Kansas AgriTourism News

April 2007 Greetings! This month's issue features the beauty of our great state. In our featured destination, we take a look at the variety and wide open spaces of the Gypsum Hills, which start around the western edge of Medicine Lodge and run south into Oklahoma. Sharing this beautiful countryside, the Gypsum Hills Trail Rides provides an opportunity for folks to ride horse back or with saddle mules over an extensive, 10,000 acre range. Our second article was contributed by Katie Bartkoski, a staff member in the Division of Travel and Tourism for the Kansas Department of Commerce. Katie's story tells a little of the background behind this month's National Geographic feature on the Kansas Flint Hills. Both stories remind me that we have a lot to be proud of in Kansas, and I certainly encourage every one of you to join me in sharing our story! Becky Walters, Walters' Pumpkin Patch Chair, Kansas AgriTourism Advisory Council

In This Month's Issue: Featured Destination: The Wide Open Spaces- Gypsum Hills Trail Rides National Geographic Features the Flint Hills

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This Month's Featured Destination:

Riding the Wide Open Spaces
Gypsum Hills Trail Rides

When you think of trail rides, Bob Larson hopes to broaden your view-literally. Bob and his son Robert Larson are partners in the Gypsum Hills Trail Rides. Not only is this absolutely beautiful country to see by horse, but the rides here do not lead the horses “head to tail” along a marked path.

“We’ve got a trail boss out front, and another bringing up the rear,” Bob said. “All we ask is that you stay between us, and don’t range out more than, say, 100 yards either direction. That lets folks ride in groups, and families to enjoy their day side by side, talking and laughing as they ride.”

A lot of folks have never heard of the Gypsum Hills, and that’s a shame. From the rolling farm land and midgrass prairie grazing land, to the rugged, gypsum-capped flower pot shale mesas and buttes with minimal vegetation, the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway extends from the western city limits of Medicine Lodge, Kansas to the junction of U.S. 160 and U.S. 183 at Coldwater.

“It’s pretty special place,” as Bob tells it. “The roads out here are 5 miles apart, so you can ride a long ways in open country. There are no marked trails, and we don’t ride along the roadsides. You can go at whatever pace you want, and make it just as rugged or as easy as you want.”

The rides begin at the Gant-Larson Ranch, just west of Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Riders can go out on their own, or choose from one of the many organized trail rides available. Everyone brings their own mount, gear, feed, tack, and camping equipment. The ranch covers about 3,500 acres, with access to 10,000 acres. Guests that want to ride on their own are provided a map.

Organized rides are available often throughout the year, and range in size from 20 in a group, to a maximum of 250 riders.

“We started the trail rides in 1972 as a community project with the Medicine Lodge Chamber of Commerce, and the Sunflower R.C. & D., which includes 5 counties. It was all volunteers, and we had 125 riders the first year. The next year, that went up to 250 people, and the next year up to 400. Well- at that point-volunteering isn’t quite as fun!”

The fourth year, Bob and his wife Charlene, plus another rancher, Jim Lonker, decided they would conduct the rides as a for-profit venture. When Jim died, about 10 years later, the Larsons purchased the balance of the business from Jim’s wife, and have been running it ever since. Now, their son Robert and his wife Karen are also part of the business. Bob and Charlene’s daughter, Charyl and her husband Mark Zier also come in from Salina to help with the rides, as does granddaughter Dacy Larson Wood.

“After a short time, we decided to limit the rides to a maximum of 250 people,” Bob said. “Above that, it just takes too much to try to feed everyone. Our peak was 10-15 years ago, when we would have to turn folks away. Now we usually get 100-150 people for the organized rides. We do have lot more people that want to just come out on their own or create their own small group.”

In all, Bob estimates they have about 1,000 people a year come to ride at Gypsum Hills Trail Rides. For those riding on their own, each pays $10 registration and $5 for each additional day. For that, they have access to the campgrounds, the open riding, and a map.

Click here to read more about the organized rides, camping facilities, liability, and profits at Gypsum Hills Trail Rides.

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National Geographic Features Flint Hills

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