It could be said that a trip through Scott County, north into Logan and Wallace counties will take a person through a million years of history - from the age of dinosaurs to the pioneers who settled the rugged West.
The State of Kansas agrees.
The three counties are home to the Western Vistas Historic Byway, the first-ever designated historic byway in the state and the 10th Kansas byway to receive official designation from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
“The state designation will create greater awareness of the historical significance and scenic beauty of this area for visitors and spur interest in the communities along the route,” said Scott Shields, Kansas State Byways coordinator.
To be designated as historic, a byway must have resources that are significant historically, be numerous, be visible and have a setting or character that is complementary to the resources.
The 102-mile route easily met those qualifications as it starts in Scott City on US83 Highway and ends on US40 Highway at Sharon Springs.
“We are pleased that the addition of historic byways to our program prompted local interest to qualify for this designation,” said Shields. “Western Vistas provides visitors a visual relationship between the history, landscape and structures that define the area, to promote tourism along with natural and cultural importance.”
Although the economic impact of designating scenic or historic byways has not been measured yet, other states have estimated a new byway can influence a 20 or 30 percent increase in traffic activity.
“We’re not talking about just money, maybe just visiting,” Shields said. “That’s why we’re doing better research to get a better handle on the impact.”
He said the Kansas Travel and Tourism Division is working with Kansas State University on the economic impact of byways, although Shields said the research is only in the preliminary stages and doesn’t have a target completion date yet.
The historic byway passes through Lake Scott State Park on K-95, returning to U.S. 83, then north to the US 83/US 40 intersection at Oakley, turning west to Sharon Springs in Wallace County.
The byway offers opportunities for visitors to experience the El Quartelejo Pueblo ruins, view unique rock formations such as Monument Rocks and “Little Jerusalem” and explore the various cultures and events that played a central role in America’s western expansion.
Western Vistas features seven National Historic sites and six museums as well as spectacular scenery and recreational activities. Additional opportunities to experience natural Kansas along the byway exist with the wide open vistas, the sighting of turkey, prairie dog, deer, buffalo or pronghorn and the natural scenery of Scott State Lake, just to mention a few of the features.
The state designation will result in the placement of route markers along the byway, creation of a promotional brochure and a page on the www.ksbyways.org website. Western Vistas Byway will also be placed on the national www.byways.org Web site.
The byway will be eligible for National Scenic Byway grants to enhance the route for visitors.
Leadership Team members who worked on the application included John Foster, Wallace County Economic Development director; Barbi Winderlin, former director of Scott County Travel and Tourism; and Raelene Keller, director of Wild West Historical Foundation, Inc., Oakley, along with the assistance of numerous team members from the area.
Representing Scott County on the Western Vistas Historic Byway Committee will be Jerry Thomas, operator of the Thomas Gallery in Scott City.