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Summer Travel Season Boosts Local Economy
Abilene's summer travel season is off to a great start! Tourism is a component of economic development. By bringing in outside dollars we are able to diversify our economy, strengthen our tax base and celebrate our community.
| Attraction |
April 2017 Visitation |
May 2017 Visitation |
Comments |
| Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home |
34,711 |
22,420 |
April 2017 visitation was almost more than 14,000 more people than April 2016. |
| Seelye Mansion |
800 |
900 |
Up 20% from this time last year. |
| Great Plains Theatre |
2,000 |
2,000 |
Season opener: Mamma Mia! |
| Dickinson County Heritage Center |
730 |
1529 |
May 2017 visitation is higher than May 2016. |
| Greyhound Hall of Fame |
628 |
570 |
April saw an increase due to the NGA Spring Meet |
| Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
521 |
2,266 |
Hosted many school charters. In May 817 passenger train riders and 1,449 school kids! |
| Abilene Visitors Center |
259 |
452 |
April and May 2017 are both up from 2016. |
| TOTAL |
40,195 |
32,428 |
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Lodging occupancy:
Abilene is home to more than 200 rooms. The average occupancy rate for April was 45% and May was
52.49%. This is up from an average of 26.49% in the first quarter.
Tournaments:
In addition to visitation at Abilene's tourism destinations, Abilene Parks & Rec is busy managing and hosting several tournaments that bring in outside dollars to our community.
- June 24-25 - Softball tournament (30 teams)
- June 29-30 (note date change) - Volleyball tournament (16 teams)
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Abilene Welcomes Air Race Classic
The first four planes on the Air Race Classic arrived in Abilene Wednesday morning. A total of 118 pilots are participating in 88th annual air race.
Merrill Eisenhower Atwater, Director of Aviation with the Kansas Department of Transportation and great-grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, creator of the FAA and the Interstate System.
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| Click image to view interview with Merrill Atwater |
Use the link below to learn about the pilots, track their planes, speed and location.
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Greyhounds Gather in Abilene
The Heart of America Greyhound Gathering returned to Abilene this week. The event celebrates greyhounds and the people who love them!
In addition to their meetings, they hosted a community picnic at Eisenhower Park and greyhound pet parade.
We are thankful this group continues to return to Abilene!
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Throwback Thursday
Seventy years ago in 1947, the Eisenhower Family Home was dedicated.
Milton Eisenhower, president of Kansas State college, said the house "has strong sentimental values for all of us, not because of any recognition that came to any son, but for the qualities our parents had."
"It is our hope," he added, that "this modest home may inspire visitors to work more for the democratic system in America and throughout the world."
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*New* Gift Shop Inventory
Show your Kansas pride with these great Made in the U.S.A. items!
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Trip Advisor
Have you visited an Abilene business or attraction? Make sure to share your experience by leaving reviews.
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Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Steam Trains
 Plan your trip on the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad's Steam Locomotive #3415.
In July, the restored former ATSF 4-6-2 "Pacific" #3415 steam locomotive will be operating. This engine sat in Eisenhower Park in Abilene, Kansas for more than 40 years, having been retired by the Santa Fe Railroad in the 1950's. The City of Abilene donated the 3415 to the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. It took more than four years to restore the locomotive to operating condition with about 12,000 volunteer hours and the help of two grants.
The train departs Abilene eastbound for a 10½ mile round trip through the Smoky Hill River Valley to the neighboring community of Enterprise, KS. In Enterprise, the train stops for riders to see the Hoffman Grist Mill, with a rebuilt working waterwheel that mills flour.
The railroad is operated by volunteers, which includes engineers, conductors, brakemen, car attendants that narrate every trip and depot workers. Volunteers also take care of the mechanical and track maintenance.
- Date: July 1,3 and 4 (10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.); July 2 (2:00 p.m.); July 22 (10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.); and July 23 (2:00 p.m.)
- Contact Phone: (785) 263-1077
- Address: 200 SE Fifth Street
- Reservations required
- Admission: $30 (adults), $15 (children ages 3-11) and free (children 2 and younger)
- Note: Make sure to visit the newly opened Fred Schmidt Railroad Museum inside of former freight room in the depot!
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Dickinson County Heritage Center
2017 Memories of the Prairie Schedule
June 24 - John K. Burchill - Cowboys and Clerics
July 1 - Ann Walter - Waterville, KS, The End of the Chisholm Trail
July 8 - Nolan Sump - Life and Times of a German Immigrant Farmer
July 15 - Marla Matkin - Mrs. Custer. This is also the ice cream social, which starts at 6:00 p.m. There will also be a baked goods sale.
All programs are free of charge and are held at the Dickinson County Heritage Center.
Mini-Pioneer Camp
This week, Project LEAD from Wakefield visited the Dickson County Heritage Center to participate in a mini-pioneer camp.
Thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Dickinson County Heritage Center for bringing history alive!
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Eisenhower
Park & Rose Garden
Explorers
agree, Abilene's Eisenhower Park & Rose Garden is one of the prettiest parks in Kansas.
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Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home
70th Anniversary of Boyhood Home Opening
June 22, 2017, 9:00 AM
@ Boyhood Home
The Eisenhower Boyhood Home was opened to the public 70 years ago.
Enjoy free admission all day!
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Great Plains Theatre
Gypsy
Step into the life of a woman desperate to make it in showbiz, even if she has to use her daughters to do it! Gypsy puts a coy smile of the faces of family and fame, winking at the audience all the while.
Rated PG
Showtimes:
- Friday, June 30, 7:30 PM - Followed by: Afterglow
- Saturday, July 1, 7:30 PM
- Sunday, July 2, 2:00 PM
- Wednesday, July 5, 2:00 PM
- Thursday, July 6, 7:30 PM
- Friday, July 7, 7:30 PM - Followed by: Cabaret
- Saturday, July 8, 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
- Sunday, July 9, 2:00 PM
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Greyhound News
Greyhound Hall of Fame
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Bill Jeffcoat, taken around 1930 at the bear cage at Brown Memorial Park.
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Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum
C.L. Brown made considerable contributions to Abilene with the Abilene Electric Light Works, known now as the Sprint phone company, Westar power company, Pigg
ly-Wiggly grocery stores and 85 other companies. The businesses were very successful and Brown wanted to give back to the community with the Brown Memorial Home for the Aged, an orphanage, and a 226-acre park free to the public. The park cost approximately $1,000 a day to operate offering a swimming and boating lake, golf course, zoo, and camps for boys and girls. Opening day of Brown's Lake was 1926.
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Old Abilene Town
Gunfight Performances
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Paul Geering as the Old Abilene Town Sheriff. Photo courtesy of Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum.
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Visit Old Abilene Town on Saturdays at noon, 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to enjoy their famous gunfight performances.
In addition, the Alamo Saloon is open Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m.
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Stay in Abilene
Abilene Lodging Establishments
Abilene
is home to more than 200 rooms. Whether you're in town to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, enjoy a show at the Great Plains Theatre, attend the Central Kansas Free Fair, meet with greyhound industry leaders or take a ride on the
Abilene
& Smoky Valley Railroad, we invite you to extend your visit and spend the night and enjoy all
Abilene
has to offer.
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Help us, help you
Share your News!
Have an upcoming event? Help us, help you. We do our best to stay up-to-date, but please make sure to include us in your event and special promotions. Please send announcements to:
[email protected]
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