Counciling at the Grove

Take a trip back into the past or enjoy the present pleasures of Council Grove Lake -- the choice is yours. As the last place to take on supplies before setting out on the Sante Fe trail, the town of Council Grove is steeped in historic character, sites and attractions. The 3,310 acre lake is located three miles north of town on State Highway 177.

Historically, there is much to learn and see in Council Grove. Visit the Council Oak, where in 1825 the Osage Indians and the U.S. government signed a treaty that led to the establishment of the Sante Fe Trail. Or visit the Seth Hays Home, the Cowboy Jail, the Kaw Mission State Historic Site or the Post Office Oak.

If you are interested in a bit of recreation, Council Grove Lake, located in the captivating Flint Hills area of Kansas, has 10 developed parks, numerous boat docks, and nature trails.

Quick Tips:

I'd suggest spending at least a couple of days in this area. Much of your time can be spent engaging in water sports or nature hikes at the lake, but make sure you take a jaunt into town for a step back into pioneer history.

Best Way To Get Around:

You'll need to have a vehicle to get around in this area. Once you've decided if you're doing the recreation or the history thing, you're sure to need a good pair of walking shoes.

What can I say -- if you've eaten at one Sonic Burger (or any fast food chain) you can pretty well judge how the food will be. The lot was clean and the service fairly prompt. My husband said that his Sonic Burger wasn't quite as good as some he's had at other Sonic Burgers but my Coney Dog was the same as I'd had at other locations of this chain.

Council Grove Reservoir is listed as one of the places in Kansas where many eagles spend parts of December and January. This is probably a true claim, but we've visited the lake in the winters of 2000 and 2001 and have not seen any eagles in this area thus far. There are plenty of places where the eagles may be hiding however, so it could just be the law of averages that we have not seen any.

If you approach Council Grove Reservoir from the west via the Kelso Road you come across a barely marked wildlife viewing area. The roads here, as many in Kansas, are minimum maintenance so it may be that you park your vehicle and walk into the area if the roads are questionable.

This area is along a couple of bends in Munkers Creek. It is beautiful in summer as well as winter and is a great habitat for a wide variety of birds, including hawks, woodpeckers and cardinals. I've seen tracks of deer, racoons, and other small animals in the area but have not ever actually seen any of these creatures.

One of the unique rock areas that we've found is along the shore near the east side of the dam. We've found geode-like formations here as well as many other interesting stones. I just like rocks but am not very good at identifying them, so you won't find any techinical information written here. Just trust me -- the rocks are cool.

The location of the present day Council Grove has a history of European visitors and settlers dating back to the 1520s. This is the location where Coronado is said to have crossed the Neosho River on his quest for the fabled city of gold. It continued to maintain its place in American history as pioneers began passing through the plains on their way west. The Sante Fe Trail, which began in Missouri, passed through Council Grove and the trading post at this site was the last chance travelers had to restock their supplies before heading off to New Mexico.

One of the town's features that really captured my fancy is a statue located on East Main St. labeled as Madonna of the Trail. It is a tribute to the pioneer women who left the safety of their family homes and embarked on the long journey west.

There is a recommended tour that starts at the Kaw Mission State Historic Site. I haven't actually gone through the tour yet but have plans to do so in the near future.