Northern Sedgwick County, Kansas ||| 12 More Ghost Towns ||| Part 2

[@colingeorgeh]

I lived in Sedgwick county for decades and didn’t know about all of these ghost towns. A very informative video and again well done. Thanks.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome! Thank you very much!

[@gagewilson1988]

The St Paul cemetery used to have a church and a school building there it is located just north east of Cheney My grandpa actually went to school at that school/church when it was still standing I have a family member buried there I believe named baby schomacker

[@evamccray6500]

Glad to see Sunnydale on this one. The hubs has a lot of relatives that were pioneers to that area and are buried in the Sunnydale/Park cemetery. For additional information about Kansas counties give Kansas Gen-web a look . There is a lot of info. about counties, cemeteries, Townships etc.. It is geared towards Genealogy but has a lot of other info. too.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks!

[@lindafreeman1687]

The red brick building in Furley reminds me of a fire station/police department combo that I've seen in a few older towns. Another great, educational video about KS. Thank you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks and you’re probably right about that building!

[@jimmeyer578]

An old friend of mine lived in that building until his death around 2022. He had a shooting range just south and west of it. His wife may still live there.

[@sarahmoller9716]

A very interesting video. I was born in Kentucky and moved to Florida at age 45 years. What amazes me are those straight roads and flat fields as far as you can see. I was used to roads on hills, mountains, bluffs and those hairpin curves. Every state is so unique with history and scenery. Thank you Wise Guy.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Yes the straight roads were interesting to me being from Ohio as well. Every road has an intersection every mile for what seems like the whole state!

[@papabear562]

Great video Coach, learning more and more about Kansas every week. I noticed in the last email I got that you'll be scaling back a bit during the holidays. For anyone who's addicted to these videos (like me), now would be a great time to go back and rewatch the older stuff. That way we get our weekly fix and we might pick up on new things we missed before. I'm doing that now and I'm picking up on stuff I didn't see before. Happy trails everyone!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I’m still planning on my normal video release schedule but not traveling as much or mainly just locally. I appreciate your kind words and support!

[@papabear562]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Hey, you've been there for me the past 18 months since I retired. Being pretty much stuck at home most of the day gets really boring, and watching your videos has helped fill a void and I would say has been therapeutic in a way as well. What's really weird, is I have no idea how I even stumbled upon your KZbin channel in the first place, but thank God I did! Thanks for being there Coach!

[@thatonekansasguy]

I remember going to the coliseum to watch Thunder games as a kid. Good memories.

[@ronfullerton3162]

With so many little towns in close to Wichita, I would of thought more would of survived as what we called "bedroom towns", which were little towns that people lived at but worked in the nearby city. But evidently the dynamics were way different in that area as compared to where I have been. Which is sort of sad, because some of those old towns have lived on by being a nice residence area away from the city. With the short life of many of the post offices, some of those little bugs must of never got a toe hold to even start to survive. Still a pretty prairie rural area to enjoy. Now the wait for Sunday morning!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

There are still several incorporated small towns not far from Wichita that I hope to profile at some point. But I also kind of enjoyed finding these little historical spots that for whatever reason didn’t have as much success. I thought Furley was very interesting.

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy They are all interesting. And if we can find out histories, it is just the frosting on the cake. I know that I have been places and just had to ponder what the history may of been. Oh to have a time machine and go back!

[@aliceevans3377]

Another great video of beautiful little towns. Each one much the same yet so different. Forgive me for a giggle, I feel like the last couple of weeks I've spent time in Spasticville. 2 vehicles breaking down, four total tires ruined by screws accidentally scattered by a construction crew, a 3 month old phone going bad, etc., etc.. Sadly I know others make unscheduled stops in "Spasticville" from time to time. I would have loved to see the faces all around with that huge plane's landing, lol. A million stories formed and lost in these communities. Thank you for bringing us a glimpse of them. Safe travels dear, GOD bless.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Haha I think we’ve all spent time there! 😂

[@DavidsExecutiveTouch17]

Seen Styx in 1996 at The Kansas Coliseum, followed by taking my son's to a Professional Wresting event in or around 1999/2000. Worked at Kellogg & Greenwich with The Scholfield Brothers for 5 years, leaving to move home in 2007. Enjoyed the video, and the trip back that it took me on while watching. Keep up the good work my Friend and we'll see you on the next one. Stay Safe and Be Blessed.🙏🇺🇸

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! I went to some good shows in the Coliseum too before it closed. Great character inside that place!

[@juliogonzales5441]

TALKING ABOUT GHOST TOWN S....HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🎃 COACH 😅

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! It’s that month 👻

[@SusanHL]

I'd forgotten about the greyhound park - they used to have sausage-dog races there once a year as a fundraiser, I think (?). I also remember the Dreamlifter debacle - that was a huge deal - they unloaded / lightened it as much as possible, and brought in another crew to get it out of there because situation - including the guys who landed it - were placed under investigation. Dad and some of his friends (along with half of Wichita, haha) went over to watch them fly it out. I like all the cemeteries you include in your videos! 🪦

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I think I moved here right when the Greyhound Park was closing. Seemed like the Dreamlifter was a major tourist attraction 😂😂

[@kimplumer2122]

Have you done a video that includes The Cathedral of the Plains in Victoria? One thing I notice in your videos is that the cemeteries are well cared for.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I have not done that yet!

[@JenniferAlexander-yd6kj]

The northern part of Sedgwick County was sure interesting. Quite the territory. The catholic church was very nice, a pretty church. We got a kick out of the super large plane that somehow landed on the wrong airport. That was a major goof up. I used to fly charter flights and as a pilot I wonder how a pilot for that large a plane could make such a mistake. Mercy. We will be looking forward to your next video. Love the drone shots.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yeah that was such an odd thing to see that huge plane in the small airport! Thank you!

[@glenwise2631]

Another tidbit about Jabara Airport that probably very few people know: it once was located at 13th & Oliver in Wichita. The airport went by a few names over the years when it was located there. The last name being Ken-Mar airport. Thus (currently) Ken-Mar shopping center. The furniture store at the Nortwest corner of 13th and Terrace is an original building from the Ken-Mar airport. Sometime in the 1940s the airport was moved to its current location and became Jabara airport. You may have noticed my last name. Oddly enough, my father was from Cincinnati. Related? Who knows. Anyway, cool video. Lots of history in Wichita and surrounding areas.

[@alanm2842]

it was also known as Comotara airport for a few years

[@glenwise2631]

@@alanm2842 Yes! Thank you. I was trying to remember the name before Jabara.

[@alanm2842]

@@glenwise2631 glen did you go to south high about 45 years ago

[@glenwise2631]

@@alanm2842 No. Wichita Heights 45 years ago.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! There are a lot of us Wise’s in the Cincy area so maybe 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@susannarist3945]

I’ve lived in Furley for the past 18 yrs, just some fun info- the red brick building was a linemens school at one time but has been a single family home for years. There used to be a school next to the original church but was torn down 15 or so yrs ago. When the new Furley church was built, they sold the old one to a local artist which lives and has his studio there. Several residents have grown up here with relatives throughout the general area. Nice quiet place to live! Thanks for sharing our town!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for the info! I enjoyed visiting!

[@jljordan1]

Minneha is now Corporate Hills area (Webb and Kellogg)

[@arlynsmith9196]

I was finishing a computer schience degree at Wichita State in 1993 and for one of the last courses we had to figure out how to sort files too large for the memory available. To get such huge files we were given access to the USA census database of populated locations in Kansas and I noticed Spasticville along with the geo. coordinates that put it isn the area of Valley Center. I did some research and discovered that several years earlier the census had distributed post cards to individuals to fill out and mail in as a means of self-reporting, and the census workers were not allowd to question the info on the self-reporting cards. As you stated, there was a place for mentally challenged individuals and one of them wrote that he lived in Spasticville so that went into the file. As with many things enshrined in computers, it seems permanent. I had not heard of it for over 20 years. Thanks for the memory!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for the info - quite the story!

[@roberteshaw9520]

Hey Coach. Some quiet communities out that way. Greenwich water tower along with Furley bank vault good lead up to the best account of the Dream Lifter cargo transport. The playground feature, with a clean bed, a good spin response, well designed ergonomic considerations, @ a local barometric pressure reading around 30 inches, we may be looking @ a rating of 8.9.Current east coast monitoring data analysis, keep hitting that figure. Commendable find. Walk on, head held high.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Fun little day trip from home for me. Good, thorough rating 😊

[@Zach_Smith_316]

I’ve been doing engineering for Park City for 5 years and this is the 1st time I’ve ever heard of Spasticville. Interesting

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Fascinating how it can become a dot on a map!

[@Zach_Smith_316]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy from here on out, I will formally refer to the 8200 block (ish) of Broadway as Spasticville. Also, the signs there that say “dangerous intersection” PLEASE take that with caution. It really is

[@reedcharles5734]

Everyone here in Cloud County, Kansas loves your videos. I have a bar and show everyone your videos. The stories that come from them are so cool. Would you ever do a video on Cloud County? And, happy and safe travels Wiseguy.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That’s awesome! Thanks so much 😊 I definitely want to come up there sometime! Send me an email [e-mail] and we’ll figure it out!

[@lostribe5130]

I like that century modern building that said SMS on it.

[@joecorwin7535]

I love the way you incorporate the drone video into your episodes. I didn't know you could get clearance that easily by Jabara airport.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I was right on the edge of the allowable area in Greenwich. The smaller airports have a smaller range too.

[@davewinter2688]

71+ year old FUD here. Another educational and entertaining video. Back in the late 1970’s and early 80’s Furley was the site of a hazardous materials disposal site that was the only legal one of its kind in Kansas. It drew national attention when it was discovered that it was leaking PCB’s and other hazardous chemicals into the water around the area. The law suits went on for several years. One of the suits was for 15 million dollars and was filed by two residents of Furley on behalf of all the residents of the town. I haven’t been able to quickly find anything about any of the suits except I believe the facility was permanently closed. The plaintiffs were represented by a then fairly young Wichita attorney who is still practicing in Wichita today. You can search for the story with details. I’m sure that it hastened Furley’s decline because of the damage to the surrounding land and land values. No one would want to move somewhere the water might be contaminated. So far I haven’t found anything on Coleman. Maybe the Kansas Historical Society has something.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for then info! And yeah Coleman is a mystery 🤔

[@jeffeck1701]

Furley is growing today. We have had a lot of new families build there lives here. We just don't drink the well water. A close friend lives 5 miles on the other side of that closed waste site, they have well water and claim it to be 100% safe, I've had a glass of water there and it tasted fine. But I wouldn't drink it every day........

[@deborahross9974]

John, you just had to find a merry-go-round. I'm beginning to think that you just can't pass them up😊. Oh well, it's just that kid at heart that loves to find them. Just don't let him grow up as he's a fun guy. I loved seeing these towns around Wichita. Just sometimes I wished I could travel to see them too. Guess I'll just have to enjoy your visits.. Thanks for the trip, John. Here's waiting for Sunday's Hawaiian trip. Happy trails to you and God bless.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

If I see one I gotta spin it 😂😂

[@deborahross9974]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Ok. Happy trails to you and God bless.

[@williammatzek4660]

I've heard the maple grove cemetery was a boot hill kind of cemetery. Poor people that could not afford a marker. No record of where people are buried. What do you know about Stephanie Wise she is running for county commissioner? When you were around Pleasant Valley Church you were in my stomping grounds.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That’s interesting about the Maple Grove cemetery! I don’t know anything about her - just saw the name 😂😂

[@williammatzek4660]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy I seen something on channel 8 or a news clip. It was 2 guys had a way to determine what direction and what sex a buried body was.

[@michaelhalfman9844]

I went to school with the Jabara family. They pronounced it Ja Bear uh.

[@CarolFelts-g9b]

The Coliseum was great for concerts back in the’80’s. My church is just outside of Park City and Valley Center. I like your videos.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much!!

[@misspennymc]

I live outside of Langdon KS but had a farm north of Valley Center til 2004. Was so surprised to see Pleasant Valley Church on here! Love your videos!

[@justnerdystuff]

Kid looking out the church window at St Marks Catholic church: "Mom, there's a weird guy in the playground spinning the merry go-round" (because of course, parents don't tell their kids its nickname)😊🤓

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂

[@bertholini2810]

A 10 for the Merry-go-Round. Hmmmm..... Spasticville (no comment). College here is crazy, six o'clock in the morning and kids are out walking there dogs (yes, it is dark at 6 o'clock). Cars from college are everywhere here and the kids (from college) are worse than that. Very nice video. Be good, be safe !!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks and watch out for those crazy college kids!

[@bertholini2810]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy You (of all people) know what I mean by those crazy college kids. Drive by and they have a large sign up that says "honk and we drink" goodness. And yes, the girls do it as well. There's something about 28 girls sitting in front of a huge house with a sign that says honk and we drink.

[@Mikell-h2c]

Nice production , thanks coach😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

My pleasure!

[@jljordan1]

I’m positive Jamesborgh was located in NW Wichita at 13th and Tyler area.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome thanks for the info on these places!

[@stevehilliard1495]

Wasn’t Park City home of BTK guy?

[@denniscook9032]

You are correct.

[@curlybill7618]

Yes

[@Curtis-q9l]

Been watching your videos for a while now. Love them! I just want to mention in Boise city video there's a house built by a well known architect. Not sure of his name but if you're interested I can send more information . Curtis Garden city KS

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Awesome thank you!

[@jackietatum2245]

Have you ever hesard of an old amusement park called Joyland? I think it was closer to Topeka but I'm not positive.. Used go there when I was a kid.. it's since closed and been abandoned, but I heard it was still there.. just abandoned. You should go and make a video about it! Love your channel!

[@rynelson85]

It was in Wichita, near 31st and Oliver. Still some remnants of it, quite a bit of homeless and gangs in the area now. A few years ago they demolished most all of the remaining buildings.

[@jimmeyer578]

31st and Hillside. Herb Ottaway built and ran it.

[@sandiewilliams238]

Coach, did you ever consider the possibility that Dennis Rader might be a fan of your channel. He is probably quite familiar with the roads, streets and highways around Wichita and Park City. He might like to watch and relive his sinister and horrific past. It would be spooky to have such an infamous fan! BOO! 😨

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I hope he’s not a fan but you never know 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@campingman2156]

Do you ever use historic aerials to do your research? Definitely a fun website. Great video as always!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Not too often but it’s a good idea!

[@taylorkesl2694]

Great video. I believe where Saint Mary's is location is acutally where Aleppo was. Saint Mary's in the name of the Catholic Church there. I still need to get to Mass at Saint Mark. Toured the church after Mass in Colwich back in January this year. Both beautiful churches. Need to hit mass at Saint Mary's too.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for the info on Aleppo!

[@robchit1653]

The St. Louis, Ft. Scott & Wichita railroad officially became a part of the Missouri Pacific family in 1909. Trying to tell what the brick building was in Furley in the b/w photo but I think it was just a garage, now appears to be a residence. It was on the Rock Island, now UP, and gets a couple of trains a day.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks!!

[@georgeparsons7338]

I was born and raised on the KS,MO border. I love KS but one of the reasons it's beautiful is there are very few people. Just like in Hodgeman county. I love your videos and love to explore back roads. Have you been to Cowley county to rxplore the stone bridges.

[@jeffeck1701]

Furley once had a school, 2 churches, 2 gas stations, a grocery store, bank, post office, and a fire station. The large brick building was the fire department. Don and Freddy owned it and lived there when I was a kid back in the 1980s. I spent a lot of time there as both of my parents worked... The second story was the living space and the ground level was all garage for the firetrucks when it was a firestation. You should of seen the baseball field that was out back. It was build shortly after the movie "Field of Dreams', but time was not kind to the wood... The bank vault was all that was left of the bank, the concrete was too thick for Don to demolish, he tried and tried but could not break it down... The old church is now a private home as that church moved to the new building on Greenwich and 101. Epps Station was Brown Oil Company that was a full service station until sometime in the 90s when they sold out to Epps and it is just the pumps now. The one row is still key pumps where key owners have an account and they pay their fuel bill monthly, price averaged over the month. Eck Airfield is still on many maps. It is at the end of the road that goes south out of Furley. Dad sold his last plane in 1990 when he closed Arial Applicators of Furley, his spraying business. We now run KCE Industries a general welding and fabrication shop. I joined him when I was in college, he broke his foot and needed the help to keep the lights on and I enjoyed building the three wheeled motorcycles and I stayed. We called them Premier Trikes, but that is also history now as the trike business dried up around 2009. Next to where the old church stands there was a school, it was elementary and middle school, my father attended the Furley School. He was born in 1947. It was closed down when we became part of the Whitewater Unified School District where dad attended Fredrick Remington Highschool at Brainard (another Ghost town between Whitewater and Potwin in Butler County). The School was demolished around 7yrs ago when the last Potter brother was dying from cancer. He didn't want to leave it for the widows to deal with. Much of that building is on our farm used for erosion control.... Wish you could have seen it, it was rather cool for an abandoned building. We had a tornado come through in 1991 that took out the old grain elevator, but Andale COOP rebuild what you see now. They are a thriving business keeping our farmers taken care of. Furley is actually growing again, over the last 10yrs we have had a lot of new homes and families come to our area... Sunnydale. It has been swallowed by Park City. They were annexed a few yrs back. The speed limit went from 45 just through town to the now 40 from the 135- the east end of the little village.. I purchased my home from a rich guy there that was going to bulldoze it for his 14.5 Million dollar mansion he is almost finished building. Couldn't let a $400k house just be destroyed when we were about to break ground on our new house build south of Furley. Still a work in progress for me as we didn't have the millions to just get it done..... There is a lot of history in our little corner of Sedgwick County.

[@jasonlaughlin7438]

I saw the bank vault and knew instantly that was Adam’s childhood house. I didn’t have to read long until I knew this post was Jeff or Justin! I hope you are doing well brother!

[@youngblood2]

I'm from Clearwater Kansas, which is on the southern side of Sedgwick County.

[@jljordan1]

El Paso is now Derby.

[@jamesorth6460]

When I got married to my late wife back in the 1990s we live across from the St. Mark's church

[@Ballinpalen_]

I know north Sedgwick very well, There’s some oil money houses up there that are closed off resorts almost. They might be in Harvey though.

[@shop99er]

Col Jabara was the first American Jet Fighter Ace. He had scored 1.5 kills in WW2, and 15 during the Korean War. He died in a car wreck in 1966 with his daughter. They are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Each year the United States Air Force Academy alumni association bestows the Jabara Award upon an Academy graduate whose aerospace accomplishments demonstrate superior performance.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for the info!

[@ricyoung7545]

I was looking for the The Greenwich Cemetery. It is located at 3751 N Webb Road, Wichita, Kansas, In the city.

[@georgeparsons7338]

Have you been to the catholic churches of Ellis county? The two cent church (2¢ of every bushel of wheat was donated to build some beautiful churches). Victoria,pfifer, Liebenthal, Schoenchen unbelievable churches.

[@McPh1741]

Greeting. I live in the Wichita area. Nice to see you visiting some of the older parts. Where did you get the map you are using?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I use the Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer.

[@melaniebiltz7187]

Eventually look at St. Paul, KS and the Osage Mission.

[@curlybill7618]

Thank you for no backup music

[@chris1960]

Just a guess that political correctness speak was not high on the agenda when Spasticville was named 😱

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

That is correct 😬

[@misspennymc]

Last I knew, in 2004 there was an assisted living home for adults with special needs.

[@jimmeyer578]

Also Minneha which is just east of Beech Aircraft.

[@bumper1730]

Interesting. However, what is that orange building in the Part I and II thumbnail photos?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Part 1 is the post office in Peck. Part 2 is the bank in Furley.

[@bumper1730]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Thank you!

[@tandrasmith1605]

Hello from Wichita

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

👋🏼

[@lostribe5130]

Spasticville😮

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I know right ?!??

[@Hobotraveler82]

❤😊

[@tinman7130]

Isn't Saint Mark the patron saint of perpetual motion? Or am I think of anther one because that death go round was blessed with an abundance of motion

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂😂

[@gazooberful]

i aint sayin nothin!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂

[@ryanarmstrong895]

The El Paso Post office became Derby.

[@nascarsteve]

Was the Stephanie Wise sign a family member running for office and a shameless plug?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

No relation I just filmed it because of the name 😂