WaKeeney, Kansas ||| Population 1,799 ||| small town, USA

[@JOHNDANIEL1]

If the HOMETOWN bakery is still open across from the court house, it has a awesome breakfast. We hit that every time stopping when hauling cows.

[@janfeuerborn2707]

What a wonderful small town! They even have a community swimming pool! We always enjoy your videos, John!❤

[@vickiwood9192]

The veteran's memorial is very touching. Our warriors deserve to be remembered and honored. Thank you, WaKeeney.

[@JenniferAlexander-yd6kj]

We finally got to watch this video. Wakeeney is cool town. They honor our Christian beliefs in Christ and honor our veterans. It is a neat clean town and shows how much the residents care about their town. Hope to visit there some day. Hope you had a great holiday John.

[@davewinter2688]

71+ year old transplant to Kansas here. When I moved to Manhattan Kansas in 1974 I had a job selling electronic equipment with a small Manhattan company. On my first trip to western Kansas in my little six cylinder Plymouth Duster in July it was 109 degrees F and the wind was blowing like Holy Hell. The car was heavily loaded and running hot. When I got to Hays at 4:30 in the Afternoon every motel was full. Remember this is long before cell phones. Finally one nice motel desk clerk called around and found me a room in WaKeeny which I had never heard of. As I was driving out there I thought I was going to fall off the edge of the earth. I don’t remember what time it was when I got there but at least it wasn’t dark yet. The room in one of those little mom and pop motels was something like $24.95 and by that time it seemed like the Waldorf Astoria to my tired body.

[@JohnClevenger-ts2pg]

Small towns are fantastic and this town looks like it’s worth visiting. Very nice town

[@ronfullerton3162]

The small towns are so wonderful. I have spent a good deal of my life either living in a small town, or doing freight delivery and pick-up in them. The atmosphere, the people, and the life style is so grand. And the sense of community just brings the priority so closely together. And so many of our small towns are slowly dying away. People will just never know the great life they could be living in one of these small communities.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It is! Thanks for watching!

[@lovedadonald.]

Happy belated Merry Christmas to you John. I took a small roadtrip 150 miles west of me yesterday on a little highway called I-40 to a small town called Amarillo LOL ! I had my Christmas meal at the Big Texan steak ranch and then spent a couple hours at the huge new Buc-ee`s about a mile east of the Big Texan. Good times at both places and the Thanksgiving and the Christmas buffet's at the Big Texan are well worth the price. Stopped in Groom, TX. and rode around there and Erick, Ok.where Sheb Woolley and Roger Miller were raised and made a day out of Christmas not sitting around all day. Thanks for taking us to WaKenney this morning John, very nice little town my friend ! Happy new year and safe travels Wise Guy...

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for watching - sounds like you had a fun Christmas Day!

[@chrsloc145]

Helped put the new roof on the school back in 02'. I think we hung out in a bowling alley when we staying there. Nice little town. I think the guys I worked with said someone that lived there called it Wakenweenie.

[@kimiastewart6293]

Since moving to New Mexico from Chicago in 2018, I have such an appreciation for small towns and I love exploring them Thanks for sharing

[@Glendatheagoodwitch]

👋. Garden city, Kansas here. Originally from WaKeeny. My family was named Reddig. Tracey Reddig was my Gramdfather. My father was the 10th child in a family of 13 children. All of them spread around the farming community. The farming there is amazing. 🤩

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Nice clean well-kept town. Even the abandoned buildings have no trash around them. I think the people who live there are lucky. Thanks for the video.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very true! Thanks!

[@jenniferricker4207]

You should come back in late April for the Buzzard Bash! They celebrate the return of the buzzards every year! I work at the post office there & everyone is very friendly!

[@Glendatheagoodwitch]

You should go through the Churches built by the Volga Elders. I believe there’s were 6.

[@chriswilson9230]

I know we’re a long ways away, but there is so much to see, small towns, lots of little cemeteries, museums, etc. My wife and I are taking a much needed day trip soon. It’ll be worthy of Travel With A Wiseguy. I always look forward to your videos.

[@jpdriver1967]

Great video. My mom was born and raised on Wakeeney, leaving there after WWII when she met my dad returning from the war. I went to a couple family reunions there as a kid. My wife's uncle lived in Oakley and was interred at the Wakeeney Veteran's Cemetery. Thanks for sharing the town with me.

[@papabear562]

I worked with an Air Force pilot with the last name of Keeney. He grew up in Iowa. I'll have to ask him if he's related to the James Keeney you spoke of. Agree with other posters. That town looks very clean and charming. Nice video Coach!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It is a very clean and charming town!

[@SusanHL]

LOVE the Veterans cemetery! ❤🇺🇸 Red brick streets, awesome courthouse, AND purple & gold street signs? That settles it - I'm moving there. Great judgement about the DGR - although I confess, I'm laughing a bit imagining how that could have gone if you DID go for a spin on it (outtake of the year)! 😂🤣

[@ronfullerton3162]

Those veteran cemeteries are such a great place to stop. The people in the communities hostessing them have such pride in these citizens that served our country, and wish to give them the honor they deserve, that they are so clean and well maintained. Then to visit one, there are such feelings to experience. There is a large feeling of peace and tranquility to start. Many of them seem to have Mother Nature standing guard with flowers, grass, and trees watching over the graves, as the birds sing their songs to promote the rest of those interned there. And to walk the grounds and read the stones is a chance to meet those souls that served us so well. Fort McPherson, just east of North Platte, Nebraska, is one that I have visited from time to time. And every visit has been time well spent. These souls paid for our freedom we experience today!

[@SusanHL]

@ronfullerton3162 Well said! We owe them so much, and to never take for granted the freedoms they've given us....God bless each and every one of them. ❤️🤍💙

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@SusanHL Thank you! I wasn't ever in the military, but those that were, I think the world of. The Greatest Generation were the people all around me as I grew up. And they were the "established" workers that showed me the ropes and helped me along. Such wonderful men and women! So many of them had served, and it had shaped their lives and gave them so much personal discipline and taught them how to work as a team. I t is too bad all of us that followed were unable to carry on as they had prepared for us. As a Boomer, I am terribly upset with the people of our generation that were the politicians and heads of corporations, and those who led the way. I should of known this was what would happen after watching them in high school and college. No way can most of them stand up to those of that generation that we have nearly lost all of.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I'm glad you noticed the details - Wakeeney is full of charm! 😂

[@AmandaGosser]

I grew up there. Trego Golden Eagles. Purple and gold colors. :)

[@bglrj]

I was a hippie vegetarian when I hitchhiked through there in 1971. There was a Mexican restaurant run by anglo townfolk at the off ramp of I-70 where I ordered cheese enchiladas. It came with big chunks of ham. They just couldn't understand why I didn't appreciate the extra effort they had made to make me happy! 😂

[@TomClutch-i9j]

WOW. Way cool. Back when America could Hitchhike. The old fashioned way. I grew up nearby in the 70s. Definitely remember those GREAT DAYS. And all them there Hitchhikers....Glad you made it to your destination....😀

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I love those kind of stories 😊

[@carlhunt6891]

Thank you as always. Cool town, love the Christmas decor. Be safe on your holiday travels and enjoy.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for watching - I will! 😊

[@patrickmcgowan2445]

Great video. Been through Wakeeney many times. Nice to have a good look at it.

[@justnerdystuff]

It is very apparent that this small town has a LOT of pride and care for their town, even though small. I LOVE the water slide for the public pool! Even the abandoned buildings are clean and no litter or garbage around. I personally give this town a 10. The only thing I would add or encourage is more murals, especially on the old abandoned elevators or silos. The current murals are excellent! Kudos to the artist(s)!

[@deborahross9974]

Gee golly, John, I didn't see this version of WaKeeney, Ks. I saw the Christmas version and enjoyed it and this one was great too. Such a lovely small town and so glad you showed this day time version too. You are right it probably would have disturbed the school to see you on their go around. Thank you, as I loved this trip. Happy trails to you, Happy New Year and God bless.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’m glad you enjoyed both versions! Hope you have a great new year too!

[@curlyfries5095]

Back for your daylight video visit to WaKeeney. I love the wide bricks streets of downtown. Hope you got to visit Gibson Health Mart and have cool treat at their Soda Fountain. Also someone in the comment section earlier mentioned the purple and gold street signs. Those are the school colors of the Wakeeney-Trego County Golden Eagles. I always thought that was a cool way to display and show community pride in your school! Safe travels and thanks for sharing!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’ll definitely make a note to check out Gibson Health Mart for next time!

[@justnerdystuff]

Is that music playing all the time from the loudspeaker? How cool is that? It would be like living in a Hallmark movie!🎶🎵

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Good question 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Glendatheagoodwitch]

This was my father’s side. My mother’s side is from Between Wilson, Kansas, and Ellsworth. My mother’s side was part of the Volga German community. Her family name was Bruning. A lot of these communities were German/ Volga German, and Irish. Thank you for this history. 🎉

[@peterselten500]

Hi john cool old gas station the old car dealer has so much potental its a nice old town . Cheers mate

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for watching and commenting! 😊

[@brintwalstad8177]

I did my student teaching in Wakeeney. Lot of good people there!

[@richardschneiderKS]

Great little town. I was born there in 1933. Most of the people their spoke German. Yes I did also. Kinda lost it when the war started!""

[@ParanormalPat]

Thanks for all of your detailed videos. You know your history of these small Plains towns very well plus your drone shots are beautiful!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Wow thank you so much! Your generosity is appreciated more than you know!

[@RoscoePecoleTrain-qp6vs]

WaKeeney seems like such a nice well maintained community, with lots of churches. I'm not sure why a town of less then 2,000 needs 2 Catholic Churches & 4 Lutheran churches, but the churches are all beautiful & add to the community feel. If someone was wanting to get away from the big city and move to a more rural location in Kansas, have you every put together a top 10 list of your favorite places that you have visited or that you would like to live in? Thanks for doing these videos, I really enjoy them.

[@teressawilliams8095]

One Catholic Church is in a neighboring town, one Lutheran church is in the county, one is now a B and B, the red church is an antique store. One church was not shown, the assemblies of God church.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Ooh guess what? Next week!

[@gorrdd]

Thanks John... that was really nice to see a surviving town way out in Kansas. Apparently, they learned the art of gimmick to get people to come and some to stay. Gord

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😊

[@karljacobson1575]

we race at the wakeeny speedway in Sport Mod class!! fast track!!

[@pierce0690]

nice, im in hays, grew up in wakeeney! good time to see it too

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It's a great place to visit!

[@crit62]

I was born in that hospital many many years ago

[@wendystaudt6818]

use to head out there to do some racing

[@thoward4051]

Beautiful town. I would love to see that downtown lit up at night during Xmas. Thanks Coach!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Did you see the other video I did of it lit up?

[@thoward4051]

@@TravelwithaWiseguyThanks for letting me know, I would have hated to miss that video. Good work!

[@gregoryfontenot3177]

Worked at Cedar Bluff reservoir one summer. WaKeeney was the nearest “big town.”

[@Glendatheagoodwitch]

Merry Christmas 🎄

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Merry Christmas to you too!

[@ctkelley27]

My mom was born in wakeeney I still have some cousins live there I used to go there when I was a kid good small town. I myself was born not to far away in Salina. But now live in sedan ks

[@brucefranklinjr.8543]

Enjoy all the vids. There’s a number of smaller towns along 70, could keep you busy for a trip or two.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

There’s a lot of small towns out there, for sure!

[@shop99er]

Have you ever gone to Douglass in Butler County? I lived there many years ago when it was a bustling little town, and wonder what it's like these days.

[@juliogonzales5441]

THANKS COACH 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

You're welcome!

[@stevemccoy8138]

Love Western Kansas, what is there for jobs today? I've been through there many times on the Super Slab,10-4 😊 I was waiting for the Death go round 😅. Merry Christmas.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😊

[@karlaneal2460]

Given your interest in cemeteries, I’m curious whether you have been to the ones in New Orleans. They are unique.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It’s been a while but yes I was there 20+ years ago and saw some!

[@sandiewilliams238]

"Teacher, there's a middle aged man with a scruffy beard playing on our death-go-round...he looks kinda sinister." "Let me take a look...Oh him, he travels the state to ride the death-go-rounds. He is harmless...I think his name might be Forrest." 😉

[@papabear562]

🤣🤣

[@brandymotter9838]

I hate that town

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂🏃‍♂️

[@MarySeltmann]

​@@brandymotter9838Why do you hate WaKeeney?

[@dustysadventures]

I love the Christmas tree in the middle of the road.

[@AmandaGosser]

Grew up here. Nice video. :)

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad you liked it! Thank you 😊

[@TomClutch-i9j]

Just a Heads up for everyone... Unfortunately. Not Displayed there in Wakeeney... But Wakeeney is the hometown of JOHN C. HENRY... He is the man who invented the original TROLLY CAR... He Built his first one in Kansas City... Yes. That is where the word TROLLY Comes from... Mr. JOHN C. HENRY....From WAKEENEY KS.....

[@Professor_MemesSquad]

There's a place southwest of witchita that has a population of like 5 people

[@allenantonio4389]

Cool, town name..Waa Keeney

[@RonaldDailey-z8b]

A lot of Churches

[@sittinknittinNlistenin]

⛄️🎄☃️🎄⛄️