Cimmaron, Kansas 5-7 to 5-12 and Hays, Kansas 5-14 to 5-15

Cimarron is a short trip to Dodge, City.  Amazing to think that Dodge City, Kansas was actually part of the Louisiana purchase!!  First stop was at the Visitor's Center, bottom right photo.

High on the list of things to do was a visit to the Boot Hill Museum.  It is located on the original site of the Boot Hill Cemetery. It's called boot hill because they were buried with their boots on. We were quite impressed.  The wall hangings actually talked to you about some of the things that were going on during the heyday of Dodge City.

One of the most impressive displays was the panorama video of a buffalo stampede.  While you watch the buffalo coming straight at you the ground vibrates as if they were actually stampeding!!  Some of the fun facts about Buffalo were extremely interesting!!  

The stage coach rules were pretty interesting.  We really enjoyed the display of the period clothing.  The outside area has a regular main street of buildings.

It just wouldn't be Dodge City without a visit to "The Longbranch Saloon."  You can actually buy a drink here.

There is a Historic Trolley Tour but it didn't start yet so we took our own tour.  The highlights of the tour were the sculptures.  Top center is the newest, James Arness as Matt Dillon.  It stands 6'7" exactly the height of James Arness.  Bottom right is Doc Holliday, and second in from bottom left is Wyatt Earp.  Salsa Man, top right, is a 26 foot tall sculpture created by Dennis Hopper who acted in Gunsmoke.  The cowboy, bottom left, was sculpted in 1927 to commemorate the Dodge City cowboy era.

We stopped at Central Station for some tasty empanadas.  I haven't had any as good since Regina, who cooked for us in Venezuela, made them.  We added chips and spinach artichoke dip and some Tortilla soup.  It was great.

We played at Buffalo Dunes in Garden City, Kansas.  We loved the tee markers and the spectator stands at the end of this hole!  They were for tournaments like the Southwest Kansas Pro-Am.

Only in Kansas do we see an RV with hay stacked around it for insulation.  Add to that this view out our window of mares with their babies.

We went to one of the few local restaurants in Cimarron, The Cimarron Trading Post.  I have never tasted a Kansas favorite called Chicken Fried Steak.  This was one order that we split. It was still too much and we took home enough for another meal!!  But if you're in Kansas you know that "there's no place like home."

Next stop is Hays, Kansas

This incredible 35 by 60 foot mural features images of Volga-German farmers, Historic Fort Hays, Boot Hill, a bison and FHSU.  Hays is a beautiful city!  That is Fort Hays in the bottom right.

This bison herd began in 1952 with a bull named "Wild Bill" and a cow named "Calamity Jane."  The herd lives on 9.5 acres of land and is maintained by the City of Hays.  In 2017, a rare white bison joined the herd.

We had great fun at the Paisley Pear restaurant. We tried bierocks.  Its hamburger and cabbage cooked in a bun.  We added a wine flight and a cheese plate.  We topped it off with a peach wine slushy and strawberry rhubarb pie.

It just so happens that Historic Fort Hays is located right by the Fort Hays golf course.  The course is situated right beside it!!

It was graduation weekend at Fort Hays State University but we were lucky to get into Gella's Restaurant.  Had to order the Brewben Sandwich.  It was fantastic!!

That's it for Hays, Kansas.  Now we are off to Kearney, Nebraska.