High Plains of Kansas

We have moved from Abilene, Kansas and are on our way to Colorado Springs, Colorado.  About half way between those two points is Oakley, Kansas.  So you say, what is in Oakley, Kansas and why did we decide to stop. 

Oakley was picked as it was a 220 mile drive (our normal driving day) from Abilene and is about the same distance to Colorado Springs.  It is right on the cut off highway we are taking to go to Colorado Springs to avoid going through Denver.  In looking on the map I discovered there is a National Landmark nearby called Monument Rocks and they looked interesting.  We arrived here on Monday afternoon and went exploring today, Tuesday.

First sight was a huge bronze statute next to the highway at the entrance of town.  It is of a cowboy shooting at a buffalo.  The history here is this is the place where Bill Cody got his name of Buffalo Bill.  He and Bill Comstock were using the name and they had a match (buffalo kill) near the town here and Bill Cody killed more buffalo than Bill Comstock and was then the only one known as Buffalo Bill.  Here is a picture of the statue with Fran in the picture so you can gauge the size.

About 20 miles further down the highway and a few dirt roads is Monument Rocks.  It is a ancient rock formation in the plains of Kansas.  It sits on private land and is accessible only by narrow dirt roads, but you can drive up to and around the rocks as well as walk and climb on them.

From a distance

Fran standing in the arch

My understanding is that these were formed over 80 million years ago as water receded. In addition to these rock formations they have found all kinds of fossils in the area.

Now, don’t you feel like you learned something!