-mile south of U.S. Highway 50 on Road G.

3 Four Room School — Elmdale Elmdale was a thriving railroad town a century ago.

Founded in 1872, 10 years later it had two blacksmith shops, church, a drug store, three general stores, hardware store, hotel, loan agent, post office, railroad depot, a saw and grist

mill and a schoolhouse. By 1912, it boasted a weekly newspaper and thriving business district.

Today the post office is the sole operating business in town.

The impressive native limestone schoolhouse was built in 1883, according to the keystone. It

has four rooms on two floors, a testament to the town’s prospects for the future at the time. A large brick auditorium and gymnasium was built next to the schoolhouse in later years.

Unfortunately, Elmdale was built in a floodplain and

periodic floods from the nearby Cottonwood and Middle rivers damaged the town many times over the years, causing residents to repeatedly evacuate and return after the floodwaters receded to clean up and salvage what they could. Many residents who evacuated during the particularly bad 1951 flood never returned.

The high school closed in 1967, then the grade school soon after.

All students currently attend schools in Cottonwood Falls.

Several different owners have attempted to renovate and bring new life to the building in the past decade, although none have achieved long-term sustainability. You can easily view and photograph the schoolhouse from the street and sidewalk, but be aware that it is private property.

The Elmdale Schoolhouse is located at Chestnut and Campbell Streets, on the south side of Elmdale.

SUMMER 2017 | 23

5 Old Chase County Jail

Cottonwood Falls

When the iconic limestone Chase County courthouse was built in 1873, the residents of Chase County also gained a modern, well-built jail — an improvement from the original log cabin jail that served the area. Located on the second floor of the courthouse, the jail’s ceiling and floor were constructed of two-by-eight-inch oak planks laid on edge, then spiked side by side.

The floors were then covered by sheet metal. A solid steel door opening on the hallway quelled thoughts of jailbreaks.

The jail remained in use for a century until the mid 1970s when new state statutes made it obsolete. It’s now open to the public for tours, along with the rest of the grand courthouse. The Chase County courthouse is the oldest courthouse in continual use in the state of Kansas and one of the oldest in use West of the Mississippi.

The courthouse — and jail — are located at 300 Pearl Street, at the south end of Broadway Street, in Cottonwood Falls. Sitting atop a slight rise, towering above anything else for miles around, it’s impossible to miss.

24 | CHASE COUNTY Living

Santa Fe Depot & Railroad Park

4 Strong City

Strong City is named after William Barstow Strong, the Vice President and General Manager of the Santa Fe Railway System in 1881. The railroad brought prosperity to the city for decades, and in 1913 the one-story, pressed brick depot was built in the mission style, trimmed in native limestone and decorative brick with a tile roof. It included two passenger waiting rooms, a ticket office, telegrapher’s area, main office and baggage room.

The west end was used as a freight office.

Over the next 25 years, thousands of passengers passed through the Santa Fe Depot in Strong City as they traveled on the railroad. But the depot closed in 1938, and for the next 70 years has served as Santa Fe offices and railroad storage, gradually deteriorating.

In 2006, BNSF donated the building to Strong City. In 2007, the depot was listed on the National Register of Historic

Places, and plans to restore it started in earnest. Restoration began in 2014, and the building re-opened to the public in 2015. It now houses railroad memorabilia as well as City Hall. The depot also offers unique space for hosting meetings and events.

The depot is adjacent to the W.B. Strong Memorial Railroad Park, locally known as “Caboose Park,” established in 1997. The authentic Santa Fe Caboose is the main feature, but it is surrounded by picnic tables, flowerbeds and walkways. The park hosts the annual opening event for the Chase County Christmas, kicking off the festive season with music, hot chocolate and an appearance from Santa Claus.

The Santa Fe Depot & Railroad Park is located at 204 West Topeka Avenue next to the railroad tracks in Strong City.

6 Historic Bridge and Dam Cottonwood Falls Located on the Cottonwood River, the town of Cottonwood Falls has a long history as a mill town. The first dam at this site was constructed out of cottonwood logs in 1860, a year after the town was organized.

Initially, the dam harnessed water power for a saw and grist mill. It was expanded in 1906

and used to generate electricity for the area. The current dam is constructed from cut limestone, which was later covered with concrete.

The mill operated until 1913, then served as an ice plant for another decade before closing in 1925. It’s now the Millstream Resort Motel with rooms overlooking the river and the historic bridge.

The first major bridge at Cottonwood Falls was a 150-foot-long iron truss bridge constructed in 1872. The present bridge was constructed in 1914

by WPA Labor to replace the original iron bridge that carried the old interurban rail line. It is one of only three remaining reinforced masonry, earth-filled arch bridges that were designed

by Daniel B. Luten. In 1984, after repeated flooding, the deteriorating bridge was closed to fishermen and pedestrians.

In 2007, the Cottonwood Falls Bridge underwent major restoration and the area was converted into a recreation area.

Visitors are invited to use the bridge for fishing, access to the riverbank, walking or just sitting.

The adjacent Bates Grove Park provides parking, tables and grills for a pleasant picnic or BBQ with the sound of rushing water for accompaniment.

The historic dam and bridge are located on the north end of Cottonwood Falls on Highway 177. J

SUMMER 2017 | 25

G

rand Experiences Historic, charming and elegant are all effective descriptors of the Grand Central Hotel in Cottonwood Falls. Yet, the only way to fully experience the wonder of Grand Central is to treat yourself to a visit.

Written by Jessie Wagoner

26 | CHASE COUNTY Living

|

Photography by Jason Dailey

G

rand Central Hotel, owned and operated

by Suzan Barnes, was built in 1884 and was the first hotel in Chase County. Over the years as the hotel changed hands, it would close for periods of time and re-open.

Yet in the 1980s, the hotel sat vacant for almost 10 years.

“They were contemplating tearing it down but a local person bought it on the courthouse steps for $41, that was the back taxes,” Barnes said.

Where some may have seen an abandoned building destined to be destroyed, Barnes saw possibility — lots of possibilities.

“It was in bad shape,” Barnes said. “There were chicken and pigeons living upstairs. It would have reminded you of “Gunsmoke” — Miss Kitty and the whole thing.”

After changing hands several more times, a group of investors purchased the property and Barnes went to work for them. The hotel was gutted in 1995 and after six months of extensive renovations, Grand Central opened as the elegant establishment it is known as today. When the investors were ready to bid farewell to the hotel, Barnes wasn’t ready to leave, so she purchased the property and has remained ever since.

The renovations incorporate a rustic yet elegant design. The room sizes were expanded, resulting in 10 luxurious guest rooms. While

SUMMER 2017 | 27

visiting Grand Central, guests are not only treated to a relaxing and welcoming environment, but also a taste of history.

Each guest room is named after influential individuals from Chase County or area ranches.

Over the years a number of celebrities have passed through the doors of Grand Central. Bill Murray, Lyle Lovett and Neil Armstrong have all been guests. Though celebrities are always welcome, Barnes strives to make sure each guest feels cherished during their stay.

“Everyone is welcome here,” Barnes said. “It doesn’t matter if you are dressed in your finest or wearing spurs. Everyone is welcome.”

The hotel also houses the widely-acclaimed Grand Central Hotel and Grill, which features fine dining in a relaxed environment. Perfectly grilled steaks, savory soups and decadent desserts are served by skilled staff whom Barnes affectionately refers to as her “kids.” After years of working in the travel industry and operating the hotel, Barnes said the relationships she has

28 | CHASE COUNTY Living

developed with her employees is something she values greatly.

“Oh, the best part is my ‘kids,’” Barnes said. “I call all of them my kids. I have kids that worked for me for years and I have kids from years ago that I still keep in touch with.”

Barnes has also enjoyed watching tourism grow in the Flint Hills. The beauty of the Flint Hills provides visitors with an authentic experience they will remember forever.

“People want to go somewhere where they aren’t in their environment,” Barnes said.

“They don’t want a McDonald’s here because there is a McDonald’s in their town. They want something authentic, they want something real, they want something environmentally toward tourism. For them to come out here in this richness — they feel renewed, and that is why tourism here is so important.”

Travel and tourism are as much a passion for Barnes as the Grand Central Hotel. She has worked in the industry for years and is dedicated to promoting tourism in Kansas — especially the Flint Hills.

“I knew having been in the travel business for so long we needed to do more to promote people coming here to Kansas — I knew the Flint Hills were going to take off,” Barnes said.

Her intuition proved right as the Flint Hills have surely taken off. Thousands of people travel to Chase County each year to visit the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, drive the Kansas National Scenic Byway or grind gravel through the Flint Hills. Most of all, they come looking for a simpler, quieter, more beautiful destination than the one in which they reside every day.

As guests depart the Grand Central Hotel, they often share with Barnes how well they rested during their stay and remark about the quietness of the area. It serves as a reminder to Barnes that she is on the right track.

“People experience peace here,” Barnes said. “They experience the quiet and the stillness and they rest and are refreshed.

They crave peace, and this area is known for peacefulness.” J

SUMMER 2017 | 29

DISC LF O G Takes Off

By Melissa Lowery | Photos by Dave Leiker

Disc golf enthusiasts from world champions to children have a new course to test their skills. Located on the southeast corner of Highway 177 and 210 Road, Swope Park is the home of the Chase County Disc Golf Course.

The course is the result of a concentrated effort to boost tourism in the area, as well as provide additional recreational activities for the people of Chase and surrounding counties. Recognizing the growth of the sport and its potential to draw people from out of town, Cottonwood Falls Mayor Boyce Baumgardner championed the development and installation of the course.

30 | CHASE COUNTY Living

Course designer, Eric McCabe

“Chase County’s recent success in marketing, branding and retail development are examples of how the leadership of this community is committed to enhancing economic growth,” Baumgardner said. “Disc golf is one of the next steps toward those goals.”

Designed by a champion The Chase County Disc Golf Course is a true community endeavor. No public funds were used, Baumgardner said, instead they built the course with money from local foundations, individuals and businesses who stepped up to sponsor baskets and fund the project.

Designed by 2010 Disc Golf World Champion Eric McCabe, whose parents are from Chase County, the professional 18-hole course incorporates its natural and historical surroundings.

“It’s amazing,” McCabe said during the groundbreaking ceremony in 2015. “I’ve had the honor of putting the courses in Emporia. But putting a course here where my family is from is special.”

Keeping the theme of celebrating Chase County’s heritage, the course features limestone markers and teepads, and the hole baskets are also set in limestone. Massive pieces of native stone are positioned like sculptures throughout the course.

The teepads are from the old sidewalks in downtown Cottonwood Falls.

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“Hole 14, the signature hole, is a challenging elevated basket atop a five-tiered stone pyramid.”

Cottonwood trees shape many holes, and holes 6-9 play through the wooded area across Buck Creek. Hole 14, the signature hole, is a challenging elevated basket atop a fivetiered stone pyramid.

A course for kids In early 2017, work began on a Junior Disc Golf Course located alongside the adult course. This short course features nine unique holes designed with children and beginning disc golfers in mind.

Each hole has a theme and uses a different type of stone, including a reimagining of an iconic stone structure.

“The second hole is a replica of Stonehenge,” Baumgardner said. “Nate Passmore, who runs the quarry where the white limestone for the courthouse came from, constructed it for us and it’s pretty impressive.”

There are also holes that incorporate a Plinko game, a tractor tire and a mural. The holes also include words of encouragement for players, a design feature Baumgardner planned himself. Every hole is marked with an engraved rock featuring words one would associate with leadership like “patience,” “courtesy” and “integrity.”

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The entire junior course is visible from the swimming pool, so during the summer children can easily play a round of disc golf while taking a break from swimming without parents losing sight of them. To encourage the practice, discs are available at the swimming pool for children to check out and return after use. Disc golf clinics are also planned to teach kids how to play.

“When the pool is open, kids can check out discs at the pool counter and play during their swim break,” Baumgardner said.

“Kids on the course are visible from the pool and playground at all times and lessons will be available from time to time.”

Promoting Chase County While the Chase County Disc Golf Course provides an opportunity for locals to enjoy the sport, the purpose of the course is also to bring visitors to the community. And it is.

“Disc golf is trending in popularity,” Baumgardner said. “Our course here in Chase County draws players from surrounding

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“The second hole is a replica of Stonehenge.”

counties and especially from Lyon County due to the number of high-profile tournaments that are scheduled in Emporia. We have clubs come from Wichita and Kansas City to duel each other.

The opportunity to attract outof-town visitors benefits Chase County in so many ways.”

After less than two years, the community is already experiencing positive economic impact from the number of people traveling to Cottonwood Falls to play the course. Hotels and bed & breakfasts, restaurants and shops — they all receive a boost from recreational tourists.

“Disc golf leads to economic development,” Baumgardner said. “When players travel here and play the course, they see our city and are likely to come back

and stay for a weekend at one of our bed and breakfasts or eat a meal at a restaurant. Disc golf is good for the community.”

Baumgardner reported that the city already achieved a major goal for the new disc golf course — hosting a tournament endorsed by the Professional Disc Golf Association.

“Our original goal was to have a professional tournament at some point, and we met that goal in July 2016!” Baumgardner said.

The Limestone Classic is a pro-am sponsored by Innova Champion Discs and hosted by Maverick Disc Golf at the Chase County Disc Golf Course. The first event was so successful that not only is it now an annual tournament, but organizers are working on producing a second pro-am to take place in October and include a community festival event.

The second Limestone Classic will be held on July 15 on the Chase Disc Golf Course. The event is sanctioned by the PDGA and will draw several hundred people to the area, introducing them to the beauty and charm of Chase County. J

Dancing IN THE

FLINT HILLS

By Melissa Lowery | Photos by Dave Leiker

y first experience with the Flint Hills Victorian Dance Society was at its 2017 Statehood Ball in January. I was assigned to cover the ball for The Emporia Gazette, and my first thought upon reading my assignment sheet was, “We have a Victorian Dance Society?!? Why has this not been part of my life before?!?”

Those of you already in the know are probably shaking your heads at my ignorance, but I wasn’t alone in my surprise and immediate gleeful anticipation. When I mentioned to people how I was spending my Saturday evening that weekend, the unanimous reaction was, “What is the Flint Hills Victorian Dance Society? Tell me everything!”

Of course, I didn’t know anything yet, but after spending time with members of the society and talking with one of the co-founders, I realized this has the potential to be one of the area’s most entertaining evenings out.

The Flint Hills Victorian Dance Society hosts a number of dances and balls throughout the year, including the Statehood Ball, a Spring Ball, a Harvest Ball and a Christmas Ball.

Co-founded by Derrick Doty and Sue Smith, the Flint Hills Victorian Dance Society got its start in 2009 when the duo produced a Spring Ball. It was so well received that soon they were hosting four balls each year as well as monthly contra dances.

Sue is well-known in Chase County. She owned the Emma Chase Cafe and Prairie Pastimes, cultivating artists and live music until she retired in 2014. She is steeped in the history of the area, able to tell stories about local happenings stretching back to frontier days. Sue is also one of the organizers of the Flint Hills Folklife Festival, which takes place in Cottonwood Falls each June and includes a contra dance.

“I am a planner. I am an organizer. That’s what appeals to me,” she said. “When Derrick said, ‘Let’s do this,’ I said ‘sure.’ He’s the historian, I’m the organizer.”

Derrick’s interest in the era goes beyond the elaborately decorated Victorian homes and gowns draped in ruffles and lace that stereotype the Victorian age. A native Kansan, Civil War re-enactor, barber and founding member of Tallgrass Express String Band, Derrick has a passion for the craftsmanship and work ethos of the Victorian Era. “The thing that interests me most is the spirit of self-sufficiency I see in the 1800s,” he explains. “For me, it is a way of life that I want to live.

And I don’t necessarily mean that I love to dress in waistcoat and tails every day and exercise polished manners in high society. There’s so much more to the Victorian Era than that.”

The Victorian Era refers to the time period when Queen Victoria ruled Britain. Her reign stretched from 1837-1901, and is associated with Britain’s great age of industrial expansion, economic progress and, especially, empire. At her death, it was said, Britain had a worldwide empire on which the sun never set.

Concurrently in the United States, this was a time of exploration, expansion and industrial revolution. Kansas was settled during the

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“THE IDEA IS TO GET PEOPLE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING — SOMETHING UNIQUE.”

Victorian Era, so many of our stories of early prairie life are also part of the Victorian Era. Those grand ball gowns and waistcoats were what sprang to mind when I pictured the Statehood Ball, and I’m not disappointed. Attire resembles what one would have seen at a Kansas country ball 150 years ago — gowns ranging from simple cotton calico with a bit of trimming to elaborate taffeta constructions dripping with lace and beads. Sue recalls when a group of Mountain Men came to a Christmas Ball dressed in buckskins and kilts.

“That was the most fun we’ve ever had, I think,” she said.

“They were period correct, just ‘Kansas’ as opposed to the uppercrust. It was a hoot!”

For the most part, the men wear black pants, white shirts and waistcoats, although some add a spot color to their ensembles with a bright blue shirt or colorful bow tie. Most of the women’s clothing, and some of the men’s, is handmade, including some beautifully made gowns with wide skirts that swing like bells as the women dance.

“Some of the cleverest young ladies go to a thrift shop, find something there and morph it into something Victorian,” Sue tells me, gesturing to some ingeniously modified prom dresses and bridesmaid gowns.

Sue and a few of the other society members also have garments available to borrow and sources for period clothes they’re happy to share. “If you want to dress up, we offer our expertise to anyone who wants to get involved.”

However, while dress from the 1850s - 1860s is encouraged at the balls, it is not required.

“We’ll accept you in evening attire from any period,” Sue said. “This is meant to be an opportunity to come and dance, with a bit of history thrown in.”

I may have come for a glimpse of the clothes, but the dancing and music are equally impressive. Have you ever watched a movie or television show set during the Victorian period that included a group

dance? The kind where couples promenade down a line or cross arms and move back and forth between partners? That’s what you can expect at a Flint Hills Dance Society event. Worried about not knowing what to do?

Don’t be.

Sue and Derrick want everyone to participate, so they bring in callers to not only call the dances — calling out the next steps like in square-dancing — but instruct dancers as well.

“Someone who’s never done this before can dance all night,” caller Liz Granberg assures me. Liz has about 20 years of experience calling contra dances and is a regular caller for The Flint Hills Victorian Dance Society. She makes sure even beginners feel comfortable joining the fun.

“We do a beginner’s lesson before the dance starts, to show them basic moves, how not to fall down, that sort of thing,” Liz said.

“Eye contact is key!”

The music is equally vintage and charming. Contra dance is a folk dance made up of long lines of couples. It has mixed origins from English country dance, Scottish and French dance styles in the 17th century, with strong African influence from Appalachia, all of which

are reflected in the music played during these events.

“We bring in live music for the balls,” Sue said. “The bands we use play music from The Portland Collection and music distilled from old English barn dances and country dances.

Waltzes and these dances have been around forever, so this is a neat way to learn history through music and dance.”

Making history accessible and fun is at the root of the Flint Hills Victorian Dance Society.

Both Sue and Derrick hope attending dances is not just unique and entertaining, but also educational.

“The idea is to get people interested in something — something unique,” Sue said. “We want people to come and have a great time, to get interested in Victorian clothing and manners and history out here on the prairie, to learn something they didn’t know before.”

As I’m putting my notebook away, a gentleman comes over to ask if I’d like to dance. I promise to come back and give it a try when I’m not on deadline. I might even take Sue up on the offer of borrowing some period clothing. A Victorian-style dance on a beautiful Flint Hills evening?

Sounds dreamy. J

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The magic of B Y J E S S I E WA G O N E R P H O T O S B Y D AV E L E I K E R

ine dining, enchanting entertainment and watching the sun set over the river are just a few of the reasons River Suite provides a magical evening for guests.

River Suite, hosted by the Chase County Chamber of Commerce, is historically held on the Friday evening before the Symphony in the Flint Hills. The event highlights the magical nature of Chase County — an exquisite combination of country charm and elegant enchantment.

Now in its 10th year, River Suite has sustained a legacy of excellence.

Pat Larkin, Chase County Chamber of Commerce

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Pat Larkin with the Chase County Chamber of Commerce welcomed attendees to the event. Numerous guests have attended every River Suite event while a few were experiencing the charm for the first time.

“Good evening,” Larkin said. “I want to welcome you to our 10th annual River Suite event. You all started a heck of a legacy 10 years ago, and here we are 10 years later.”

Butler County Community College catered the event — serving up elaborate appetizers, ribeye steak, spinach salad, twice baked potatoes and homemade dinner rolls.

As an added treat, homemade ice cream and fruit cobblers rounded out the meal.

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A special opportunity was available this year. The historic Pioneer Bluffs barn was recently renovated. Pioneer Bluffs offered the opportunity for attendees to bid on an evening at the barn.

“The barn has been host to numerous community events, weddings, concerts and parties,” Larkin said. “It is just an awesome awesome place to have an event. Lynn Smith came to us and said she wanted to auction off one night’s use of the historic barn. There is no reserve, so who knows, you may get a great deal on it.”

Following dinner attendees were wowed by entertainment provided by The Skirts.

The Skirts, composed of six band members, hail from Chase County. The Skirts were born when former Elexa and The Hitchhikers members Elexa Dawson and Melissa Tastove joined with their friend Sarah Bays, who had recently taken up the upright bass in the summer of 2009.

Emily Wilson was quick to join them on

mandolin. Rachel Allai was added the night before she recorded “Many Moons,” The Skirts’ first full-length studio album with her fiddle. These women continue to grow and evolve as a group, keeping originals as the core of their repertoire, but throwing in their homemade renditions of popular rock and folk songs. J

The Skirts, an all female acoustic band

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CHASE COUNTY CALENDAR 2017-18

(All dates subject to change. For a complete list visit www.chasecountychamber.org or contact the source.)

JULY • Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls • July, Saturday Music Matinee at Pioneer Bluffs (TBA) • July 1, Trail Ride at the Flying W Ranch • July 2, Cattle Drive at the Flying W Ranch

Music” in Cottonwood Falls • September 2, Trail Ride at the Flying W Ranch • September 8-10, The Dream Ride • September 9, Flint Hills Bull Blowout, Strong City Rodeo Grounds • September 16, Cattle Drive at the Flying W Ranch

• Independence Day Celebration, Swope ParkCottonwood Falls (TBA)

• September 16, Flint Hills Ranch Rodeo, Strong City Rodeo Grounds

• July 8, Cattle Drive at the Flying W Ranch

• September 23, 5:00-8:00pm Tallgrass Artist Residency Artist Reception at The Bank Art Space, Matfield Green

• July 11-23, Opera Workshop in the Flint Hills at Symphony in the Flints Hills Gallery • July 12, 9:00-11:00am Tallgrass Prairie Wranglers Youth Day Camp, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

NOVEMBER • Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls • November 4, Trail Ride at the Flying W Ranch • November 4, Annual Bazaar-BAZAAR, at the Bazaar School House • November 11, Veteran’s Day Ceremony at Swope Park in Cottonwood Falls (TBA) • November 11, Turning Out the Remuda at the Flying W Ranch • November 24, 6:00pm-8:00pm, Strong City Seasonal Express at the Strong City Depot • November 25, Chase County Country Christmas County-Wide • November 25, Christmas Ball (TBA) DECEMBER

• September 30, WoodFest: Free Range Music and Fun at Camp Wood YMCA

• Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls

• September 30, Cattle Drive at the Flying W Ranch

• December 2, Trail Ride at the Flying W Ranch

• July 15, Limestone Classic Disc Golf Tournament at Swope Park

OCTOBER

• July 29, 5:00-8:00pm New Artist Reception at The Bank Art Space in Matfield Green

• Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls

JANUARY

• July 30-August 3, Chase County Fair in Cottonwood Falls

• October 7, 2:00pm 10th Annual Fall Festival at Pioneer Bluffs

AUGUST

• October 7, Trail Ride at the Flying W Ranch (Sunset Ride)

• Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls

• Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls • August, Saturday Music Matinee at Pioneer Bluffs (TBA) • August 1-3, Chase County Fair in Cottonwood Falls • August 5, Trail Ride at the Flying W Ranch • August 5-6, Kansas Junior Rodeo Association, Strong City Rodeo Grounds SEPTEMBER • Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night

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• October 8, Cattle Drive at the Flying W Ranch • October 14, Cattle Drive at the Flying W Ranch • October 21, Cattle Drive at the Flying W Ranch (Photographers Day) • October 27, Trail Ride at the Flying W Ranch (Sunset Ride) • October 28, Clements Cemetery Wagon Ride from the Flying W Ranch • Trick or Trunk, downtown Cottonwood Falls (TBA) • October 28, PDGA Chase Disc Golf Tournament, at Swope Park

2018

• Chamber Annual Meeting at Camp Wood YMCA FEBRUARY • Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls • Legislative Coffee at the Grand Central Hotel • Night to Remember in the Heart of the Flint Hills, Clover Cliff Ranch Bed & Breakfast MARCH • Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls

• Symphony in the Flint Hills 2018 Signature Event Tickets Go on Sale at kcsymphony.org • Barn Wedding Showcase at Pioneer Bluffs, Matfield Green APRIL • Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls • Brick Road Rumblers Car Show along Broadway Street in downtown Cottonwood Falls • Schoolhouse Market Days in Saffordville Schoolhouse • Flames in the Flint Hills at Flying W Ranch • Easter Egg Hunt at Swope Park, Cottonwood Falls • Citywide Garage Sales, Cottonwood Falls • Chase County Earth Day Celebration at the Millstream Resort • Spring Contra Dance • April 22-28 Glass Blown Open/ Chase County Disc Golf MAY • Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls • Cottonwood 200 Cycling Event JUNE • Every Friday Night 7:30pm “Emma Chase Friday Night Music” in Cottonwood Falls • Flint Hills Rodeo 81st Annual, Strong City Rodeo Grounds • Fly-In Breakfast at Cottonwood Falls Airport • Dirty Kanza 200 • River Suite on the Historic River Bridge in Cottonwood Falls • Symphony in the Flint Hills Signature Event • Folklife Festival in Cottonwood Falls on the Chase County Courthouse lawn • Chase County High School Alumni Association Weekend, Cottonwood Falls

WE ARE HERE TO HELP Friday Food Program

Provides food to all Chase County students three Fridays per month. (this is a need-based program for students)

Open Pantry

All Chase County residents are welcome to take from the pantry (quantity limited and must show proof of being a Chase County resident.)

Good Samaritan Fund

If you have recently fallen on hard times and need financial assistance, we can help.

Volunteers

We are always accepting volunteers and organizations to donate their time to help pack food for the Friday Food Program, help distribute on Saturdays, and assist in other jobs in and around the pantry.

Donations

We graciously accept the following items: nutritional foods, fruits, natural juices, canned meats, canned tuna, shelf stable milk and other foods, laundry detergents, soaps, general hygiene products, and much more.

418 Cottonwood St. | Strong City, KS | 620-412-3015 | Facebook@C4FoodPantry

Specializing in Rural properties & small town living

all across the State of Kansas Office: 305 Broadway, Cottonwood Falls, KS

(620) 273-6421

Rick Griffin, Broker • Cell (620) 343-0473 Nancy Griffin, Associate Broker • 620-343-5212 Chuck Maggard Sales & Auctioneer • 620-794-8824 Heidi Maggard • 620-794-8813 GriffinRealEstateAuction.com

SHOP LOCAL. EAT LOCAL. SPEND LOCAL. ENJOY LOCAL.

chasecountychamber.org 318 BROADWAY | COTTONWOOD FALLS , KS | 620-273-8469