Inspired by Jarhead's comment on the Friends of Elk Falls,
I am wondering if any forum members have ever taken the annual tour of outhouses in Elk Falls.
It seems to me that some years have been better than others but there appears to be some rather ingenious and artful efforts going into many of the entries.
One year a radio station offered to do a live broadcast during the tour but do not know if that took place.
http://elkfallsouthousetour.com/?author=2
Here is a link to some of the outhouses.
On one of our trips back to Parsons, we took a detour to visit Elk Falls. What a lovely little surprise of a town! We'll have to go back to see the outhouses.
Lisa
I have never done the "outhouse crawl". Oh wait. It's not like a pub crawl, right? LOL Anyway, I have never been, but have enjoyed the reading the paper after it was over.
November 18 & 19 are the dates for the Outhouse contest/tour/festival this year.
I wonder why they wait until it is cold and so late in the year?
I have been several times and always enjoy it. I love to look at the outhouses all decorated up and the quilts. Plus it is always fun to see old friends.
Waldo, I asked Paul Eck at our API meeting yesterday why they had the outhouse event so late and he said
it started out as the open house of Jane and Steve Fry's pottery barn.............and they added the outhouses and other
events in Elk Falls to it.
Why so late....is Steve and Jane waited till all their craft fairs were over and the Christmas season was near.
Makes sense, so therefore the cooler weather.
I teasingly said to Paul, they might have waited till a frost so the "smells!" might not be so bad...he said, Maybe!.
I still wish Doobie would comment on here. He is part of the town!
Thanks, Judy,
I have never been there to vote, etc., and am usually not in Elk County at that time of the year, except Thanksgiving every other year.
I was just curious about that winter time considering I had heard tour buses came through to see the outhouses.
But at that time of the year, now I am wondering as to just who would be taking a tour bus.
Even in November, though, it has to be rather successful, since it has been going on for so long.
But at that time of the year, now I am wondering as to just who would be taking a tour bus.
My folks use to go at a drop of a hat...........Dad was a member of the GoodYear Leisure club, mainly cause in his last years at GoodYear he was a supervisor and that is what you joined when you retired.
They went on lots of trips, several day trips and once in awhile they did go to Branson for a few days....not sure how many, Mom and Dad liked that place so much we kids teased them about retiring there...........but the grandkids and kids kept them in Topeka.
One of the day trips that was scheduled was a tour of Elk Falls and the outhouses..........and Mom asked me what was so great about that.? One of my favorite places in Elk County is the bridge and falls at Elk Falls.....plus we use to run around and work with a couple from Elk Falls and spent a lot of time there, so when company came to visit we always took them to "THE FALLS" to see it and yes they drove around the area. So after I told them what it was they decided not to waste the money to see what they had already seen.
They agreed with you about the colder time. You know Kansas, we have snow on Thanksgiving, we had about 95 one year and we spent it at Riverside park in Independence, this was before I moved to Elk county.
So just because it is in November, doesn't mean it will be cold/hot/snowy/wet/ what ever happens, happens. maybe one year you will be able to take it in.
We've gone a few times since we moved back from Texas. We always enjoy seeing the outhouses, visiting. We have run into people from many places that have come there. I know that when they first started it, they had an elderly couple that would come and set up a sorghum mill and grind sorghum with a team of horses. Mother really enjoyed that, but unfortunately, they have passed on. One year, a couple built a replica of the old mill for the Fry's. In fact, it is still on display at the pottery shop. My great great grandfather helped build it. This is my mother's hometown, so it is always fun to stop by and visit and talk about "days gone by".
Myrna
Not a bad place to get some small Christmas gifts either. I usually buy some sorgum and honey. Love looking at all the crafts.
Although I was a resident of the Village of Elk Falls, it took me about six or seven years before I participated in the "Tour". You can see outhouses from something neat and tidy to completely bizarre!! One recent entry from the bizarre category was the infamous Far Outhouse once visited by Jimi Hendrix on a "trip" through here. All the outhouses are listed on a map and are reachable by walking from entry to entry. The food that is served by as many as six to eight vendors is State Fair quality. The item receiving the rave reviews are Apple Dumplings, served hot and extremely edible. Many people return yearly simply to have Apple Dumplings. The old gym is full of vendors selling hand crafted items that are one of a kind, and make great gifts, or a present for yourself. So for a great "day" trip in Kansas, the Ol' Doobie would recommend trying it at least once, you will come back!!! Don't forget--the 3rd weekend of November--see ya there, or in my case here.........................Don't worry about it beeing cold, we always order nice weather!!!!!
Wow. You should write advertisements. LOL
Janet-you know I was blessed with the art of BS, also received a Doctorate in it in the early seventies. I take pride in bending the truth to fit my situation-------Except of course in the rare instances I had a "scrape with you as our Sheriff. At NO time did I ever even think of fabricating facts concerning an investigation concerning myself.............................HONEST, I think I kinda told the truth!!!!
Can I eat my apple dumpling sitting in one of the shitters?? errrr. I mean the outhouse?? ;D ;D
If you call ahead Teresa we can get you a "seat" Please don't "dump" what is left over. We hate things to go to "waste"
doobie, you never could lie to me. All I had to do was look at you and everything you knew came spilling out whether I wanted to know it or not. God, how you can talk. LOL
It will surely make me sleep better at night knowing I had your complete respect, Janet-----I have forty three dollars and ninteen cents, money from my paper route, ready to "donate" to your campaign the minute you announce you're running!!!!!! ----the 'ol doobie----
Doobie, You are FULL of IT!!
You have come a LLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG ways. LOL