Wakefield: Tourism

The following is a directory of tourism opportunities in Wakefield:

Clay County Park

Clay County Park
P.O. Box 124
Wakefield, KS 67487
Phone: 785-461-5774
Wayne Fowler, Manager

The Clay County Park is located in Wakefield, Kansas on the northwestern corner of Milford Lake. There are over 200 camping sites, four picnic shelters, three boat ramps, two docks, two shower houses (one handicap accessible), a dump station, fish cleaning station, and a large shelter house that can accommodate up to 180 people for group activities. Other types of recreation are available while visiting the park, including a swimming pool, two kiddie playgrounds, two horseshoe pits, a basketball court and a softball field. There is also wildlife viewing, with opportunities to view bald eagles, elk, pelicans and great blue heron. Fishing is a popular pastime at Milford Lake, where catfish, crappie, white bass, wipers, black bass and walleye reside in abundance.

Milford Lake

Milford Lake Project Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
4020 W. Highway K-57
Junction City, KS 66441
Phone: 785-238-5714

Milford Lake is the largest man-made lake in Kansas. The Corps works closely with other federal, state, county, and city agencies to meet the public’s many recreational and water resource needs. The construction of Milford Lake was authorized by Congress in 1954 and completed by the Corps of Engineers in the early 1960s. As a multipurpose project, the lake provides for flood control, navigation, water quality, water supply, recreation, and provides fish and wildlife benefits. Since Milford Lake began operations in 1967, it has prevented over $940 million in flood damages. Total cost of initial construction was just under $50 million. Milford Lake is located in Wakefield and Junction City.

Milford Lake and Steve Lloyd Wetlands

Milford Lake Project Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
4020 W. Highway K-57
Junction City, KS 66441
Phone: 785-238-5714

Kansas Birding Festival

Interested in bird watching and want to learn more? A three day event will be held in Wakefield, Kansas to highlight the bird watching areas around Wakefield, Milford Lake and the Milford Wetlands. The area offers an intriguing blend of riparian woodlands, tall grass prairies, wetlands and aquatic habitats. Because of the mix of ecosystems, more than 300 species of birds have been recorded in the area during migration. Field trips are offered, including trips to Milford Wetlands, Kansas Landscape Arboretum, Republican River, and Milford Lake. Birding activities are scheduled at the Methodist Church in Wakefield. The next Birding Festival will be held April 25, 26 and 27, 2008. Check out the web site at http://www.kansasbirdingfestival.org.

Kansas Landscape Arboretum

The Kansas Landscape Arboretum is a glimpse of Kansas nature at its best. More than 1,000 species of trees and shrubs can be found on its 193 acres. Prairie, woodland and aquatic habitats are easily accessed by three foot trails, where you may experience the essence of nature. On the bird sanctuary trail, you can sit and watch for the land or water birds that are seen daily. Visit the Whispering Water Natual Springs Memorial and the largest flowering crabapple tree collection in Kansas. Flower gardens bloom with many varieties of wild, indigenous perennials, near the farmhouse on the grounds. The garden is a favorite place for outdoor weddings and picnics.

The Wakefield Museum

Wakefield Museum
Sixth and Hickory Street
Wakefield, KS 67487
Phone: 785-461-5516
E-mail: wakefieldmuseum@oz-online.net
Manager: Lorraine Cowell, President-Curator, 785-461-5519
E-mail: lcowell@flinthills.com.

The Wakefield Museum opened in 1974 and was established to preserve the history of the community established by English emigrants. Memorabilia and genealogy are available, along with Wakefield newspapers on microfilm. Also included are vintage clothing, hats, jewelry, brooches, African artifacts, and school memorabilia, as well as a beauty parlor, general store, military history area, and children’s corner, plus much more. Among the various displays, one can find the memorabilia of William H. Avery, who served in the U. S. Congress for 10 years and one term as the governor of Kansas.

Operating Hours:
Jan. 2 through March 19 – Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
March 20 through Dec. 19 – Wednesday through Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The museum is closed Dec. 20 through Jan. 2.

To schedule an appointment, please call 785-461-5519. You can also schedule tours of the Republican Valley Farm Museum at Eighth and Elm Street, historic St. John and George Episcopal Church at Fifth and Birch Street, St. John Episcopal Cemetery and Glebe (the only remaining Glebe west of the Mississippi, 3 miles west of Wakefield on K-82), and Sunny Slope School (1867-1963).

Republican Valley Farm Museum

Republican Valley Farm Museum
Eighth and Highway K-82
Wakefield, KS 67487
Manager: Lorraine Cowell, President-Curator, 785-461-5519
E-mail: lcowell@flinthills.com.

This museum contains many pieces of old farm machinery and hand tools used on area farms.

Sunny Slope School

Sunny Slope School
3 1/2 miles North of Wakefield on Ninth Road
Wakefield, KS 67487
Manager: Lorraine Cowell, President – Curator, 785-461-5519
E-mail: lcowell@flinthills.com.

The stone building was built in 1877 and named Sunny Slope. In 1876 school terms had a minimum of 3 months a year. In 1939 the school received electricity. The school closed in 1963 because of unification of schools and people moving from the valley when Milford Lake became a reality.

St. John and George Episcopal Church

St. John and George Episcopal Church
Fifth and Birch Street
Wakefield, KS 67487
Manager: Lorraine Cowell, President-Curator – 785-461-5519
E-mail: lcowell@flinthills.com.

St. John Church, known as “the little church on the prairie” was built four miles west of Wakefield in 1876. (The original church was destroyed by a tornado in 1872 when construction was almost complete.) In 1930, it was moved to Wakefield and joined to St. George Church to be used as a fellowship hall. St. George was built in 1886 and stands on its original location and in original condition. The beautiful interior woodwork was done using a foot treadle saw. It has 11 stained leaded glass windows. In 1995, the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas deeded the historic churches and glebe to the Wakefield Museum, to be maintained as a place of worship and available for functions of public interest.

St. John Episcopal Glebe

St. John Episcopal Glebe
3 miles West of Wakefield on Highway K-82
Manager: Lorraine Cowell, President-Curator, 785-461-5519
E-mail: lcowell@flinthills.com.

This original glebe contains 20 acres, and is the only glebe left west of the Mississippi River. As was the custom of the English church, the founders of St. John established a glebe to provide financially for the clergy. Traditionally English clergy would farm their glebe to provide a living for their family. The church stood next to the cemetery and there was a rectory and other out buildings. The church yard, cemetery and glebe stand as a reminder of the brave heritage of its founders.

Wakefield Public Library

Wakefield Public Library
203 Third St.
Wakefield, KS 67487
Phone: 785-461-5510
Contact: Rita Jo Braden, Librarian
E-mail: wplibrary@starband.net.

The Wakefield Public Library was constructed of native limestone by WPA (Works Progress Administration) in the late 1930s. The building was dedicated February 5, 1938. It is a quaint and homey library, with a limestone fireplace on one end. The library contains over 7,000 books, including audiotapes and videotapes. It is a member of the NCKL (North Central Kansas Libraries) and on alternate months receives 450 rotating “trade out” books.

Wakefield Before Milford Lake Mural

Third and Dogwood Street
Wakefield, KS 67487
Contact: Lorraine Cowell, President-Curator, 785-461-5519
E-mail: lcowell@flinthills.com.

This mural is painted on the side of this building and depicts Wakefield before the town moved to make way for Milford Lake. All of these buildings are gone now except the school and it has been built on and does not look like the original building.

Wakefield After Milford Lake Mural

Youth Center Building
701 Elm St.
Wakefield, KS 67487
Contact: Lorraine Cowell, President-Curator, 785-461-5519
E-mail: lcowell@flinthills.com.

This mural shows what the town looks like today after Milford Lake was built.