Ogglies of Oakley

Between Colorado and Kansas, there were so many signs for the spectacular farmyard oddities that could be found in captivity at Prairie Dog Town.  Flags and hand constructed signs of yellow and red advertised for miles ahead: A too-many-footed steer, a goat cyclops, etc.

Well, those signs led to bigger signs with more flags - and Prairie Dog Town, at last we meet.  The lot was full of cars and kids.  David inquired inside the wooden front as to what all the fuss was about, but at $9 per ticket, we decided we could imagine for miles ahead any livestock mutation we’d rather see.  Besides, it was the middle of the afternoon and we had been on too many history walks in Burlington, CO to get us to Lawrence, KS by a decent hour.

Despite our determination to stay focused, billboards for living history enticed us from the roadside.  After all, there was nothing but rolling hills and farmland for miles.  From Civil War museums to notable birthplaces, and the Eight Wonders of Kansas sanctioned by the bureau of tourism, we resisted long enough before turning off the interstate in Northwest Kansas.  A few miles from the main road in Oakley, and over a rolling hill or two, we had to choose between seeing the Fick Fossil Museum or a Buffalo Bill statue, while Monument Rocks lay 20 miles away.   Our mutual interest in cretaceous chalk fossils of the inland sea was bunked by our relative proximity to the statue.  When we followed the signs to a little log cabin, a path paved into a small hill led us here. 

The impressive bronze statue by artist Charlie Norton is one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas, but more importantly, the statue spoke to our mutual childhood fascination for Victorian show cowboys.  Before Bill Cody was a showman, he made his wage hunting buffalo to feed track layers who were building the Kansas Pacific Railroad.  In a day-long contest with Bill Comstock, Bill Cody brought down the most buffalo, earning him the title “Buffalo Bill.” According to his autobiography, the contest happened in Logan County, where the city of Oakley now firmly advertises itself as the “birthplace of a legend.”  In the detailed statue, Buffalo Bill is depicted wielding his Springfield buffalo hunting rifle “Lucretia” while riding his mustang “Brigham.”  The statue weighs 9,000 pounds.

We really enjoyed the scale and dynamism of this sculpture and the artist's skillful attention to detail.  We decided to take “Little Red (Ryder)” out from our trunk to meet Lucretia for some cowboy pictures.

A cameo by Annie Oakley and a stop in the log cabin for Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill postcards completed our fun in Oakley, KS.  Prospective log cabin owners take note: The city of Oakley is renting this cabin as a temporary visitor's center and gift shop while a new visitor's center is constructed nearby.  The interior of this cabin is warm and woodsy, with a large kitchen and a lofted bedroom.  The owner currently has this lovely home on the market for a private residence, however you would have to supply the land to place it on.  Cozy as the cabin is, the shopkeeper seemed doubtful that the owner would recover his investment on the property.

For our late afternoon Kansas pit stop, we found what we think might be the most homespun McDonalds in the entire country.  On our journey so far, we’ve seen many a McDonalds, from cramped to contemporary.  This franchise in Hays, KS completed our western fantasy, and is the ultimate in roadside McDonalds decor.

 

American quilts, country curtains, and iron skillets - Neither of which are used to produce a child's happy meal.

Gingham booths, hearth, and an enamel coffee pot make you feel right at home.  The framed picture informs you just where you should think you are.

American quilts, country curtains, and iron skillets - Neither of which are used to produce a child's happy meal.

Doilies by the door remind you that you are home sweet home in Hays, KS.