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Where The Buffalo (Used To) Roam

Cue the State Song of Kansas

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Were buffalo used to roam there is now the Glacial Hills Scenic Byway where no one roams anymore, just an occasional car with passengers who didn’t find anything better to do on a gloomy Sunday. Scenic Byway officially starts at Ft.Leavenworth, passes through Atchinson, twists and turns through Troy and stops right before the Nebraska border at White Cloud – a place still recovering from the housing bubble of 1929.
Where The Buffalo (Used To) Roam
White Cloud is home to the 4-State lookout – a place where you can see Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska at the same time.
Where The Buffalo (Used To) Roam
Panoramic view from the lookout can be seen here.
Miss Teen Kansas lives here (at least until 2010):
Where The Buffalo (Used To) Roam
White Cloud was voted the best place to dispose of a dead body:
Where The Buffalo (Used To) Roam
Just don’t forget to “dispose of all head and guts” and leave the work area clean for the next person.
Where The Buffalo (Used To) Roam
North of the White Cloud you will find an Indian Casino adorned by the symbols of past glory: Eagle Feathers, Eagle without feathers and an unfinished tipi:
Where The Buffalo (Used To) Roam
At the casino zombie-looking white people are sitting in the clouds of smoke, mistakenly hoping they can fool the Indians again. Instead, their money is financing the modern-day tipis.
Where The Buffalo (Used To) Roam
On the way back you can cross the river, drive past the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge,and return home via I-29.

Overall, this is a pretty nice weekend trip, but it will probably look more picturesque during the spring and summer months. There is a lot more to be seen in Atchinson and there is a 10-mile auto route around the Refuge.

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  • Melinda

    The Travel Channel says that Atchison is one of the most haunted cities in America…maybe because that’s where you get rid of the heads and guts.

  • http://averagejane.blogs.com Average Jane

    The really fun thing about White Cloud (and neighboring Sparks) is the flea markets that are held there in the spring and fall.

  • http://donna-justme.blogspot.com Donna W

    I have problems getting Cliff to go to Kansas, unless we’re going to visit his brother down near Coffeyville. He really HATES that state; I, on the other hand, like it just fine for a day trip. You’re right about things looking more picturesque in the spring. I don’t take a lot of outdoor pictures from the motorcycle this time of year; it’s all gray and somewhat depressing.

  • http://hipsubwg.blogspot.com Xavier Onassis

    White Cloud and the nearby town of Sparks are also home to a couple of the biggest flea markets you will ever see. One in the spring and one in the fall. It started in White Cloud. The Sparks started having one the same weekend to hijack all of the traffic that has to go past Sparks to get to White Cloud. These days, I think Sparks is winning. Their flea market is bigger and better. Be prepared to do a lot of walking, eat a lot of funnel cake, drink lemonade and wear sunscreen!

    • I travel for JOOLS

      I want to see how the reply button works so:

      XO, do you know when the spring flea market is?

  • midtown miscreant

    I want to go in that house. Great pictures MV!

  • I travel for JOOLS

    I think they need some stimulus money.

  • I travel for JOOLS

    Ok…so it puts the reply comment right under the original comment irrespective of time posted. Thanks.

  • http://hipsubwg.blogspot.com Xavier Onassis

    Jools,

    Spring Flea Market is April 30th, MAY – 1 – 2 & 3

    Fall Flea Market is September, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th.

  • http://hyperblogal.blogspot.com/ hyperblogal

    Very nice panorama. Actually looks like a fun trip… may do it myself as spring ripens.

  • http://kcmeesha.com m.v.

    Panorama has unbelievable level of detail. I wonder what kind of camera they used.

  • http://moxiemamakc.blogspot.com MoxieMamaKC

    That really does look like a fun trip. I love rural, rotting America. I actually am fascinated with small, tiny towns and the character they seem to have. There’s always something interesting. Nice work, Meesha!

  • http://hyperblogal.blogspot.com/ hyperblogal

    I’m thinking view camera, or medium format with multiples of pix.

  • Owen

    its hauntingly beautiful which I guess fits in with the whole actually being haunted thing.

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