Wabaunsee County: Scenic Byways, Lakes and Prairie

Wabaunsee County combines wide-open landscapes, water activities and a remarkable history. The county encompasses the physiographic regions of the Flint Hills Uplands, Glaciated Region and Osage Cuestas. As a result, you will encounter different landscape characteristics on a single trip – from the tallgrass prairie of the Kansas Flint Hills to striking rock formations and lakes. When choosing a vacation rental, it is therefore worthwhile to first determine your preferred focus: scenic byways, nature by the water, culture or historic discoveries.

Scenic Byways and the Flint Hills Landscape

The scenic byways listed for Wabaunsee County are Flint Hills and Native Stone. In particular, the Native Stone Scenic Byway provides clear guidance for a trip through the county: Along its east-west route, it passes through Eskridge, Alma and Wabaunsee. Mount Mitchell Heritage Prairie Park is also located along the Native Stone Scenic Byway, in the endangered tallgrass prairie of the Kansas Flint Hills. The park conveys impressions of the prairie, Flint Hills culture and the history of the nation's ongoing struggle for freedom.

Echo Cliff Park offers a different landscape character. There, 50-foot-high cliffs rise above Mission Creek, which flows along their base. The park is open from sunrise to sunset. Camping after dark is possible if you notify the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office beforehand. You should take such specific conditions into account when planning your excursions and choosing your accommodation.

Lakes, Activities and Days Outdoors

At Lake Wabaunsee, you can choose from fishing, boating, water skiing and sailing. Canoeing, kayaking and birdwatching are also possible there. For longer stays, there are RV and tent camping sites, as well as restrooms, water and picnic areas. The lake is therefore well suited as a main focus for trip planning in which water activities and time outdoors play an important role.

Fishing, kayaking, canoeing and family picnics are also possible at Alma City Lake. Those traveling with different interests can divide their days accordingly: One excursion can be devoted to the water, and another to a historic attraction or a scenic route. When searching for a vacation rental or vacation home, it makes sense to use your preferred itinerary, rather than just the name of the destination, as your guide.

History Between Trail, Church and Museum

Wabaunsee County played a role in the Underground Railroad. The Santa Fe Trail also once passed through Wilmington in the southeastern part of the county. From July 1944 to December 1945, Camp Number Five was located at Lake Wabaunsee, where German prisoners of war were housed. These historical topics add another dimension to a stay without requiring you to focus on a single era.

Completed in 1931, the Wabaunsee County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beecher Bible and Rifle Church was dedicated in May 1862. Services are held there on Sundays at 9:00 a.m.; the church welcomes everyone. The church's Homecoming continues to be celebrated on the last Sunday in August. For a museum visit, the Wabaunsee County Historical Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is closed on Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

Art, Sculptures and Special Visiting Hours

The Volland Foundation hosts art exhibitions and community programs in its gallery. There are also outdoor performances at the site called “the Ruin.” The Volland History, Nature, and Sculpture Trail and the M.T. Liggett Sculpture Park are open daily from sunrise to sunset. This makes it possible to include art, landscape and activity in a day's itinerary without focusing the trip exclusively on historic buildings or water activities.

Ag Heritage Park features museums and exhibitions about historic agricultural life. Visits are possible by prior appointment. Check this appointment requirement if the park is to be one of the fixed stops on your trip.

Wabaunsee County as a Starting Point for Planning Your Trip

Wabaunsee County's strength lies in combining different travel ideas: prairie and cliffs, water and camping, regional history and contemporary-oriented art offerings. Families can put together a varied stay from these themes, while travelers interested in culture can combine historic sites and museums with the landscapes of the Flint Hills. Choose your vacation rental to match the experience profile that is most important for your trip, and keep opening hours, appointment requirements and the special camping conditions in mind.

As another destination, you can include Paxico in your itinerary. Other destinations in the same navigation area are Wilson, Pratt County, Reno County, Finney, Johnson, Kearny County and Cowley County.

For the broader travel overview: Kansas.