Discover the Americana Town in Kansas So Charming You’ll Want To Keep It a Secret

Tucked away in the northwest corner of Kansas is a place where time stands still, a thriving ode to small-town America. But it’s not just a small town; it’s also a tribute to Victorian-era USA, and prehistoric America, too. It’s the kind of place many of us can imagine raising our kids; inspired by war heroes and dinosaurs, while thriving in a university town. Once you know it exists, Hays just might become your favorite hidden town in Kansas.

I brought my kids to Hays on a road trip across northern Kansas for two reasons: to see the Sternberg Museum of Natural History at Fort Hays State University and to see the local bison herd. It’s hard to imagine a kid who doesn’t love dinosaurs; mine are no different, and I wanted them to experience the work of a renowned American paleontologist, George Sternberg, before they outgrew their quintessential childhood obsession. As for the bison, that was all for me. I am a conservation enthusiast with a special fascination for the prairie and wanted to witness bison in their native habitat. Of course, I hoped my kids would appreciate seeing the bison, too.

What I wasn’t expecting in this hidden town in Kansas were the water slides and lazy river, the urban park and nature trail, a heritage diner, or free admission into the expansive Fort Hays Historic Site. Let’s begin with the fascinating connection to dinosaurs through George Sternberg, a local legend. Raised nearby in the early 20th century, Sternberg became a passionate field paleontologist, making significant discoveries both in Kansas and across the United States. His first notable find was a nearly intact Plesiosaurus, an ocean dinosaur, discovered in Kansas. He also excavated a Triceratops in Wyoming.

However, his most renowned achievement in paleontology was the discovery of “Fish-within-a-fish,” a prehistoric fossil of a 14-foot fish that had swallowed a 6-foot fish. Both fish are fully intact and can be viewed at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, which also houses his personal collection of over three million specimens. My kids were captivated by the museum, reminding me that interest in dinosaurs doesn't have to fade after the age of ten.

Next, we went in search of the Hays bison, a conservation initiative aimed at restoring the native bison population in the heartland. This project began over 100 years ago when residents of Hays stepped in to care for a herd of five bison that had been displaced during a land dispute in South Dakota. Their lineage has remained in the area ever since, and today's herd members are direct descendants of those original five bison. You can see them at Frontier Park, an 89-acre urban park located across the street from the Fort Hays Historical Site.

We were captivated by the stories of the bison and wanted to learn more about why they nearly disappeared in the Midwest. Fortunately, Fort Hays provides the perfect complementary experience just a few steps away. We spent several hours exploring the Victorian-era property, visiting original period buildings, and learning about the American Indian War and the various American legends associated with it, including General Custer, Buffalo Bill Cody, Buffalo Soldier John Denny, and the 7th Cavalry.

After an eventful day of learning, we were starving and headed to downtown Hays, where we discovered a charming Americana diner. Located inside a former gas station, Tiger Station serves an epic plate of fish ’n’ chips in a tiny room filled with Hays memorabilia. And of course, my kids couldn’t miss the waterpark with giant slides, a lazy river, and numerous pools just down the street. What we initially thought would be an hour or two turned into a full day of immersing in the Americana charms of a hidden town in Kansas called Hays.

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