Exploring the backroads of Hodgeman County, Kansas ||| Part 1

[@evamccray6500]

Oil well salt tank area. Keroma.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks!

[@AJ67901]

on april 12, 1977 drug smugglers landed a DC-6 airliner on the highway in Hodgeman County in an attempt to connect with dealers on the ground. Law enforcement caught some, some fled, but the DC-6 was abandoned with a full cargo of marijuana. The pot was later burned in an open pit in Dodge City and the DC-6 was auctioned off.

[@deborahross9974]

Yes, John, I watched your Jetmore video. This was interesting too. It's so strange that the western part of Kansas is so poorly populated. And so many miles of wide open country. Seems like someone would buy up some of that area and start up a town with lots of technology or something of the sort. Give free or low cost land so people would be willing to come and build homes and other businesses. Maybe it's because that part of the state has lots of cold and snow or other weather. Something that chased those homeowners from the eighteen hundreds to leave and never return.. Does anyone really know why people would pack up and leave other than the trains not coming or stopped? Thank you for the trip and I'll be waiting for the next half. Happy trails to you and God bless.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It’s definitely a tough place for agriculture because it’s so dry out there. Hopefully with improvements in technology people might be able to move to these places and work from home even. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@PolPotsPieHole]

I'm glad I stumbled into your channel. A few years back for 3 years I serviced all the SONICS in Kansas(most of them at least), and have been all over that state, backroads and highways. Always like the "middle of nowhere" feel the state has. My favorite place for reasons I still dont know was up around the Beloit area, and I also liked the SW corner, Ulysses that area, be safe

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very cool! Thank you!

[@lostribe5130]

You found a cool old school building.

[@douglasdixon524]

I noticed the same green paint at the beginning as the one building at 8:30. I'd like to use a metal detector around those old school buildings.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Agreed!

[@aliceevans3377]

Looking at all the towns and what's left after they die makes one realize their own mortality. Good that some are remembered. Great drone shots, love that wide open country with nothing but a post rock fence to stop the wind. Thanks for the video dear, safe travels and GOD bless

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Part 2 is far less populated believe it or not!

[@JOHNDANIEL1]

@6:50 you have a FRAC water pond for the oil industry.

[@carlhunt6891]

That was very interesting. Can't wait to see the second half now. Thank you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@juliogonzales5441]

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...KANSAS. THANKS COACH 😊

[@CarolFelts-g9b]

Have lived in Kansas for 64 of my 67 years and I have seen more of the state watching your videos than I have my entire life. Thanks John!

[@shelliecollier7017]

As always a very interesting 🤔 video. Thanks for taking us along ☺️.

[@tumbleweedfarm]

I'd guess the 'pond' on the side of the road was a site for tanks (fracking?). The built up dirt permitter is there to retain spillage from the tanks. This is my stomping ground (SWKS). Love running down the dirt roads and seeing the old farm and school houses. It's really fun this time of year (fall) on a dual sport motorcycle.

[@ronfullerton3162]

I have gone down many back roads on a cycle also. Wish I could of used the dual purpose type cycle also, but my hips only have allowed forward controls. So I am not able to go down some of the roads you can. But exploring by cycle is so fun. Seems like you can pick up on more things than in a car. And stopping off seems easier also. I just loved getting lost on my cycle, and see what interesting things I would discover. Be safe on your rides, and keep exploring.

[@SusanHL]

Beautiful wide- open spaces, spectacular views, especially the drone shots. That house at 6:03 would be a perfect place to live, as long as they get internet service out there. 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I noticed I had internet service most of the time in Hodgeman County 😊

[@donlonnberg1542]

Enjoying this video, I'm from Hodgeman cty and went to Jetmore High School, back in the early seventies, we farmed and ranched on the Ford county line straight south of Jetmore, Hope you drove by the old place,

[@brownhatknight3473]

Always like your videos. I´m watching from a city near Frankfurt/Germany. Did a bit of research about the rural areas north of Frankfurt and to my surprise found some ghost towns. Of course we have lots of abandoned places like castles too. Interesting that in the US small towns are losing population. In my region especially the small comunities increase enormously. In the town where my mom lives there used to live a 100 people, now there is 250.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very interesting! I bet those would be fun places to visit and explore!

[@metimoteo]

I really love your journeys throughout Kansas, in particular, but I also appreciate your treks through other states.

[@larryclark4791]

If those old schools could talk

[@JenniferAlexander-yd6kj]

That was a cool video. The old abandoned schools are neat. They sure were .not very big at all. So many used to be towns showing how people tried, but nothing worked out for them. Sure a lot of open territory, which is fun to see, no malls and shopping centers. Just nice wide open territory. Looking forward to more.

[@roberteshaw9520]

Hey Coach. Drone T.C.B. Good to see some post rock again Some of this area would be a perfect backdrop for a Hitchcock style film, some good space. That 1935 squad must have been some tough lads not to allow any points, just saying. Keep on keeping on.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! What a study group - zero points!

[@onrycodger]

ALWAYS like to comment to help the algorythm on my favorite channel. Rock On!!!😎👍

[@Erinlogan-t4j]

I personally love the history of the small towns and the murals in some of them too. I can't wait to see the second part of the series. Thank you John❤❤

[@papabear562]

Dude, I got my "Kansas Ghost Town" fix for the day. I was starting to have withdrawls. 🤣 Thanks Coach!

[@sandrabates7649]

I’ve forgotten how wide open that part of Kansas is. We lived in Garden City for ten years in the 90’s

[@davewinter2688]

Another educational and entertaining video. I already watched the video about Jetmore. I’ve traveled through most of the counties surrounding Hodgeman but never through. I have a cousin same age as me (71+) from Mississippi where I was born. We didn’t get to see each other much over the years as we moved to Iowa when I was 12 then after college followed my wife to Manhattan where she was in graduate school. That was over 50 years ago now. Now I’m firmly planted on my small farm in Saline County. We’re having all the farm work done on a “custom” basis so now there’s some time to travel and visit. My cousin really likes coming to Kansas to visit so once or maybe twice a year we do old guys tours together. Sometimes just in Kansas, sometimes in surrounding states. Next time he comes I plan on taking him to Jetmore. Hopefully we’ll stay in the Pawnee Lodge Motel, eat in the restaurants and do some of the tour including Hanston. Not that it matters, but how much did the rooms cost? Happy hIstory learning and touring boys and girls!

[@ricsmith2185]

Loved this video John and the town of hangston...would love for you or someone to interview some of the people that keeps that amazing town alive!

[@HollyKing-z8d]

This was great! Thank you!

[@williammatzek4660]

Interesting

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@RonaldDailey-z8b]

Never seen so much flat, tree less plains. That's probably why no one stayed. Great drone footage.

[@PolPotsPieHole]

you got that right, but there is a very peaceful beauty about it too. I love it, but glad I dont live there ,lol

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you!

[@tinman7130]

Morton City is interesting. After seeing your video on Nicodemus I rode out there an spent the afternoon looking around. The Santa Fe crossing is interesting also. I might have to ride out come spring on the Hawg take a look around. Looks like they knew you were coming couple of the gravel roads look like they had been graded recently. Looking forward to part two

[@sarahmoller9716]

Good video. Lots of interesting information. Thank you.

[@taylorkesl2694]

Looking forward to watching this as I see there are several towns I have yet to document on my travels.

[@taylorkesl2694]

Pawnee Valley is named as such due to Pawnee River passing through the area.

[@cliffo7702]

Windy? In Kansas? Hahaha

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂

[@robchit1]

Fun video again! I know you probably won't return, but I found a school location on a 1907 map for Laurel. Looks like you drove half a mile south of it. Google Earth shows the school or a house built on the same location today, can't tell much from satellite. On the old map, Hodgeman P.O is shown at 229 and X Road about a mile from the Delorme designation. It looks like there is a shed or something there. From Duncan's Crossing there was a school at 230 and W Road but it's gone. I'm guessing your "school" is just a residence. KCC lists Gray as a stop (and on the 1907 map as Gray Sta.) although it never had an agent and the side track was removed at an unknown date. Wow Hanston is one solid community! On board for your next video, sir!

[@jljordan1]

Looks like a lagoon??

[@douglasdixon524]

You should bring a metal detector with you. I'll bet there's alot of stuff dropped around those old schools. 14:04, Do they not have a town school anymore?

[@sselt]

A family of black farmers survives NE of Jetmore not too far from the area you called Morton City. Their patriarch, Wilbur, was a friend of mine. I unfortunately don't know the exact history of that spot.

[@Mike-r2b]

Reminds me of he joke about telephe poles as Kansas rees

[@davewinter2688]

Additional comment: I just found a town in Hodgeman County that you have not mentioned, at least yet. The “ghost town” of Gray is shown just west of the east boundary of Hodgeman county on K156 both on Google Earth and the DeLorme atlas. In the Google Earth overhead and street view there is a large grain storage facility (possibly privately farmer owned) and what looks to be a residence just east of that facility. Right there at the intersection with county road 232 which shows an address of 42000 K-156 Burdett Kansas there is a sign pointing to Pawnee County Feed Yard AND a sign referencing Duncan’s Crossing but I can’t read the text of that sign. I haven’t been able to find anything about Gray but it is listed in Daniel Fitzgerald’s “Ghost Towns of Kansas Vol. 3. Maybe your going to Gray in the next edition? 😊

[@JamesSchaeffer-j1f]

I like watching your channel you're a walking talking encyclopedia you must do a lot of research in the area you cover

[@JamesSchaeffer-j1f]

How was the deputy in cloud county Kansas I used to like to explore all the old buildings sometimes I would find bags of marijuana and gunny sacks

[@meamdw]

If Kansas could get rif o Johndon County it would be better

[@justnerdystuff]

You're kidding me...Do you think Kidderville was named that because there were a lot of "kidders" there? 🧐🥸🤓