Top 15 Must-Visit Attractions in Shawnee, Kansas

Situated in the southeastern region of the Kansas City metropolitan area, Shawnee represents a continually expanding suburban city with historical significance as the spiritual and political hub of the Shawnee Nation.

During the period of westward expansion, forks of the Oregon, California, and Santa Fe Trails traversed what is now Shawnee, complemented by a ferry crossing on the Kansas River, which delineates the city’s northern boundary.

Subsequently, Shawnee emerged as a focal point for truck farming, a legacy that is vividly showcased at the Shawnee Town 1929 Museum.

Today, Shawnee has transformed into a delightful suburb featuring a vibrant historic district that has undergone significant revitalization over the past decade, characterized by new local retailers, restaurants, and a seasonal farmers’ market.

1. Shawnee Town 1929 Museum

Located at Herman Laird Park on the eastern side of downtown Shawnee, this insightful outdoor museum delves into the city’s historical lineage.

The museum presents an authentic portrayal of a small agricultural community in Johnson County just prior to the Great Depression.

This vibrant living history museum illuminates various facets of everyday existence, including kitchen gardens.

Reconstructed buildings feature a farmstead, post office, chapel, school, fire station, and various typical businesses. Tours commence at the visitor center, featuring the exhibit titled “Shawnee: Old Town – New City.”

2. Mill Creek Streamway Park

Mill Creek gently flows northward through Shawnee, eventually merging with the Kansas River at Nelson Island.

The banks of the creek remain largely undeveloped, offering an ideal setting for a scenic linear park featuring approximately 17 miles of paved biking and pedestrian pathways.

Starting from the river junction in the north, the primary trail meanders through Shawnee into the neighboring community of Lenexa, concluding at 1700 Northgate St. in Olathe.

This park provides an excellent opportunity for outdoor activity while remaining within the metropolitan area, traversing wooded and open landscapes, as well as residential neighborhoods. The system additionally includes three miles of equestrian trails and three park shelters.

3. Shawnee Mission Park

Integrating with the Mill Creek trail system, this splendid 1,600-acre park boasts a plethora of activities throughout the year. Shawnee Mission Park is frequently recognized as one of the top parks in Kansas, featuring a 120-acre lake.

In the summer, the lake serves as a popular venue for various water activities, including fishing and boating, with pedal boats, canoes, and fishing boats available for rental at the marina.

The lake is surrounded by trails and includes a beach on the north shore, along with a designated dog beach on the southwest side, part of a sizable off-leash dog area.

A variety of additional amenities are present, including an 18-hole disc golf course, 11 shelters, numerous picnic spots, mountain bike, equestrian trails, and several playgrounds, including a newly established inclusive playground located in the north Walnut Grove area.

Furthermore, the Theatre in the Park is a beloved outdoor community theater ensemble, presenting a summer season of musicals for audiences of all ages.

4. Downtown Shawnee

While Shawnee is a contemporary and rapidly growing suburb, the heart of the city boasts a history dating back to the mid-19th century.

If you have not visited the historic downtown of Shawnee recently, you will be pleasantly surprised by the enchanting little business district that has flourished.

The downtown area features a diverse array of restaurants, breweries, cafes, bars, and shops, all conveniently located within close proximity to one another.

Seemingly overnight, downtown Shawnee has evolved into a hub for shopping excursions, family outings, romantic evenings, and after-work gatherings.

Moreover, do not overlook the Aztec Shawnee Theater, the farmers’ market, or the Moonlight Markets, which we will elaborate on further below.

5. Aztec Shawnee Theater

This quaint historic movie house was inaugurated in 1927 as the Mission Theater and retains the architectural features reminiscent of a mission building with its pinnacles and curving gable.

The theater underwent a name change to the Aztec in 1942 and served as an entertainment cornerstone for Shawnee until its closure in 1975, after which it was repurposed for storage.

This wrong was finally rectified in 2020 when the theater was revitalized as a 270-seat performing arts venue following 15 years of intermittent renovations.

It is heartening to observe the significant care and attention that has been dedicated to the Aztec Shawnee Theater, and you must experience it for yourself through a concert, comedy performance, lecture, or classic movie screening.

6. Moonlight Markets

During summer evenings, a special event unfolds at the City Hall parking lot located directly across from the Aztec Theater. On the third Thursday of each month, this space transforms into Shawnee’s Moonlight Markets.

These markets operate until 8:00 PM and feature a fusion of a traditional farmers’ market with live musical performances from talented local musicians.

These evenings also provide an excellent opportunity to experience the best of Shawnee’s flourishing downtown district. Additionally, a regular farmers’ market takes place at the same location every Saturday morning from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

7. Medicine’s Hall of Fame Museum

Dr. Bruce Hodges, a physician and medical missionary, has traveled extensively during his 55-year career.

Throughout his journey, he has assembled an exceptional collection of artifacts, focusing on ethnography, medicine, and the Christian faith.

These invaluable items found a permanent home in the facility that previously housed the Johnson County Museum.

The museum opened its doors in 2020 and exhibits approximately three-quarters of its impressive 4,600-item collection.

Visitors can expect to see traditional African carvings, Egyptian and Chinese medical artifacts, a historic horse-drawn doctor’s buggy, and a comprehensive exhibit dedicated to the largely forgotten polio epidemic that plagued the United States in the early decades of the 20th century.

8. Splash Cove

Situated at the outskirts of downtown Shawnee, Splash Cove is a family-friendly public water park, ideal for young children. This facility operates from Memorial Day weekend to mid-August, offering numerous amenities for an enjoyable day out.

Facilities include an interactive water playground, a mini wave pool, a large instructional pool, a 125-foot body slide, and concessions.

This is not the only aquatic facility managed by the Shawnee Parks Department; the Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center is located just minutes west along Johnson Dr. in Veterans Park.

This larger facility features a lazy river, a 50-meter competition pool, a diving area, two 125-foot slides, a vortex ride, and an entirely enclosed infant area featuring a water playground.

9. Clear Creek Trail

Located on the western side of Shawnee, Clear Creek is a small watercourse that originates at Shawnee Golf and Country Club and winds its way eastward through a densely wooded corridor to Mill Creek.

This paved trail is open to walkers, joggers, and cyclists, measuring just under 3.5 miles in length.

Trail access is available on the north side of the golf course, where visitors can traverse under the canopy of riparian forests to reach the confluence with Mill Creek, where the pathway connects with Mill Creek Streamway Park.

10. Johnson County Museum

For those seeking to learn more about the history of Johnson County, this exceptional museum is just minutes away in Overland Park.

The museum’s flagship exhibition, “Becoming Johnson County,” offers an in-depth exploration of the county’s history.

Centerpiece features include the 1950s All-Electric House, illustrating the modern suburban lifestyle that gained prominence in Johnson County during the post-war era.

Additionally, the KidsScape exhibit provides an engaging, hands-on learning experience set against an 1870s farmstead, a 1900s urban market, and the suburban life of the 1950s.

11. Grinter Place State Historic Site

This historic residence is located on the opposite bank of the Kansas River, near a historic Indian Trail crossing.

Grinter Place dates back to 1831 and was founded by Moses Grinter, one of the region’s first permanent settlers.

Grinter established a ferry and trading post, residing here with his half-Lenape wife, “Windagamen,” which translates to “Sweetness.” The existing Colonial-style house, constructed from locally produced bricks, was erected in 1857 and is overseen by the Kansas Historical Society.

From mid-April through October, visitors can tour the house, learn about the lives of the Grinter family, and view some of their possessions, displayed alongside period-appropriate furnishings.

12. Kansas City Ice Center and Pavilion

The premier skating destination in the Kansas City region is located right here in Shawnee.

This modern, well-maintained facility features a programming schedule that includes regular public skating sessions, freestyle skating, drop-in hockey, youth and adult hockey leagues, as well as various classes, camps, and clinics.

In addition, there is a partial outdoor ice pavilion, allowing skaters to enjoy the open air without concerns about precipitation. The pavilion typically remains operational until March.

13. Strawberry Hill Povitica Company

Located nearby in Merriam is a unique bakery specializing in povitica, a traditional nut roll originating from Slovenia and Croatia.

Typically baked during the holiday season, traditional povitica is often given between families as a gesture of goodwill, similar to Italian panettone.

The Strawberry Hill Povitica Company is among the last bakeries still adhering to an authentic family recipe passed down through generations.

Options include fillings such as blueberry cream cheese, apple cinnamon, English walnut, and poppy seeds, among others.

14. Black Hoof Park

Situated in Lenexa, just ten minutes from Shawnee’s Mission Park, Black Hoof Park is another area of remarkable beauty, encircling Lake Lenexa, which was constructed in 2006.

The dam for this 35-acre reservoir can be found on the eastern side of the park and features one of the most distinctive spillways that combines art and engineering.

Ensure you explore the contemporary architectural elements of the spillway before taking advantage of the park’s extensive facilities, which include a boat launch, fishing dock, shelters, a network of trails, and a delightful playground for children.

15. Zip KC

Across the Kansas River in Bonner Springs lies another thrilling attraction. Zip KC is an expansive adventure park nestled within a picturesque riverside forest.

Zip lines are a major draw here, featuring nine lines that stretch over nearly 6,000 feet and reach speeds of up to 50 mph.

Zip KC offers a variety of tours to accommodate all preferences and even includes glow-in-the-dark nighttime zip lining.

For those eager to challenge their abilities, there is also a Ninja Training Obstacle Tour, complete with over 30 obstacles spread across a two-mile course.