6 of the Quirkiest Towns in Kansas

Conjuring up the scenery of running through vast flowering fields swaying in the warm southern breeze, the Sunflower State is all that, boasting the world’s largest contiguous tall grass prairie! There are more river miles in Kansas than in any other state in the Great Plains area, and while storms uplift Dorothy's house, its small towns pack charm and quirk for young and old.

These unique characters, with attractions for every taste, offer "Small Town, Big Experience," like visiting OZ yourself in Wamego, also home to a resplendent town green and the beautiful Columbian Theatre from 1895 for live entertainment. Dive into the quirkiest towns in the state, from the haunted houses in Atchinson to rodent sculptures in Marysville.

Atchison

Atchison is a popular escape in the northeast of the state thanks to its unique history and mystery, all against the picturesque views of the Missouri River! "The most haunted town in Kansas," Atchison delights the young and old during Halloween with old buildings. Visitors can stop by some "haunted houses," like The Sallie House and the fantastic 1889 McInteer Villa, as well as mingle with friendly locals and paranormal enthusiasts during special tours and events, like the really cool mystery dinners and unique spiritual readings.

Once a popular transportation center that quickly settled and expanded, Atchison has been a favorite outdoor escape for city dwellers as far back as the late 1800s! Having prettified itself along the brick, cozy streets, the stunning Victorian homes delight the eye on a stroll or a trolley tour. Amelia Earhart One Acre Earth Portrait is just south, and don't miss the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum! Among various attractions, the Amelia Earhart Festival is brewing for July, while the Amelia-mania is an all-season quirk, like her grandfather-constructed childhood home from the 1860s. 

Dodge City

Named after Fort Dodge, Dodge City is an all-American city that raised hell back in the day! You can visit the famed fort nearby, the once-wild frontier of the town, looking all picturesque today, and learn about its veritable infamy with former colorful residents that moved into the area. From cowboys and gamblers to prostitutes and criminals, Wyatt Earp was here before dying in a gunfight at OK Corral, Arizona. The iconic location along the Santa Fe Trail attracts history and outdoor fans, while families and wannabe cowboys can't resist the town's Wild West facade under an old-timey charm, with fun attractions and exhibits at the Boot Hill Museum for historical bits.

Dodge City, the state's "wild child," even as a baby, was born in 1872 as the Old Western settlement, gaining "The Wickedest Little City in America" reputation in its early years! Visitors can discover the town's significant sites on a trolley tour, and the strollable Dodge City Downtown, with sites like the El Capitan cattle drive monument of a huge metal bull in the bright center amid shops for unique gifts and local eats. There is also the most popular Boot Hill Casino & Resort and top-rated Wright Park with your ultimate budget stay at its Dodge City KOA!

Lindsborg

Lindsborg is a tasty slice of Swedish culture in Kansas. The beautiful historic homes of various architectural styles, including Norwegian masterpieces, frame your wanderings while discovering the quirky, America's "Little Sweden." Proud of its heritage, with an influx of Swedish settlers in 1869, this beautiful little European-style community, one of the most Instagrammable places in Kansas, is a great make-believe vacation overseas! The small town also hosts many natural outlets like Meadowlark Trail North Trailhead by the beautiful Smoky Hill River brushing the south side of town.

Start your day at the megapopular Blacksmith Coffee Shop & Roastery near Lindsborg Sesquicentennial Memorial Plaza & Tree of Life/Järnkors at the heart of town and visit the top-rated Birger Sandzén Memorial Art Gallery. The Old Mill Museum reveals lifestyle from 1870 to 1910 with photos and exhibits, as well as several historical buildings like the staple from the World’s Fair in St. Louis in 1904, the Swedish Pavilion. With many year-round events, you will fall in love with the cute town's unique feel and pretty streets, all revved up during the biennial cultural celebration, the Svensk Hyllningsfest, celebrating Sweden.

Lucas

Home to only 400 friendly locals, Lucas bursts with quirky charm for a flavorful escape from the serious bustle of urbanity! "Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas" has been attracting artists and other creatives for over a century, creating and preserving beautiful folk art for an impressive collection today. This colorful town made of limestone offers family attractions with highlights like quirky art and a festival, which lets you experience the Scottish Highland Games, an art show, and a fun run. Leave room in your trunk for unique pieces and gifts, as there is no better place in the state to score masterpieces for your home and friends!

Lucas' highlight, S.P. Dinsmoor’s Garden of Eden, features a Post Rock limestone cabin that looks made out of log and cool sculptures around—a project by a retired Civil War veteran, S.P. Dinsmoor, with his earliest works from 1904. Visitors can explore Post Rock limestone buildings and linger at notable places like the Grassroots Arts Center for local folk art. There's also Bowl Plaza, a mosaic-decorated public restroom, which is "the 2nd best restroom in the USA." Meanwhile, the best time to visit Lucas is before Labor Day Weekend for the annual Adam's Apple Festival!

Marysville

The historic town along the aptly named sparkling Big Blue River, just south of the Nebraska border, offers an easy escape in northern Kansas, with attractions for every taste. From the oldest operational civilian post from 1854 to several history museums, it is home to the last original Pony Express Station, the first stop on the route, preserved as a museum! Right off the popular Highway 36, Marysville is more than a pit stop with plenty of dining options and homey stays for a night, but also a stately downtown and its Love From Marysville mural—worth sticking around for! Boasting eight famous trails overlapping here and connecting to the Nebraska trail network, visitors can hike through history along the California and Mormon Trails.

Now, where is the quirk, you ask? This thriving and beautiful town, the county seat of Marshall County, after all, loves rodents! Featuring over 30 large black squirrel sculptures, you can hunt for this uniquely decorated fauna, including patriotic, healthcare, and mosaic-themed, and face jail time if you dare hurt the town’s live mascot! Among the many family attractions, there are multiple parks, including a themed playground, a zero-entry swimming pool, and trails for hiking and biking. Take the stretch of the infamous Ponca Trail of Tears, in the footsteps of hundreds of Native Americans who walked several hundred miles from the town of Niobrara in Nebraska to their new reservation in Oklahoma.

Wamego

Wamego, based on collections of books by L. Frank Baum, as it appears to visitors, never fails to surprise and entertain along its real yellow brick sidewalks! The historical town from the 1800s, transports you to Oz at the museum, from the beginning of the movie at a display of Dorothy’s house landing in Oz, to the dark forest, past the wicked witch’s lair, and to meet the Wizard. There are also ruby slippers at the door, as well as over 2,000 memorabilia items at the Oz Museum, including replicas and real movie props.

You can have lunch next door at Toto’s TacOz with dishes named after characters and stop at the Oz Winery tasting room downtown, for award-winning wines. "Small Town. Big Experience," indeed, and for every other taste of visit, like the beautiful Columbian Theatre from 1895 offering live entertainment. Visitors can take the yellow brick road from downtown to the state's top-rated, lush 12-acre city park for recreation with its Dutch Mill, the Historic Museum, and Prairie Town Village. There's a pond shaped like a whale for a pretty photo, while 15 decorated Toto sculptures dotting the town offer a fun hunt!

Not just quirky but endlessly beautiful, the towns in Sunflower State are for every taste of fun, relaxation, and adventure. The small town with the Love From Marysville mural boasts being at the crossroads of eight beautiful trails that connect to the Nebraska trail network. So don't sit on it; click your heels to Kansas. Choose your favorite type of quirk for a fun getaway!

Aspire to visit Sweden in Lindsborg, a tiny town full of flavor, Dodge City, "The Wickedest Little City in America," or Amelia Earhart's birthplace in Atchison. These six towns celebrate festivals with picturesque river views and water pursuits, as well as resplendent arts!