New Year’s Day Journey to Cedar Vale

Yesterday, my need to explore Kansas got the best of me and we headed south on a chilly New Year’s Day from Wichita to see what we could see. You’ll be hearing more about other stops along the way, but the town of Cedar Vale, Kansas deserves special attention.

On that journey to western Chautauqua County, we found three things worth remembering: a beautiful winter landscape, a town built on farming and ranching,  and people as interesting as the hills around their little town.

First, that beautiful winter landscape: If you haven’t traveled the Southern Flint Hills, your eyes deserve the thrill of rolling hills scattered with cedars and limestone outcroppings.

The drive from Arkansas City to Cedar Vale along Highway 166 had us watching for deer in that perfect habitat. Sharp-eyed hawks staked out hunting territory from fencepost perches as we took in the muted tans, yellows and oranges of winter in Southeast Kansas.

Now, on to Cedar Vale and its people – Our first exposure to the people of Cedar Vale came with a quick break at the Short Stop, one of the best-stocked convenience stores we’ve ever seen! A friendly clerk rang up our coffee and snacks as we read a local funeral announcement kindly posted near the register.

In the parking lot, an area rancher explained his ingenious apparatus for picking up round hay bales, created to save the cost of buying commercial equipment. He spoke to my husband of working full-time and getting home in time to feed the cattle; a familiar story of hardworking persistence that seems to be at the heart of Cedar Vale’s survival.

As we curved along the road into town, it was soon apparent that this prairie city of less than a thousand people has its roots deeply intertwined into early Kansas history.Victorian homes, many in wonderful condition, lined the streets. Cedar Street downtown has some marvelous examples of native limestone architecture.   Being a holiday, the Cedar Vale Historical Museum, housed in the Adams Mercantile building, was closed, but we’re definitely planning a return trip.

There’s simply so much more we want to know about this city and how it’s managed to hang onto its schools (K-12!), have three nicely-maintained city parks and an impressive medical facility.

We hope to camp at the Hewins Park Campground and hike to the top of Lookout Mountain, a local landmark. We want to explore the Big Caney River and Cedar Creek, and photograph the historic bridges just outside of town.

And most of all, we hope to get to know the people of Cedar Vale, who appear to have learned a thing or two about survival in a tough rural economy. Surrounded by beauty and steeped in Kansas farming and ranching history, Cedar Vale was a beautiful place to visit on a chilly New Year’s Day. We look forward to getting to know this tough little town in Chautauqua County, Kansas in all seasons.

Here are some resources (very well-written, by the way!) to help you plan your own day (or extended) trip to Cedar Vale. I’d like to hear of your adventures, and I’ll be sharing more when I return to this gem of a town in the hills of Southeast Kansas!

• CedarValeKansas.com – a well-researched site created by a local entrepreneur and proud citizen.
• City of Cedar Vale Official Website – plenty of information on events, businesses and services.
• Skyways.org – a brief synopsis of Cedar Vale’s history and attractions