I Visited A Hidden Kansas Town Where Everyone Just Up & Left

[@kirktinsley]

Honest question here: is there any part of Kansas that would be desirable to live in? Any video I’ve ever seen makes it look flat and dry and bleak.

[@livelurked4103]

Kansas is not flat, have you driven I70 through Kansas?

[@kirktinsley]

@@livelurked4103no I don’t think I’ve ever been in the state. That’s kind of why I’m asking my question. Both Kansas and Oklahoma look kind of “vanilla” on videos I see. I’m asking to see if there is anything cool about the place(s) that people know about. I’m trying to become less ignorant 😊

[@gdroege44]

@@kirktinsleythe two states have some interesting places. The Kansas Flint Hills is very interesting and the eastern side of Oklahoma is very scenic. The scenery along the interstates can be quite boring at times. Every state can’t be judged unless you do some research and plan your route.

[@kirktinsley]

@@gdroege44this is exactly the kind of feedback I’m hoping for. Thanks. I figured these states CANT just have nothing to them.

[@JupiterCyclops-l5x]

​@@kirktinsley Thats an honest question kirk. Winter in ks used to be white from snow almost the entire season. Those days are long gone. We still get some good snow for a change up, but it doesn't stick around like it used to. Spring time its like a different place with all nature's colors. If there's a dry summer, we might lose a little color, but not like in winter. Im in north east ks. Eastern ks tends to have more timber, so we have colorful Fall season. Western ks tends to be less populated, more flat land with large tracts of wheat fields. There are quite a few wind turbine farms in ks (cant remember the stats, but we are one of the top states for harvesting wind.) We have some big city grit if that's your thing or fancy gated communities. I personally like small town & rural living myself. Thats just me though. I've been fortunate enough to have traveled a lot of the lower 48. There are things I like & dislike about everywhere I've been. There are things I like & dislike about ks Its like anything /anywhere else; "You take the good with the bad"

[@WORLD_NATURE_FAN]

I will never be able to say enough how much I love these videos. I love travelling, and seeing towns and nature. It's my favorite hobby in life.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks! 😊

[@WhittyPics]

They are up to 500 subs. I bet Joey eventually hits a million

[@phoenixharvesters1373]

I've been an over-the-road truck driver for 34+ years. I've been all over the United States and most of the Canadian provinces. I got into Trucking in the late 80s because I love trucks and I love to travel and I hate sitting behind the desk in a nine to five job. Trucking over the road is nothing like a nine to five job. In fact it's not even a job it is considered to be a lifestyle change. After just 4 years of being over the road in the trucking industry it gets in your blood. And it stays with you until the day you die. I recently lost my business in March of 2024. The Brokerage company that I used for years suddenly called and canceled my contract. So I just decided now being 59 years old. I was tired of all of the dangerous untrained truck drivers out there. So. I felt that it was time to come off the road. To this day. I'm still dealing with the lifestyle change back to a normal way of life of being off the road. It has been a struggle. Headaches. Waking up in the middle of the night. Aches and pains in my body. But I am glad for one thing. My body has finally began to reset itself. I'm working local now home every night 5 days a week and off weekends. I'm getting more exercise than I could have ever dreamed of. I am happy for that. I said all that to say this. I love your videos. It reminds me of the places that I used to go. There's only one thing I miss about the trucking industry. And that's the exploration of small towns not the big city's of the United States and the Canadian provinces. Traveling back through those small towns like the one in your video you literally go back in time. So much history that has been forgotten. Call it Bittersweet I guess. One day. I will get a rental car and revisit all of those old small abandoned towns that time has forgotten. But I have not. Thanks for your videos. Thumbs up as always. Stay safe Joe & Nic. Wherever you are.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for this great post.

[@HighLordBlazeReborn]

Here's hoping you get to revisit those places, man! ✊🏻

[@zoidmo3388]

@phoenix I've often thought that trucking would be cool work although it calls out to a specific character. I enjoyed your sharing of this part of your life. Thx. In my 30's I'd travel the roads early AM-5ish (in Canada) & I found the most trustworthy & considerate drivers out there were truckers. Merry Christmas phoenix.

[@jamesmyers9285]

I have a friend who was an Internal Medicine Doctor, went to school like it seems forever, then couldn't stand the politics in the medical field. He and his wife became Trucker's, bought their own Tractor and Trailer, and have been doing this for the last three years. They love it!

[@michaelpalmer3540]

Hi Joe and Nic. We watch almost all your videos (and subscribe) from OKC. My family grew up there in Peru, KS and Niotaze, which is just east of there. When I was growing up and visiting family through 60's and 70's there a great many building on that main street. Many of the houses you drove by where old family places my dad said his grandmother or grand-parents lived. I have some good memories with one that you drove by when you were on paved road right before you got to that abandoned church. Sad to see. The main building you come upon was a grocery store my Uncle Palmer owned. They hold a reunion once year in June at that very nice renovated church you commented on. I was there a couple of years ago but still sad to see and remember what once was. That you'd like some first hand info. Have a great Christmas.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

@@michaelpalmer3540 That was really interesting. Thank you!

[@teresazufelt6510]

Hubby and I have lived in Kansas for many year's we never knew about this sad Kansas town, we live in wyandotte for county very close to Kansas City Missouri thank you for all your travels again both of you be safe

[@NativeNYer]

Ty Joe and Nicole have a Merry Christmas!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, you too!!

[@shanelco5837]

Probably my fav type of channel. Everytime I m watching feels like discovering something new or adventure or trip. Love from Denmark

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!!

[@siphomogale779]

Always enjoying especially rural towns

[@catlover614]

An awesome video! These "forgotten" towns are always so fascinating! Thank you so much, Joe and Nic.😊💖

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you CL!!!

[@davidroberson8030]

Wow that old gray Chevy that was a classic right there nice, maybe a 52 three or four somewhere around there that was awesome, thanks for another great video Joe and Nick that's cool love it.😊

[@mamasinger49]

Great video, as always you show us these small towns and show them respect, as you said, so many treasures there, those old cars are something my uncle would love to take and restore. I always wonder if anyone ever tries to find out who used to own them and ask to take them away.

[@ValentinaRosas-i4q]

You deserve so many more subs!

[@jeneal7600]

East Kansas over drew from their big aquifer and pretty much refused to put limits on what farmers could take water wise. A lot of these towns have run out of water or are running out. They’ve also been in a drought there and that hasn’t helped. The third water issue is the level of pollution from farm fertilizer use that they also haven’t curtailed and it’s in a lot of their water. It’s super expensive to do clean ups on that but possible. There’s a lot they could do but Southern and Southern midwestern states are very resistant to new ideas.

[@meltonbroome4969]

GOOD SATURDAY MORNING JOE AND NIC!!!👍👍👍🥳🥳🥳👌👌👌😀😀😀😁😁😁👋👋👋😎😎😎🌞🌞🌞🎉🎉🎉✌️✌️✌️🎄🎄🎄MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR JOE AND NIC🎄🎄🎄

[@denisem.1042]

I refer to these small, dying towns as "forgotten America" as well, because that is what they are. When they started dying, no one really cared. Wishing you and Nic Happy Holidays!

[@marial8235]

A,lot of America is looking like this town. Sad…

[@seanhartnett79]

Yeah it turns out conservative economics and politics will undercut these areasZ

[@vw411]

Man. I appreciate these videos. Thanks for sharing.❤

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!!

[@TaterTots380]

Watching from Peru, NY located at the foothills of the Adirondack mountains. :)

[@HighLordBlazeReborn]

Now we wait for someone from the real Peru to chime in.

[@Commentleaver-c6x]

As a resident of Peru, have you ever been to Lima, Ohio?

[@adnanbinabdullah9615]

So you all also have Lima Peru in North America ehh! We always knew the one in South America!😅😅

[@keyup2626]

I was just waiting for the zombies, or dueling banjos and when they we’re gonna start playing. Good to be back watching your videos. Spent another stretch in hospital after more complications from my spinal surgery. Merry Christmas to you Joe & Neck, it’s good to see you.

[@BillMorse-jr2ou]

good luck with your recovery

[@MrMilwaukee]

Thanks Joe and Nic, a great way to start the weekend ! To my fellow followers : please keep politics out of the comments, lets not pollute this awesome and enjoyable channel

[@melvinnoble-q6b]

Peru is about 25 minutes North of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Bartlesville is a small but growing town with many amenities and businesses . Between, there's Caney, and Dewey which are tiny but thriving towns. If you go East of Peru about, about 15, minutes you'll find Coffeyville. Another small but thriving town with a sizable population and many amenities and businesses. Peru may be a tiny town but it's not desolate by any means! Just severely neglected!

[@peterharband326]

Have a wonderful holiday Joe and Nic. Looking forward to riding along next year.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, Peter!!

[@rajeevdeshpande7666]

Hi Joe That was indeed a unique video. Land, roads, abandoned houses, cars, stuff all over for miles together! Only sign of life was a dog and a rooster!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Right!!

[@druidia9]

I was born in NM and grew up in CO. I visited 47 of 50 states and lived in 10. I remember passing through these towns on the plains sith some fondness and some sadness. I've been living abroad for 17 years so I'm grateful for you showing these places. They haven't changed much and seem to be stuck in an older timeline.

[@JAMESPATTERSON-mk9sr]

Another gem from the wheelhouse of Joe . At 7:39 where you see the dogs somebody is feeding them . All those abandoned vehicles , somebody in a metro area would love to get them and restore them. Another example of a town where there are a few affordable jobs in the area so the there is a slow death . The retirees living there are probably collecting their pensions. Keep them coming . Happy trails once again !

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, James!

[@seanhartnett79]

Whenever I see an abandoned looking house I wonder if you can urban ex, or if someone is living there.

[@catherinefrancis5827]

Great video as usual 🥰🦋 thank you so much 🙏🙏

[@kristenwilliams9880]

I used to pull into that truck stop at the end back when I was driving. There are a lot of really neat buildings along that highway running through Peru, and several cool old cemeteries hidden in the hills around there.

[@alisawooten]

Happy Holidays Joe and Nic 🎄

[@Brian17-l4i]

Wow Peru's interesting. It was thriving 90 years ago, that old abandoned house, looked like it was built in the 1930s. But some of it looked like the movie Jeepers Creepers!😱 Happy Holidays to you both.🎄🤗

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, Brian!!

[@marywalker2896]

lol safe to say your correct!Thx again Joe for the tour!stay safe and god bless..

[@FixIt1975]

Oh, I saw an old Bronco 2. I really liked those back in the day, pre Explorer

[@dh3260]

I can't get enough of your videos, keep up the fantastic work, please don't stop, it's super interesting to see how bad the country is going down. I love you and your wife, keep up the great job. Please and thank you!!

[@emylrmm]

Joe has a natural,, conversational style of narration. It works well on his videos.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@mrs.truthseekertruthseeker5973]

These towns are scary. The Hills have eyes 👀 and Wrong Turn scary 😂

[@pearlcohnwallace685]

I share with other fans here for Joe & Nic's videos...enjoy them all so much & look forward to the next one!! In my opinion they are the best!! Wishing you both a Merry Christmas & Happy & Healthy New Year 2025!!❤️🎉

[@tatsf]

Thanks for another interesting look at a little piece of the country. Having lived in some economically depressed areas of upstate NY as a little kid I think that sometimes people are likely still living in some of the houses you think are abandoned. Sadly. I really enjoy your videos though! Getting to do road trips all over America! Happy holidays to you both!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you. 😀👍

[@hadlee189]

Thank you, Joe, for showing us these areas in our country. I never imagined that some places like Peru & others exist. And I don't understand why the States don't demolish the abandoned houses. Wishing the Merriest of Christmases to you & Nic!🎄🎄🎄🎄

[@seanhartnett79]

There are too many abandoned housing in rural areas. Also there might be economic value either for urban exploration or in case they repopulate. Also it is demoralizing.

[@MrMullenb420]

I moved from maine to small town called kismet ks we love it cheap houses and laid back lifestyle

[@roseanneweyrauch2886]

We really love your shows watch as many as we can catching up on the old ones it's really weird that in none of these small towns do you see a McDonald's or Burger King or fast food it's really weird and no gas stations sometimes we sure do like watching them I get to see a bunch of stuff I've never seen in these towns

[@catlover614]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Joe and Nic!🎄🎁❤

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, CL!! ❤️❤️

[@ganiwaseem9210]

The comment section is just as nostalgic as the videos. Watching from Mysuru, Karnataka, India ❤

[@FredBarner-f5e]

Thanks for the video. I live in Coffeyville, Ks some 27 miles east of Peru. I notice an old 1950 Ford 8N tractor in a yard. I buy (pay about $500.00 for one) and restore them and sell them for $8000.00. Must drive over there soon. Money is to be made from finding wealth in old towns.

[@alanjones3874]

These folks draw fat government checks , $ 500 is a drop in the bucket .

[@soniaayala5416]

Hola joe and nics!Tantos sitios hermosos para vivir y la gente esta amontonada en las costas y ciudades. Pronto todos estos pueblos seran ocupados y veremos gran progreso.

[@robertpawelek]

Thanks again for another great tour!! 👀 💯

[@kimmic3235]

Love all your videos. ❤

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!!

[@sarahdearborn9191]

Fantastic vidio ! Hard to believe a place like that. One house looked nice, and also the church. This really looks like the end of the world. Blessed Christmas for you both, and your family.😊❤

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you, Sarah!!

[@davepollock9362]

I live in a "self sufficient small Town" Kansas, there are many, many towns like that here. My job takes to them a lot, old country cemeteries are cool.

[@KS5040]

No, very few self sufficient small towns in Kansas as most are in rapid decline or long past gone. Sabetha is an example of a nice town in Kansas that actually has a decent selection of employers.

[@Nomad-San]

You really need to come to Milburn and Tishomingo Oklahoma. Alot of history here and beautiful areas.

[@J.Wesley007]

I think my mother went to school around that area of Okla. Brown and Nida I believe were also some towns around there.

[@RupanagudiRaviShankar]

it may be a little scary at nights i guess in this Peru town.

[@khaterehlunden5136]

Thank you very much, I with you and family MERRY christmas and Happy New year🎉

[@WhittyPics]

Merry Christmas Joey and Nic

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, you too!

[@BrotherKyler]

The truck stop at the end just recently closed, and was repurchased, set to open soon. It was actually a very popular place to eat in the area up until it closed a few months ago. Great burgers.

[@katarinaliljedahl9926]

Merry Christmas to you and your wife, from a much colder Sweden.

[@OutdoorBeginners]

You should look into Hoehne Colorado, was a decent size town back in the day but has since fallen into only about 80 people! My great grandparents lived there and it was a beautiful small town growing up

[@RobinGerhart]

Always interesting, thank you!🎄🎄🥰

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks, Robin!

[@rikspector]

Joe and Nic, To paraphrase the quote about the world, "This how the town ends, Not with a bang, but a whimper". So sad:( Rik Spector

[@joopkadijk690]

Love to see your video's. Very interresting comments nu you and information. Sad to see that the heartland of the usa slowly dies. Greetings from Holland

[@ammapuramsrinivasrao2249]

Belated Christmas greetings to you and Nic.🎉🎉

[@robertradmacher3823]

Joe, next Christmas season put the winter tires on and load some snow chains in the car to deliver the small town Christmas vibe from way up north.

[@Brian17-l4i]

Amen to that. 👊🏼 That's a great idea Robert, 💖 to see Joe & Nick in a snowy, winter location next Christmas 2025. Although the expense and logistics, may be tricky for Joe to organize?🤗

[@bigbig-km1hb]

This dude is so unique and best...❤

[@Temptation666]

I am impressed by the state of the pavement on those unused ghost roads. I wonder how long roads stay good when it does not freeze in the winter. Where i live roads need maintain every year cause the freezing cold makes the water freeze in every little hole or tiny crack. with the result the asphalt cracks wide open

[@VideosManuel]

Wow! Thank you for your videos! Greetings from Lima, Perú 😊

[@PatriciaBride]

Plenty of towns to revive! It can happen! Let's build this country back up.

[@yvonneplant9434]

What 21st century jobs do you think this absurd rural town cannattract?

[@PatriciaBride]

@yvonneplant9434 takes time sweetheart

[@angelcitystudio]

We need industry and that is all shipped to China and Mexico and NO ONE is bringing it back. But people who do ship their factories overseas should be forced to live there. Instead of living here and being rich and getting tax cuts.

[@seanhartnett79]

Honestly it requires policy we won’t ever implement with our economic system.

[@rvlivingwiththegeezer7791]

American Pickers need to visit that town.

[@ByJimineeItsBREXIT-z2k]

MERRY CHRISTMAS Joe and Nicole! Another fascinating video....I really loved the more prolonged drive round. A very sad and desolate ghost town. These houses must surely have been abandoned pretty much SIXTY years ago. Did they own them and took a loss when they had to uproot and move?

[@chuckm.9744]

A fire hydrant @6:32? And the paint wasn't faded, a rather stark contrast to its surroundings.

[@slackjawedyokel1]

My guess is its more than likely a county (or multi county)wide type water system so there is enough $$ to maintain the system.

[@tudo8412]

Thanks JOE & NIC see your next Video. 🍀

[@timcameron619]

Looks like a nice quiet place. I like it

[@BrotherKyler]

Chautauqua County is a beautiful area, and a great place to live.

[@julindahiggins1582]

All these dilapidated, old dead towns everywhere fell victim to modernity.....one common thread in all your diagnostics points to how devastating the 1980s were....many of these "communities" (hardly ever were "real" towns) just fell apart.. old farmers sold land and/or died, leaving widows hanging on by a thread stuck in place... kids left town..any jobs vanished.. old poor people have no energy or money to maintain what they have, so there's junk everywhere.. whatever remains of the town structure has no money to clear the rubble ..

[@seanhartnett79]

And it was Reagan who did this to them.

[@julindahiggins1582]

@@seanhartnett79 yep..good ole smiling St Ronnie of Reagan's 8 years of malfeasance set us all up...before his "adventure", the pace of change was incremental and logical..his 8 yrs proved that once broken, many things are forever beyond repair .

[@frankbrodersen5565]

Really like your videos. Keep up the good work.

[@RiisPark99]

It’s amazing how many towns in the USA like this one still have Post Offices. No wonder they’re losing money

[@don66hotrod94]

It reminds me of Draper, SD. Tumbleweeds rolling through the main drag and dead buildings. Almost scary.

[@Jody-kt9ev]

This video has cars from my childhood. A 1953 Ford 2 door and looks to be a 1947 Ford pickup. I am not sure what happened to the 1953, but the 1947 was being restored when I last saw it. The population of the town in Oklahoma that I grew up in follows this town. There was a peak around 1930 at 493 during an oil boom and the population has dropped steadily since then to 121 today.

[@Yawndave]

Hey there, happy Saturday. It's interesting to see the cell phone tower rising up over the abandoned streets and ruined houses. Looks like you could pick up a fixer-upper RV for cheap (or more likely free) there. Hope you find a more festive spot to spend your Christmas 🙂

[@jenniekelly571]

My daughter has the belief that one day we all will live on the west coast and the east coast and nobody will live in the middle of the USA. Your travels ALMOST scare me. She might be right!! there used to be a lot of farmers, now there isn't, everyone went where there was jobs and money. I live in a small town, been here for twenty years and I have watched it go down. There must be a remedy!

[@cl4r3]

I think a lot of people have been wanting to move to the middle US to get further from the coasts where there have been lots of natural disasters. For the same reason a lot of people in the middle wouldn’t move to the coasts because it’s often more expensive and there’s been floods, fires, earthquakes etc. I live in Dallas and I kinda feel safe being inland, I’m no doomsday prepper but some say global warming could put the country underwater and the coasts would be the first to go😂😂😂

[@triplevhome]

oh wow! thats sad to know this town no longer has life in it!🎉

[@angelcitystudio]

Most of Kansas is like this.

[@johnpollard4158]

The hawk around 3:30 added to the end of the world vibe.

[@karlaschaffner6592]

Not one house is for sale. That makes me think they've been relinquished to the state in exchange for ends days medical care.

[@mcgjohn22]

even though some of these towns have fallen on harder times, they are still a peaceful glimpse back in time to a different era.

[@makethat1]

I would really love to see you feature Leavenworth Ks, especially downtown 10th street and Fort Leavenworth.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I'll put it on my list!

[@jerrysullivan8424]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip The old Leavenworth Prison is open to the public now. Make sure you see the hours it is open when you go there.

[@arthurcontrivida7227]

Mabuhay! From the Philippines Thanks Joe in Nick road trip.always watching your entertaining and educational video..have a wonderful Christmas..

[@zoidmo3388]

Merry Christmas Joe & Nicole. Great vid, as usual. I'm hoping you share your Christmas vid like last yr when you had it in the Hotel rm with Christmas decor & the yummy fix'ns. I quite enjoyed that. Cheers.

[@gypsyboomer]

It is possible that folks have passed on, leaving no relatives or next of kin for the property and the town has no resources to expend on cleanup. Sad in many ways. Way off the interstates this time, stay safe.

[@tonylittle3508]

Or next of kin live far away, and the time & cost of settling the estate for very little reward, if any, means they just cannot be bothered. Or people have moved away and just abandoned everything, no money to fix-up, and what they have in disrepair is too hard to sell off. So cut your losses and start again.

[@genec5646]

OK, this video was depressing. Kansas is now completely off my list of states to live in.

[@KS5040]

It's the 8th most moved out of state in the country, not really surprising at all for people that know the area.

[@daviddauphin-f4p]

Merry Christmas.

[@ozymandias7940]

Problem with these little towns is the absence of any kind of industry. It would be almost impossible to revitalise a small town that might entice people to relocate with no employment available. Equally as difficult for someone to bring business to a small town with no customers to buy anything. Catch 22. It's a shame, really.

[@seanhartnett79]

Thanks Reagan.

[@gingertom2768]

Where are the 101 people living ? love your videos

[@BrotherKyler]

Generally all on one end of town by the highway.

[@armeswilli01]

Die Post steht noch . Gott sei Dank !

[@CountrysideExplore]

Thank you for brinhing me here

[@lukehoneythunder]

Crazy for me to think places actually exist, I have certainly never seen anything like it where I was born / raised / live in England, UK.

[@jamesmyers9285]

I hate to see this kind of thing happening to small rural towns.

[@Surfguitarist59]

I'd love it if you could find old photos of these towns to give us a comparison of what it looked like then, compared to the present.

[@carolynsilvers9999]

In the first town, even the trees look like they’re giving up.

[@twinsig]

Looks like some nice old "barn-find" cars in there!

[@AwaketechTV]

beautiful view

[@skeletor9121]

Always look forward to Joe and Nic every Saturday morning. First

[@WORLD_NATURE_FAN]

Me too, I've loved these videos for years. I love travelling and seeing towns and nature.

[@Marliyn-ri5ez]

Hello, I wonder how far the people in this town have to go to get gas, food and medical. I would love to live in a small town like this so very few people. I wish for you and yours a really great and happy Holiday Season. Take Care

[@kenjohnson5498]

We as a species have a lot of room for improvement

[@mr1pearl]

Hey guys wishing you a very Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄

[@Manhattanman52]

Great vid! Thanks!

[@airspun9801]

So many abandoned houses😢 and yet so many homeless😞😞😞