We noticed a poster in the window which says that they now have all you can eat ribs with two sides on Wednesday evenings for $26.99. If only I was still a big eater!

With three of us we enjoyed sharing several small plates. We had Penny's Rangoon, Crispy Wings, Ka-nom-jeeb (dumplings), and Thai Garlic Riblets. All were good, with my favorites being the riblets.

We shared a Sweet Sticky Rice & Mango dessert. The sticky rice was SO good!

We watched and photographed the parade. Since it is in the middle of summer, some years there are no bands, but this year there were three: a Kansas National Guard Band, Louie Louie Band made up of Shawnee Mission West High School alumni, and the Osceola, Wisconsin High School Marching Chiefs who have traveled to Lenexa for the July 4 parade many times.

Following the parade, we made our way to the Lenexa VFW Hall for their annual BBQ. 

Community Days Parade

I decided to take a chance and drove to DeSoto. I found the parking for the event and took a shuttle bus to the Welcome Tent, but learned that all the people available for interviews & photos had left a little before. I did get a few photos. While they have reported that manufacturing began last week, it looks like there is a lot of construction remaining on the factory where this took place. There is also a large warehouse (this is the building you can see from K-10) which appears complete and there were a handful of trucks at the loading ramps.

Since I was in the area, I also photos graphed some some of the remaining structures from the old WW2 Sunflower Ammunition Plant which surrounds the property used for the EV battery plant. There was just one location, where someone came by and said that location was private property and photography is not permitted.

I also visited the 57 acre Sunflower Nature Park, a Johnson County Park wedged in between the two Panasonic facilities.

It was getting time for lunch and I checked for well reviewed restaurants in DeSoto. Everywhere was either closed on Monday or places I already knew, so I checked Eudora to the west and found a burger joint, D-dubs Bar And Grill, which moved into the former Anthony's Diner (a very goodItalian restaurant) location in 2014.

Since it is often described as a burger joint, I ordered Jesse's Double Cheddar Burger (1/2 pound burger topped with cheddar ale sauce, sliced cheddar and grilled onions). It comes with a side for $10. Although the photos I had seen didn't look that good, the online reviews had said good things about the onion rings.

The onion rings are better than they look and the Double Cheddar Burger was the best burger I have had in nearly 3 months.

The service was friendly and good. There was no notice that they charge extra for using a credit card, until the bill came. Still, I can't complain too much about paying an extra 56 cents at a place that is charging only $2 for Coke products and even offered a drink to go.

Before leaving Eudora, I photographed some of the historic downtown builldings and a few of the old churches and former churches.

Sunflower Ammunition Plant water towers
 
 
 
 
 
 

Double Cheddar Burger

The selection is more impressive than some places which call themselves car museums. Since this is a salesroom, there is no charge for visiting Wagner's Classic Cars and it is like visiting a car museum where you are allowed to touch the exhibits. 

At lunch, I revisited Quentin's BBQ & Sides which opened just over 3 years ago in Bonner Springs. We previously dined there in the spring of 2024. It is one of several places sharing an old building called Olde Mill Properties. You order at an outside counter and then can eat anywhere in the building. They give you an old license plate to set at your table and they use it to find you when the food is ready. They gave me a personalized Maine license plate which says "Yummy."

I ordered the Falcon specialty sandwich. For $13.50 it is your choice of sliced brisket, chopped brisket or burnt ends on a toasted potato roll bun with a jalapeno cheddar link. For $4 more it became a combo with the choice of a side and a 20 ounce togo cup for Coke fountain products & 8 different iced teas. I got fries plus plus Fried Jalapeno Mac N Cheese Bites.

I liked everything about the food. The beef burnt ends were awesome! I'm not sure when I last had ones I enjoyed so much. The sausage and particularly the bun were also good. Friday is the one day they have crinkle cut fries and these were cooked just right, crispy on the outside with a softer interior. I assume they fry them twice or boil before frying. The rest of the week they have shoestring fries.

I had read good things about the Mac N Cheese Bites, but was a bit skeptical, but they were good as well.

There are three sauces in squeeze bottles on the table: sweet, hot and original. All are thin, slightly tangy and similar to each other. I didn't want to add sauce to the meats, but (although they didn't need it) tried some with the fries. At first I wasn't impressed with the sauce on the fries, but that was before I thought to try mixing the hot and sweet sauces. They went very well with the fries.

While crossing Wolf Creek on my way out of town, I noticed a deep ravine, almost a canyon. Walking back out on the bridge, I found rapids on both the upriver and down river sides of the bridge and took some photos and video. The angle wasn't the best for pictures, but it didn't appear there is an easy way to get better photos.

In downtown De Soto, Kansas, I took some exterior photos of the former Grandpa's Ford Garage, which is now Force of Nature Brewing. I have been wanting to try it out, but it has been closed when it would have been convenient for me to go there. There is also a neat new mural on the adjacent building, but it was blocked in part by a truck and trailer.

The final stop was a few blocks away at Steve's Meat Market, which opened in 1969. The second and third generations of the Prudden family work there today. Steve's isn't just a full service meat market and deer processor, they prepare many specialty meats, plus raw bones, cooked bones and hooves for pets.

Steve's doesn't produce as many products as they once did, but still produces bratwurst, breakfast sausage. specialty burgers and bombs. The bombs are ready to be grilled and contain items like meats, cheese, jalapenos, and pickles wrapped in bacon.

Common dining area at Olde Mill Properties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Steve's Meat Market

The parking is a little unusual. There are limited spaces in front of the restaurant and much of that space is (understandably) handicapped parking. The majority of the lot is behind the restaurant, a whole story higher, with stairs down the hill and a walk around the restaurant.

I ordered the Bacon & Bleu (Swiss & bleu cheese crumbles, bacon, spring mix, tomato, caramelized onions on a pun bun). It is $15 including fries and I paid a $2 up charge to have parmesan garlic fries. They don't say the burger size on the menu, but it looked about 1/2 pound to me.

The menu says they cook burgers medium unless told otherwise and the server confirmed that when taking the order. This one came well done instead of medium. I was still satisfied with the burger, but decided to pull the spring mix and tomato off. It would have been nice to have more sautéed onions.

The fries were my favorite item. I tend to prefer my fries without seasoning, and the garlic & parmesan were loaded on, but were quite good.

Coke products are only $2.50 and the server was quick to replace the large glass. She also provided one to go.

On the drive to Mason Jar, I noticed a house with several skeletons in a front yard, and stopped to photograph it on the way back. 

Since it was nearby, I decided to revisit Jones BBQ on K-32. It was after 1 PM and over 90 degrees. There were no customers present and three of the staff were sitting in the outside seating area. I ordered a sausage sandwich to go and took a few photos. Their unique BBQ vending machine which I was tld was waiting on parts last October is still not working. I believe it has been broken a long time.

The exterior needs some love. Although it looked great after the TV makeover in 2018, the outside dining area (the only dining area) needs repair and sprucing up.

The sausage was still much like before. Smoky and a little spicy, course ground. It made a nice meal later.

Bacon & Bleu
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Jones BBQ

We drove to Altoona, to have lunch at the Prairie Nut Hut, which is not only on our list of Unique Kansas Restaurants, but on the Kansas Best Burger list.

Much as I love their Rohr burger (with grilled onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese) and their famous Mountain Oysters, I only make it here every couple of years and needed to try more of the menu. Today I had the Frog Leg Basket. I'm not sorry I did. They were very good. My father had a chicken tender sandwich and was happy with it as well.

Will a little time remaining, we explored and photographed some of the parks and downtown buildings. Some of the old buildings which are abandoned look amazing. Two of the parks we visited had rows of small signs which I assumed would be pages from a children's book, but turned out to be pages of Kansas history, such as the Orphan Trains. 

Frog Legs

Today I had a two meat meal with brown-sugar sausage and jalapeño-jack sausage. I enjoyed both more than the rope sausage they offered in 2022, with the jalapeño-jack being my favorite. 

The only side dish which has impressed me has been the onion rings, but they are $9 side and not available as a substitution. Today it was the French fries and jalapeño cheesy corn. The fries had good texture, but not much flavor. The cheesy corn wasn't very cheesy.

I went by Monticello Historical Station and Museum in Shawnee, Kansas. The Monticello Community Historical Society contacted me last week to let me know that they have closed the museum and are selling the building this fall. They will no longer have their own physical location, but will maintain the organization and hold our programs at the Monticello United Methodist Church. The sign is still up at this time and there is nothing to indicate that they closed.

Johnson County has has a lot of rain this year. Lenexa has had over 10 inches of rain in the past two weeks and I thought there might be an impressive flow in the Lake Lenexa spillway. The spot wass still beautiful, but when I stopped there this afternoon, there was only the water coming from the fountain. The unique dam and spillway is at 35 acre Lake Lenexa in Black Hoof Park.

Monticello Historical Station and Museum

The next stop was the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas. It had been 10 years since my most recent visit and it was a chance to take fresh photos and check on changes. There were quite a few visitors present.

The only change immediately obvious to me is the gift shop was moved and smaller. though it is still high quality.

Continuing west, the next stop was at Deep Creek Waterfall at Pillsbury Crossing Wildlife Area, a few miles southeast of Manhattan, Kansas. There had been reports that parking vehicles in the river is no longer permitted, but there were no signs prohibiting that. The only restriction is parking or stopping on the low water crossing section where the roadway goes through the river.

Lunch was at a new restaurant to me, Spark's Burger Co. in Manhattan. You order at the counter near the entrance and the food is brought to your table. None of the combinations of toppings on the specialty burgers really jumped out at me, but I selected the Bolt Burger (Angus beef patty with melted cheese, bacon, seasoned shredded beef, caramelized onions, Sparks sauce and Sparks creamy BBQ sauce). They don't ask how you want the burger cooked and it came out well done.

For $6, they added a small drink and Potato Dippers (scoop shaped French fries) and you are permitted the choice of one small sauce to dip them in. I wish they had a bit of a fixings area (at least sauces). There wasn't even mustard and ketchup was in tiny individual packets.

I drove across Manhattan stopping briefly to photograph Wildcat Creek Trail Bridge, KSAC radio towers (1924), Landmark Water Tower, and other features which caught my eye on the way to Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, which I hadn't visited since a couple of years before it closed during the height of Covid. The 316,000 gallon Landmark Water Tower was constructed in 1922.

Their is convenient free parking next to the museum and I wonder how many people park, register their car, look around for a few minutes and then go elsewhere on campus.

On the way out of town, I photographed 105 year old Seven Dolors Catholic Parish, then went on to Fort Riley. While registering at the Visitor Control Center by the Henry Gate to the post, I asked if the First Infantry Division Museum and U. S. Cavalry Museum are still open and was told they would be open about another hour and a half. When I asked about the future, they said that they expect the museums to close permanently in the near future, but do not know when.

Although I photographed a number of memorials and graves at the Post Cemetery, the reason for this visit was the grave of Artificer Frank Fie, an artificer in the 7th Field Battery who was believed to have been struck by a train while walking from Junction City to the post on January 11, 1905. Fie was just 15 days from completing his current enlistment. The grave appears to be twice the size of most. I tracked this grave down because of rumors that there is a horse buried in the cemetery, but I think that was a misreading of the grave. I would love to learn if a horse is buried elsewhere in the Post Cemetery. There is at least one horses buried at the Fort Riley parade ground, Chief, who died in 1968, the last cavalry horse to be carried on the US Army rolls. 

I have since identified that Col. Hiram Tuttle, who is the only American dressage rider to win an individual medal at an Olympic Games (1932), has had three of his horses (Vast, Si Murray and Olympic) buried with him. I will be returning to visit his grave.

Continuing west, my next stop was along the Smoky Hill River on the far side from Bill Burke Park in Salina, Kansas. There is an enormous log jam on the river right now. There are barriers at the park to prevent onlookers from getting too close to the river bank, which could give way. The City of Salina has approved spending $450,000 to remove the log jam and that should happen sometime in August.

I went on to visit Wind River Farm & Creamery in Falun, Kansas, but saw no signs and it felt like I was at the wrong place. None of the out buildings looked like a store and after sitting in the car about 5 minutes, it felt rude going up to the house, so I went on. One of the cats was very friendly. I've since learned this was the right location. They don't have an actual store, but sell out of the house.

Continuing toward Lindsborg, I also stopped at Peterson Brothers event center, trying to locate the field which will have their sunflowers in bloom later in the year, but struck out again.

Supper was at Crown and Rye in Lindsborg. I ordered Varmlandskorv (Potato Sausage pan seared with potatoes, bacon, and onions in butter), garnished with braised cabbage (Rodkal) and a browned butter beef broth. I enjoyed it well enough, but this isn't really the kind of dish I normally go for. I had it tonight, because it appealed the most of the Swedish dishes on the menu. I wanted to try the ice cream parlor up the street, so the slice of caramel apple pie was ordered to go.

After taking some downtown photos, including the "Stand in the Hand" mural, which was painted over a wonderful mural of a tree with dancing figures last year. Then I visited Indigo Moo'd, an ice cream parlor in The Courtyard. They make their own ice cream and were offering 12 flavors. I was very happy with the Salted Caramel.

Before leaving Lindsborg, I stopped at Scott's Hometown Foods. I was surprised to learn that although Google still lists it at this location, it is now part of the regional White's Foodliner supermarket chain. The store is still a nice full service grocery store and still offers and amazing selection of Swedish food items. They are gathered in two areas of the store with Swedish flags hanging over them. There is a huge selection of pickled herring and less familiar fish, as well as potato sausage, meatballs and Swedish candies, snacks and desserts.

I drove back to the Sleep Inn in Salina, Kansas for the night, with one last stop for a peanut butter & chocolate malt at Bogeys. They have been there since 1981 and my last time there was in 2008. The malt was rich and had lots of malt flavor.

State segregation laws before Brown

Deep Creek Waterfall

Spark's Burger Co.
 

Wildcat Creek Trail Bridge
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Artificer Frank Fie
 
 
 

Log jam
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Varmlandskorv
 
 
 
 

White's Foodliner

The first stop was at Piper's Fine Foods, which I understood made sausage, smoked meats, and Swedish Potato Sausage, but found none of those things. Later in the morning. I learned that this supermarket changed owners a year or two ago.

Smoky Valley Distillery is just across the street and occupies two adjacent historic buildings. One was built in 1919 for the Farmers Union CO-OP and now holds the distillery, shop and large, nicely done tasting room/bar. The second building is older and more ornate. It was the mercantile hardware, which closed just a couple of years ago and is now an event space and hosts live music every couple of weeks.

I sampled four of the whiskeys and one of the vodkas. My favorite of the whiskeys was the Straight Bourbon Whiskey and I purchased a bottle. It was one of the least expensive at $40. I also had the Smoked Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Bud & Dewey's and Kernza. The Bud & Dewey's has the coolest bottle and is their best seller. It is named for a couple of characters from the history of the town. One was the barber and the other was a grandfather of Shane Von Strohe, who gave me the tour and is the only full time employee. 

The Kernza is much more expensive and made from a perennial grain. The Von Strohes have started growing some kernza themselves.

I'm not much of a vodka drinker, but the Lingonberry Vodka was interesting. I could imagine enjoying some mixed drinks made with it. The vodkas are just $24 a bottle.

Before leaving town, I photographed a few other interesting buildings and Marquette Falls on the Smoky Hill River, next to the bridge just south of the downtown. Then stopped at City Sundries, which was just across the street from the Distillery. The building was built in 1888 and the historic soda fountain and gift shop opened in 1901 and has stayed open most of the intervening years. You order at the marble counter and enjoy the homemade ice cream at the metal tables. The peanut butter ice cream was quite good. A small cup is only $2.75.

For lunch, I drove to The Exit 14 Restaurant in Gypsum, Kansas, east of Assaria. Online reviews had recommended the chicken fried steak, but there was none on the menu, so I ordered a burger. None of the specialty burgers with cheese sounded good, so went with the Bacon Jam Burger with smoky bacon jam with a blend of slow cooked bacon, onions, and a secret spice blend. The flavor was good, but the bacon was rather tough.

The peanut butter pie was very good!

Before leaving town, I photographed the 1927 water fountain pavilion at the corner. It originally covered a fire cistern.

Driving on toward Abilene, passing south of Solomon, Kansas I saw a small handmade sign which read, "Pet Cemetery 2 3/4 miles," and turned off to check it out. Faithful Friends Pet Cemetery was opened in 1999 by Theda L. Lahardt in memory of her cat, "Puko." When she was unable to find a place to bury Puko, she acquired land and established this 5 acre cemetery.

Lahardt passed away in 2009, but the legacy lives on. A grave was being dug for a burial later this afternoon and a woman was doing yard work elsewhere in the cemetery. A sign says that pet burial with a grave marker is $100. Cremation service is not available.

The cemetery isn't just for cats and dogs. A 2010 Topeka Capital-Journal article said that at that time there were more than 50 pot bellied pigs.

In Abilene, the only stop was to photograph the Eisenhower Park Rose Garden, Parking and driving nearby was a little awkward because the Central Kansas Free Fair was taking place in the same park, closing streets and filling the park with campers. Although there are roses in the garden, most of the garden is not roses.

The rose garden, pergola, concrete paths, landscaping layout, and park buildings, including the swimming pool and bath house, were built by the WPA in 1938. 

In Alma, Kansas, I checked on the falls which has been reported at Alma City Fishing Lake. There was no sign of it today and I believe it exists only when the water level of the lake is extremely high. 

On the way back through Alma, I stopped at the Phillips 66 Station on the south side of town, to check their Alma Cheese cooler, which has Alma Cheeses at a slightly lower price than the cheese store on I-70 and includes a small selection of the local cheese which were miss cut or irregular. That selection is always changing and it felt like I hit the jackpot today when there were two large packages of 10 year old cheddar cheese priced at only $5.49 a pound. It is $15.99/pound in their store.

Supper was at Flaming Grill Restaurant And Bar in Maple Hill, we opened this spring in a location which has had multiple restaurants, but which I remember best for Puffy's Steak & Ice House which closed in 2017. I was taking some exterior photos, when the owner came out to ask about it. I explained that I blog about where I go in Kansas.

That was a bit of a disadvantage for making sure I get the same treatment as everyone, but had the advantage of opening things up for photographing everything inside. I even photographed the food at an adjacent table.

The ribeye and old fashioned were good. The added grilled mushrooms and onions made the steak. The chef brought it to the table had had me cut into it. Although it was a scooch less done than I ordered, it was too close to suggest it be cooked more. The chili and fries were average, but the chili was helped by Tobasco sauce.

Smoky Valley Distillery
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

City Sundries
 
 
 
 
 

Water fountain pavilion
 

Faithful Friends Pet Cemeter
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Alma Cheeses
 
 
 
 
 

Ribeye & fries