Chase County Attractions
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve - Located just two miles north of Strong City, the preserve offers year-round a self-guided tour of the historic ranch headquarters, a short introductory video, several hiking trails, a junior ranger program, and a bookstore/giftshop. Guided activities include tours of the historic 1881 limestone ranch house, bus tours of the prairie, living history demonstrations, and nature hikes. The one-room limestone schoolhouse sits atop a hill just north of the historic ranch headquarters. Check at www.nps.gov/tapr or call the preserve at (620)273-8494 for a schedule of activities. The visitor center is open from 9am to 4:30pm daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's day).
Chase County Courthouse - Located in Cottonwood Falls, this courthouse is the oldest operating courthouse in Kansas and has been named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Architecture. Completed in 1873 in the French Renaissance Chateau of Louis XIII style of architecture it is one of the most recognizable buildings in Kansas. Built of native limestone quarried nearby the courthouse features a three-story spiral staircase with railings hand-cut from black walnut trees from along the banks of the Cottonwood River just three blocks away.
Visitors are welcome! Guided tours are available on weekends 12-4 p.m. and by appointment on weekdays. $4/person, 12 and under free. Reservations are strongly recommended. To schedule your tour, please contact the Chase County Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-431-6344 or chasechamber@sbcglobal.net.
Flint Hills Scenic Byway - A beautiful drive stretching 47 miles through the heart of the Flint Hills from Council Grove to Cassoday. Gateway to the tallgrass prairie, the Flint Hills Scenic Byway offers travelers an unchanged view of the grasslands of the Great Plains. Explore historic sites, quaint towns, and scenic vistas as you discover where the West truly begins.
Pioneer Bluffs Foundation, 695 KS Hwy 177, Matfield Green, 620.753.3484
Pioneer Bluffs, the historic headquarters of Pioneer Bluffs Ranch, is a twelve acre property located in the Valley of the South Fork of the Cottonwood River just north of Matfield Green, Kansas (pop. 68). Pioneer Bluffs is at the center of the Flint Hills – the largest expanse of untilled tallgrass prairie in North America.
Each spring there is a gathering, a coming together of art, nature and the kindred souls who appreciate them both. For one evening, the meadowlark’s song is joined by a Symphony in the Flint Hills.
Before the plow tilled the surrounding lands, before train track split the endless sea of green, native grasses stood as high as a man’s chest on the tallgrass prairie. Here, where vast limestone and flint deposits made tilling impractical, the largest portion of virgin tallgrass prairie remains intact in the Kansas Flint Hills. This is where we gather.
Camp Wood YMCA - Since 1916 Camp Wood YMCA has been providing high-quality camping programs in a caring family environment in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas. We provide a safe experience that fosters healthy decision making, lasting friendships, learning new skills and strengthening values. There are many friendships and special memories to be made. Join us and become a part of the Camp Wood YMCA Family.