See and Do

US National Cemetery #1 is located on the eastern outskirts of the city, midway between Fort Leavenworth, KS and Fort Gibson, OK, Fort Scott was established in 1842 and named for Lieutenant General Winfield Scott, then general-in-chief of the U.S. Army. The fort’s purpose was to maintain a three-way peace among the Native American tribes forcibly relocated from the East, local tribes, and incoming settlers. By 1853, the boundaries of the frontier had moved farther west and the need for a military garrison at Fort Scott decreased. In 1855, the government abandoned the post. In the early days of the fort, the Army established a cemetery on the west side of town to accommodate the burial of soldiers who died while stationed at the garrison. Two decades later, in 1861, the town officers and citizens of Fort Scott purchased approximately four acres southeast of the old post for use as a community burying ground. Since it was controlled by the Presbyterian Church, it was known as the Presbyterian Graveyard. On November 15, 1862, the Presbyterian Graveyard and an adjoining tract owned by the Town Company were designated Fort Scott National Cemetery. Fort Scott National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Also, join us here for our Veterans Day Ceremony on Veterans Day in the City of Fort Scott.

Fort Scott was made for lovers! Discover historic brick streets, unique boutiques, and amazing eateries in the Downtown Historic District. There are almost twenty locally owned restaurants in Fort Scott plus many interesting retail shops. Maybe you’d like to take a pottery or painting class, or take a historic trolley tour? You can do it in Fort Scott! Outdoor adventures? We have those! Explore Rock Creek Lake Waterfalls (on the NW side of the dam) or the 30-foot-high Bourbon State Fishing Lake Waterfalls (north side of lake). Hike or bring your mountain bicycles to experience Gunn Park Trails which meander along the Marmaton River and through timbered forest. There are also a dozen “gravel grinding” loops around Fort Scott in Bourbon County, Kansas. We like to call them “Bourbon on the Rocks!” Find more info about those on https://gravelks.com. Have a picnic or play disc golf at Gunn Park, at over 155-acres it’s the largest municipal park in Kansas. Hit the links at Woodland Hills Golf Course, a top 10 Kansas municipal course three years in a row. There are many more outdoor activities in Fort Scott, Bourbon County, Kansas! Whether it’s strolling and shopping the historic district, experiencing a new activity together, or heading out on a trail, there’s something for every couple in Fort Scott.    

Gunn Park, the state’s largest municipal park is a beautiful 155-acre recreation area that features seven shelter houses, two lakes for fishing and multiple playground areas! Camping Sites First come, first served for camping sites. No reservations. There are 10 camping sites available with electricity and water. All spots are 50 amp, with water hookups. Primitive tent camping is also available. RV campsites are $20/ night. Tent campsites are $5. Payment drop box is on the premises. Maximum stay is 14 days. Additional Camping sites Bourbon County Fairgrounds                                                                                                                                                                                                  2102 Huntington Blvd, Fort Scott (across from Fort Scott Community College) Electric hookup is $20 per night/per unit There are 93 outlets total (11 50-amp., 62 30-amp., 20 20-amp. outlets) Free RV dump station. Water is available on the grounds 2 on-site buildings available for rent, one with full kitchen facilities Disc Golf The Gunn Park Disc Golf Course is an 18-hole mix of wooded areas and open fairways featuring Mach III targets. The course is challenging and fun to play. The Gunn Park Open Tournament normally happens twice each year, in April and September. Another smaller disc golf course is located at the Fort Scott Middle School. Fishing Two fishing lakes available at Gunn Park From October 15th to April 15th, Fern Lake is stocked with trout. A Kansas fishing license and a trout license is required Fishing Permit – A State of Kansas fishing license is required for anyone over the age of 16 years old. Playgrounds There are several playground areas located throughout the park with updated equipment. Trails Approximately, 6.5 miles of single track, mountain bike trails have been added in the timber, and along the Marmaton River. These trails provide adventure and exercise for mountain bike riders, trail runners as well as hikers. Shelter Houses Gunn Park has 7 shelter houses, 4 are enclosed shelters and 3 are open shelters. Shelters can be reserved at City Hall. History June 3, 1910 – WC. Gunn gives Fern Lake and the Stewart Farm to the City of Fort Scott for a park. The first shelter house of stone was built in 1910 on the first lake (Fern Lake). There was a large wood theater building on the other side of Fern Lake with a seating capacity of 800. During special events such as July 4th, the street cars would take as many as 10,000 people to the park in one day.

A first class park for skateboarders. Perfect for beginners through expert!

Nestled in a lush, heavily wooded, and rural setting teaming with wildlife, the 352-acre Fort Scott Lake provides residential living as well as public boat loading ramps for fishermen and water-skiers with restricted areas for all three. Features: Lake Fort Scott features lakeside campsite areas, shelter houses, and picnic areas available to residents and visitors. The lake is also the site of annual sailboat regattas for the Fort Scott Sailing Club and serves as a reservoir for city and rural water systems. Fishing: The lake provides many hours of recreation for anglers and is stocked annually with: Blue Gill Channel Cat Crappie Muskie Small Mouth Bass Walleye

Fort Scott Historic Flood Tour Historic Tour Relive history as you enjoy a self-guided tour of Fort Scott’s historic flooding.  This information can be found on historic markers throughout the downtown historic district. Visitors Center – Flood of 1885 The 1885 flood is the first catastrophic flood recorded in Fort Scott’s history. The flood washed out the railroad tracks just east of the modern day Visitors Center, as seen in the photo. The Wichita and Pacific Railroad routes were abandoned, and Bell Town became a “Sea of Water” driving out residents with all of their possessions. Though the depth of standing water is unknown, children and even horses are said to have nearly drowned awaiting rescue. The water was so deep that many small houses tipped over. The losses in this flood were in the $1,000’s, with great damage to railroad tracks, local mills, brickyards, and homes. Skubitz Plaza – Flood of 1915 The flood of 1915 was described as the “flood of the century,” setting a then-record Marmaton River crest of 42.34 feet. A grocery store owner across from present-day Skubitz Plaza suffered a total loss, with standing water midway up the windows at nearly 5 feet high. Nearly 1,000 feet of the Frisco train line washed out and a Missouri Pacific passenger train was marooned. Mothers aboard the train, fearful of dying, tagged their children with their names and addresses in preparation for the worst. Later that night, all the passengers were rescued by boat. The photo shows part of the historic city and railroad lines during the 1915 flood. Hundreds were left homeless, and property damages exceeded $200,000. Riverfront Park – Flood of 1886 On October 3, 1986, after nearly 20 inches of rain in 3-days, the Marmaton River crested at 52.5 feet, breaking the previous record set in 1915. For perspective, at 42 feet, all roads into Bell Town are inaccessible. Across from modern-day Riverfront Park, water stood nearly waist deep, causing the Fort Scott Cattle Sales Company to release 250 head of cattle. These cattle swam in the water, and three ended up on the roof of the home in the photo. The local newspaper read, “The only way you can get out of Fort Scott is by boat.” Of the roughly 60 businesses damaged in the flood, only a few had flood insurance. The total estimated loss was $60 million. Riverfront Park Loop – Flood of 1931 While not much is known about the flood of 1931, local historians agree that it was one of Fort Scott’s “floods of the century.” As seen in the photo below the Marmaton River extended far beyond its banks into town. With more than 8 inches of rain in a 12 hour period the area before you was submerged with flood water. The children seen in the photo are standing in the very spot you are standing today. As you can tell, the lowground around you was flooded, with trains marooned on their tracks. This flooding resulted in the destruction of many buildings, homes and agriculture crops.    

As you explore the Historic Downtown District you’ll find streets lined with beautifully restored buildings and discover brick streets and quaint boutiques, plus art galleries and cozy restaurants. Flower planters and period streetlights adorn the thoroughfare. You can almost hear the “clip-clop” of horse hooves on the street from a day gone by. The buildings, many from the late 1800s and early 1900’s are beautifully preserved. The core of the historic district is over 9 blocks and features multiple architectural styles that include late Victorian, Italianate, Queen Anne, Romanesque, Renaissance, Century Revival, Beaux Arts, Classical Revival, Spanish Revival, and others from 1863 to 1959. Forty-two of these buildings were constructed before 1900. The downtown historic district was placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Today, the city of Fort Scott is the only significant town still in existence in Kansas that developed from a U.S. Army fort established before Kansas became a territory and a state.

Anderson Elk Ranch has over 25 years of experience raising elk. They operate two farms, one in Fort Scott, Kansas and the other in Morganville, Kansas.  They currently have a herd of around 100 elk. We have been raising elk since 1990 and are active in the Kansas Elk and Deer Association and the North American Elk Breeders Association. Ken Anderson currently sits on the NAEBA board of directors, along with other various committees. Anderson Elk Ranch utilizes Artificial Insemination to advance their herd with quality velvet production, high scoring bulls and large superior cows. They constantly seek the best genetics to find the perfect combinations for the herd. Come get up close to these large beasts, and maybe leave with a little taste of elk too!

Visit Freedom Farms and enjoy time touring the family owned farm.

Historic Downtown Fort Scott Walking Tour has many great places to experience! MILROSE BLOCK This corner block—known historically as the “Milrose Block”—is a representative example of early 20th-century commercial architecture in Fort Scott. Its storefronts once hosted local businesses that fueled downtown’s growth, and its masonry and design tie it to the era when Fort Scott embraced brick construction. MCDONALD HALL Once the home of commerce and community life, McDonald Hall is a two-story stone block that anchors Fort Scott’s downtown. As part of the National Historic Register district, it now houses The Kitchen Collective + Collaborative, a shared commercial kitchen, event space, and retail incubator. TREMONT HOTEL / SLEEP INN The Tremont Hotel closed its doors in 1910, and was later torn down. Now, more than 100 years later a new hotel stands in its place with a new trolley out front. Sadly not every piece of history can be saved, but in Fort Scott we continue to honor our past while embracing our future. FORT SCOTT BRICKS At the turn of the twentieth century, Fort Scott was home to three brick factories. These businesses produced 10,000 bricks weekly. Fort Scott bricks were used in the construction of the Indianapolis Speedway, the Panama Canal and many roads in Kansas, Missouri and Texas. Today you can see these bricks in over 14 miles of our city streets and many of our beautiful homes. THE MO, KS & TX RAILROAD FREIGHT DEPOT After the Civil War, Fort Scott was a premier city of the frontier, and one of the largest cities in eastern Kansas. On three different occasions, between 1870 and 1900, Fort Scott was in competition with Kansas City to become the largest railroad center west of the Mississippi. This is Fort Scott’s last remaining depot, originally built in 1870 near the Marmaton River, it was later moved from the floodplain to its current location in 1997. SCOTTISH RITE TEMPLE Erected in 1926, the Scottish Rite Temple was a fulcrum of fraternal and social life in Fort Scott, boasting an auditorium, dining hall, and impressive architectural details. Although the Valley of Fort Scott Scottish Rite no longer meets here, new restoration efforts are underway to revive this grand structure for future use. MEMORIAL HALL Dedicated to the “men and women who gave their lives serving our country in World War I,” Memorial Hall has stood as a civic landmark and gathering place. Its centennial was recently observed, and it continues to serve as a poignant reminder of local sacrifice and memory. FORT SCOTT LIBRARY In its present home since 1904, the Fort Scott Public Library is among Kansas’s original Carnegie libraries. Its establishment followed Eugene Ware’s 1891 donation and a citizen vote to found a free library. After a 2016–17 renovation, the library continues to serve as a modern hub for knowledge, community, and learning. THE COURTLAND HOTEL & SPA The Ohio Block/Hornaday-Howard Building was a former railroad hotel, turned historic inn, built in 1906. The original owner of the hotel placed a schooner ship on the roof after he fell in love with it during the annual Christmas Parade. Though the ship was eventually removed, the hotel still offers all the charm of the early 1900s. LIBERTY THEATRE The theatre once occupied what was originally built as a commercial structure,. In 1919 it opened for its first show as a single screen theater with a balcony. The Liberty has now been fully restored and is used for live entertainment and special events. THE LOWELL MILKEN CENTER FOR UNSUNG HEROES In 2005 a fire blazed through our historic downtown, destroying several century-old buildings. The Lowell Milken Center, which was previously located across the street was looking for a new facility, and this site became the perfect location for the growing museum. Now, more than 10 years later, people from all 50 states and 96 foreign countries have visited the Hall of Unsung Heroes.