Top 15 Activities in Hays, Kansas You Can’t Miss

The origins of the largest city in northwestern Kansas date back to a U.S. Army frontier outpost established on the Smoky Hill Trail in 1865.

Personnel stationed at Fort Hays were responsible for safeguarding travelers and freight transports against the Arapaho and Cheyenne who hunted bison across the Great Plains.

During the frontier era, Hays experienced the tumultuous violence characteristic of the Old West, and numerous now-legendary figures such as “Buffalo Bill” Cody, Calamity Jane, “Wild Bill” Hickok, and Billy Dixon were present here during the 1860s and 1870s.

Part of the fort’s area eventually became the site of Fort Hays State University, which houses one of the nation’s esteemed natural history museums. Additionally, several structures around the parade grounds have been preserved at the Fort Hays State Historic Site.

1. Sternberg Museum of Natural History

The primary attraction at FHSU is an exceptional museum that draws visitors from across the region and serves as a leader in paleontological research in the 21st century.

With over 100,000 square feet of exhibits, the Sternberg Museum allows guests to easily spend half a day exploring.

Concentrating on the Great Plains, the extensive collection includes more than 3.7 million specimens, primarily in paleontology and geology, but also encompassing fields such as archaeology, botany, entomology, and ornithology.

A notable exhibit features the fossil of a 14-inch xiphactinus with an intact 6-inch gillicus found within its stomach.

Among the other remarkable fossils are the skull of a pteranodon sternbergi, as well as type specimens for the nyctosaurus (pterosaur), the tylosaurus (mosasaur), and dolichorhynchops (plesiosaur).

In addition to these extraordinary specimens, the museum showcases impressive life-sized models of both marine and terrestrial dinosaurs that would have inhabited Kansas hundreds of millions of years ago.

2. Fort Hays State Historic Site

The remaining buildings and 177 acres surrounding Fort Hays are preserved as a historic site under the management of the Kansas Historical Society.

Founded in 1865 on lands traditionally inhabited by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Native Americans, the fort was established to protect railroad workers and settlers along the Smoky Hill Trail.

Although Fort Hays was abandoned in 1889, four original buildings—including a blockhouse, guardhouse, and officers’ quarters—remain intact, alongside the foundations of many others.

The site is rich in Wild West history, offering extensive exhibits dedicated to the fort’s past, daily life at the outpost, and the conflicts between the United States and the Plains Indians.

3. Downtown Hays (The Bricks)

Characterized by its brick-paved streets, historic architecture, and Wild West heritage, downtown Hays boasts one of the finest central business districts in the state.

Within these attractive historic structures lie numerous locally-owned enterprises, making it an ideal place for unique gifts and diverse dining options ranging from BBQ and burgers to tacos, sushi, artisanal cocktails, craft beer, and delectable sweets.

The Union Pacific Plaza hosts a market on Saturdays, while Main Street provides a dignified setting for community events such as Wild West Days in early July.

To explore Hays’ lively past, visitors can embark on a self-guided walking tour that revives the stories of the 1860s and 1870s, assisted by a map available at the Hays Welcome Center featuring approximately 25 bronze plaques marking significant sites.

4. Fort Hays State University Campus

Originally established as the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School (now Emporia State University), Fort Hays State University is a public institution founded in 1902.

The beautiful campus is conveniently located within walking distance of downtown Hays and is bordered by the scenic Big Creek, just prior to its entry into Frontier Park.

Featuring over 40 limestone-clad buildings, many of which are architecturally remarkable, a campus tour is certainly rewarding.

The Hays tourism initiative offers information on a self-guided tour that highlights significant artworks on campus, such as Interlude (1992), Deeply Rooted (1999), and the Contemplation Garden Sculpture (1997).

5. Frontier Historical Park

Located north and east of the state historic site, Frontier Historical Park encompasses nearly 90 acres on the former grounds of Fort Hays. A tranquil area now filled with old trees, it offers an excellent setting for leisurely walks or cycling.

The park features an 18-hole disc golf course, four shelter houses, playgrounds, and a captivating nature trail rich in history.

A particularly poignant site in the park is the city’s buffalo herd, housed in pens at the western end. This herd was established in 1953, featuring a bull named Wild Bill and a cow named Calamity Jane.

6. Wild West Fest

Commemorating the city’s Old West heritage while celebrating Independence Day, Hays’ annual Wild West Festival occurs during the first week of July.

This five-day event features a Main Street parade, fireworks, carnival activities, and a variety of community events, including a 5k run.

At the heart of Wild West Fest is country music, with past performers including well-known artists such as Cody Johnson, Neal McCoy, Chris Janson, Lainey Wilson, Maddie & Tae, Parmalee, and Blackhawk.

The parade, held on Saturday morning, showcases numerous local businesses and organizations, featuring horses, motorcycles, and vintage cars, among other attractions.

7. Ellis County Historical Society Museum

Housed in a historic Presbyterian church building in downtown Hays, this museum preserves and depicts the intriguing history of Ellis County.

Visitors can explore connections to many Wild West figures associated with Hays, including George Armstrong Custer, “Buffalo Bill” Cody, “Wild Bill” Hickok, and Billy Dixon.

Exhibits are also dedicated to the Fort Hays Experiment Station and various aspects of local agriculture, illustrating the impact of the railroads, the buffalo trade, and the contributions of the Volga Germans who settled in the mid-1870s.

The grounds feature a replica of a Volga German Haus, the 1879 Stone Church, and the Hays Fire Department Museum. Please note that at the time of composing this article, the museum was temporarily closed due to water damage.

8. Merci Boxcar

Located in the eastern part of the city at Veterans Memorial Park, this monument signifies the Franco-American connection. This boxcar was a gift from France to Kansas in gratitude for the Friendship Train.

This train was filled with food, medical supplies, and resources aimed at helping the people of France recover following the devastation of WWII.

The Gratitude Train, which comprised 49 boxcars dating back to WWI—one for each state and the District of Columbia—was filled with gifts from France.

In 1949, the Merci Boxcar journeyed through 120 communities in Kansas before finding its permanent residence in Hays.

9. Basilica of St. Fidelis

Upon arriving in the small town of Victoria, located just east of Hays, you will encounter this stunning Romanesque-style church, recognized as one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas.

Known as the Cathedral of the Plains, the Basilica of St. Fidelis was constructed from native limestone between 1908 and 1911, and upon completion, it was the largest church west of the Mississippi.

The two bell towers on the west facade rise more than 140 feet, visible over the plains for extensive distances, while the nave accommodates over 1,100 worshippers.

Visitors are invited, and it is highly recommended to undertake a self-guided tour to appreciate the intricately carved column capitals, the German stained glass windows, the altar crafted from Italian carrara marble, and the hand-carved Stations of the Cross produced in Austria.

10. Hays Arts Center Gallery

Managed by the Hays Arts Council, this vibrant community art center consistently offers fresh exhibitions throughout the year.

Located downtown, near the intersection of Main Street and 11th Street, the Hays Arts Center hosts the longest-running juried exhibition in Kansas, the Smoky Hill Art Exhibition.

Active for over 50 years, this exhibition opens on the last Friday of April and continues through May.

The exhibition’s opening coincides with Hays’ Spring Gallery Walk, which includes participation from up to 20 local businesses downtown. A Fall Gallery Walk also occurs on the last Friday of August.

11. Massey Park

This charming neighborhood park, located northeast of downtown, previously served as the site for Hays’ community pool.

Massey Park offers a wealth of activities, with its spacious shelter/pavilion serving as an excellent venue for summer birthday celebrations.

The expansive playground is equipped with structures suitable for all ages, along with basketball courts, multi-use trails, and many acres of lawn for recreational activities. All facilities are well maintained, including restrooms and picnic tables.

12. Hays Aquatic Park

Hays features an exciting modern water park, designed to resemble a fort from the main entrance. The Hays Aquatic Park is sufficiently spacious to entertain children for hours while still allowing parents to easily keep an eye on them.

Attractions include a zero-depth entry leisure pool, an eight-lane competition pool, a play feature with a substantial dump bucket, three water slides, and a lengthy lazy river that winds throughout the park.

For those in need of relaxation, there is an upper deck sunbathing area and several shaded lounging spots amidst beautifully arranged flowers, trees, and native limestone.

13. Big Creek Nature Trail

Within Frontier Park, this winding 1.7-mile trail traces the course of Big Creek, encircling the southern perimeter of the Fort Hays State University Campus and crossing Main Street.

A comprehensive map is accessible on Hays’ city website, indicating 14 points of interest, such as the buffalo herd, former ice production facilities, the original bridge connecting the city to Fort Hays, and the site of the inaugural Hays county fair in 1883.

Along the trail, visitors can appreciate several impressive old trees including red mulberry, boxelder, catalpa, and eastern redbud.

14. Downtown Hays Market

Located at the eastern end of Union Pacific Plaza, the attractive Downtown Pavilion has recently been completed and is now maintained by Hays’ Parks Department.

From May through October, Saturday mornings feature the Downtown Hays Market, which combines a farm and arts market with vendors from across Kansas.

On a typical week, one could discover seasonal produce, locally-raised meats, jams, honey, freshly roasted coffee, kettle corn, cut flowers, baked goods, and a diverse range of handcrafted products from talented artisans.

15. Ellis County Fair

The county fairgrounds are situated in the northwest part of Hays, with the highlight of the year being the fair, typically held in mid-July.

As always, 4-H exhibitions play a significant role in the fair, with young members dedicating an entire year to their projects.

While it is challenging to enumerate all activities over the course of the seven-plus days, key events include a KPRA rodeo, the 4-H livestock auction, races at the RPM Speedway, an exhilarating stunt and monster truck show, carnival rides and games, live music, and an abundance of food and beverage vendors lining the midway.