Founded in the year 1952, the Great Bend Zoo is a medium-sized children's zoo and one of Great Bend's biggest attractions. The zoo is primarily dedicated to the conservation, preservation, and well-being of animals; it provides education and entertainment to both children and adults alike. Here children will enjoy watching the animals (tigers, lions, grizzly bears, a black bear, and leopards) play, feed a few animals, and take lots of photographs. The facility is well-kept, and there are plenty of places to rest, which includes a family picnic area, butterfly gardens, an education center, and walking trails.
Spanning over 41,000 acres (16592.11 hectares,) Cheyenne Bottoms is a pristine ecosystem and the largest wetlands in the state. Home to a diverse variety of bird species, frequently found are Bald Eagle, Whooping Crane, Peregrine Falcon, Least Tern, and Piping Plover. Explore the vast expanses of this wonderful landscape. Avid birdwatchers can find unique and endangered species in the migratory season.
Located inside Brit Spaugh Park, Wetlands is a premier water park that opened in the 1930s and still serves as a popular aquatic park in Great Bend, Kansas. Perfect to beat the heat and spend an entire day with family-Wetlands is a must-visit attraction. Featuring eight water slides, a tipping bucket, and a swimming pool for both adults and a child-friendly pool, the waterpark is a hit among all age groups. Check the website for more.
Overlooking the vast expanses of the wonderful Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas Wetlands Education Center provides one of the most immersive, educational, and interactive experiences to learn about the unique ecosystem. Using state-of-the-art facilities, the center ensures promoting knowledge. This includes a wetland floor projection game, augmented reality watershed simulator, build a bird and build a plant station, aquatic invertebrate viewer, and wetland critter doors and activity area for children.
Housed inside a fine art building on the Barton Community College campus, the Shafer Art Gallery is a wonderful space for art lovers. Open to the general public-visitors can explore the gallery that features 7,709 square feet (716.18 Square meters) of exhibit space with a gem of art collection consisting of both permanent and temporary exhibits. Featuring regional and local artists-the gallery’s most celebrated permanent collection are significant works of Gus Shafer. Check the website for more.
The Shafer Gallery is located in the Fine Arts building on the campus of Barton Community College. The museum is a symbol of perseverance, a dream, and has a strong commitment towards arts and culture. On display, are more than 800 pieces of art, which includes bronze works by Gus Shafer, more than 100 works by native Charles B. Rogers, masterpieces by artistic giants as Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, Audubon, as well as many others artists from all around America. A recent addition to the gallery is an interactive educational display, which demonstrates the lost wax process, which Gus Shafer employed to make his bronze sculptures. Art lovers who are interested can learn more about the upcoming exhibits and events from their website.
The Shafer Gallery is located in the Fine Arts building on the campus of Barton Community College. The museum is a symbol of perseverance, a dream, and has a strong commitment towards arts and culture. On display, are more than 800 pieces of art, which includes bronze works by Gus Shafer, more than 100 works by native Charles B. Rogers, masterpieces by artistic giants as Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, Audubon, as well as many others artists from all around America. A recent addition to the gallery is an interactive educational display, which demonstrates the lost wax process, which Gus Shafer employed to make his bronze sculptures. Art lovers who are interested can learn more about the upcoming exhibits and events from their website.
Located in south central Kansas near Stafford, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge is a scenic wildlife refuge that aims to protect the variety of birds that thrive in the region due to the abundance of salt marshes. The rare birds that can be spotted at this refuge have made it a popular destination for birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, and photographers. Quivira gets its name from a Native American fable of the city of gold. Established in 1955, it is now a spectacular recreational area that is endowed with the best of nature's beauty. Visitors can explore the scenic landscape through the network of trails scattered across the forest.
Founded in the year 1952, the Great Bend Zoo is a medium-sized children's zoo and one of Great Bend's biggest attractions. The zoo is primarily dedicated to the conservation, preservation, and well-being of animals; it provides education and entertainment to both children and adults alike. Here children will enjoy watching the animals (tigers, lions, grizzly bears, a black bear, and leopards) play, feed a few animals, and take lots of photographs. The facility is well-kept, and there are plenty of places to rest, which includes a family picnic area, butterfly gardens, an education center, and walking trails.
The mission of the museum is to collect and preserve the cultural heritage of the local Oil and Gas Industry, and at the same time, honor all those who have dedicated their lives to this industry. This museum is unique, and visitors will find a detailed history of the oil and gas industry right from its tracing, exploration, and production. The museum includes a local Hall of Fame, and the exhibits on display are large equipment used in the oil fields, including an old oil derrick. Managed or operated by knowledgeable volunteers and retired industry veterans, it offers a lot to learn for visitors interested in the rich history of the oil and gas industry.
Spanning over 41,000 acres (16592.11 hectares,) Cheyenne Bottoms is a pristine ecosystem and the largest wetlands in the state. Home to a diverse variety of bird species, frequently found are Bald Eagle, Whooping Crane, Peregrine Falcon, Least Tern, and Piping Plover. Explore the vast expanses of this wonderful landscape. Avid birdwatchers can find unique and endangered species in the migratory season.