Elk Falls Kansas

Elk Falls Kansas is a very unique town, home to Elk Falls Waterfall with a historic Pratt Truss Bridge.  The town also proclaims to be the “Worlds Largest Living Ghost Town” as well as the “Outhouse Capitol of Kansas”.  In addition it is home to a unique historic Rock Garden created during the great depression.  For a town with around 100 residents it sure has a lot going on.

Waterfall

The Falls, as it is known locally, is where the town of Elk Falls (pop. 120 or so) derives its name. The natural waterfall is about 10 ft. high and approximately 100 ft. wide, formed by the stone outcropping across the river. It was once the site of a waterpowered grist mill which was built in 1875. The water was originally channeled to one side by a log dam in order to turn the water turbine. Floods washed out the early wooden dams until the curved stone dam was constructed by Jo Johansen, a Swede from Minnesota. This stone dam is still standing well over 100 years and many floods later. The falls are easily viewed from the 1893 Iron Truss Bridge, or hike down to the water’s edge on the massive limestone slabs lining either side of the river.

Elk Falls Steel Bridge

The Elk Falls Pratt Truss Bridge, near Elk Falls, Kansas, spans the Elk River at the east end of Montgomery St. It was built in 1892 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It is a Pratt truss bridge built by the George E. King Bridge Co. The bridge was taken out of service in the 1970s and, in 1992, was in the process of some restoration and is open for pedestrian use.

Worlds Largest Living Ghost Town

Elk Falls, Kansas is a town of less than 200 people that bills itself as the World’s Largest Living Ghost Town. The slogan helped draw some artists to the community and revive the town a few years back, but Elk Falls is declining again.

But the town is still worth visiting, particularly in the warm months, as the remaining businesses tend to be seasonal. Interesting businesses include Elk Falls Pottery, The Tannery, the Saw Mill, and the 1879 Sherman House Bed & Breakfast Inn.

Outhouse Capitol of Kansas

Elk Falls, Kansas is the self proclaimed Outhouse Capital of Kansas. The tiny community has a open house and Outhouse Tour on the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving.

The Outhouse Tour

The Friends of Elk Falls Association coordinates the annual Fall Open House celebration in Elk Falls. Always the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving, various businesses, individuals and organizations sponsor an open house, concession or event as part of the community wide festivities. In 1996, at one of the brainstorming meetings, there was a discussion about things we might add to the event. Historic home tours, garden tours and such were not a possibility in this tiny rural community. Someone jokingly said “Well, we have a lot of outhouses in town.” Everyone got a good laugh and then thought, well, why not? No one has ever done THAT before! Thus, the Outhouse Tour and Contest was born. The decision was hesitantly made to try it once. The event was a thundering success! People absolutely loved it!

So just what is an outhouse tour? Each year, about twenty brave individuals and local businesses spruce up (or build or relocate) an outhouse for a contest where the visitors are the judges. Cash prizes are awarded to the top three as well as the coveted Outhouse Throne Award, a custom made stoneware trophy chamber pot. Visitors who choose to take the self-guided tour pick up a ballot and a map at the Outhouse Headquarters downtown and vote for their favorite privy! Cost is $1 for a commemorative Outhouse Button.

The Rock Garden

The Rock Garden began in 1930 during the Great Depression when Maude Frakes hired several local men to build stone and concreate structures in her yard – her very own WPA project!  Her adopted son Bob also made many items including the large elephant, the twin arches, registration desk, and bridge over the fish pool.  Maude and others brought in stones from near and far, many being hauled by wagon and mule.

The state Monument (North of the Stone Gazebo) once contained a stone from each of the 48 states.  The small round stones (Wishing Well, Child’s Seat) were sailing ship ballast stones form Denmark which were piled on the shores of the east coast and later used as grinding medium. Many other unusual stones, including fossils, petrified wood, arrowheads, stalactites, stalagmites, quartsite, onyx and many others were used in the construction of the various structures.

The garden was complete in 1938 with a water system pressured by the water tower behind the barn.  As many as 1760 visitors signed the guest book in 1933-34.

Steve and Jane Fry purchased the 22 acres south of Elk River in 2004 with the dream of preserving what remained of the overgrown and deteriorating 1896 farmstead. After more than a decade of clearing, demolition, repairing and rebuilding, the Frys moved to the property in 2016. A new timber frame addition was added to the original farmhouse and the mule barn was restored and repurposed to house Elk Falls Pottery on the 40th anniversary of the business, established in 1976.

The Rock Garden is once again open to visitors of Elk Falls and the Pottery.

Group tours and demonstrations are available.

Where it is:

Elk Falls and the Steel Bridge – 4TH ST AND MONTGOMERY ST, ELK FALLS, KS 67345

Elk Falls Pottery and the Rock Garden is at the intersection of Elk Falls Pottery Road and K-160 in Elk Falls.

Maps:

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Elk Falls Photo Gallery

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