Strong City Travel Guide

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  Cottonwood Street, the main traffic artery through Strong City, is KS-177, also known as the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway.This picturesque two- lane road offers an excellent opportunity for those who want to get off the beaten path and see a remnant of the vast tall... 

 Stephen-KarenConn Says:  The W. B. Strong Memorial Railroad Park is located in downtown Strong City, next to the railroad depot. Both the park and the town are named in honor of William Barstow (W. B.) Strong, general superintendent and later, president of the Santa Fe Railway System. It is a small... 

 etfromnc Says:  There was a time when the American prairie seemed to go on forever. Unfortunately, we seem to be trying to pave it all but if you want to see tallgrass prairie, you will probably have to go to Kansas. 95% of the tallgrass prairie left on the planet is in Kansas and the... 

 basstbn Says:  If time is limited, but you wish to get a closer view of the grasslands, walk the nature trail from the ranch house to the Prairie Outlook. From this vantage point, you get a splendid view of the virtually treeless land once thought to be worthless because the soil was to... 

 basstbn Says:  If you have the time, it is an interesting experience to take the inexpensive "tour" with one of the park rangers out into the prairie preserve. It's neat to be able see little more than green grass and cattle or bison for twenty miles or so in any direction. We learned so... 

 basstbn Says:  It takes a lot of barbed wire to fence this much ranch land. This ball of wire was discovered in the barn. Why in a ball? I don't know. 

 basstbn Says:  Stepping inside this school house made me feel old. After all, this is a historical exhibit, I remember schools just like this. I did not actually attend one, but my four cousins who lived on a farm in my home county did*. I visited there on several occasions. My mother... 

 basstbn Says:  It's easy to stand on this hilltop and envision girls with braided pigtails and long skirts and aprons hurrying to the limestone school building while the none-too-eager boys find more interesting things to do - flush a prairie chicken from its nest, or chase a jackrabbit or... 

 basstbn Says:  The picture of the barn shown here belies the fact that this barn is actually a three-story limestone structure. Because it is built into the side of a hill, making the lowest level out of sight from this angle, farm workers could move livestock, equipment, or hay and grain... 

 basstbn Says:  This was definitely not the typical Kansas rural home in 1881, nor would it be now. It was quite extravagent, and a ranger tour is full of interesting information and some surprises. 

 basstbn Says:  In the 1880's the ranch, then known as the Spring Hill Farm and Stock Ranch, was owned by wealthy Colorado cattleman, Stephen Jones. The impressive, showcase ranch house completed in 1881included innovative practical adaptations to this location and to life on the prairie.... 

 basstbn Says:  Look for this sign on Hwy 177 north of Strong City. It marks the entrance to the prairie preserve, formerly the Z-Bar Ranch. The preserve encompasses 10,894 acres, most of which is owned by a trust. Only 32 acres are owned by the federal government. 

 brdwtchr Says:  The Annual Flint Hills Rodeo is one of the best. It is held the first full weekend of June each year. Prizes total over $50,000 and cowboys and cowgirls from all over come to compete for the prize money. Along with the rodeo there is a parade and a dance held. Other smaller... 

 brdwtchr Says:  Lower Fox Creek School is located on the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. It is a one room school building of a kind that was common here before automobiles and busses made it easier for students to travel long distances to school. 

 brdwtchr Says:  On highway 50 east of strong city is this sign. It explains about the prairie grass lands of the area. On many highways in Kansas there are signs like this at points of historical interest. There are places to pull off the road and read them so you can learn more about... 

 brdwtchr Says:  This is the chicken coop of the Z-Bar ranch. It is the sturdiest chicken coop I have ever seen. You can see it and other lime stone buildings at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.