Abilene

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Candy, Old Dogs and an Ex-President

A travel journal to Abilene by Casual Tourist

Abilene, KSMore Photos

A visit to the Greyhound Hall of Fame and the Eisenhower Center, which are located directly across the street from one another in Abilene -- a real tribute to former glory days for dogs and presidents. Then a stop at a famous chocolate factory.

  • 8 reviews
  • 4 stories/tips
  • 35 photos

Candy, Old Dogs and an Ex-PresidentBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Two retired greyhounds live at the Greyhound Hall of Fame and are usually eager for a photo opportunity with anyone who wishes to sit a moment to pet them. They are beautiful, gentle dogs. If you appreciate dog races, there is a race track in Abilene also but I'm unaware of the schedule.

The most impressive thing about the Eisenhower Center is the sheer size of the grounds. Several buildings are on the premises, including a chapel, a museum, the Eisenhower presidential library, and Eisenhower's boyhood home. The Russell Stover Candy Store & factory are located just off Interstate 70 at Abilene.

Quick Tips:

You may get out of the Greyhound Hall of Fame and the Eisenhower Center without a souvenir, but you can hardly escape buying some of the excellent reduced priced chocolates offered at the Russell Stover Candy Store.

Best Way To Get Around:

Getting around is best done on foot, except for the drive to Russell Stover's. The Eisenhower Center has quite a large parking area and it just makes sense to park the car and stroll around the Center Grounds and then cross the street to the Greyhound Hall of Fame, which consists of only one building.

Super 8 AbileneBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Super 8"

We've stayed at the Super 8 Motel on numerous occasions. For the most part, the rooms were clean and roomy. Toast, coffee and rolls are served in the lobby in the mornings. Of all the many, many times we stayed at the Super 8 there was only one occasions that caused us any problems -- a fire alarm malfunctioned at 6 o'clock in the morning and we all had to vacate the building. We were just thankful that it was only a malfunction and not a fire.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Casual Tourist on October 10, 2000

Super 8 Abilene
2207 N BUCKEYE AVE Abilene, Kansas 67410-1508
785-263-4545

Brookville HotelBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Brookville Hotel
The Brookville Hotel is not a hotel at all, but a restaurant. It is a recent addition to Abilene, but it has a long history serving special recipe fried chicken dinners. Meals are served family style and consist of a few appetizers, chicken, cream corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and rolls. The only menu ordering is for drinks (alcoholic beverages are served). It's all you can eat, and I'd advise going there very hungry, because the food is scrumptious. Service is very good here. When the serving dishes are emptied they are unobtrusively whisked away and fresh food appears in their place. Though there are several dining rooms of various sizes, they all have an atmosphere of openness mixed with old-time hotel.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Casual Tourist on October 10, 2000

Brookville Hotel
105 E Lafayette Avenue Abilene, Kansas 67410
(785) 263-2244

Dwight Eisenhower Boyhood HomeBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Eisenhower
What amazed me most about Eisenhower's boyhood home is the smallness of it. The tour guide will tell you about how well-to-do this family was, and by the furnishings this is believable -- but the house itself is quite compact with very small rooms. The upstairs is no longer permitted for visitors because of OSHA regulations about having two exits or something like that. It only takes about 10 minutes to view the entire house.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Casual Tourist on October 10, 2000

Dwight Eisenhower Boyhood Home
SE 4th & Buckeye Streets Abilene, Kansas 67410
(785) 263-4751

Dwight Eisenhower Boyhood HomeBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Eisenhower Visitor's Center"

Abilene, KS
The Eisenhower Center has a small gift/souvenir shop and a few displays. There is a theater for viewing a film about this former president and what life was like during his era. The film was informative, but mostly for older children and adults. Once I took my 7 yr old granddaughter and she was rather bored with the film. She did however appreciate the gift shop. This facility is more or less an introductory building to the rest of the complex.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Casual Tourist on October 10, 2000

Dwight Eisenhower Boyhood Home
SE 4th & Buckeye Streets Abilene, Kansas 67410
(785) 263-4751

Greyhound Hall of FameBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Abilene, KS
This museum provides a thorough history of greyhound racing in the United States. There are photos of former champions and owners. There is a section dedicated to dog tracks around the nation. A film begins the tour with a brief history about greyhound dogs, breeding and racing. I found the museum mildly interesting.

In the lobby is a modest gift/souvenir shop, but the most interesting thing in the lobby are the two retired greyhounds that live in the museum during the day. They are friendly and gentle and content to have photo after photo taken of them.

  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by Casual Tourist on October 10, 2000

Greyhound Hall of Fame
407 South Buckeye Abilene, Kansas 67410
(785) 263-3000

Russell Stover Candies Outlet StoreBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Russell Stover Candy Store"

Russell Stover
A chocolate lover's dream is the most that can be said about this store. Who would think of going into a chocolate store and getting a shopping cart -- and then filling that cart up??!! The chocolate here is reduced in price, either because the season has just passed or because it is packaged as seconds. And there are lots of samples available in most every aisle. From the store you can look through a large plate glass window at the candy line (on weekdays) and there is always a display of large oversized holiday items, such as a huge bunny at Easter and enormous hearts at Valentine's. Keep a firm reign on yourself or you'll leave the store with enough chocolate for yourself and gifts for everyone you know.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Casual Tourist on February 11, 2001

Russell Stover Candies Outlet Store
1993 Caramel Blvd Abilene, Kansas 67410
(785) 263-0463

Dwight Eisenhower Boyhood HomeBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Eisenhower Museum"

Eisenhower Center
To the northeast of the Visitor's Center and directly across from the Presidential Library is the Eisenhower Museum. This is the most interesting part of the Center and houses artifacts from Eisenhower's life and his days in the White House. As this is the official site for Eisenhower memorabilia there are items here that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. It's a fascinating museum to wander through.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Casual Tourist on March 17, 2001

Dwight Eisenhower Boyhood Home
SE 4th & Buckeye Streets Abilene, Kansas 67410
(785) 263-4751

Also on the Eisenhower GroundsBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Eisenhower Center
In addition to the several buildings at the Eisenhower Center there are two attractions outisde on the grounds that you will want to view. Between the library and the museum is an elegant brass statue of Eisenhower sporting the short military jacket that he made so famous. And at the far east end of the complex is a set of large memorial plaques dedicated to various events in the life of Eisenhower. These two attractions add an elegance to the Center and complete the layout of the expansive complex.

Eisenhower Presidential LibraryBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Eisenhower Center
Most impressive here is the building itself, marvelous marble walls and floors. There are a few displays inside the library that are interesting -- things that belonged to Ike and Mamie and other memorabilia. The library itself is open only for those who have made prior arrangements to use it.

Eisenhower Family Grave SiteBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Abilene, KS
The family of Dwight Eisenhower has their family cemetery plot in Abilene, though the former president was not laid to rest here. The cemetery is located across town (on 14th about 4 blocks west of Buckeye) from the Eisenhower Center but is an interesting side-trip. The Eisenhower plot is enclosed by its own ornate fence. There are several other interesting gravestones in this cemetery if you care to browse around.

Eisenhower ChapelBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Eisenhower Center
Another building on the grounds is a place of meditation. It is a lovely building sitting by itself near one of the parking lots. The most lovely thing here is the outside fountain at night. It is lighted with colored lights and is a quiet and peaceful place to sit for a few moments of contemplation or meditation.

About the Writer

Casual Tourist
Casual Tourist
Enterprise, Kansas

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