HAYS — This college town in Kansas, full of history ranging from the Cretaceous period to the Wild West, still draws travelers in today.
Located just off Interstate Highway 70, Hays is a bit over two hours west of Manhattan, making it good for a long day trip or an easy overnight. However, if you’re in the area, stopping in the town provides the chance to get a bite to eat, support local businesses and dive into Kansas history.
First on your list should be checking out some of Hays’ historical sites. Here you can spend the day traveling through time, making stops to see dinosaurs and gunslingers.
Hays was established shortly after the Civil War in 1867. Settlers and railroad builders were surging west, leading to resistance from local Native American tribes. To protect these settlers and workers, Fort Fletcher was constructed in 1865 before being renamed to Fort Hays two years later.
The Seventh Cavalry and 10th Cavalry were stationed there. The Seventh is famous for its later involvement in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and the all-Black 10th earned the nickname “Buffalo Soldiers” out of respect during its time protecting the fort.
In its early days, Hays was a rough and lawless town. While Dodge City is better known for its Boot Hill cemetery, the original Boot Hill was in Hays, and it saw plenty of use. There were more than 30 homicides in and near Hays between August 1867 and December 1873.
Fort Hays State Historic Site contains four original fort buildings. The fort was constructed in 1865.
The small town was home to many well-known Wild West characters, including “Wild Bill” Hickok, George Custer, “Buffalo Bill” Cody and Calamity Jane.
The self-guided Historic Hays Walking Tour allows you to retrace their steps, with plaques offering information on buildings and individuals. The route goes south from Boot Hill to downtown along Fort, 10th and 11th streets.
After the fort was abandoned, its land went to the state of Kansas to construct a college: Fort Hays State University. Four of the original fort structures remain in Frontier Historical Park, containing exhibits documenting what life was like there.
Hays’ most well-known location full of history is the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Here you can walk through a giant diorama filled with life-sized dinosaurs. The museum is full of fossils and plant and animal specimens, and this year, it celebrated its 25th year of sharing history with the public.
After getting your fill of history, Hays offers a variety of businesses and restaurants for you to explore.
Cattleman’s Cafe is family owned and operated, offering classic dinner food like chicken-fried steak, meatloaf, hamburgers and pot roast. The restaurant business opened its Hays location last year.
Northglen Antiques has various items like records, books and glassware, and it will host a Summer Flea Market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 20.
If you prefer a more contemporary aesthetic, Be Made is a two-story home decor and clothing store that also has kitchenware, toys and seasonal items.
Hays Aquatic Park has water slides, a lazy river, a competition pool and diving boards. It is a destination for both children and adults.
Hays Aquatic Park has water slides, a lazy river, a competition pool and diving boards, making it a good destination for children and adults alike. It is open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend to the Sunday before the USD 489 school year begins.
Downtown, The Bricks Chestnut Street District is the community’s center, filled with diners, grills, breweries, bakeries, boutiques, coffee houses and more. A great place to stop for a drink is Gella’s Diner + Lb. Brewing, a modern brewpub in a cool building whose menu nods to the town’s German heritage.
With these and many more attractions, Hays makes a great place to stop your road trip, stretch your legs and explore all this town has to offer.
