Abilene
Around Abilene
Illustration made for Popchat
Countryside and towns · Kansas · 18k people
Abilene
Locals say Smoky Hills · “Spur Capital of the World”
Where the prairie meets history
GoldenrodPrairie GreenKansas Blue
Welcome to the Smoky Hills! Whether you're here for the history, the prairie, or the small-town charm, you'll find a friendly wave and a good piece of pie. Come for the Eisenhower Library, stay for the sunsets over the wheat fields.
Clubs for Abilene
No clubs for Abilene yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Abilene. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Abilene. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Eisenhower Presidential Library Home of the 34th president, with museum and boyhood home.
- Greyhound Hall of Fame Celebrates greyhound racing history.
- Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Scenic train rides on historic tracks.
- Old Abilene Town Recreated Wild West town with saloon and shops.
- Seelye Mansion 1910 mansion with original furnishings.
- Dickinson County Heritage Center Local history museum with pioneer exhibits.
- Outdoors fishing on the Smoky Hill River
- Outdoors hiking the prairie trails
- With kids Eisenhower Presidential Library
- With kids Greyhound Hall of Fame
- Evenings live music at local taverns
- Evenings theatre performances
- Locals love small-town diners
- Locals love farm stands
Through the year
- Wild West Festival June Abilene's summer celebration with parades, music, and heritage reenactments.
- Eisenhower Marathon April Annual marathon and half-marathon starting at the Eisenhower Presidential Library.
- Dickinson County Fair July County fair with livestock shows, carnival rides, and local food.
- Chisholm Trail Festival September Herington's celebration of the cattle trail with music, food, and history.
- Christmas Parade December Holiday parade through downtown Abilene with local floats and lights.
Continental climate: hot summers, cold winters, and windy springs. Best time to be out is fall. Best: Fall is the best time—mild days, golden fields, and clear skies.
Getaways
- Salina Bigger city with shopping, dining, and the Smoky Hill River Festival.
- Flint Hills Rolling tallgrass prairie and scenic drives.
- Manhattan Home of Kansas State University, with college-town energy and the Flint Hills Discovery Center.
- McPherson Charming town with a historic downtown and McPherson County Old Mill Museum.
Local flavour
Rooting for Kansas State Wildcats, Kansas Jayhawks
Eat and drink
- chicken fried steak A classic rural Kansas dish, often served with cream gravy
- bison burger Reflecting the region's cattle and prairie heritage
- sunflower seeds Kansas is the Sunflower State
- wheat berry salad Made from local wheat
- homemade pies A staple of small-town diners and church suppers
Where people go
- prairie The vast grasslands that define the landscape
- wheat fields Golden fields that stretch to the horizon
- Flint Hills The nearby tallgrass prairie region
- Eisenhower Presidential Library A major landmark in Abilene honouring President Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Chisholm Trail Historic cattle drive route that passed through the area
- small-town diners Classic local eateries serving homestyle food
- grain elevators Iconic structures on the prairie skyline
- cattle ranches Working ranches that continue the agricultural tradition
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaSalinaKansasPrairie roots, open skies.Flint HillsKansasWhere the tallgrass meets the sky.ManhattanKansasWhere the Flint Hills meet the purple pride.McPhersonKansasSmall-town warmth, big prairie skiesConcordiaKansasWide skies, warm hearts.EmporiaKansasWhere the prairie meets the sky.HutchinsonKansasWhere the prairie meets the saltTopekaKansasHeart of the prairie, home of the capitol.
Dickinson County, KS. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.