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TravelAwaits

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7 Fantastic Things To Do Great Bend, Kansas

• Destinations
• United States

Situated in central Kansas, Great Bend sits where the Arkansas (pronounced Ar-KAN-zus) River takes a significant turn, hence Great Bend’s name. The town is about two hours from the middle of Kansas, so you’ll frequently hear people talking about “meeting in the middle.” The closest airport to Great Bend is Manhattan, Kansas, but the drives from the larger airports of Kansas City and Wichita make for excellent road trips.

Great Bend is an inexpensive, multigenerational family-friendly vacation. Many attractions are free, while others are under $5 per person. Photographers, birdwatchers, and hunters could spend at least half a day at Cheyenne Bottoms. History buffs will enjoy their time at Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village. If you happen to bring along the kiddos, a couple of hours at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo will be in order.

Here are seven fun things to do while you’re in Great Bend, Kansas.

Note: My visit to Great Bend was a hosted trip by Great Bend, Kansas. The opinions offered are based on my experience.

1. Tour The Kansas Wetlands Education Center And Cheyenne Bottoms

Kansas Wetlands Education Center features a panoramic view of the migration marsh. The viewer allows you to look outside and see the birds as they recharge before continuing their migration.

The Education Center offers many interactive exhibits. One of my favorites instructs about watersheds and topography using sand and a computer.

At 41,000 acres, Cheyenne Bottoms is the most extensive wetlands in the interior of the United States. Two times a year, migratory birds make their journey. Some fly distances from central Chile and Argentina to as far north as Alaska. The peak spring migration at Cheyenne Bottoms is from the last two weeks in April through the first week in May.

To get the best views, photographers should be sure to take their long lens and birdwatchers should bring their binoculars.

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center offers two types of guided van tours of Cheyenne Bottoms. One is a 30-minute general “Get to Know Cheyenne Bottoms Tour,” while the other is a 90-minute interpretive view of Cheyenne Bottoms focusing on bird and wildlife identification. While admission to Cheyenne Bottoms is free, a small charge applies to the guided van tours.

You can pick up brochures inside the entrance to the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to identify various birds. In addition, they lend binoculars to those wanting to get a closer look outside.

Pro Tip: Rattlesnakes are common in this area in the summer months, so use caution when walking outside. As the birds make their fall migration, they have replaced their breeding plumage from the spring with less colorful autumn feathers. Since the fall migration lasts a longer time, the number of birds present at any one time is fewer. If you’re deciding between visiting during the spring and autumn migration, weigh the pros and cons of each season.

2. Tour Barton County Historical Society Museum And Village

The Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village has a lot going on. It features various vignettes through the decades, from dental and medical offices to barber and beauty shops. Visitors can also view an old-time general store and a Victorian parlor. They have a significant textile collection that showcases wedding dresses, lacemaking, and quilts.

One room features over 300 dolls, some dating back to the 1850s.

Once you’ve taken in the museum, visit the village, which includes about a dozen authentically furnished period buildings that tell the story of the Great Bend area from the Paleo Period through World War II. You’ll find everything from a blacksmith’s shop to a more modern Lustron home. Lustrons were built from metal panels and were promoted as a modern development in post-World War II housing. Farm enthusiasts will also enjoy the antique tractor and agricultural implements exhibited in the Village.

The Santa Fe Trail starts in Missouri and goes through Kansas to Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico. The Barton County Historical Society Museum has also received a certificate from the National Park Service as an official Santa Fe Trail Interpretive Site. In addition, 2021 is the 200 th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail, so their interpretive information is something to investigate here too.

Pro Tip: Take time to view both the museum exhibits inside and the village outside.

3. Attend A Race At The Sunflower Rod And Custom Association (SRCA) Dragstrip

The SRCA Dragstrip was once a runway for training those who flew the B-29 bombers during World War II. In 1946, the military made the airfield surplus, and the City of Great Bend secured it. In 1955, the SCRA held the first National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Nationals. The first nationals started with 219 cars and 15,000 spectators. Today, it’s the longest straight-track dragstrip in the United States, where races run from May through September.

To discover more about the track’s story in Kansas and the United States, check out the exhibit at the Historical Society, where they maintain an assortment of memorabilia, memoirs, and artifacts.

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for convenient lodging, the Best Western Angus Inn is at the top of the list for those participating in races.

4. Have An Animal Encounter At The Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo

The Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo and Raptor Center features about 120 animals from approximately 80 species.

Some of the zoo family’s newest additions are the bison and capybaras. Binturongs, typically found in Southeast Asia, are small mammals that spend most of their time in the canopy of trees. But Poppy the binturong is probably the most unusual animal at the zoo. Poppy got her name from the popcorn smell that comes from a binturong’s scent glands.

The zoo staff offers two animal encounters, one with an opossum and another with a three-banded armadillo. The three-banded armadillo is a fun encounter because this is the only species that can roll itself into a complete ball for protection.

The zoo also runs a Raptor Rehabilitation Program. Rehabilitation refers to treating animals so they can return to the wild. The zoo has trained staff that cares for the injured raptors, where broken wings are the most common injury. After the veterinary team clears each raptor for more concentrated physical therapy, the staff prepares them for release.

Pro Tip: Entrance to the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo is free for everyone. The zoo has manual wheelchairs, motorized scooters, and wagons available for rental.

5. Shop Downtown

Downtown Great Bend has focused on making its shopping area special. My favorites include the Heart of Kansas Mercantile Store and Miss Pretty Pickles and Rosewood Wine Cellar . Both of these shops offer gifts made in Kansas, which will make them unique when you take a few home to your family so they can experience a bit of Kansas with you.

Pro Tip: If you need a quick lunch or a caffeine recharge while shopping downtown, stop in at RePerks, a locally-owned coffee shop that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you’re looking for a snack, they also have pastries. They also have a complete prime rib special for Saturday night dinners.

6. Tour Santas Around The World

While Santa’s journey around the world happens in a single night, he most likely has some help from Santas Around The World . Located in downtown Great Bend, local artisan Loretta Miller hand-crafted each of the 24 life-size Santas to represent the country’s unique Christmas traditions. The multi-cultural exhibit offers regular hours beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving, but visitors who observe Christmas in July need not be disappointed. Call for an appointment and you can see this exhibit any time of the year.

Pro Tip: Admission to this attraction is complimentary; however, they suggest a free-will donation.

7. Enjoy Dinner At Lizzie’s Cottage

Flavored Celebrations at Lizzie’s Cottage, a private restaurant, opens when owner Kat King has reservations. She doesn’t have a set menu. Instead, you call ahead, discuss what your party would like to eat, and she makes it happen. Everyone in the group eats the same meal; however, she does make accommodations for dietary restrictions. While a meal here requires some planning, it’s worth it. The meal we tried, a garlic Parmesan-crusted New York strip steak, Hasselback potatoes, and roasted asparagus, is the number one seller at Flavored Celebrations.

Pro Tip: Make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance.

If you’re planning a trip to Kansas, here are some other TravelAwaits articles to consider:

• Why You Should Discover Little Sweden In Lindsborg, Kansas
• 7 Fantastic Scenic Drives In Kansas
• 12 Best Things To Do During An Overnight Stay In Salina, Kansas

Amy Piper is a travel writer and publisher of Follow the Piper , a blog focusing on luxury travel and food experiences. Her passion for travel has taken her to 41 countries. Amy resides in Lansing, Michigan, and as a Michigan expert, she is currently writing the Michigan chapter in four anthologies about the Midwest.

Explore Great Bend

Great bend: a friendly town with several things to do.

We invite you to experience and explore the many opportunities that our charming community has to offer. Great Bend, a city of 15,000 warm people, is best known for the historic SRCA Dragstrip – home of the first NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Nationals, the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo and tons of history. Our friendly town offers a little bit of everything to explore.

Filled with history

Discover historic buildings with rich stories about the past of Great Bend at the Barton County Historical Society . Schedule a tour at the Kansas Wetlands Educational Center to discover the scenic byway. There are several exhibits and educational opportunities here. Other Great Bend museums include the Kansas Oil & Gas Museum , where you can learn about oil and gas production and manufacturing.

Roar of a zoo

Great Bend is proud to have the only free zoo between Kansas City and Denver. Here you can have up-close animal adventures by sling-shotting fruits and veggies to our grizzly bears or meet our owl Thurston, who can cluck like a chicken. It’s not just for the summer; the zoo is open during the cooler months as well. The Wetlands Waterpark is also a perfect family-friendly adventure, especially after a zoo visit.

More things to do 

Make sure to check out the Barton County Courthouse and the Veterans Memorial Park , Great Bend staples. If you’re looking for competition, axe throwing might be perfect at Hatchet Axtion . The Great Bend Expo Complex hosts many favorites such as the SRCA Drag Race and the Barton County Fair .

Our midsized Kansas town welcomes visitors with open arms and is ready to give you the best hospitality. If you are looking to experience more cities with an array of things to do, check out our blogs .

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Email at: [email protected], scktr po box 474 harper, ks 67058.

Home » Travel Guides » United States » Kansas (KS) » 15 Best Things to Do in Great Bend (Kansas)

15 Best Things to Do in Great Bend (Kansas)

Founded in 1871, Great Bend started out as a stop on the Santa Fe Trail, where the Arkansas River literally bends from northeast to east.

Buffalo hunting was a way of life in those early years, and once the Great Bend was connected to the railroad in 1872 it became a rowdy cowtown typical of Kansas settlements in the 1870s, before finding some peace once the cattle trade moved westward.

You can get a sense of those early days at the excellent Barton County Historical Society Museum and the preserved site of Fort Zarah just east of the city.

For today’s travelers, Great Bend is the gateway to a vast expanse of wetlands, encompassing the Cheyenne wildlife area and the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.

In spring and fall, millions of migrating shorebirds make a pit stop in these marshes, and it’s a sight that will live long in the memory.

1. Cheyenne Bottoms

The largest wetlands in the interior United States can be found just out of Great Bend to the northeast. Encompassing some 41,000 acres, this Ramsar site occupies a marshy natural basin that is skirted by natural bluffs rising as high as 100 feet.

Spring and fall is a special time at Cheyenne Bottoms, when around 600,000 shorebirds from as many as 40 different species, including terns and piping plovers, come to feed at these mudflats.

For wildlife lovers, this is a rare opportunity to see such a dazzling diversity of birdlife in one place. If you have to pick one time to come, make it between April and mid-May when there’s an especially high concentration of shorebirds with vivid breeding plumage.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks has produced a series of guides for bird watching and other activities, available on their website.

2. Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway

Cheyenne Bottoms is on a 77-mile, winding scenic byway that connects this wildlife area with the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge not far southeast of Great Bend.

The latter is another of the 29 sites in the United States on the Ramsar list, and combined with Cheyenne Bottoms is one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas.

The byway takes you around more than 60,000 acres of wetlands, where you can witness the spellbinding spectacle of millions of migrating birds.

In fall there’s a vast migration of geese and ducks, heading towards the Gulf Coast and Mexico, as well as occasional sightings of endangered whooping cranes.

The wetlands mingle with the familiar wheat fields of central Kansas, and as well as a stretch of the Santa Fe Trail and six welcoming communities, including Great Bend.

3. Great Bend Zoo at Brit Spaugh Park

Great Bend’s main park is towards the north of the city on Main Street, and features an adorable little zoo that has been open since 1953. With free admission, Great Bend Zoo is open 362 days a year and is constantly making improvements.

This attraction runs a raptor rehabilitation program, and at the Raptor Center you can view numerous birds of prey including eagles, owls and kites, finding out about their habitats, diet and conservation with the help of modern exhibits.

Among the 60+ other species at the zoo are bison, capybaras, alligators, grizzly bears, African lions, numerous parrot varieties and ring-tailed lemurs. One memorable exhibit is the walk-through butterfly house, a delight in summer.

4. Kansas Wetlands Education Center

To get to grips with the mind-boggling natural splendor in Great Bend’s backyard, you can make a stop at this education center at Cheyenne Bottoms.

Naturally the migration seasons are the best times to come, when you can get some expert insight into the awe-inspiring spectacle unfolding outside.

This attraction is operated by Fort Hays State University as an annex of the famous Sternberg Museum, and 2,000 square feet of state-of-the-art exhibits.

These explain Cheyenne Bottoms formation in the Ice Age and relate some of the challenges facing the site in the future. You’ll discover the full wonder of these wetlands and the many wild species that visit or reside here year round.

You can also see a variety of habitats on a half-mile, accessible trail, and check out live exhibits of distinctive local species like grasshopper mice and spiny soft-shell turtles.

5. Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village

This top-notch museum is on a five-acre campus just south of Great Bend. Accompanying the modern museum building here is a cluster of intriguing period buildings, like a native stone house (1873), a church (1898), a railroad depot (1910), a schoolhouse (1915) and a post office, all with genuine period furnishings.

The main exhibition approaches the county’s fascinating history from many different angles, with special attention to the history of the Santa Fe Trail in this part of Kansas.

There’s an almost overwhelming array of artifacts to pore over, from antique cars to tractors, antique dolls, textiles, costume, paleontology, Native American archeology, lacework and interiors from historic local stores and services like a dentist’s office, barber shop and general store.

6. Great Bend Hike & Bike Trail

You can hike, jog or walk along the Arkansas River’s floodplain for around six miles in Great Bend.

This trail was developed in several phases in conjunction with the ​​Great Bend Flood Control Project, and can be accessed on the southeast side of downtown, at the Front Door Community Center.

If you’re starting on the west side of the city there’s a trailhead and parking lot at 308 W Barton County Rd.

The trail has a mix of paved and dirt and is especially pretty in its southernmost sections, leading you through a wooded riparian corridor and wetlands, all abounding with birdlife.

7. Fort Zarah State Park

Three miles east of Great Bend is the site of a fort, first established by the U.S. Government in 1863, almost a decade before Great Bend was officially founded.

Fort Zarah was part of a line of forts between Fort Leavenworth and Fort Dodge, built to protect commerce on the Santa Fe Trail amid tense relations with Native American tribes in the area.

The original fort was abandoned in 1866, and a few months later was relocated half a mile northwest to the site of the state park before being abandoned for good in 1869.

These buildings, constructed from Dokota sandstone quarried from nearby bluffs, have long since gone, but the earthworks are still clearly visible, and you can stop by to reflect on this tumultuous period in history.

8. The Wetlands at Great Bend Aquatic Facility

In the same park as Great Bend Zoo is a summer water park paying tribute to the great marshlands east of the city.

The Wetlands Waterpark is easily one of the top facilities of its kind in Kansas. For just a quick intro to all the attractions here, you’ve got eight slides, a giant main pool with a divided shallow end and an amazing splash pool, with zero-depth entry and a huge, 300-gallon tipping bucket.

It might be hard to believe, but the pool has been here in some form since the 1930s and was a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project.

The entire complex was reworked in 2005 with a renovation, installing the present attractions and adding a new bathhouse and concession area.

9. SRCA Dragstrip

The dragstrip next to Great Bend Municipal Airport has a special place in drag racing history. It was here in 1955 that the very first National Hot Rod Racing U.S. Nationals took place in 1955.

By the late 1950s the event had moved to Oklahoma City, before ending up at its current home in Indianapolis.

May through October there’s a loaded schedule of bracket racing, in a spectrum of categories including super pro, pro, street legal, sportsman, motorcycle, high school and junior dragster.

This is a spotless and well-run facility thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers.

10. Veterans Memorial Park

A place to relax or be active on the west side of Great Bend, the 78-acre Veterans Memorial Park contains a 12-acre lake.

Popular with waterfowl, the lake has an accessible fishing dock and lots of quiet spots in the shade to drop a line.

There’s a walking trail here with a floating bridge, as well as a fitness trail installed with exercise equipment, several picnic shelters with grills and a playground.

For sports facilities you’ll find a baseball/softball complex with four fields across the tracks on the west side, along with tennis courts and sand volleyball courts.

11. Barton County Courthouse

A striking monument for Great Bend, the Barton County Courthouse testifies to Great Bend’s position as Barton County’s administrative center.

The building warrants a closer look if you’re passing by. Completed in 1918, this is the second county courthouse, replacing an earlier brick building from 1873.

The architecture is an Eclecticist style, combining Neoclassical and Modern elements, with a series of six massive Ionic columns on each side of the building from the second story to the cornice. Concrete was used for much of the construction, and the main entrance is framed by black stone.

12. Heartland Farm

Out in the prairie west of Great Bend is an idyllic 80-acre farm maintained by a Christian community belonging to the Dominican Sisters of Peace.

Heartland Farm is an agritourism attraction, with a herd of alpacas, vegetable gardens, a brood of laying chickens, a wooded creek, an art center, an outdoor pavilion and extensive pastures.

You can get in touch to arrange a variety of activities, be it meeting the alpacas, ambling along the wooded trails and pastures, bird watching, meditation, picnics or attending one of the many workshops.

13. Great Bend Sports Complex

The premier sports facility for the area is in the southwest of Great Bend. Recently opened, the Great Bend Sports Complex is geared towards baseball/softball, and has five fields, each with Musco lighting, perimeter fencing and more than 11,000 square feet of shaded space across the facility.

If you’re a fan of America’s favorite pastime, and want to see some up-and-coming talent in action, the complex hosts the 2A-1A KSHSAA State Baseball Tournament, as well as KCAC Championships and Recreation Commission Leagues.

14. Kansas Oil & Gas Hall of Fame and Museum

At the time of writing, this museum devoted to Great Bend’s fossil fuels was closed for renovations and only open by appointment.

The museum was established in 1990 to document the oil and gas industries that drove the local economy between 1930 and 1960.

As well as exploring those boom years, the museum also explains the process of oil and gas production, from geological surveys and drilling to product manufacturing.

The Hall of Fame honors men and women who have dedicated their lives and careers to this industry, and you can browse portraits and biographies of over 50 local and state inductees.

15. Barton County Fair

Made possible by a small army of volunteers, the Barton County Fair is a heartwarming community event across five days in July.

Above all this is an impressive showcase for local agriculture, livestock and traditional skills, with a high standard on show at the multitude of 4-H and open-class exhibits.

There’s a whole world of fun to go with this, including contests of all descriptions, a tractor pull, “mutton bustin’”, a pedal tractor pull (for kids and adults) and some great live music.

Saturday is traditionally kids’ day, while the event closes on Sunday with the Sale of Champions at Aarons’ Repair Arena.

15 Best Things to Do in Great Bend (Kansas):

• Cheyenne Bottoms
• Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway
• Great Bend Zoo at Brit Spaugh Park
• Kansas Wetlands Education Center
• Barton County Historical Society Museum and Village
• Great Bend Hike & Bike Trail
• Fort Zarah State Park
• The Wetlands at Great Bend Aquatic Facility
• SRCA Dragstrip
• Veterans Memorial Park
• Barton County Courthouse
• Heartland Farm
• Great Bend Sports Complex
• Kansas Oil & Gas Hall of Fame and Museum
• Barton County Fair

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Explore Great Bend

Our friendly town offers the only free zoo between denver and kansas city..

We invite you to experience and explore the many opportunities that our charming community has to offer. Great Bend, a city of 15,000 warm people, is best known for our historic SRCA Dragstrip , and the fact that we are nestled between two wetlands of international importance.

SRCA Dragstrip

Dragstrip in Great Bend - Home of first NHRA nationals.

Cheyenne Bottoms Refuge

The Nature Conservancy's Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve is a 7,848 acre wetland preserve adjacent to the state-owned Cheyenne Bottoms…

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

Quivira NWR is one of a system of over 500 refuges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Refuge…

Attractions

Our friendly town offers a little bit of everything for the people that want to explore. We have a variety of historical adventures, artistic dedications, and big city amenities in our small quaint town!

Barton County Courthouse & Jack Kilby Monument

The Barton County Courthouse is located in downtown Great Bend

Barton County Historical Society Museum & Village

An 1871 pioneer rock home, a 1915 one room school, and 1898 church, a 1910 railroad depot, a museum building and gift shop, an…

B-29 Memorial Plaza

Stand under the arches and listen to the echoes of history honoring those who served on this WWII B-29 Air Field & educates future…

Kansas Wetlands Educational Center

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) is your one-stop shop for every visit to Cheyenne Bottoms, a wetland of international…

Barton Planetarium

Come see our new high-definition digital projection system for the 360-degree dome! Our 60-seat facility is used for educational…

Shafer Art Gallery

Shafer Art Gallery on the BCC campus in Great Bend features bronze sculptures created by its namesake, Gus Shafer and boasts an…

Downtown Great Bend has a unique atmosphere with a variety of businesses, a brewery, a wine cellar, outdoor art exploration, a movie theatre, and a historic community theatre. We are continually adding to the experience so keep planning to visit again and again.

Dry Lake Brewing

Located at 1305 Main in the beautiful downtown square of Great Bend, Dry Lake Brewing offers 12 taps of in-house brewed beer &…

Rosewood Wine Cellar

The Wine Cellar provides a rustic, ranch-elegance shopping opportunity for customers. Not only can you purchase fine wine, you can…

Great Bend Community Theatre

As one of the most distinctive buildings in town with bright neon lights, it is listed on the Kansas Historic Register. Community…

Parks & Outdoor Adventure

Enjoy our hike and bike paths, ATV rides down the river, and be sure to catch the incredible Kansas sunsets. Great Bend is proud to have the only free zoo between Kansas City and Denver. Here you can have up-close animal adventures by sling-shotting fruits and veggies to our grizzly bears or meet our owl Thurston that can cluck like a chicken. Our water park is also a wonderful adventure that compares to many indoor waterparks and is the perfect affordable family-friendly adventure.

Arkansas River Hike & Bike Trail

This hike/bike trail is about 6 miles long and is along the Arkansas River. Great for wildlife viewing while you exercise…

Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo

Our free zoo offers up-close views of wildlife, places to relax & educational programs to foster understanding of the animals in…

Wetlands Waterpark at Great Bend

Dive into endless fun at Wetlands Waterpark, the ultimate oasis on a scorching summer day! Feel the exhilarating rush as you get…

More Trip Ideas!

Our midsized Kansas town welcomes visitors with open arms and is ready to give you the best hospitality. If you are looking to experience authentic Small Town America let us help you explore Great Bend!

For more adventures in Great Bend and South Central Kansas click  here

South Central Kansas

Open skies are for exploring. The earth is for sustaining. The water is for refreshing. We use them all to their fullest. That’s how we live and who we are. Living aloft in the dreams that come by touching the sky, while digging deep into the bounty provided by the earth. Seek to uplift your heart with lofty pursuits and sophisticated, cultured settings. Life here is  For The Seekers .