WaKeeney

Maintaining a reputation of a community with pride, WaKeeney is a small Kansas town in Trego County with natural beauty and local hospitality.

WaKeeney was founded in 1789 by a grandson of Iowa pioneers, Rev. Jonathan Anthony Keeney and Wife Mary Hannah McGlothlen. Actually, the grandson had a partner in the founding of WaKeeney. The grandson was 33 year old Chicago real estate developer, James Franklin Keeney and his partner-friend was Albert Warren. As you can see, the city name, WaKeeney, was formed by combining their surnames, which made up their partnership name of Warren-Keeney. The Warren-Keeney land development company architect provided the layout of the original WaKeeney city street plans.

Summertime finds WaKeeney an enjoyable place to stay. With the hustle and bustle of Trego County fair, fairgoers find time for recreation including our free tennis courts, softball diamonds, municipal swimming pool, horse shows, car races at WaKeeney Speedway or a round of golf at the finest grass green golf course in Western Kansas with club and cart rentals for visitors.

Arriving in this small community with a population of 2,300 you will find the modern facilities like those of Metropolitan cities but will appreciate WaKeeney’s proud past at the Historical Society Museum. You’ll learn the city’s founding and how it became the town that time forgot.

Iwo Jima Memorial

The Iwo Jima Memorial has become a popular attraction for people visiting the WaKeeney area. The memorial site not only honors the Marines that fought and died in WWII, but…

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Things to Do in WaKeeney

Keep it easy.

The best days usually come without pressure or overplanning.

Elk Dreamer Art Gallery

The newest attraction to Wakeeney features southwest art prints and sculptures.

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Let the road decide.

Plans are useful, but flexibility is where the real discoveries happen.

80 Foot Wide Brick Streets

Take a walk along the 80 foot wide brick streets of downtown. WaKeeney was founded…

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A place to slow down.

Not every stop needs to be busy to be worth your time.

Butterfield Overland Despatch Trail

Stone markers can be seen where this trail crosses the north-south country roads. The Butterfield…

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Worth the stop.

Some places don't need much time, just the right moment.

Old Fashioned Soda Fountains

Wakeeney has the distinction of having two old- fashioned soda fountains on Main Street. Be…

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Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor recreational opportunites abound around WaKeeney. The town is located in an area offering some…

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Stay a little longer.

Rushing through a place rarely does it justice.

Big Creek Golf Course

Big Creek Golf Course is one of the nicest 9 hole, grass green golf courses…

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Emanuel Lutheran Church

The Emanuel Lutheran Church was constructed in 1902 of native limestone quarried near Threshing Machine…

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Take the detour.

The extra miles are often where the story begins.

Threshing Machine Canyon

In 1867, a party of travelers were transporting three threshing machines belonging to Brigham Young…

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