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Things to do Close by the British Ranch...
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Should you want to explore the local history, do some antiquing or find some other form of entertainment, there are lots of options close by.
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The British Ranch, part of the family ranching operations of: Downey Ranch, Inc. Joe Carpenter & Barb Downey, Managing Partners 38703 Wabaunsee Rd. Wamego, KS 66547-8918 |
Manhattan -
The
"Little Apple" is the closest town (about 10 miles away) and home to
Kansas State University. This city of about 40,000 offers a nice mix of mid-size town
shopping, restaurants and conveniences. Manhattan has 3
golf courses: (Colbert Hills (public), Manhattan Country Club and Stagg Hill
(public),
shopping, several museums, cultural events (Arts in the Park held Friday
nights during the summer months is fun!), and K-State. The
About 15
minutes NE of the British Ranch is Wamego. The very vital main
street (Lincoln Ave./K-99) is home to the
Paxico - An
adorable little town east of the British Ranch. It is known for
it's many little antique stores. One proprietor specializes in
restoring old stoves of all sorts, from massive cast iron wood-burners to
1940's gas ranges.
- A beautiful, historic town 40 minutes to the south that is most famous for
being the last 'civilized' stop on the Santa Fe Trail before heading
into
Indian Territory. A clearly marked, self-guided tour of the
historic sites makes a great way to spend an afternoon followed
by a delicious dinner at the Hays House Restaurant. We went to
dinner one gorgeous fall evening and spent the after-dinner hour
enjoying a group of traditional Western musicians having a jam session
right there on the sidewalk downtown.
Abilene -
A
very famous "cow town" from the great cattle drive era, Abilene was also
the home of Dwight D.
Eisenhower, our nation’s 34th president. Abilene is located just 45
miles to the west on I-70. Make plans to visit the Eisenhower Center,
Visitor’s Center, Eisenhower Museum, Presidential Library, boyhood home
and “Place of Meditation,” the final resting place of Dwight D. and Mamie Eisenhower. For more information, contact the Abilene Convention
and Visitors Bureau at 800-569-5915 or visit
Only eight miles west
is the 'Home of the Big Red One' - Fort Riley. Founded in 1852, the Fort
Riley Army Post was originally established to protect settlers on the
Oregon and Santa Fe Trails. Many legendary and historic characters have
been associated with Fort Riley over the past century – Buffalo Bill
Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, General George Armstrong Custer, General George
S. Patton and General Lewis Armistead.
Custer
House – Guides welcome you to the beautifully restored Custer House.
Built of native limestone in 1854, during the initial building phase at
Fort Riley, these quarters stand as the only set of surviving officers’
quarters from the Fort’s early history. The Custer House is also
representative of frontier life on the Kansas prairie. The house is open
Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.,
Sunday 12-4 p.m. Building 24 on Sheridan Ave., 785-239-2737. Special
appointments may be arranged by calling 785-239-6727. 
Headquarters. The U.S. Cavalry Museum and 1st Infantry Division Museum
are housed in separate buildings on the historic Main Post.
Cavalry Museum hours are Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The 1st
Infantry Division Museum is open Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Both
are closed on major holidays.