Happy Trails, Jeana!
We appreciate Jeana's photography skills. Jeana's photo of the longhorns at the 2016 Trails, Rails & Tales Celebration was widely used to promote the 2017 event. 

In 2015, Jeana Lawrence joined the Abilene CVB as an intern and later served as the Tourism Assistant. Jeana's last day with the Abilene CVB will be Saturday, September 16 (Kansas State Fair). Jeana is returning to her hometown of Chanute to work in the Public Library as she pursues a Masters in Library & Information Sciences from Emporia State University.

The Abilene CVB thanks Jeana for her service and wishes her the best of luck in Chanute!

We'll miss you, Jeana! 

Eisenhower Presidential Museum Featured on Travel Channel's "Mysteries at the Museum

In case you missed it last week, the Eisenhower Presidential Museum was featured on an episode of "Mysteries at the Museum". The episode will show again on Thursday, September 21 at 6:00 CST on the Travel Channel. 


The Economic Impact of Sales Tax
Image courtesy of TCT.

Abilene is home to a number of wonderful businesses. Shoppers in those businesses pay sales tax, which helps sustain our City services. Learn how the sales tax is distributed below:

Example)  Visitor Spends $100
  • Kansas Sales Tax (6.5%) - $6.50
  • Dickinson County Sales Tax (1.5%) - $1.50
  • Abilene Sales Tax (1.1%) - $1.10
Kansas State Fair

Named one of twenty "Best Small Towns to Visit" by Smithsonian Magazine, the Abilene CVB is taking the show on the road! Visit us at the Kansas State Fair in the Pride of Kansas Building September 8-17, 2017 in Hutchinson.

Thanks to the following partners for volunteering to help staff Abilene's booth:
  • Cliff & Janet Gibbs
  • Teresa Weishaar
  • Bud & Linda Bankes
  • Mary Jane Oard and the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad volunteers
  • Cecilia Harris
  • Michael Hook & the Dickinson County Heritage Center volunteers
  • Deb Sanders, Windmill Inn Bed & Breakfast
  • Allison Blake, Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Kathy & Warren, Greyhound Hall of Fame
  • James Holland, City of Abilene Community Development
  • Elvin & Gloria Bombardier
Also, thank you to Holm Automotive for the use of a vehicle.

Thanks to the  Wichita Eagle  for this fun story about the  Kansas State Fair  and the fun swag in the Abilene CVB booth!

Visit our Facebook Page for a video from the Kansas State Fair featuring Abilene Trivia with Marci Penner, Director, Kansas Sampler Foundation. 

Click image to view video
Longhorn Parade

Thanks to Eagle Communications for providing live footage of the longhorn parade. 





KANSAS! Magazine Features Abilene

The Fall Edition of KANSAS! Magazine is out and features a special "Weekend in Ike's Town". 

The story features Amanda's Bakery & Bistro, Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum, Rivendell Bookstore, RHV Hardware, Three One One, Engle House Bed & Breakfast, Dickinson County Heritage Center, Greyhound Hall of Fame Museum, Mr. K's Farmhouse, Great Plains Theatre, Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, Seelye Mansion, Brookville Hotel and more! 

Copies of KANSAS! Magazine are now available for sale in the Abilene Visitors Center gift shop. 



Trip Advisor - Greyhound Hall of Fame

Have you visited an Abilene business or attraction? Make sure to share your experience by leaving reviews.
Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home

The Chisholm Trail: Driving the American West
August 24 - October 12 | Library Lobby

This traveling exhibit, a collaboration between Symphony in the Flint Hills and Flint Hills Design in partnership with Lost Trail Soda, invites visitors of all ages to explore the Chisholm Trail from its inception in the 1860s to today. The Chisholm Trail revitalized the cattle industry following the Civil War, and gave rise to the iconic American cowboy. Exhibit highlights include an interactive musical exploration of the scores of verses to the cowboy song, "The Old Chisholm Trail," video and audio clips of movies and songs that reference the Chisholm Trail. Younger visitors can create their own brands with the "Brand Your Beeves" interactive station.

Chisholm Trail and the Cowtown that Raised a President
Exhibit in the Museum Temporary Gallery until May 2018

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail, which brought nearly two million cattle from Texas to the railhead in Abilene, Kansas, between 1867 and 1871. See rare artifacts and historic photographs. Learn about the square meal, the real McCoy, origins of the cowboy boot, and "the wickedest town in the West." Discover stories behind the legends of T.C. McInerney, Bear River Smith, and Wild Bill Hickok among others. Find out why Dwight Eisenhower developed a love for all things western in the Cowtown that raised a President!

Eisenhower and the Great War
Exhibit in the Upstairs Library Gallery until May 2018

War erupted in Europe in 1914 and soon involved nations around the globe. The Great War, as it became known, shocked the world with its massive scope and the industrial-like slaughter created by advances in military technology. The United States reluctantly joined the conflict in 1917 and began to build a large professional army from the ground up. One of the young officers who helped in this endeavor was a lieutenant by the name of Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower showed remarkable talent for organization and leadership during the years of American involvement in the war. Tasked with training thousands of inexperienced troops in the new and untested art of armored warfare, Eisenhower quickly built a strong and motivated group of soldiers while overcoming severe obstacles and setbacks. This exhibit tells the story of the Great War and its influence on Eisenhower's leadership abilities. World War I, as it would become known later in the century, proved critical to the making of this American Icon.

Great Plains Theatre 

Hillbilly Hotspot - BDS Productions 

Sept 15, 7:00pm    Followed by Afterglow
Sept 16, 7:00pm
Sept 17, 2:00pm

Sept 19, 2:00pm
Sept 20, 2:00pm
Sept 21, 7:00pm  
Sept 22, 7:00pm   
Sept 23, 7:00pm  
Sept 24, 2:00pm
 

Hillbilly Hotspot

Park your camper, spread out the fake grass, and make sure get your tickets to Hillbilly Hotspot! Featuring a rowdy group of downhome Hillbillies and the original music of singer/songwriter Darlene Austin, Hillbilly Hotspot will be sure to entertain.

Written and produced by Doug Thompson, owner of the Kansas Auto Racing Museum in Chapman, Kansas, Hillbilly Hotspot will run  September 15th through the 24th and focuses upon the various members of the Howdy family, with a couple hillbilly cousins thrown in for good measure.

There is a slew of original music by Kansas native Darlene Austin, who grew up in Vine Creek Kansas, which is sure to have toes tapping in the audience. The audience in Thompson's production function as a group of campers who have found themselves spending an evening at the Hillbilly Hotspot campground, at the base of Hillbilly Hill.

Each performance will feature a special guest spot of musical entertainment, with special guests including: The Talmage Quartet, 50 Years Late with Vince Stephens, Braiden Sunshine of The Voice, and Darlene Austin herself!

Hurry and get your tickets today, they're going faster than green grass through a goose! You can call Great Plains Theatre at 785-263-4574, go online to  greatplainstheatre.com, or stop by the box office at 401 Cottage Avenue.

You won't want to miss the knee-slapping, side-splitting, lovable hillbillies of Hillbilly Hotspot.


Reitz & Rust Vintage Market and Old Abilene Town Oktoberfest

Visit Abilene, Kansas for the 4th Annual Reitz & Rust Fall & Holiday  Market!

Saturday, September 30 

Enjoy, shopping, live music, food trucks and more!

Stay after the Market to attend Old Abilene Town's Oktoberfest celebration complete with food vendors, music and beer garden.



Calendar of Events

DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
DETAILS
Sept. 15-24, 2017 Hillbilly Hotspot Great Plains Theatre 7:30 p.m.
9/16/17 St. Andrew Church - A Centennial of Faith St. Andrew Church 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
9/23/17 ASVRR Silver Flyer Railbus Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad 10:00 a.m.
9/30/17 Reitz & Rust Fall & Holiday Vintage Market & Vintage Camper Show Central Kansas Free Fair fairgrounds 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
9/30/17 Oktoberfest Old Abilene Town 4 p.m. - Close
Concert @ 8:00 p.m.
   
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, spend the night and enjoy all  Abilene  has to offer.
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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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