 In Your Spare Time
Things to do after work:
- Places to Eat
- Movie Theaters
- Movie Rentals
- Bowling
- Libraries
- Museums
- Riverside Park
- Casinos (Bartlesville and Miami)
Area Attractions:
Independence, KS: In the 1920?s Independence was a wealthy white-collar town and showcased the homes of Alf Landon, Harry Sinclair, and Martin Johnson. Until the depression, Independence was said to have had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the country. Visit its beautiful downtown and be transformed back in time with its many historic homes, churches, buildings and mansions, including the Harry Sinclair mansion.
Neewollah Festival (www.neewollah.com) - In 2008, Welcome to "Our Town"! On Neewollah's 51st anniversary - Independence, Kansas welcomes you to Kansas' largest celebration. We invite you to participate, as hundreds of volunteers bring you an extravaganza of entertainment and enjoyment from October 19th through the 27th.
 "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", a fun-filled Broadway musical treat on the stage of beautiful Memorial Hall, kicks off the nine days of festivities. The Medallion Hunt; chili cook-off, historical carriage tour, a Fun Run and 5K race; and a bicycle ride provide active opportunities for young and old alike.
On Monday evening, the Queen Neelah talent show followed by the coronation of Queen Neelah LXVII on Tuesday night, highlight the 51-year tradition of Neewollah. The Little Princess contest, involving the very youngest tiny tots aspiring to be Queen candidates, is a new feature for the gala evening.
On Wednesday, Ottaway Carnival, with the rides, the lights and the screams of delight, sets the tone for Penn Avenue magic. Food vendors tantalize the tastebuds of the crowd with turkey legs and jaffles; corn on the cob; Philly steak sandwiches, blooming onions; caramel apples and apple dumplings; cinnamon rolls; and ice cream. While enjoying the street fare, festival-goers are entertained by local talent, bands and a variety of vocal and instrumental performers from the downtown bandstand. A Great Pumpkin contest, for young artists and youthful pumpkin growers, is held and a free kiddie show is offered on Friday night.
Parades - the Doo-Dah on Thursday; the Kiddie Parade on Friday; and the Grand Parade, complete with the ever-popular Marine Corps Band and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, on Saturday - thrill thousands lining the streets. The Neewollah Arts and Crafts show features spectacular pieces of work from all over the area. A Marching Band festival, held at Riverside Stadium, draws bands from schools throughout the three-state area. Saturday night, a Ball will be held at the Independence Country Club, following two performances, featuring Terri Clark on the Memorial Hall stage, caps off a celebration to remember. Yes! Welcome to Our Town!
 Little House on the Prairie ( www.littlehouseontheprairie.com) The official historic site of the Little House on the Prairie, as designated by the State of Kansas, is located southwest of Independence, Kansas. A small log cabin was reconstructed by local community volunteers following the description found in Laura Ingalls Wilder's book. All the references to surrounding terrain can be found a short distance from the cabin:
The Indian camp along Onion Creek.
The high prairie where the girls played.
Big Hill State Park
Elk City State Park
 Coffeyville's Brown Mansion makes quite an impression. Completed in 1904, the three story 16 room Mansion was built at a cost of $125,000. It was far ahead of it's time and had features like an alarm system, elevator, and a walk-in ice box.
The home was built by W.P. Brown, a businessman who moved to Coffeyville from Ohio in 1890. He first started a lumber company, but discovered one of the largest natural gas wells in the country. He then founded the Coffeyville Mining and Gas Company and owned several other businesses including a 40 acre amusement park and a Natatorium (spa).
The mansion was designed by Edward Wilder and Thomas Wight, who studied with Stanford White, and the house shares features with several of the famous homes that White designed. Some features of the home (such as the height of the steps) were designed to accommodate Brown's petite wife, Nancy, who was only 4'11".
Woolaroc (www.woolaroc.org) Hidden away in the rugged Osage Hills of Northeastern Oklahoma, Woolaroc was established in 1925 as the ranch retreat of oilman Frank Phillips. The ranch is a 3,700 acre wildlife preserve, home to many species of native and exotic wildlife, such as buffalo, elk and longhorn cattle. Woolaroc is also a museum with an outstanding collection of western art and artifacts, Native American material, one of the finest collections of Colt firearms in the world, and so much more. Woolaroc features a nature trail and two living history areas inviting you to experience the natural environment of Woolaroc, the life in a pre-Civil War 1840's mountain man camp and an early-day oil lease.
With its wildlife preserve, rustic lodge, outstanding museum and rugged natural environment, perhaps the vision of Woolaroc can best be summed up in Frank Phillips' own words: "This isn't all a dream about something, but a place where I can get back to nature. The great difficulty with the American people today is that they are getting too far away from the fundamental things in life. Too much time and money are spent on things which leave no record and which add nothing basically to the present nor to the future. To build permanently and wisely is to benefit all mankind. The conservation of wildlife now will mean much to future generations."
Woolaroc embodies the natural environment, cultural heritage, history and early values that made America great. It is a diverse and unique experience to be enjoyed by the entire family.
The name WOOLAROC is derived from three words?the woods, lakes and rocks that make up the beautiful Osage Hills of northeast Oklahoma where Woolaroc is located. The name was originally intended for the rustic Lodge ranch house, but it was so unique that it soon became the name for the entire Frank Phillips ranch.
Woolaroc has something for everyone. Will Rogers once said, "When you are visiting the beauty spots of this country, don't overlook Frank Phillips' ranch and game preserve in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. It's the most unique place in this country." If there is one last under-discovered treasure left in the United States, it surely must be a place called Woolaroc.
Come and experience what "Uncle Frank" left for all of us to enjoy. He would be extremely pleased.
Bartlesville ? shopping, restaurants, museums, entertainment
- Red Dirt Soap Company
- Keepsake Candles
Inge Home ? visit Pulitzer Prize winner, William Inge?s boyhood home, which many of his works reflect his hometown and the characters therein. http://www.ingecenter.org
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