Since beginning our full-time journey to discover the country, we have found something to appreciate in every city and town we have passed through. We hope you enjoy reading about them as much as we have enjoyed discovering them!
No person, business or attraction has paid us for an endorsement.
Population: 20,855
Founded: 1867
Elevation: 2,024 feet above sea level
Average income: $25,242
Average price of housing: $226,104
Median age of the population: 32
https://www.haysusa.com/
Geographically, Hays is a small town with a lot of history off I-70 in the middle part of the state. I-70 loosely follows the Union Pacific Railway across Kansas.
Home Base: The Campground
For us, a campground is not our destination. Our RV is self-contained. Rarely do we use campground services or amenities. We are explorers, not campground reviewers! We stayed on site 46 at Creek Side RV Resort. This a very clean, well-maintained park. Our site was a FHU (water-electric-sewer) pull through on concrete. There are many pull through and back in sites that are on crushed stone. Very simple check in, friendly staff. Sites are long and wide. 30 and 50 amp service was available. There was good cell phone coverage (Verizon) and a good open southern sky for our satellite. It is very quiet. Creek Side Resort was convenient to all the things we wanted to see and experience.
Food and Drink
We were not in Hays long, but did have a chance to eat at a couple of local favorites. Both are very casual, both were recommended to us as being local favorites.
Thirsty’s Brew Pub & Grill is right on Vine Street, the commercial big box section of Hays. Casual atmosphere, all ages, plentiful food. Amanda was our server, she was very attentive!
9th Street Diner is appropriately named! Lots of seating, breakfast all day, a few light fare lunch items from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Attractions
Boot Hill is located in Hays. Boot Hill is a cemetery that holds the bodies of approximately 70 outlaws, all who “died with their boots on”. “The Homesteader”, a statue by Pete Felten, commemorates the location.
Hays played a role in protecting western settlers on their trek west. The U.S. Army established Fort Hays (founded in 1865 as Fort Fletcher, renamed Fort Hays in 1866). The fort was designed and used to protect railroad workers and travelers on the Smoky Hill Trail across Kansas. Buildings still remain that you can tour. It was very interesting. The person working at the Fort was very knowledgeable about all things Kansas! Thank you! By the way, Fort Hays is less than 5 minutes from Creek Side RV Resort.
Hays Public Library is centrally located on Main Street. It was designed and built to resemble the original Carnegie Library on the outside. It is a “nationally recognized leader for outstanding per capita usage, renovated and expanded in 2003 to match the original 1911 Carnegie library. The 39,000 square foot facility has an extensive book collection.”
Kansas Merci Boxcar is tucked away on the corner of 5th and Haney Street. It is actually located off a back alley near the Veterans Memorial Park. It is very well protected with an 8’ metal fence. There are times you can tour the museum. It is one of the few surviving 49 boxcars France sent to America in 1949 in appreciation for the food the U.S. sent to France after World War II.
Fun Facts
One of the fun parts of traveling is being able to learn about history. When we were in Deadwood, South Dakota, we had an opportunity of seeing the spot where “Wild Bill” Hickok (1837-1876) was murdered. While in Hays, we had the opportunity of seeing the place where Wild Bill spent some of his early adulthood (1869). He served as the acting sheriff after several “incidents” prompted citizens to form a vigilante committee.
Summary
We have never seen so many “roundabouts” or “rotaries” in one short area! It is a town with a nice small-town feel. If we are in this area again, we will definitely stop by again!
Your partners in travel,
Kathryn, Dave and Lucky
RVing Nomads
It’s a lifestyle
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