Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, Overland Park

Our granddaughters love the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. Nancy and I enjoy it as well. That means we have a fun, no-fail day's activity within a short drive whenever there is an opportunity to spend some with the kiddies. Neither Nancy nor I have any family left who are still involved in farming, so the Deanna Rose is the closest we can get to teaching our little ones about life away from the suburbs.

There are a number of attractions in Overland Park, but in this writer's opinion, nothing tops the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. Judging by the attendance, even on its last day of the season when these photos were taken, there are lots of folks who agree with me. For out of town visitors, especially those with youngsters, or grandparents in town for a visit, the farmstead is a great place to let the little ones run around and play in an educational environment.

The 12-acre city-owned farmstead was first opened in 1978. In 1985, it was re-named to honor Deanna Rose, the first Overland Park police officer killed in the line of duty. Recent years have witnessed a steady growth in attendance (over 450,000 in 2010) and attractions, and a number of "Coming Soon" signs prove the growth is not going to stop soon.

Dairy Barn

Volunteers are crucial to the existence of the Deanna Rose Farmstead, and the vast number of individuals and corporations involved would seem to disprove any notion that folks in the 'burbs lack community spirit.

Granddaughter Brooklyn said "Moo," the calf responded in kind.

Indian encampment area

A wooded area within the grounds is dedicated to the native tribes who lived in this area prior to the coming of the European settlers. The centerpiece of this exhibit is an authentic re-creation of an earthen lodge in the manner of the Kanza tribe. I spoke for a few moments with the exhibit interpreter, a woman of Huron lineage who was on hand to teach children about the lodge. Based on her own research, she was impressed with the attention to detail and accuracy exhibited in the lodge.

Sydney feeding pygmy goats

Brooklyn tries to copy her sister

Little fire fighter dismounts after his horse ride

Sydney on her Farmall tractor

Conestoga Wagon

General store, ice cream parlor, bank

In the general store

"Live?" entertainment in the general store

Wood stove and checkerboard in the general store

Entry to one of the play areas - a Rotary Club project

Tom

Readying for a hay rack ride

Bald Eagle

Late season fall color

HOURS, ADMISSION, LOCATION
The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead is open 9 am to 5 pm April 1 through October 31. During peak summer months it remains open until 8 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

There is a $2 admission charge Friday through Sunday (children 1 and under free); and no admission charge Monday - Thursday.

The street address is 13800 Switzer, Overland Park, Kansas. From I-35 or US 69, exit at 135th Street (also known as Santa Fe in Olathe).
 

View Larger Map

LINKS:

Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead: www.opkansas.org/Things-to-See-And-Do/Deanna-Rose-Childrens-Farmstead
Overland Park Tourism: www.visitoverlandpark.com/
Friends of the Farmstead: http://artsandrec-op.org/farmstead/

Saturday Morning in "Old" Overland Park

It's a long distance from Yoder, Kansas, locale of my previous posting, to downtown Overland Park - geographically (223 Google Miles) and equally distant culturally. The events attended were different, rural Yoder's long-time running annual Heritage Festival, and suburban OP's weekly farmers market and a second annual Hot Pepper Eatin' Contest. At Yoder, they were selling Amish baked goods and quilts, at Overland Park - peaches, heirloom tomatoes, and Asiago focaccia.

The contrasts in these two Kansas communities are numerous, yet I feel equally comfortable in either environment. If I get across nothing else in this blog posting, I would like that to be how many genuinely nice people I met in each place, the warmth of the smiles, and how gratifying it was to watch families relaxing together and enjoying life in Kansas.

Downtown is one of my two favorite places in Overland Park, the other being the street where I live. In those places I can forget for awhile that I reside in sprawling, land-grabbing suburbia with its wearisome traffic and cookie-cutter strip malls and housing developments. Downtown OP has charm. In this blog, I will share some of the sights of a Saturday morning there, including video/slide shows of the Farmers Market and the amazing Hot Pepper Eatin' Contest sponsored by Cobinsteinz Farms.

Farmers Market Video ~

Hot Pepper Eatin' Contest Video ~

"Old Bill" - William B Strang, Jr. - has presides over this main intersection in downtown Overland Park. Railroad magnate Strang arrived in the area in 1905, established a rail line from Kansas City to Olathe, Kansas, and plotted subdivisions in tthe vicinity, one of which was named Overland Park. The Dragon Inn behind Strang's statue has been at its location since 1975.







One of the numerous Santa Fe Trail markers in the area is at this intersection in downtown Overland Park. The markers were placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution.









Strang's carriage house, located in a nearby Overland Park Commons, serves as a museum for the OP Historical Society. Also in the vicinity (not pictured here) is the trolley barn used by Strang's rail line. It is now Traditions Furniture store.



On this morning, a small group was practicing what appeared to me to be some form of martial art. In addition to the restful green spaces and clean public restrooms, the Commons has a bandstand large enough to hold concerts featuring the Overland Park Civic Symphony and Civic Band.

Here's a blast from the past - a real barber shop, complete with traditional barber shop chairs, barber pole, and conversation. Red's Barber Shop also sports a collection of caps.





Now & Then - primitive and antique home furnishings - one of the unique shopping opportunities along Santa Fe Drive.






Ten Thousand Villages - I enjoy this store. A Fair Trade establishment operated by a non-profit charitable organization, featuring arts and crafts made from around the world. You can always find unique gift or home decor items knowing the money will actually end up going to the to the artist/artesan.








More about downtown Overland Park: www.downtownop.org

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Coming Soon - SHOT IN KANSAS! - Photo Exhibit

October 1 -31, 2009
Black Dog Coffeehouse
12815 West 87th Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas
http://bdcoffeehouse.com

Invitation: There will be an exhibit kick-off (sort of my own First Friday without wine) on Friday, October 2 from 7 to 9 pm. In addition to viewing these Kansas photos, join us in the meeting room of the Black Dog for brewed coffee and treats.

An Explorer Type of Find - in the 'Burbs

I've lived in northeast Johnson County (the Kansas City suburbs) for 36 years and I think I get around enough to know the territory. John's Space Age Donut Shop in Overland Park has been here even longer - since 1967.

So how did I learn about this timeless (or retro as the moderns are fond of saying) piece of Americana? From Tim Engle, a west coast travel writer who happens to love the kitschiness of Kansas City, as detailed in his upbeat and fascinating article in the April 12 issue of the Kansas City Star Magazine. Any place that has to do with food, sweet stuff especially, should be checked into, of course, and I felt it my duty to do so.

Space Age Donuts is a second generation, family-owned shop at 8124 Floyd Street, where that street V's into Metcalf Avenue. It's in the same building with another long-time Overland Park hi-carb haven, the Tony's Villa Capri Italian Restaurant. It is also a risky, catty-corner run across the street from the venerable, iconic White Haven Motor Lodge, which I assume is still the traveling salesman's favorite place to stay in KC. (Do traveling salesmen/salespersons still exist?)

One step inside the donut shop, and you are transported back to 1967 (time travel in Engle's words). The formica-topped, chrome-legged tables and chairs could have come from the kitchen of the post World War II tract home in which I grew up. The U-shaped counter and stools surely must have been ripped out of my home town's long-gone White Way Cafe. Coffee drunk on premises is 70 cents a cup. Arriving at about 10:30 in the morning, I learned that John probably wouldn't be open much longer that day, as his morning's make of sweets was just about gone, in part due to the fact that it was Secretary's Day or Administrative Assistant's Day or Boss' Day or something. No way to say "thanks, you are appreciated" like tons of calories. All that was left were a few cake donuts (which I prefer to glazed anyway), and to my delight - apple fritters. I ate the cake donut in the parking lot, then took the apple fritter home to briefly zap in the microwave and eat after lunch. Yes, indeed, one of life's great, but guilty, pleasures which I rationalized by reminding myself I had lost nearly 40 pounds on a diet.

It's getting more and more difficult to return to that diet.