Best place(s) to stay and see when visiting the Flint Hills? (Emporia: hotels, house)

[Amy Lynn322]

Hi. I have been absolutely in love with your beautiful Flint Hills area for years now - I'm not even sure how I learned about them. Probably a mention by a musician, but I haven't found any quotes from him about the Flint Hills. Soo..

Anyway - I'm just south in OKC so it's bizarre that I haven't been there yet, and am trying to make it happen (I have some physical disabilities. It's hard to get folks who actually drive to come stare at a prairie with me for some reason). So I just keep researching and my biggest problem, next to the whole getting there extravaganza is that there seem to be too many lovely places to stay! Not a terrible problem to have, really, but I do need to get a solid plan for a trip. I'd love to just come and stay a month or more, really.

I'm looking for reasonably priced places that aren't chain hotels. I mean, there's a Marriot down the street, so that wouldn't be very special ;-). I'd love and appreciate to know of some great historical places, places where the people who work there really love the Flint Hills - the land and the stories. I've been going through all the threads here and gave up after about 30 Help?? I'd also love to know anything you know about this beautiful place - where to do, stuff to not miss.

Thanks in advance - I appreciate it so much!

[Amy Lynn322]

...or if someone could help me find a thread about the Flint Hills, or something? Thank you again.

[averagejoe76]

Cottonwood falls has a B&B called Stonehouse.Cottonwood falls also has a old..
Courthouse thats kinda interesting.Check out this site... www.kansasflinthills.travel/

[Amy Lynn322]

Thank you so much - I appreciate it. I will check it out now!

[concrete it]

The only original pony express station is in marysville and that town also is the only place i have ever seen black squirls . ( they call it the black squirl city). Also need to check out the big hand dug well in westmoreland. It has some interesting history to it.

[Modron]

Camp Wood YMCA in Elmdale, Kansas on US 50. There's a particular overlook there that has an especially pretty view. A lot of the drive along US 50 is pretty. Council Grove is a neat little town. Most of the places I've seen in the Flint Hills have been along US 50 between Emporia and Newton.

Here's a Flint Hills website: Kansas - Flint Hills

[j_k_k]

There have got to be B&Bs in Cottonwood or Council Grove. At the very least there is probably at least one non-chain hotel left in Emporia.

[j_k_k]

One thing to do is see if there's any ranch rodeo going on at the rodeo grounds in Strong. If you aren't familiar, ranch rodeo is where actual outfits from the region compete in actual cowboying tasks that do not involve the nuts of a bull or horse being strapped up around the poor guy's ears, and the objective is swift quality work--if they are too rough, they get a no time, because in real cowboying there's no economic benefit at all from traumatizing the cattle.

[averagejoe76]

You might check out Hays House as well,(Council Grove)It supposed to be one of..
The oldest running Restaraunt's in the U.S.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by averagejoe76

You might check out Hays House as well,(Coucil Grove)It supposed to be one of..
The oldest running Restaraunt's in the U.S.

Hays House is great for real Kansas steaks, the kind we basically can't get where I live now. My aunt and uncle usually take me up to Council Grove at least once per visit because Hays House is so heart-and-soul Flint Hillsian.