Finally! Back to travel! Back to researching our chosen locations and the connections to our past! Like many, work has taken a front and center seat the past few months. Danyle changed jobs during our time away from travel and with my impending retirement we found a 24 hour window to discover Kansas.
Where to go? Hiking and enjoying the outdoors was out of the question as the temperature was to be around 100 for our trip. A trip to The Smoky Hill Valley to see if we could run into a view distant cousins or friends of long lost relatives would fit into our 24 hour window. Time to discover small towns, but where to stay? Let's get unique! A search on airbnb.com provided us the solution. A 1932 chicken coup.
Have you ever thought about staying at a place where the previous tenants weren’t travelers but chickens? When telling others about our trip to drive three hours to stay in a chicken coup the look on their faces was priceless and we were asked more than once, "Are the chickens still there?" No chickens other than decor & The Kingsley Family put many cool details into the coup. Goal: To enjoy a peaceful night on the Western Kansas Prairie. Goal achieved! (And yes, the AC works amazing in the coup!)
Our travel to The Roost in mid June was shared with farmers diligently working on their wheat harvest, which was in full swing. Kansas State Highway 4 was vacant other than the wheat truck making another stop at the COOP. Prior to The Roost, we enjoyed a Saturday afternoon in Marquette, Kansas at the distillery and ice cream parlor and of course locating a few Hudson's - but that's a story or another blog!
We made it to the The Roost just before six. Two friendly dogs, Lucy and Tank greeted us when we rounded the corner from Munjor Road. Both Lucy & Tank were excited to have visitors but knew their required distance. Tank took care of security at night. Shortly after sunset he sat at the door and made sure anything out in the prairie that was curious of The Roost wouldn't get too close. He had quite the discussion with a coyote shortly after sunset. Other than Tank's security we slept to the strong southerly Kansas prairie wind making contact with the southerly facing windows.
Kansas heat seared our souls and the wind took out what energy we had by the time we landed just south of Ellis, Kansas. The Kingsley’s took us around their property in their truck to show us areas and explained the families history. Tim’s family has farmed this land since 1878 and we could tell how honored he was to tell us about his family. Looking to the west while driving to the hollow Tim advised us the farm went for two miles to the west in its prime. The impeding sunset I am sure was not much different than what it was for his ancestors settling here in 1878. I couldn't wait to sit and watch!
"The motto of Kansas, "Ad Astra per Aspera" is Latin for "to the stars through difficulties." John James Ingalls coined the motto in 1861 stating, "The aspiration of Kansas is to reach the unattainable; its dream is the realization of the impossible." Sixteen years later, The Kingsley Family aspired to achieve their goal of a farm on the western plains of Kansas.
Sunset. Two meadowlarks playfully darting across my view of the west, engaged in what I can only describe as a playful romantic interlude. I am a fan of Western Kansas. I am a fan of those who endured the harsh reality of the high plains, making a life for their family. I am a fan of those families who made it to 2022 holding onto their land the family settled so many generations ago. My family isn’t one of those lucky ones so I live vicariously through others. The Kingsley family was my ticket in June 2022.
Construction of the Chicken Coup
Tim said his grandfather, father and Uncle Orville built the coup for his grandmother. The limestone is from the land. The chisel markings present on the limestone are the closest one can get to their souls. Orville did not get to enjoy the farm in old age. Orville died in WW2, just like my grandfather, who also grew up in Ellis. A brother to a soldier who died with Orville wrote to the Kingsley's to let them know what he knew about his death. Orville was taking care of two German POW's and when he turned his back, one German had a hidden revolver and shot Orville in the back, killing him instantly. The other American soldiers present took quick measures to secure the required demise of this German soldier however Orville was gone. He is now back in Ellis County, buried in the same cemetery my ancestors reside. Orville gave his life for our country. His mother never saw him marry, have a family. His sacrifice weighs heavy on my soul. Another young man from Ellis who did not make it home. A stay at The Roost has more meaning as Orville would have cherish another night at home.
Orville Hamlin Kinglsey was born 19 FEB 1920 in Ellis County Kansas.
7 AUG 1944 Maine, Department de la Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, France
Training - 25th Training Battery, Field Artillery, Central Officers Training School, Camp Zachary, Taylor, Kentucky
Peace be with you Orville.
My parents grew up on the plains of Western Kansas. Some lines homesteaded. Others landed in small communities including Ellis, Kansas. I find myself yearning for the energy one gets from Western Kansas. The afternoon heat is not for the faint of heart. The reward is the early morning hours where the coolness I believe is from the higher elevation, maybe that wind coming off the mountains makes it way… At any point, the mornings are cool, peaceful and something one should experience, at least once in their life. A choir of birds was in full strength this morning, providing a beautiful chirpy melody while the soft cool breeze touch our skin. Crickets, hiding in high brush, provided a steady beat, a soft drum. The sunrise started with shades or purple and quickly turned more of a reddish/pink. Two jackrabbits chased each other not stopping to watch the sunrise. They must be spoiled with this view each and every day. I am not and took my time devouring its beauty. This sunrise, created by the brush of God is captured by my trusty iPhone however technology can not capture the solitude, the peace, the thousand shades of purples, oranges, blues and pinks dancing on the horizon, ever-changing.
The Roost
Attention to detail and comfort for those staying wasn't overlooked when The Roost was created. Danyle asked what made them decide to "upcycle" the chicken coup into a cozy place to enjoy. The reply, "A bathroom for us to use when we were out on the farm." The Roost was created all due to the need for a bathroom. One thing led to another and The Roost was established in 2017. The Kingsley's hit a home run on this gem. Anyone traveling through Kansas who finds themselves needing a place to unwind, rest for an evening should look this up before reserving a room at the hotels in Hays or elsewhere. Why stay in a hotel room when you can have all this to enjoy? The drive from I-70 is just shy of 20 minutes south of the exit at Ellis, Kansas. A large shower, a kitchen, a large array of windows facing south, with the view of native grass & the Smoky Hills. The ornate doors with their old hinges in place, what's not to love? There is a full size bed along with a queen sofa sleeper provided plenty of sleeping accommodations.
The Decaying Barn
The owl was back on his perch standing guard to the decaying barn. This barn is in bad shape. When I say decaying, another strong windstorm and this beauty will be gone forever. The Kingsley's spoke about renovating the barn, keeping it there for future generations however funds are just not there. How amazing would it be to raise funds to secure a place for us and others to visit, to experience life on the western plains of Kansas? Supports are in place to keep it upright for the moment but the effort to save this beauty must be made soon or it will be lost forever. Watching this accomplishment fade into the past is heartbreaking. What a wonderful place to call home, just ask the owl.
Grandpa Kingsley
Grandpa Kingsley planted his last wheat crop just shy of 100 years of age, at 98. Tim said grandpa's idea of rest was to just change up what work he was currently doing. This barn, the coup, the farmstead is where his blood & sweat poured out. Fitting his silhouette stands on the land, allowing visitors to pay tribute to him while driving out.
Thank you to The Kingsley family for allowing us to experience the farm. This is a hidden gem for those who love to experience the path away from the interstate. Don't be afraid of the remote location. Trust me, you're better off out here with the coyotes than you are back near the interstate in today's world. Not many will venture out this far out but those who do understand its beauty. Western Kansas shines!
Comments