Coats: Petrified Wood Rock Garden and Local History

Coats combines an unusual attraction with a local history that can be traced back over many decades. At the Petrified Wood Rock Garden, sandstone and petrified wood are arranged into arches, sculptures, and other forms. The town’s founding, its early institutions, and changes in public life offer further historical insights. If you enjoy connecting specific places with their history when you travel, you’ll find more here than just a single attraction.

The Petrified Wood Rock Garden

The garden’s distinctive theme lies in the combination of different forms and materials: sandstone and petrified wood appear as arches, sculptures, and other designs. This makes it possible to explore the site through its striking details, rather than just through a name or a general theme. If you’re interested in the effect of natural materials and designed forms, you can make the garden a focus of your trip to Coats.

Coats through the lens of its history

William A. Coats founded the town in 1887; Coats was named after him. The years that followed can also be traced through specific dates. The Coats State Bank was founded in 1902 with capital of $25,000. A publication issued in 1903 is titled “Short History of Coats, Kansas, and Cash Talks.” The Coats Courant began publication in 1905 and ceased publication in 1925. These details lead from the town’s founding through a bank and a publication to the end of the local newspaper.

Another early date to note is 1907, when the Coats Cemetery was first platted. In 1909, Coats was incorporated as a town within what is now the dissolved Grant Township. In 1910, Coats was a station on the Wichita-&-Englewood Division of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. A hauling, feed, and sales stable in Coats also advertised that it transported travelers to all parts of the county. Both are part of the town’s transportation history during that period. In 1968, the Coats schools were consolidated; students from the surrounding area then attended the public Skyline USD 438 school district west of Pratt.

Museums and Exhibits in the Area

Nearby, the Pratt County Historical Museum offers a look at the history of Pratt County and the surrounding region. The museum uses a 24,000-square-foot building for its exhibits. The nearby Pratt Education Center presents exhibits about native birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles of Kansas. The two sites have different focuses: regional history is central at one, while the other features the state’s wildlife. Check the current visitor information for both facilities before planning your visit.

To choose the focus of your trip, you can compare the garden and history of Coats with the regional history and natural history exhibits in the area. If you’re looking for a vacation rental as a base, this question can help you decide what mix of themes you want for your trip. You can then compare specific accommodations based on your personal requirements, without attributing unsupported accommodation features to the attractions.

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