14 Kansas Ghost Towns // Greenwood County Part 1

[@Giles29]

That picture of the vulture sitting on the old church in Quincy.. lucky shot indeed

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Absolutely! He was posing 😂

[@papabear562]

That was quite a remarkable shot

[@darrellsaunders4267]

That building behind your car is the old Pepsi warehouse I used to haul product to in the 70's.

[@janessajones1459]

The farm at Lapland is actually my family home. Our house was part of the grocery store and the post office. The Olson grocery store used to sit on the northeast corner about where you were standing in all the trees. It only fell in the last 5-10 years. So technically there is still part of Lapland still standing. The Lapland school sits a 2 1/2 miles south. It used to house the Salem Fire trucks before the new fire station was built at the Holverson School House. My mother's whole family is from the Lapland/Teterville area.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That’s so awesome! Thanks for commenting about Lapland. There’s not much information online. I wish I knew about the school before I went - I would’ve definitely tried to find it! At least I was in the right spot! Thanks again!

[@valerietomlinson5931]

What is the name of the Cemetery?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@valerietomlinson5931 Which cemetery?

[@cobenhawkins5790]

Yup yup cuz

[@frankfrankly1366]

I certainly would like to live there.

[@cravenmorehead5081]

I lived in Burkett from 1956 - 1959. It was an oil camp of Phillips Petroleum Co where my dad worked. There used to be a little mom & pop grocery store on the corner where you made a right turn, coming from Eureka. My mom was born in Teterville and I was born in Eureka. Brought back some old memories. Thank you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you so much for that info! I’m always curious when there isn’t much to be found about the old town. Sounds like you know all about these areas! Thanks for watching!

[@bennorwood8433]

What else was there and why is it a ghost town now

[@nataliereed1672]

I grew up in Hamilton. My parents graduated from Virgil... A couple of my uncles went to Quincy school before graduating in Virgil. The Virgil hotel was open at least into the late 1980s - my family would occasionally eat BBQ there (they had a sign and were 'famous' for the weird toilet - you couldn't sit straight up - it was under some stairs). I'm so sad to see my home county dwindling away - but me and many others had to move away for work.

[@bennorwood8433]

Fantastic now what are you gonna do about the town dying I say that sarcastically but I also am curious about your opinion

[@brucehanson4147]

OMG YES, the weird toilet!...Somewhere I have a picture of that sign. I never knew the name of that place, in our family we just called it "the weird toilet"

[@renayvance-moser9434]

You do Kansas proud. Love to see you cover Beaumont and cover the fly inn. You're a natural teacher.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I really appreciate that! I actually covered Beaumont in KS ghost towns #8!

[@ajp1929]

Dude, i became obsessed with your channel and your content, currently watching the KS playlist, waiting for the next one with great excitement! I also love the fact that, even though some times there is literally nothing to show, you do take the time to drone over the area! Amazing job! 😎🎉

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Aww thanks man! Much appreciated! Always enjoy the Kansas exploring - I’ve got 4 Kansas videos coming out in the next few weeks!

[@bglrj]

You are a master of understatement and a master of editing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha thanks! Those are two adjectives that aren’t always put together 😂

[@lynnmorgan6144]

I’ve lived in SE Kansas for 18 years, and that big church in Lamont is my church. I probably know half the residents of that town (there are about 30 left), and knew several of the folks buried at the Lena Valley Cemetery. It always amazes me to think there used to be thousands of people living in that area when the oil boom was underway. I also know a wonderful lady who still lives in Virgil. SE Kansas and the Flint Hills is really a very lovely area. Thank you for a great video.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It’s very interesting to think about right? It was a much busier place and now is so quiet throughout much of the county. Thanks for watching and for the comment!

[@racheltaggart9865]

I’m from Neal, KS. I lived there for almost all of my life. My parents still currently live there in my great grandparents home. It’s a very small town with a lot of land surrounding it. Thanks for showing our small corner of greenwood county!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome! I had a very nice conversation with the family right next to the old building in town. They loved sharing history of Neal!

[@MyHome7_Carla]

I live there now 😊

[@darrellsaunders4267]

I used to haul Pepsi to Virgil Ward's Pepsi distributorship in the 70's in Neal.

[@travis303]

I'm glad the old Thrall building is still seeing use after all of these years. A place for cattle, better than nothing. As long as it's still being used, it and the history will stay standing

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I agree! It’s always interesting when there’s only one building in a vast area like that.

[@tbecause4897]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Knowing exactly nothing about that slice of country, I’d still bet the structure in Thrall was an old, rural VFD station

[@BrianMills-b8i]

Wayne’s Sushi Bar. Lol

[@chandlermongeau1635]

I’m from Eureka, and this is so cool to see! I love seeing that other people can find something good about South East Kansas!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for watching! I had a lot of fun exploring, and have more next week!

[@daytimestudios3678]

Eureka, I spoke for high school. Good young adults!!!

[@joegilmore208]

I'm from eureka. N know all the places very well. Fished at Rocky ford my whole life. I love it. Thank u for the great memories. Wow so awesome

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It was fun to explore! Thanks for watching!

[@johnfrank3642]

I’ve been to Eureka Kansas twice once in the spring and once in the fall all total I spent about a month after I found the people very friendly very safe town kind of remind me of something you’d see in a Norman Rockwell well painting the kids played out till 6 o’clock went home ate dinner and then came back after dinner rode their bicycles all around town a very safe nice place to be really enjoyed my two visits there

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very nice town! I enjoyed visiting as well!

[@ART_EYELAND]

I've been to Quincy a few times in the late 80's, and early 90's. My ex's grand parents lived there.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Was it a lot different then?

[@tiffanythomas2796]

You should check out Alamota Kansas. It is no longer found on the map. This is located 10 minutes west of Dighton Kansas. (Western Kansas). Still has the elementary school, post office, bakery, and the bank building standing. No longer in use. There are some farms out there but I know it has a super low population.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Sounds interesting!! Thanks!

[@annetterussell2195]

I love ghost towns and old buildings

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Me too 😊

[@SuperMickey57]

I love seeing the wide-open spaces! My dream is to have enough land that I can't hear the neighbor's dog barking.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha what a dream that would be!!

[@caseyfrisbie3766]

Great video, brings back a lot of memories. My family ran a cattle ranch up the road from the Rocky Ford in the 70’s. We used to have trail rides with all the local ranchers and would end the long day camping at the ford. It was popular swimming/fishing hole as well. To my knowledge there never was a town there, the name is what it implies, a rocky low water river crossing (ford). My dad was buried at the Rocky Ford cemetery in 1980 and recently my aunt passed April 2022 and her wish was to be buried next to her brother. The church told us according to records, prior to her, he was the last person buried there. I don’t make it back to Kansas often, but when I do, I always visit that lonely old overgrown cemetery. If you ever see a ghost there tell em' I said hi! 🙂

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much for the comment! Someone else here made a similar comment about camping at the ford. Very cool! Good info about the cemetery too. Thanks again!

[@jc2711]

My great uncle farmed the land around Rocky Ford for many years. We camped on those flat rocks many times. He passed several years ago but I still have a lot of family in Greenwood County. Thank you so much for sharing! It was really neat to see the place again - so many good memories there.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice! Was it full of water back then or dry like it is today? Do you know if there was ever a town or was it just the name of the area? Thank you!

[@jc2711]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy I’m not sure about the area being a town, I’ve only ever known it as Rocky Ford. The water comes and goes. When planning a camping trip, we always had to call our family over there to ask if the water was up (we lived in Butler and Sedgwick Counties). I remember one night some storms came through and we had to move our campsite from those flat rocks up into my great uncle’s barn. The next morning we went down to look at where we had been and it was filled nearly to the top with rushing water.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for the info! I’m sure it was a fun place to hang out and camp! Beautiful little spot!

[@johntrembly2905]

your videos are just as relaxing to watch as Aerial America

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Hopefully they don’t put you to sleep! 😂😂

[@geneballay9590]

another grrrrreat video (as usual). THANK YOU for all the work and then sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! That was a fun weekend!

[@grumpycyclist3319]

A gravel bike and a go pro for some bonus footage would be nice. I do cringe a bit when I see you driving a car on those flint roads. Having lived in the area I learned that a pickup with heavy duty 8 ply tires was best. Thanks for all you do!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks!

[@aliceevans3357]

Love the places you visit. Love the stories of the people that lived in the towns and ghost towns that you go to. Thank you so much for taking us along. Stay safe and GOD bless

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! I’m glad you enjoy them - they’re fun to do!

[@jmurry6695]

I love how u highlight the map so we can have a visual of where you're going. Excellent drone footage. Thank u

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! I started using the map during my Oregon Trail trip, and it seemed to be an effective way of showing where I was going on a road trip type video. I appreciate the comment!

[@buddydelivers]

I had a friend whose family had a piece of property outside of Eureka. On this property we're several old foundations and an old lime stone road which I was told was an old highway that went to Kansas City. It also had a collapsed stone bridge over a natural spring creek. It was quite a beautiful piece of property!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome! Great find!

[@colingeorgeh]

You always do a great job. Your videos are always interesting. Have you ever done a video on Bazaar Kansas? I love the Flint Hills. Thanks for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks a lot! And yes I covered Bazaar in KS ghost towns #7 - “The Flint Hills”. Cool place!

[@michellefreiermuth6327]

The church was really neat. I always love the cemeteries. They can tell ya some stories. Great job going through these towns.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I’ll have several more cemeteries next week!

[@bursebladesbits]

I've been to the Thrall townsite. My wife's paternal grandparents resided there for a time during it's second "boom." Her grandfather was employed by Sinclair Oil (recall the service station signs with the dinosaur).

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! That’s interesting!

[@youngblood2]

I attended grade school and went to church in unincorporated Clonmel Kansas.

[@rosseganjr9402]

thanks for sharing these long forgotten ghost towns;

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I appreciate the comment! It's a fun hobby!

[@rosemariejoy4578]

Congress Arizona is a town that I lived at..can't say in ,,,we were about a 2 mile walk to the grocery store ice cream shop & post office...and that was all...lol

[@papabear562]

I don't know that I've commented elsewhere under this video. Great one. I really liked the towns of Virgil and Neal. Lots of newer homes and buildings, as well as a few of the older ones that are still around. And you was able to find some playground equipment as well!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Yeah those are a couple interesting towns to visit. Had a great chat in Neal 😊

[@papabear562]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy You know I just did a search for Janesville, KS in Google. There was only one thing I found, and it was via Mapquest, which placed Janesville where Hamilton, KS is now. I wonder if Hamilton used to be Janesville. Interesting.

[@abygailgulick2147]

That hotel in Virgil actually burnt around eight years ago. The red brick building in the corner was Burrito Bills when it was still open until Bill died around 12 or so years ago.

[@katiesherman9489]

Best burritos and glass bottled root beer around.

[@rickyarnell1029]

The Hotel in Virgil operated as a hotel, with a bar and restaurant, until the late 1990s. When it closed, a church organization bought it. Left vacant for just a couple of years before it burned.

[@brucehanson4147]

@@rickyarnell1029 I heard it described more as a cult than a church organization

[@paratrooper1]

So very well done. Thank you!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Much appreciated!

[@krupkeben]

My Grandfather worked in Burkett, he worked on the Pump Jack's and would keep them running for the oil company, I remember the days when he would let us go with him to work. We thought it was the best thing in the world, you drove right by where he used to work. Virgil our family used to buy whole cows milk back when it was legal. I was also born in Eureka at Greenwood County Hospital.. man your videos tugs hard at my hometown heart string feelers.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you so much for the nice comment! I’m glad there are people who have been to Burkett that found this video! I was very curious driving by but couldn’t find any info about the town. Thanks again!

[@wandersonwheels2190]

I don't think Burkett was ever a town? But it was once a busy production unit. The employees and families lived nearby. In my memory there was a workshop, an office, the "doghouse " with a strange huge round basin sink, lockers. I can still smell it...

[@tamerawellner787]

When we got married 3/1985 we went to a dance at the old hotel in Virgil. We lived in Quincy Kansas. You talked about Hilltop that is where the Sherriff of Greenwood County was shot and killed by Scott. Quincy we lived there from 1985 through 1988. They had a Popcorn popper factory that was there. The name was Atom Pop popcorn popper. Quincraft products. Started in 1948 if I remember my history right. Used and old military spin mill. They moved I believe three times and now Quincraft is at Bushton Kansas now.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome! Thanks for the info on Hilltop and for sharing the memories about Quincy!!

[@squidben838]

In Neal when you first pull in my uncles helped build the church that was there and the community building used to be the old grade school. A little farther down the road you get to my family’s cattle company then on the other side is the cemetery where most of my family is buried

[@kansasveteran3019]

I grew up in Greenwood County and I still have family that live in Greenwood County. My family lived in some of the non-existent towns you went to. I hope you went to the Greenwood County Historical Museum in Eureka, Ks. I am sure they have information on all the towns you visited. This make me sad about my Home County and I often go home to visit there. If I could I would move back to Greenwood County or as my family calls it "God's Country."

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Unfortunately I didn’t go to the museum, but I’d love to sometime! I know what you mean about it being sad, but I also think there is a beauty to it. I really enjoyed visiting!

[@katiesherman9489]

Please visit the museum! A very nice museum that covers just about anything you want to know about this county. Could also stop in Hamilton at, Sheila’s or “Holmes Sundries”, and visit with some locals and they could really show you ghost towns and more info than you’d remember.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Sounds great!

[@travis303]

When you said "foilage" that reminded me of an episode of The Simpsons when the family went out to look at the fall leaves and Marge could not say "Foliage" she always said "foilage." Lisa would criticize and try to get her to say the right thing but Marge would respond with "That's what I said, foilage" 😆

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂😂 never saw that episode.

[@eujr4SC]

I grew up in California but lived in Colorado, Missouri and traveled around the Midwest. The open expanse was just wild to see in person. Our smallest towns in California are still like 250+ people that are mostly within a short drive of a bigger city so we don’t see a lot of this unless you go into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. But I definitely miss living in MO. Way slower and laid back style of living compared to the west coast.

[@davidchosewood647]

Enjoyed watching very interesting.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! It was a lot of fun to put together!

[@criseldareyes2444]

I love ur back ground music I feel I lived in each town u been visited even though I'm frm Asian country.i've Watched all episode of ur video.and waiting for another episode.im residing here in Canada. I can't w8t for the next episode.👍

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I really appreciate it especially since you live in another country. Thank you!

[@Jimborags1956]

Like that last old wooden bridge! Cool!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I agree! I’ve got several more bridges coming next week!

[@danielhare6610]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy oh, my grandma lived near an awesome bridge near Piedmont. Hopefully you showcase that one. A three-span stone arch bridge.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I will definitely show more bridges in part 2 and I think there was one near Piedmont!

[@libbywilson2977]

Mom (Lois Blackburn Wilson) grew up on the Kenbro Lease.

[@slimpickins6557]

Love your video. I was on the Hiawatha police department 1978. I was from out west. Culture totally different.Easy pace.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! Yes it’s very peaceful out there - I really enjoyed it!

[@GranpaMike]

This was a fun tour -- thanks so much for doing this. I live in Madison, so compared to some of the places you covered, this is practically a metropolis. :)

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha thanks! More to come this Thursday in part 2! Madison is a fun place to visit as well - love all the red brick!

[@chiefamylee]

😁"Super creepy" Was echoing your sentiments while you walked through the tunnel. Another great video, thank you!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha yeah I wasn’t sure what I was going to find at the end 😂😂 Thanks!

[@dianeleatherman9557]

Mmm y favorite state I was born in Garden City and raised in Chanute Kansas. Family members from Dodge City, Coldwater, Colby, Gustine, Saline, Derby, I can’t think of all of the other places it’s on the tip of my tongue but I know the majority are really small old towns I’m so excited that you’re taking a tour and telling and showing history of the old towns. I hope that you keep sharing more and more.

[@dianeleatherman9557]

I just thought of a few more Topeka Kansas Iola (spelled wrong) Eureka ,Humbolt, Yate Center, Quincy my great great great grandma and grandpa, Derby Kansas and again I have drawn a blank Olathe Kansas ,

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I’ve got many videos on small towns in Kansas and hope to continue doing more in the future! I appreciate you watching!

[@michaelpaske4327]

I grew up in Greenwood County from 1951 until 1968/73 from time I was 7 months old until I joined Navy after graduate school. My great-grandfather William was one of the later settlers to Quincy Toronto (across county line in Woodson county.) in the late 1880s bringing a herd of polled Herefords he and his brother Amos had brought from Wales on the Hereford, England border area. Amos went back to England as he said winters on the Kansas Prairie was not fit for man nor beast. When the Toronto Dam was put in we lost our farm to the flood basin of the reservoir. If you look south crossing the Verdigris river bridge on US54 you would have seen a large 2 story farm house with glazed tile barn & silo and several out buildings including 2 smaller houses for families hired farm workers that my Great-Grandfather & Grandfather built. My father, his brother and their sister were all born their. (I was adopted so only came to live there when I was 7 months old). The great 1951 flood came up to the house and flooded almost all the outbuildings and tenants houses. The house was built on a foundation that was about 2 ft high and the water washed up on the porch but did not come in house. Both tennant hired hands and their families and my family were in the house with most movable things and some of tenants furniture & clothing stored on 2nd floor in the 4 bedrooms an a storage room and hallways up there. You are correct about the bank robbery in Virgil. Also during that time the whole area was a great place for bootleggers. They would move with the drilling rigs and their product was often hidden inside sealed barrels welded inside an oiffield tank truck that was used to move oil from storage tanks in the fields to either railhead oil tanker car or to pipeline. Also the church pictured in Quincy was the Methodist Church. In 1955-60 Quincy still had a small grocery store, a couple of businesses including a popcorn popper manufacturing facility of a relatively well know brand of popper (it still is sold today, but factory moved elsewhere), There was a gas station and the school held classes until around 1962 or 63. In 1959 my family moved to Lena Valley. That cemetery you showed was part of a 5 acre plot taken out of the pasture we raised our cattle with a field to the south. Just south of the cemetery was Lena Valley Methodist Church that had services until the early 1960s. A good friend of mine was married in the church and still lives about 1 mile east and little south of where it stood. She was the last person married there and that was about the last type of service conducted there as it had become a community center more than a church by time of her marriage in 1965/6. A mile south of Lena Valley church on the road to Lamont would have been the Lena Valley School. It was a one room school serving the children of the neighborhood for a school within walking distance of the farms. It was about 200 yards from our house and in another one of our pastures next to our largest corn field. If you know where to look you can find the foundation and the old cemented over well that was used by the school and children. Last classes were held in the school in 1951 or 1952. The building was then used for hay storage until sometime in the 1970s when torn down. In your pictures of Lamont, Virgil and other towns you show the old brick bank buildings. You could always tell them by the cut-off corner where the door was located. As to the railroads, Lamont was on a spur of the Missouri Pacific and the station was call Wilbur Station. The railroad that went by/thru Hilltop, Virgil, Quincy and on to Toronto and a couple of towns south was a ATSF (Santa Fe) spur coming out of Madison from Emporia in Lyon county to the north. Just a short distance south of Madison that Santa Fe line split to go to the towns I mentioned and the west line went on to Hamilton, Tonavy, Eureka and then south thru Severy and Howard to Moline. The eastern Moline Spur was still being uses until the early to mid 1970s. Eastern spur thru Virgil and Quincy had been abandoned before WWII. Teterville while nothing remains but the rock was a thriving community oil production company town. It had numerous houses and even a one room school building along with post office. The school served not only the towns children and was mostly supported by the oil company but also children of ranchers. I have a couple of friends who attended the Teterville school until its closing after the 1956/7 school year. It is amazing that a town can be completely wipped off the map in less than 50 years. Hilltop was never anything more than a station to load cattle for shipment to market and a Gas Station. It may have had a combination general store/postoffice. One has to remember more schools and post offices were required prior to common use of the automobile and trucks. as were schools. There were no school buses in most areas until after WWII and sometimes not until 1950. Small post offices were common scattered in many small settlements a it was much better that the old "Post Oak" for a settlement of several ranchers and farmers in an area. A Post Oak was a prominent old oak tree (or in some places in Kansas a Cottonwood) where the people of community/settlement put up a sturdy, water proof box for mail. Anyone going several miles by horse or mule (even foot in some cases) would stop by the post oak and pickup any outgoing letters. While in town he would deposit the letters at Post Office and pick up the mail for any members of his community around his "post oak" and put them in the box when he returned for people to come check their mail every week or so. Now Neal - My grandfather and Greatgrandfather owned a couple of sections of pasture land on the prairie east of Neal. My Great Aunt married a man named Roscoe Boone who was one of the settlers of Neal. Now Roscoe was a direct linear descendent of Squire Boone who with his older brother a fellow named Daniel founded the town of Boonesborough in Kentucky. Some of you may have heard of him. BTW - I cannot find the part II with the other towns in Greenwood County. Also, liked your Route 66 as I have driven many miles on it in the 3 miles or so in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona & California. You can still drive on part of the original Route 66 in California at Amboy & east of Amboy. I used to frequently take that section when traveling to LasVegas from Twentynine Palms Ca in the 1990's and early 2000's. Thank you for your video I recognize many of the places, even drove over that old bridge in last shot when it would actually hold up a pickup loaded with grain or a 1.5t to 2.5 t truck loaded with a few cattle on way to pasture or to market.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome! FYI Part 2 will come out next week on Thursday so that’s why you couldn’t find it. Your post has so much great history about Greenwood and really fills in some of the gaps for me. I really appreciate it!!

[@jennifermalanchuk5705]

My family has lived in that area too for over 150 years. I wouldn't be surprised if our families know each other!

[@justnerdystuff]

Wow! Lapland I have actually been to in my dreams! As I am watching your span around the area, I was like "I know that place!" I have very real lucid dreams and I had been there a couple times in my dreams. But in my dreams it was always at night or evening time. I've never been there in real life.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh wow! 😮

[@michaelperigo6746]

Used to live in Emporia in Lyon County, just N of Greenwood Co. Have travelled many of the same roads you are. Am originally from Indiana and was intrigued to learn that much of southern Lyon Co. was settled by Hoosiers. (There is a Hoosier Creek.) But most got homesick and moved back.

[@darrellsaunders4267]

Bet the guy in Neal you spoke with was Virgil Ward.

[@hungarysammy]

Awesome video! My mother was born in Lamont, in a little tiny house, rght on the hwy there. It's no longer there. I have a picture of it somewhere, in it's last years. Love what you do!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you so much! Lamont seemed like a nice community and was full of people for church on Sunday morning!

[@hungarysammy]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy How wonderful to hear! Keep up the good work!

[@JamesJohnson-rh5qw]

My aunt and uncle were married in that church in Neal. My aunts mother used to run the restaurant shown at the end of the Neal segment. After living and working in Wichita for over forty years my aunt and uncle retired back to Neal where my Uncle Marion still lives. Sadly my Aunt Joyce passed away about a year ago.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I really enjoyed visiting Neal! Had a nice chat with a few of the locals!

[@williammatzek4660]

Good to hear from you! I did not know we had any open range in Kansas. Have a good day!!!!!!!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Lots of them in the Flint Hills! Thank you!

[@wandersonwheels2190]

My dad owned Burkett from the mid-60s to the late 90s. If you go west of Teter Rock, off to the south are several former oil field "towns". Dad was born at home in one of them. He was the only one of 5 they called a doctor to deliver! Let me see if my aunt can check in...

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing - very cool!

[@mikehayden5763]

Was Frank Gaines your dad?

[@wandersonwheels2190]

@@mikehayden5763 Yes, it's Betheny Gaines! Hope you are well!

[@deannmccaffree5782]

Technically your dad did not own Burkett, he owned the oil leases...my parents bought the section years ago that is at the SE corner of Burkett. The old school building my dad went to until jr high. The small building still stands there..... I do remember the baseball backdrop that was on the NE corner of the intersection.

[@wandersonwheels2190]

@@deannmccaffree5782 ok!

[@robertwynn5844]

I watch the videos half for its awesome content and half for the great T-shirts you wear.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂😂 Thanks! I better keep my t-shirt game strong moving forward! 😜

[@UMtiger311]

drove through greenwood co. on way to witchita once.. wish i'd had more time to explore ks. so much interesting stuff out there!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Definitely! I've been through many times before as well and this was the first time I really checked it out!

[@brendacejda7069]

Beautiful prairie! Thank you!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yes it is - loved being out in the middle of it!

[@percymcnabb4746]

love the drone work

[@martingreen4373]

Have you ever visited or know of elmdale ks? Used to be a booming small town, decades ago...

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’ve driven through and definitely plan to do a video of it in the future!

[@jayholiday256]

My great great grand father is buried in Elk City KS Cemetery. I'm pretty sure the old town has been reclaimed by nature. It's just south of Greenwood county.

[@lovedadonald.]

Another great video ! Thanx for taking the time to research these places and give us some history of what went on here and when...

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! It was a lot of fun! Thanks for watching!

[@jannadavis7030]

My hometown Hamilton, Ks not booming but still thriving.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I drove through Hamilton on this trip. Not quite a ghost town yet. Hopefully it doesn’t become one!

[@lisareed5669]

Love the map work in the opening.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Appreciate it!

[@shanenewton1148]

Very interesting and fun to watch. Come a little farther east into Wilson County. We have a lot of ghost towns. A couple little towns close to where I live Morehead and gas central. I've looked both up and found some interesting info on Morehead, but nothing on gas central. A lot of other locations though. Thank you again.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I really enjoyed exploring an entire county and would like to do others. Wilson sounds like a good candidate! Thanks!

[@michaelcollins3489]

Yes in Wilson County there is Guilford , North Altoona, Buffville , Verdi...many more, some interesting history to be discovered.

[@BobWillisOutdoors]

My great-great grandfather, Harrison Jackson Willis, was one of the first county supervisors of Greenwood County. The first meeting of the Greenwood County Commissioners took place in Janesville on March 14, 1862. The election of November 1862 put Harrison into the position of county commissioner by popular vote of the people. He remained as a commissioner at least until 1867, when the county seat was changed from Janesville to Eureka, where all meetings were held thereafter.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome info! Great to have such interesting family history! Thank you for commenting and watching!

[@coryharriger1410]

So I grew up in Eureka with my grandparents who were born both in 1922 and my grandad Kink (Clearance) Burch told me that when he was in highschool they played football against Teeterville. I asked what happened and he said people just stopped living there. That's the only answer he ever gave me.

[@MyHome7_Carla]

I live on the back side of Neal, Kansas. Many of my husband's family live around here. We all like to have birthdays and family get-togethers at Rocky Ford. It's a neat place to go to. I drove our car over that road the other day and about bottomed out! Lol! I learned a lot about the town from a sweet old lady that was born right there at rocky Ford. Grew up and graduated in Neal. She's probably the one they were talking about that got married.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha yeah I was just waiting for it to bottom out - especially trying to film and drive at the same time like an idiot 😂😂 Cool area, I really enjoyed it!

[@chrisbrady1513]

Really dig your videos and the research you do. What about a neosho or labette counties? Keep up the awesome work

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I’ll definitely looks those up. Are there a lot of ghost towns in those counties?

[@chrisbrady1513]

There’s a few ghost towns. There is some awesome Native American history in both counties.

[@brooks8792]

I imagine if you were able to dig in some of those areas where towns were, there are bits and pieces left behind.

[@chriscosby2459]

I lived in Wichita for almost 20 years, southeast Kansas is beautiful in a lot of areas. I especially like the Sedan, Kansas area.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It certainly is! I’m hoping to visit that area in the near future!

[@JBMummey]

My mom and her family is originally from Lamont, KS, the first town mentioned. They left in the late 50s/early 60s.

[@airforceoneye2663]

Vary interesting video didn't know of these old towns. In Cottonwood Falls KS. in Chase County the old courthouse was built of limestone I think because getting up close to the building there is a lot of shell fossils in bedded in the rock.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Cottonwood Falls is a great little town. I plan to do a video there sometime!

[@stephenyoung2742]

Looks like caliche road gravel there at Kenbro! I worked on soil with Caliche trying to dig a trench to lay pipe it was bad! Miss scenery though like most who left the rural areas better be close to better healthcare, shopping and services when you retire! Never got the chance to fish by Chetopa!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I definitely no expert on gravel so I take your word for it! It was very rocky and rough throughout that area. Probably wasn’t smart to take a car through there. But yeah it was very beautiful. Glad I took the drone up at Kenbro!

[@nimmasoda]

good content, I lived in Missouri, I like Kansas and midwest counties.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I enjoy exploring both Missouri and Kansas!

[@mariakettlehut7399]

You are brave to walk across that bridge. Lots of room left in Kansas

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha thank you! I tried to make sure it was safe before I crossed it 😊

[@Ziegminer]

I walked across that bridge thousands of times when I was a kid coming back from coon hunting with the guys.

[@josephlee7325]

A Ford is a place on a stream that is shallow enough to cross

[@joewilliams3157]

I had many a lunch at the Burkett store while hauling hay in the mid 60s.

[@funnyheart643]

There’s a road around teterville somewhere (it’s been 30 years since I was there) they call Teterville hill, apparently from what I was told before fuel injection you would have to drive up the hill backwards or you’d basically run out of gas because it was so steep.

[@troycarpenter3675]

I don't always approve of drone use but, the aerial footage is very good. Nice job.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I always try to not be intrusive in any way with the drone. Just like to give some perspective.

[@troycarpenter3675]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy background music was thoughtful as well. Easy for it to become a distraction. Great channel

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@troycarpenter3675 Thank you! Yeah I try to find appropriate music so the focus is on the beautiful scenery! I appreciate the support!

[@bobcrawford5083]

I always say when I see some of this empty land..miles of it..someone owns it!

[@erictreynolds5577]

Fantastic, Wiseguy! Will there be a Kansas Ghost Towns // Greenwood County Part 2?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Absolutely! Check back Thursday for part 2!

[@rossbryan6102]

A NEAT LITTLE EXTRA AT THE END IS THE MERRY GO ROUND YOU WERE RIDING!! WHEN I WAS A KID THEY WERE COMMON ON SCHOOL GROUNDS! THEY BECAME LESS POPULAR OVER THE YEARS, DUE TO LIABILITY PROBLEMS! THIS WAS DUE TO KIDS CLIMBING IN THE MIDDLE, REACHING UP TO THE HORIZONTAL SPOKES, AND PUSHING AROUND THE CENTER!! YOU COULD GET SOME REAL SPEED OUT OF THEM!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yes! There are lots more of them in part 2 coming out next week. I usually spin them around to see how much life they have left in them 😊

[@KLUJICS]

“The people in the cemetery has people that passed away some time ago.” You sure? Great videos! 😂

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha! As opposed to recent ones!

[@wandersonwheels2190]

Dad said he was 7 or 8 when a plane landed on Teter Hill. It was WWII. Can you imagine?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That’s wild to think about! Some talented pilots!

[@Wildfire86872]

17:15 that's Missouri Pacific RR's standard design for a concrete culvert. Rocky Ford was on their "Wichita subdivision" which ran from Durand to Wichita, KS which lasted into the early 90's (El Dorado-Wichita is still in use). The other rail line in the county was Santa Fe's Howard district which ran From Emporia to Moline (built as the Kansas City, Emporia, and Southern Ry in 1879, purchased by ATSF in 1901, and abandoned in 1975), with another line that branched off south of Madison (Madison Jct) and went to Virgil, Toronto, and on to Benedict Jct (SW of Benedict) where it connected to another Santa Fe line. Benedict-Virgil was abandoned in 1944 and Virgil-Madison in 1963.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome info - thank you! So many of these towns were reliant on the railroad for growth and survival!

[@robchit1]

Thanks for pointing out about the MP culvert. They cast the year in many of their culverts. That "road" through the creek is commonly referred to as a low water crossing which is so much cheaper than a bridge

[@user-ll3rr5hh5e]

I haven't seen Seligman MO. since 1968. At that time there may have been 30 people there. I can't remember what hiway but in between Gateway AR and Cassville MO.

[@WolvenMother]

My mom's side of family is from Severy, Kansas in Greenwood county.

[@MyHome7_Carla]

In the 70's as a kid, we used to go to "camp Virgil" every year. It was a church camp. It was located at an old school which had a swimming pool. They've since torn it down.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Seems like a great place for a camp like that!

[@brucehanson4147]

My folks grew up in Virgil a long many other people I'm related to and I spent a lot of time there growing up. I heard the hotel burnt down after a cult moved in. With the focus on Post offices I can't believe you didn't show the post office in a trailer there. When you mention Hilltop the story of the shootout with a drug dealer comes to mind where the Sheriff got shot and died.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Unfortunately I must not have seen the post office although it’s possible it was right in from of me and I didn’t realize it.

[@ooklathemok7322]

I know this late. I just watched your video today on Virgil Ks. I grew up in Virgil Ks 1968-72. I lived with my grandparents. My Grandpa was the postmaster. The building that says Bank was the post office when I was a kid. I go back about once a year. My Mom and Dad went High School there. I remember the old Motel very well. I enjoy your videos!

[@travis303]

There is a Rocky Ford in Colorado. You are dedicated and adventurous. I think I would have been scared to take that "road" to the cemetery

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha thanks! My car probably wasn’t happy with my decisions that day 😂

[@travis303]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy I can see your car now "If you even think about going up that road, You will regret it. I will make sure of that" 😆 Thank you for risking your car and making the discovery. I think it was worth the effort, and you unintentionally made a great point about life. You can stick with the familiar and safe or you can take a risk and make a different choice in life. Don't be afraid to take the unfamiliar path, it may lead to great discoveries.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I appreciate that! And that’s a good perspective to have for life I think!

[@danielstair4717]

Just curious what map were you using in your video, we like to go exploring old back roads in the flint hills also.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I use the Kansas gazetteer map book. It’s really great for things like that!

[@robchit1]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Like a DeLorme? They have many odd locations like what you found

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@robchit1 Yes exactly!

[@robchit1]

Close to the elevator in Lamont, the old train depot is still in some trees. Comments on Rocky Ford are below. Watching for more from you!

[@kittyjardot6969]

I lived in Burkett in 2015-2016. There’s very few wells (water) and it’s hard to find/get water wells in that area. The house I lived in had a cistern and I bought my current house and moved to Virgil shortly after my daughter was born. I really loved living in Burkett! I currently live in Virgil and I’m actually on the city council.

[@kittyjardot6969]

Another thing I’ve learned from multiple elderly people including the late Betty Goff (Maclaskey), a BIG reason a lot of these smaller towns died out like quincy and Virgil is because the railroad used to go through but when the railways closed, the towns slowly died off. Quincy used to have a popcorn factory, and Virgil had 2 grocery stores and 2 beauty salons at one point. You can also buy nice house or property in these “ghost towns” dirt cheap. The down side is you’re an hour away from anything like Walmart and a hospital.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much for the comments and great information about these towns! One reason I like to do these videos is that many people comment and give more information than I ever could. I appreciate it!

[@brucehanson4147]

Most of my family as I know it originated in Virgil. I took a virtual tour through town a couple months ago on google maps and was sad to see so much that used to be there that is no longer but was happy to see some new structures. looked like a little COOP or something. I remember the hotel/bar, Cussmans store and the school. It was a big deal when they put a pool next to the school, it obsoleted the "swimming hole" on the other corner of town. I hope the community center is still going, there was a valedictorian cup in there with my mothers name engraved on it. It's been 15-20 years since I last went through for a funeral and happily wandered in and found the town ladies making beef & noodles for a fund raiser.

[@voxromantic3340]

Looks like that building at Thrall could have been a compressor station. Especially since it right by a pipeline;one.

[@travis303]

Love that old church building in Quincy

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yeah that’s a great old structure. I met a guy when I was there but he didn’t think I should go inside.

[@katiesherman9489]

Quincy was actually known for the popcorn machine factory. that big building behind the church was an old gym for Quincy school. The Quincy Bears. South of Quincy was Greenwood city which was the original site for the county seat and lost it by just a few points to eureka where it now sits.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you for that info!

[@Ziegminer]

I used to play in that church as a kid. The bell is still in there and still has a pull rope to ring it.

[@DRay-or4tc]

Loved this one. My backyard. We have a place a few miles from Teeter, West of "Holverson Community Center". Beautiful country. Built a Log "Cabin" on Otter Creek, Just West of Climax years back. (You should visit Climax; an old RR town inhabited by a few die hard Hippies.) I was married in the old school house a lifetime ago. ( : Keep up the good work!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you and that’s awesome about your log cabin! As for Climax … stayed tuned for part 2 next week 😉

[@carterhall2653]

I grew up in GW County between Severy and Piedmont. The only ghost or haunted place I can recall is the old Beamis place out by Severy Lake , we used to go out there a couple times a year when we were feeling brave or foolish 🤣 great times. 👍

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha nice! Definitely some ghostly places around the county! You grew up in a beautiful area!

[@jenniferwunderlich6023]

My husband grew up in Piedmont. He knows all about the Beamis place

[@Strange-Paranormal]

Had one of my crazier UFO sighting in Virgil, KS.

[@stevenstaneslow]

saw an angel in p burg