See and Do

Fort Scott’s Woodland Hills Golf Course was named a Top 10 golf course in Kansas by Best Things Kansas, #6 in the entire state! Woodland Hills has also been named one of the best municipal courses in Kansas. Woodland Hills is an 18 hole park-style course, winding through beautiful scenery, with elevation changes and some of the best views in Bourbon County. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular, with our varied topography and manicured links!

  Shead Farm Homestead Shead Farms & Ranches is an open farm to the public (by reservation). They also host a bi-annual Homestead Festival in May at the farm where the public is invited to learn & explore and experience the Shead Farm to gather ideas on how to live a sustainable organic lifestyle. Find their Facebook page for dates and more information. Some things you might experience on the Shead Farm might include: Tour the “SheadStead” Gardens, Orchard, High Tunnel, Animals, Beekeeping, etc Q & A sessions concerning sustainable organic lifestyle Children’s Activities Can Include: Games, Petting Barn, Story Station, Photo Cut-outs, Milking and Butter Making, etc Visit the SheadStead Market / Fruit Store Fresh Produce picked as you order Veggie Powders (to add nutrient to any meal or dessert). Animals for sale: Peacocks, Turkeys, Chicks, Ducklings, Kittens Sign-up for homesteading classes (planting, harvesting, preserving, etc.) Groups and bus tours are welcome and coordinated through the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center or by contacting Shead Farms directly. www.sheadfarm.com www.facebook.com/SheadFarm  

Fort Scott National Historic Site History Sunday – Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Wednesday – Thursday: Closed Friday – Saturday: 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Fort Scott National Historic Site in the heart of historic downtown Fort Scott tells the story of America growing up. When the fort was established in 1842, the nation was still young and confined largely to the area east of the Mississippi River. Yet within a few years, Fort Scott’s soldiers became involved in events that would lead to tremendous spurts of growth and expansion. As the nation developed, tensions over slavery led to the conflict and turmoil of “Bleeding Kansas” and the Civil War. Fort Scott’s story takes you through these years of crisis and beyond to the time when the United States emerged as a united, transcontinental union. From 1842 to 1873, the buildings of Fort Scott stood witness to epic events that helped shape the country. In the years after the army left, the City of Fort Scott thrived and expanded. The old fort buidlings continued to serve as residences and commercial properties for many years. Eventually some were destroyed by fire, while others were torn down for new structures. In the 1950s a group of Fort Scott’s history-minded citizens, proud of their town’s military origins, argued for restoring the fort to its late 1840s appearance to attract visitors and commemorate its nationally significant story. Federal funding paved the way for the fort’s rebirth. Archaeological investigations determined the location of missing buildings. Structures not original were torn down, while most historic buildings and features were restored or reconstructed. In 1978 it became a national historic site. Today, Fort Scott’s buildings endure as memorials to the legacy of a young and vibrant America. Fort Scott National Historic Site commemorates the Civil War and how it shaped our country by presenting the Annual Spring Civil War Encampment!  NHS Events Calender

If you’d like to see Fort Scott’s Victorian charm first-hand, then take advantage of the Victorian Homes Driving Tour. On this self-directed tour, you will drive past 52 homes built between 1842-1919. Brochures available at Visitor Information Center.  

n 1997, a year after David Killion formed the Kansas City 4WD Association, he realized the growing need for recreation land in the Kansas City area. His search for a solution then began. Many options were explored including developing a relationship with land owners to be able to use their land for recreation, leasing land, and buying land. David’s research led him to a federal grant that was available through the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, for developing recreational trails. It was initially called the TEA 21 program and is more commonly know as the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). These monies are collected from a portion of gasoline taxes to provide opportunities to enhance existing parks and trail systems or develop new parks and trail systems. Generally the funds go to state and local parks. David was the first non-governmental Kansas entity to ever apply for this grant money. The grant is an 80% reimbursable grant. David was responsible for aligning up front financing and developing sponsorship. Many clubs and individuals put in many hours helping develop the park that made up our 20% match. David filed the application for the RTP Grant in 2001. Once David received the grant approval in December 2001, he then called together several outdoor enthusiasts to create the KANROCKS Recreation Association Board of Directors. At this point the planning and land search began. After two years of intense planning, developing strategy, and looking for the perfect piece of land, the group was able to obtain the land to develop Kansas Rocks Recreation Park in April 2003. The park opened to the public on August 2, 2003 and the Grand Opening was held on August 30, 2003 (Labor Day Weekend). We have a great trail system developed to include trails for beginning and experienced outdoor enthusiasts. Kanrocks is a 501(c)(3) not for profit business. The future of the park includes developing new trails and offering camping facilities. The usage fees for the park go toward maintenance, future development, improvements, and expansion. We hope you enjoy and support Kansas Rocks Recreation Park and adhere to pack-in/pack-out and tread lightly philosophies.

Our dairy farm has been in operation since the late 1940’s.  Cows have been milked off on on throughout those years but have been continuously milking since January of 1978. In the late 1940’s, William Edward and Florence Davis, moved to southeast Kansas.  They had lived in Hutchinson, Kansas, for many years and decided it was time for a move.  They chose a little spot near Hiattville.  They had six kids and transitioning from the town to the country was not an easy task.  The first dairy herd belonged to one of Ed’s daughters, Lola Mae.  She had married a gentleman from the Kingman area and they started out milking a registered Ayrshire herd.

Gunn Park Trails Gunn Park Trails is family friendly! The first half of this trail is winding, flat, or downhill riding which most kids with some off road experience would love!  Mountain Biking, Hiking, Camping Overview This trail is worth the drive and camp-out opportunity! The downhill section is great, the flowing flat area by the river is relaxing, the climbing and switchbacks will teach balance and skill…it’s a great all around trail providing enough challenge to keep experienced riders focused, while allowing the beginners to learn. Description Specific trail names come from the frontier era when Fort Scott played a role in the westward expansion, as well as the Civil War. Gunn Park Trails has been described as having two personalities, or themes, with fast flowy trails, as well as challenging bench cut areas. Although there are several trailheads throughout the park, most rides start on the Bleeding Kansas Trail (North Loop), at the trailhead adjacent to the main gate of the park, and proceed counter-clockwise through Little Big Horn (West Loop), to The Dragoon Slayer (South End), and end on Custers Last Stand (Exit Trail). The Bleeding Kansas Trail begins with bench cut trails, into the Marmaton River bottoms, where the trail becomes fast and flowy, running adjacent to the Marmaton River. Trail features include a few log climbs, gravity drops, small bridges, and scenic views of the river. Crossing the natural limestone overflow, takes you into The Little Big Horn Trail, where the fast, flowy theme continues into the most remote sections of the park. Keep your eyes open for the deer, turkeys, foxes, etc., that reside in these areas. The Little Big Horn exits into the park, adjacent to the river spillway. Follow the road south for approximately 150 yards before diving into The Dragoon Slayer. Named because of the climbing involved, this trail is not recommended for newbies. Trails features include a couple of bridges, slow narrow climbs, followed by a narrow, bench cut descent that will make your heart beat faster. The Dragoon Slayer flows immediately into Custers Last Stand, which is also the final section. This section includes the original set of rogue trails, with a couple of short downhills, creek crossings, as well as some climbing and descending switchbacks. The last climb will drop you in the parking lot. History & Background Gunn Park was gifted to the City of Fort Scott in 1910 by the W.F. Gunn Family. With two small lakes, seven shelter houses, a well maintained campground, 18-holes of disc golf, and most recently the addition of Gunn Park Trails, it is the pride of Fort Scott and the envy of most small towns. Gunn Park Trails were started in 2009 by a local citizen, bored with road riding, and without permission from the City, who decided to build and completed 1.5 miles of riding trails in the woods. After a year of working with the City for permission, a small group of volunteers completed the additional 5 miles in just over two years, and have since hosted numerous trail events, including the Marmaton Massacre/The 2015 Kansas State MTB Championship, as well as their annual Tri-Yak-A-Thon, where participants run 4 miles, kayak for 2.5 miles on the river, and ride 6.5 miles of trails, either solo or as a relay team. Learn more about Gunn Park

  67th ANNUAL PIONEER HARVEST FIESTA! See classic farm equipment and implements, demonstrations, classic tractor pulls, craft sales, quilt show and more. The event kicks off with a parade of antique, classic farm implements and more through Fort Scott’s historic downtown, Thursday, October 5th, 6 PM.  

We are a lavender agritourism farm, surrounded by wildflowers and prairie. We grow lavender and make and sell products using natural lavender oil and buds. We also host related events on our farm. We have a small retail store on-site and our products are also sold at the Hedgehog.INK Book Store in Downtown Fort Scott. The Lavender Patch is our small, family-owned Lavender farm in Southeast Kansas. Originally thought up in 2009, and started in 2012, our (Betsy & Davin Reichard) lavender farm has come a long way since then. Days, weeks, and even years of planning, then prepping, trial and error (some days more error than success), harvesting, and making has gone into our farm to get us to where we are now. In one way or another, family, extended family, friends, even other growers and entrepreneurs, have all helped create our Lavender Patch! Lavender bundles will be sold, picked by us, or you may pick your own! Enjoy a walk through the fields, relax amongst the plants, take in the aroma, and enjoy a unique outing at The Lavender Patch. Check out our Lavender Fest held in June!