There’s no shortage of unique and irresistible venues in Kansas. The state is rich in history, from the Wild West to the wild blue yonder, and each site has a story to tell. From trendy neighborhoods in bustling cities to the untamed beauty of a windswept prairie or a shimmering lake, Kansas is in a class all its own.
Wichita
“Wichita is a strikingly beautiful city,” said Susie Santo, CEO and president of Visit Wichita. “A city that was once home to cattle drives, Wichita has risen out of the Old West dust, with its contemporary art museums, revitalized downtown and surrounding areas and distinctive landmarks, and shines as a lively destination right in the heart of the U.S.”
Indeed, the museum scene in Wichita is unparalleled, with a host of unusual options for groups. The Wichita Art Museum is the largest art museum in the state, with a focus on American art. The collection ranges from Edward Hopper and Charles Russell to glasswork master Dale Chihuly. The museum can arrange programming for corporate events or, for a special treat, a private viewing of the museum’s permanent collection. Also available are five different spaces, from a boardroom to the Great Hall, which can accommodate up to 200.
Planners can take their group back in time to Kansas’ cowpoke days with an event at the Old Cowtown Museum, where the 1870s come alive with re-enactors, songs from the Diamond W Wranglers and even a chuckwagon supper. Attendees can stop in at a saloon, see a gun fight or visit the local blacksmith.
Fast forward to the Jayhawk State’s contributions in early flight at the Kansas Aviation Museum, which features plenty of aircraft, exhibits and event spaces. Since the museum is housed in the state’s first airport terminal, small groups can even dine in the former air control tower and get an unbelievable view of Wichita.
Lawrence
As a two-college town, Lawrence prides itself on a free-spirited, funky vibe. The city is home to the University of Kansas and the Haskell Indian Nations University. Art is plentiful, and venues include the Lawrence Arts Center and Cider Gallery. The Arts Center features 40,000 square feet of contemporary space with a large lobby, classrooms, galleries and more, depending on a planner’s needs. Another contemporary gallery, the Cider Gallery, can handle up to 300 guests, but the renovated historic space still feels intimate.
Another unique venue is the Castle Tea Room, which recently finished renovations and can accommodate 150 inside or 250 outside in the cooling shadow of the three-story castle tower.
Dodge City
There’s no city more iconic in Wild West legend than Dodge City. It became an important stop for travelers heading west, and earned its own reputation for outlaws and frontier justice. Planners can arrange to have someone in the group named as an honorary marshall or drover (cowpoke), and groups can enjoy events in the Long Branch Saloon at the Boot Hill Museum, or the bygone elegance of the Depot Theater Co., and Santa Fe Depot. Of course, a visit to Dodge City isn’t complete without a tour of Boot Hill Cemetery, where the law-biding and lawless alike were laid to rest.
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Kansas City
Agriculture has been a huge part of Kansas’ infrastructure, both then and now. In Kansas City, Kansas, attendees can learn more about the state’s agri-accomplishments while having some fun, too.
“The National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame was chartered by Congress to honor America’s farmers,” said Kerry Green, who is the meeting, event and group manager for the Kansas City, Kansas CVB. She added that groups can experience the Agricultural Hall of Fame, Museum of Farming, National Farmers Memorial and even mini train rides on the grounds. The facility has several options for meetings and events, from 20 to 5,000. Farm Town is a popular option with groups due to the outdoor, park-like setting.
Planners can also switch gears into the fast lane with an event at the Kansas Speedway. The facility offers suites, pit tours and even corporate RV rentals, which allows groups of 35 or more to experience a race from the infield, giving them an unparalleled 360-degree view, or they can select terrace locations above the turns.
Overland Park
Located in the Kansas City metro area, Overland Park brings its own unique flair to meetings as well.
“Overland Park offers a comfortable home base to meetings wanting the intimacy of a smaller community and the amenities of a larger city,” said Dana Markel, president of Visit Overland Park, who added that the city continues to add new activities that can’t be found in the Kansas City metro area.
One of the most distinctive sites in the area is the Museum at Prairiefire, a facility dedicated to natural history and science. The world and beyond is covered, from astronomy to zoology. Visitors can see a cast of the first T-Rex discovered, explore samples and interactive exhibits, or experience virtual, augmented reality. Groups can rent a variety of spaces, from dedicated meeting rooms to the Great Hall and Terrace, where attendees can appreciate the stunning diachronic glass installation. The installation is a distillation of colors representing a fire blazing across the prairie, using special glass designed by NASA. The massive artwork also makes for an irresistible photo op for groups.
Another unique venue is the Culinary Center of Kansas City, which hosts 600 cooking classes every year. The center offers a stunning array of activities for groups, from space for meetings to interactive dinner parties, private cooking classes, BBQ competitions for teambuilding, wine tastings and corporate wellness events, which teach attendees about better food and cooking choices. Instructional classes for groups include Knife Skills 101, how to make seasonal pies and more.
Topeka
As the state capital, Topeka offers historic and classy venues, from the smooth, polished visage and spacious interiors of the 1927 Great Overland Station to a refurbished, historic fire station, also built in 1927. Both are important links to the city’s past, and can accommodate meetings as well as group events.
The Kansas Museum of History also makes an excellent site for events, and attendees can browse exhibits that include a fully stocked wagon ready for the Oregon Trail, a 1950s diner, a 1914 biplane or an 1880s locomotive. For more amazing history, planners can work with the Kansas Historical Society to request an event at the Kansas State Capitol Visitors Center and tour the restored Capitol itself, including the rotunda rooms under the dome.
Manhattan
Just east of Topeka is Manhattan, known as The Little Apple to New York City’s Big Apple. Manhattan lives up to its moniker with stunning spaces like the Wareham Opera House, a renovated 1882 movie house that can hold up to 550 attendees, or the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, a post-modern building filled with art wonders from the collection of Kansas State University.
Another unusual venue is the Prairiewood Retreat and Reserve, a luxury lodging and event facility situated on 250 acres of tallgrass prairie. Next to the Retreat is the Blue Sage Barn, a former equestrian barn renovated into a tech-savvy meeting space. The barn can hold up to 295 attendees while the retreat can accommodate 12 to 60 guests.
Junction City/Geary County
In the heart of Kansas is Junction City, and this heart beats strong with natural beauty. Just east of the city itself is Munson Angus Farms, which welcomes groups to the Flint Hills region with agri-tours, event space, dinner and carriage rides. Up to 120 attendees can be accommodated with ease. The Milford Nature Center offers a chance to see native Kansas wildlife up close, including a bird of prey exhibit featuring a bald eagle and a golden eagle. The Butterfly House is a popular stop in the warm months, and even adults are tempted by the Nature Playground. The facility also has a small meeting room for groups.
