A city called Beautiful – The charm of Olathe, Kansas

Donna Southland — Back in the spring of 1857, Dr. John T. Barton rode his horse out to the center of Johnson County, Kansas. He looked around and saw a beautiful prairie, covered with wild flowers. In the middle of this beautiful land, he decided to take out two quarter sections of a town site.

He thought the wildflower-strewn prairie was so beautiful that he should name the town “Beautiful” as well. The legend goes that Barton spoke to a Shawnee interpreter and asked him how to say the word “Beautiful” in his language. The word was “Olathe” and so the town was named.

When you visit this beautiful city, you will find that its name fits. This town has a welcoming small-town atmosphere, excellent stores, restaurants and hotels, several parks, and recreational facilities. Not to mention there are plenty of historic and cultural attractions.

Here are some ideas of what you can do during your visit to Olathe:

• Play a game of basketball at Black Bob Park or at Fairview Park at the full-court basketball facilities.


• Go for a boat ride on Lake Olathe or Cedar Lake.


• If you get a Kansas state fishing license, you can fish at Cedar Lake, Mahaffie Pond, Lake Olathe or Waterworks Park.


• You can practice your skateboard tricks at the skate park, which is located at Two Trails Park.


• Wander down the street and talk to the locals. The citizens of Olathe embody Midwestern hospitality. They will be happy to chat with you and tell you about their town.


• At the Great Mall of the Great Plains, you can play Cosmic Mini Golf. It’s golf like you have never played it before, on an indoor glow-in-the-dark course!


• For a fresh take on dinner and a movie, check out the “Fork & Screen” at the AMC Studio 30 Theatre. A whole wing of the theatre has been converted into a complete dining and entertainment experience. You can enjoy a meal and a drink, while watching a film on the big screen.


• If you are traveling with your kids, they will love to run off all their excess energy at “Monkey Bizness”. It’s an interactive play area filled with equipment for kids to climb, bounce and swing on.


• Check out Ensor Farm Site and Museum. This was home to Marshall Ensor who was an Olathe teacher and also an amateur radio pioneer. The museum is set within an 1892 farm house that displays antique furniture and other artifacts.


• Take a self-guided historic walking tour of Olathe. It will take you through 37 different sites in the city. You can find the map at the Olathe Visitor’s Bureau.

All of these attractions and more are waiting for you in peaceful and friendly Olathe. Why not spend a while in this welcoming town and experience how beautiful it really is?

 

About the Author

Donna Southland is a travel writer from Kansas. When she visits this town, she stays at the Comfort Inn Hotel in Olathe Kansas.