2006 Schedule of Events

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Strong City, Kansas

Location: The preserve headquarters is located:

• 2 miles north of Strong City on Kansas State

 Highway 177 (the Flint Hills Scenic Byway)

• 18 miles west of Emporia

• 16 miles south of Council Grove

• 85 miles northeast of Wichita

Hours: The historic ranch headquarters is open daily

(except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New

Year’s Day) from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Brochures and a 10-minute site orientation video are

available in the barn (May – October) and on the back

porch of the house (November – April).

A self-guided tour of the historic ranch headquarters is

available daily between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. A brochure

and wayside exhibits tell the story of Stephen F. Jones, who

owned the ranch from 1878 to 1888.

The bookstore/gift shop in the ranch house is open daily

from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors may purchase books for

children and adults, prints, postcards, educational and

hand-crafted gift items, natural objects, and items related

to local culture.

While in Chase County, make time to visit the towns of

Strong City and Cottonwood Falls. Steeped in prairie

history, these scenic communities will take you back in

time. They offer dining, shopping, and much more.

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Rt. 1 Box 14 Hwy 177, Strong City, KS 66869

Telephone: 620–273–8494 Fax: 620–273–8950

Email: tapr_interpretation@nps.gov

Website: www.nps.gov/tapr

National Park Service mailing address:

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

P.O. Box 585, Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845

Kansas Park Trust Telephone: 620-273-8139

The Nature Conservancy www.nature.org/kansas

 Preserve Hiking Trails

The Southwind Nature Trail – A 1 3/4- m ile hiking

trail through the tallgrass prairie, passing by the

Lower Fox Creek School. Scenic overlook areas.

The Bottomland Trail – A 1/2 or 3/4- m ile loop

through bottomland prairie along Fox Creek. Wayside

exhibits and information kiosk tell the story of the

prairie restoration and cultural history . The trail is

wheelchair accessible and offers a comfort station.

Frontcountry Nature Trails

The preserve’s frontcountry nature trails are open yearround during daylight hours only. For visitor safety and

resource preservation, we ask that visitors stay on the

designated trails.

Backcountry Hiking Trails

The preserve’s backcountry hiking trails are open daily between

9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from the last Saturday in April through

the last Sunday in October. From November through April,

trails are open on weekends (weather permitting). Permits are

required for the backcountry trails.

Red House Trail – A 6-mile hike through upland

prairie and natural drainage areas. This trail passes

through several historic ranching features, while giving

an intimate view of wetland prairie flowers and vegetation through a scenic grove of cottonwood trees.

3 Pasture Loop Trail – A 3.8-mile hike through

upland prairie. This trail winds along existing ranch

roads and a mowed path. From May through July,

cattle graze here as they have for the past century.

Scenic Overlook Trail – A 6.4-mile round-trip hike

along the bus tour route to the scenic overlook area.

Experience the beauty of native rolling prairie, as you

take in the wide-open vistas of 1,490 feet above sea level.

Natural

History

Programs

Living History

Activities

Special

Events
2006 Weekend Activities

Natural History Programs

May 27, 28, & 29 -Memorial Day Weekend - On

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. experience an authentic

horse-drawn haying and raking demonstration (weather

permitting) in the bottomland field.

Visit with living history interpreters

as they prepare the noon meal for

the harvesters or hear the clang of

the blacksmith throughout the day

as he demonstrates the art of

metallurgy.

On Sunday and Monday visit with living history characters

as they go about their daily ranching activities. Historic

children’s games at 2 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.

Refreshment served.

June 10 - Symphony in the Flint Hills

Enjoy a variety of natural and cultural history education

programs, prairie bus tours, house tours, nature trails, the

one-room school, and more throughout the day. Concert

begins at 6 p.m. For more information, visit the web at

www.symphonyintheflinthills.org.

June 24 & 25 - Historic Farming Equipment

Once a year the top floor of the barn is opened to exhibit

the historic farming machinery from the 1920s through

1940s.

July 1 & 2 - Independence Day at the Ranch

On Saturday, ride in a covered wagon and watch historic

cooking demonstrations. On Sunday visit with living

history interpreters going about their daily ranching

activities as they prepare for the holiday celebration.

Historic children’s games at 2 p.m. both Saturday and

Sunday. Refreshments served.

July 1 - Historic Barn Dance and Music

Old-fashioned barn dance and

historic live music beginning at

6 p.m. in the 1880s limestone

barn. Refreshments served.

September 2, 3, & 4 -

Labor Day Weekend

On Saturday, visit with the blacksmith throughout the day

as he demonstrates the art of metallurgy. Historic cooking

from 10 a.m. to noon. Listen to period music throughout

the day, while watching living history characters spin wool.

Living history activities throughout

the day on Sunday and Monday,

with historic children’s games at

2 p.m. Refreshments served.

September 30 - Volkswalk at the Preserve

Hike the backcountry trails at the preserve as part of a

community Volkwalk outing.

November 12 - Birthday Celebration

Special program celebrating the 10th anniversary of the

preserve at 1 p.m. Birthday cake and punch served at 2 p.m.

November 25 - Holiday Ranch House

In cooperation with the Chase County Holiday Homes

Tour the historic ranch headquarters are decorated with

natural objects and greenery representing an 1880s historic

setting. Listen to historic live music, while historically

dressed interpreters present holiday homes tours of the

house. Refreshments served on Saturday.

2006 Special Events at the Preserve

The preserve offers a variety of activities including guided tours of the 1881 ranch house, living history programs,

natural history programs, prairie bus tours, nature trails, and backcountry hiking trails.

The preserve is open daily from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

Cultural History Programs

Lower Fox Creek School -

Experience a one-room schoolhouse

on weekends from noon until 4 p.m. in

May, June, September, and October.

Visit with National Park Service volunteers about the

role the school played in the early days of education

on the prairie. The school is furnished with

McGuffey readers, slates, desks, maps, and

recitation bench.

Old-time Music & Wool Spinning -

On the 1st Saturday of each month

from June through October, listen to

live music while watching living

history characters spin wool into yarn.

Ranching Weekends - On holidays and the 1st and

3rd weekends of each month from

Memorial Day through October,

experience daily activities on a working

ranch as you visit with living history

interpreters. Special activities may

include historic cooking, music

programs, soap making, quilting,

crocheting, carpentry skills, roping

skills, gardening, saddling skills, and

blacksmithing.

Fox Creek Discovery Hike - At 10 a.m. (Sat and

Sun) on the 2nd and 4th weekends of each month

from June through October,

enjoy a one-hour ranger-led

hike along the stream bank of

Fox Creek. Other natural history

programs throughout the day.

Prairie Bus Tours – This 90-minute prairie tour is available

daily from from the last Saturday in April through the last

Sunday in October.

Bus tour times – 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.

$5.00 per adult, $3.00 age 5 –18 years, 4 and under free.

House Tours – Tours are conducted hourly from 9:30 a.m.

to 3:30 p.m. from May through October. House tour

schedules vary November through April.

Daily Activities