small town charm big time fun! www.haysUSA.net • 800.569.4505 HaysCVBVisitorGuideCover2.indd 1 12/3/12 12:40:54 PM Welcome to Hays We invite you to experience the many opportunities that our charming community has to offer. You’ll enjoy our small town friendliness whether you come to Hays for a family vacation, business trip, sporting event, shopping or just passing through. We are proud of our colorful history as a wild frontier town and we encourage you to explore our city so you can find out for yourself “Where history walked the streets.” Many of the interesting and historic places to visit are free or charge only a small admission fee. Be sure to visit our unique museums and tourist attractions to learn about our military past and Volga German heritage. Discover the scenic beauty and natural history of western Kansas with an outing to Frontier Park, the Hays F.E.E.T. trails and the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. The past comes alive everyday in Hays! Table of contents Agricultural attractions ...........4-5 Art galleries.............................6-9 Chestnut Street District .......10-11 Churches ..................................14 Community profile .....................3 Community services .................14 Downtown Hays ..................12-13 Events and festivals .................32 Fishing .....................................15 Frontier history ....................18-19 call for informaiton German Heritage .................20-21 Hunting ....................................15 1-800-569-4505 Lodging ....................................22 or visit Map ....................................16-17 Military history .........................23 www.haysusa.net Natural history .........................24 Parks ........................................25 Racing ......................................26 Recreation ................................26 Restaurants ..............................27 Rodeo.......................................27 Schools - Education ..................28 Shopping ..................................29 Sports .................................30-31 Transportation ..........................32 Photo credits: Blue Sky Miniature Horse Farm, Bruce Burkholder, Crossroads Photography, C.S. Post & Co., Dickinson Ranch, Ellis County Historical Society Museum, Ellis County Fair Association, FHSU CTELT, Gary Hobelmann, Hays Recreation Center, Steve Hausler, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, KSU Ag Research Center, Lazy H Kansas Ranch, Liberty Group, Ricky Miller, North Central Kansas Technical College, Charlie Riedel, Ruben Schuckman, Dave Wasinger, Mitch Weber, Bob Wilhelm, USD 489 Disclaimer: The information contained in this brochure was prepared as accurately as possible at the time of printing. The Hays CVB is not responsible for information that is incorrectly supplied to our office, omissions or changes made after the printing of the brochure. This publication does not constitute a contract with the Hays CVB and any person. Business listings or contact information contained in this brochure does not imply a referral or recommendation by the Hays CVB. We suggest calling in advance or visiting our website to verify current information. 1-800-569-4505 www.haysusa.net 2 Wild Frontier Town Hays City was founded in August of 1867 as the Union Pacific Railway Eastern Division worked its way west. The town was named after Fort Hays, the army’s military post, which was located south of Big Creek. The United States Army established Fort Hays (founded in 1865 as Fort Fletcher, renamed Fort Hays in 1866) to provide protection for settlers and railroad workers from Indian resistance. Fort Hays was named in honor of General Alexander Hays, who was a Union general, and had been killed during the Civil War in1864 at the Battle of the Wilderness. Because many of the first citizens of the rapidly growing town were railroad workers, desperados and other notorious characters, the early days of Hays City were wild and dangerous. The soldiers from nearby Fort Hays also created a rowdy atmosphere when they came to town because many of the first businesses in Hays City were saloons, brothels, gambling houses, dance halls or other liquor establishments. Skirmishes with some of the local “rough” citizens and the soldiers only added to the reputation as a lawless and tough “end of the tracks” town. During several months of 1869 James Butler Hickok served as the acting sheriff after several incidents prompted the citizens to form a vigilante committee. “Wild Bill” Hickok, as he became known, apparently was not elected, but served at the will of the vigilante committee. The vigilante period from July of 1868 to December of 1869 was marked by 15 homicides. The lawlessness, bloodshed and feuds that occurred during the time when General George A. Custer and his wife were encamped near Fort Hays prompted Elizabeth Custer to comment, “There was enough desperate history in that little town in one summer to make a whole library of dime novels.” Between August of 1867 and 1873, there were over 30 murders in and around Hays City. The reputation as one of the most violent towns on the Kansas frontier quickly spread. Many of the buildings from Hays City’s wild past are gone, but today visitors can step back in time and relive the history of downtown Hays through a self guided walking tour. Twenty-five bronze plaques mark the route of where the famous and other notorious characters lived and walked the streets of old Hays City. community profile Founded in 1867 • Hays population – 20,510 Ellis County population – 28,452 Climate – Four distinct seasons with mild and sunny days spring through fall. Average temperature: 53.4 Average summer high tempature: 89.4 Average winter tempature: 30.1 Average annual precipitation: 22.63” Average annual snowfall: 19.48” Altitude - 2004.6 feet above sea level GPS Coordinates Latitude 38‘- 52 minutes 34 seconds Longitude 99‘ - 19 minutes 41 seconds 3 Agricultural Attractions Blue Sky Miniature Horse Farm Located north of Hays Hays address: 1710 Canterbury Dr. Hays, KS 67601 • 785-625-6725 Hours: Tours by appointment only Admission: Call for fee information. www.blueskyhorses.com Learn about this Arabian type horse that is only 26-34” tall. Owners Donna and Marion Schmidt provide tours about the history, grooming, training, and showing of these award winning miniature horses. Fairview Farms Alpacas Located Southwest of Hays Hays address: 1811 E. 26th Hays, KS 67601 • 785-628-6352 [email protected] www.fairviewfarmsalpacas.com Hours: By appointment only Admission: $4.00/Adults $2.00/Children 2-12 yrs. Discover the lost art of hand spinning and take an educational look into the life of alpacas. A guided tour will allow you to experience the fineness of the Alpacas fleece and if you desire you are welcome to participate in farm chores. You will meet these show animals that have brought home many first place ribbons and learn about the intricacy and precision involved with showing these animals in national competitions. Learn about the history of the farm, explore the old barns and see the current renovations on the farmhouse. Farmers Market 27th & Vine St. Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings June through October Admission: Free Local farmers and gardeners sell a variety of fresh vegetables, fruit, farm products and baked goods. 4 Fort Hays State University Farm West Hwy. 183 Alt. • Hays, KS 67601 785-628-4196 • fax: 785-628-4183 Hours: M-F 8 am-4 pm Guided tours available by appointment. Admission: Free www.fhsu.edu/agriculture The 3,800-acre farm is used as a hands- on instructional laboratory for the FHSU Department of Agriculture. Operations include cow-calf beef production, dryland crop production, dairy cattle production, farrow-to-finish swine production, and sheep production. Fresh Produce Market 2900 Broadway • Hays, KS 67601 785-625-7316 • Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings June through October. Admission: Free The Fresh Produce Market takes pride in providing locally grown fresh farm and orchard produce including vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, baked goods, eggs, honey, jams, jellies or other farm products. KSU Agricultural Research Center 1232 240th Ave • Hays, KS 67601 785-625-3425 • fax: 785-623-4369 www.wkarc.org • Hours: M-F 8 am-5 pm Admission: Free - Group tours available by appointment. This agricultural research center comprises several thousand acres of crop and rangeland, a greenhouse, modern feed mill, headquarters buildings, and a cattle feedlot with 900-head capacity. Lazy H Kansas Ranch 747 240th Ave Hays, KS 67601 • 785-625-4650 fax: 785-625-4850 Hours: Free guided tours available by appointment www.lhrbulls.com/LHRHome.html Lazy H is a top breeding ranch for purebred Angus cattle. An Embryo Transplant Program enables the breeding program to utilize the best genetics available in the Angus breed. 5 Art711 Studio 711 Main St. Hays, KS 67601 • 785-625-4895 Hours: Varies - Free tours www.strecker-nelsongallery.com On display are paintings, drawings, lithographs and etchings of nationally known local artist Michael Jilg. A past Governors Visual Artist, Michael has honored his profession with 200 exhibitions and representations in museum collections in the U.S., England and Asia. Artist’s at Work Studio 717 Main St. Hays, KS 67601 • 785-650-3998 [email protected] Hours: Varies Admission: Free This unique artists’ studio is shared by seven women who work with various media such as monoprinting, acrylic and oil, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, collage and fiber. Bruce Burkholder