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A GREAT PLACE TO PLAY
Ask for a copy of the “Visit Olathe” Visitors Guide for more on these and other local attractions. Call 913-764-1050 or download a guide at visitolathe.com.
Historical Experiences
There’s plenty to do and see in Olathe. Be sure to find a few minutes to explore the unique historical attractions and learn more about what makes Olathe such a welcoming city with true Midwestern charm with pure community values.
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site
Chief among the historic sites Olatheans and visitors enjoy is the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site the only working stagecoach stop left on the Santa Fe Trail. Depending on the time of year, visitors can explore the 1865 limestone farmhouse, visit the animals, ride a stagecoach, see what’s cooking on the wood stove, help with the farm chores and enjoy other living history activities. Mahaffie hosts special events, community festivals and other programs year-round. Birthday party packages for children are also available.
The Heritage Center at Mahaffie is a great rental facility for all kinds of activities, from weddings to parties to business retreats. The center features a gift shop, exhibits and video programs telling the stories of the Mahaffie family, the western trails, stagecoach travel, the Border and Civil Wars in Kansas, and Olathe’s settlement. The center is also home to the Olathe Historical Society and a gallery with changing exhibits on Olathe history.
Ensor Park and Museum
View a century-old dairy farm, home of two generations of the Ensor family, and learn about the life they led as early residents of Johnson County. Tour the 1890s house, the peg barn and other structures full of Ensor archives, farm implements, tools, handcrafts and the radio wizardry of Marshall Ensor.
Other historic spots
- • Lone Elm Park
- • William Marra Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture
Cultural Pursuits
Olathe is enriched by the efforts of Olathe Arts Alliance, which is composed of the Olathe Community Orchestra, the Olathe Community Chorus, the Olathe Community Theatre, the Olathe Civic Band and Olathe Visual Artists. Concerts, performances, exhibits and art fairs showcase local and regional artists with events planned throughout the year. The City of Olathe also produces an assortment of popular summer concerts and events.
Many cultural performances are held throughout the year at MidAmerica Nazarene University at its Bell Cultural Events Center.
Offering a variety of performances also are:
- • Chestnut Fine Arts Center
- • Buddy Rogers & Family Playhouse
- • Culture House
- • Osborne Performing Arts Center
Movie theaters include the AMC 28 with IMAX and Dine-in theaters, one of the biggest cinema centers in the country, located in the 119th Street and I-35 area.
Stone Pillar Vineyard & Winery
Nestled on 12 acres on a hillside at College and Woodland, Stone Pillar grows quality old-world, French and French-American hybrid grapes, making for award-winning wines. The farm site has been in the family since 1864 and is the oldest continually-owned family farm in Kansas. It features a gift shop and tasting room. Private tastings and party rentals are available by reservation. Open year-round with ongoing special events. Visit stonepillarvineyard.com for more information.
KC Wine Co.
Have a glass of wine on the patio, in the vineyard or next to the picturesque 4-acre pond. The Barrel Room at KC Wine Co. also has a climate-controlled barrel room that can comfortably host up to 100 wine-loving guests. Located next door to the Barrel Room is the Cidery. The Cidery is a new venue space built for elegant weddings and events. But it’s more than just a space, it comes with a beautiful vineyard, and enough wine for your party, no matter how big or small.
RoKC Climbing, Fitness and Yoga
A state-of-the-art climbing, fitness and yoga facility, RoKC Climbing Gym Olathe offers something for all ages and abilities, from beginner to expert. In addition to its unparalleled rock-climbing capabilities, the facility also boasts yoga and fitness classes, as well as a 7000 square feet fitness center featuring cardio equipment, free weights and power lifting racks. RoKC also features a hang-out area, co-working space, lockerrooms and shares space with the awesome Apogee Coffee & Draft that features coffee, sandwiches, snacks and beer.
All of Kansas City at our Doorstep
One of the biggest advantages Olathe enjoys is its proximity to Kansas City. Downtown is approximately 20 minutes away. From Olathe, you’ll find easy access to such Kansas City landmarks as Sprint Center, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Lyric Opera, Country Club Plaza, Legends, Crown Center, Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium, Kansas City Zoo and Starlight Theatre. Also available for residents (and visitors) to enjoy is the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.
sports
The 2022 Garmin Olathe Marathon welcomed more than 2,200 runners. Among other events the Chamber and the Convention & Visitors Bureau help bring to Olathe include elite baseball tournaments held at the Olathe District Activity Center and the College Boulevard Activity Center managed by the Olathe Public Schools like Prospect Select, Game Day USA and Midwest tournaments. We also work in conjunction with the City of Olathe to promote awareness about our community, helping to fill our hotels with business, leisure and sports travelers.
Because Olatheans are devoted to sports, drawing sporting events and organizations to Olathe is increasingly emphasized.
A wide variety of venues are available for local, state, regional and national championships. In addition, the Olathe Public Schools operate two state-of-the-art activities centers that feature football stadiums, tracks, tennis courts and soccer, softball and baseball fields.
Outside of Olathe, residents support numerous Kansas City professional and semi-professional sports, among them:
- • Kansas City Chiefs football
- • Kansas City Comets indoor soccer
- • Swope Park Rangers soccer
- • Kansas City Royals baseball
- • Sporting KC soccer
- • Kansas City Monarchs baseball
- • Kansas Speedway
- • Missouri Mavericks hockey
GARMIN OLATHE SOCCER COMPLEX
The Garmin Olathe Soccer Complex has been a tremendous addition to Olathe. The complex features nine, full-synthetic fields for year-round action and is operated by the Heartland Soccer Association. The incredible new complex is expected to be the premier destination for youth soccer in the region and will attract more than 1.35 million visitors per year.
Bass Pro Shops
Among the many attractions that draw visitors to Olathe is Bass Pro Shops, a national outdoor retailer at the corner of 119th and I-35. As a leader among hunting and fishing outfitters, Bass Pro offers seminars and classes on a broad selection of outdoor activities—as close to the great outdoors as you can get indoors! The 130,000-square-foot center is part museum, part art gallery, part education, conservation and entertainment center. It features, among other things, a 19,000-gallon aquarium, wildlife dioramas and murals.
Recreation
Olathe’s extensive park system includes more than 45 neighborhood and community parks, including Black Bob, Lone Elm, Stagecoach, Prairie Center, Arrowhead, Calamity Line, Mill Creek, Two Trails and Olathe Veteran’s Memorial parks. Families can relax and enjoy 26 miles of Olathe greenbelt biking and walking trails, which connect to nearly 40 miles of Johnson County paths.
The city maintains 1,880 acres of green space. Nine public lakes or ponds are available for fishing and water play along with four modern-themed swimming pools, including Black Bob Bay water park. Residents enjoy a wide variety of attractive city parks, including Cedar Lake and the newly renovated Lake Olathe.
Olathe’s Parks and Recreation Department offers activities for all ages and interests, including Olathe Live! (a free summer concert series), the fishing derby, cemetery tours and a farmers market. Also offered are many classes and sporting events for the entire family.
In 2014 Olathe opened its first community center. The nearly 72,000-square-foot facility offers a variety of health, wellness and enrichment opportunities for all age segments. The Olathe Community Center features three middle-school sized sport courts (or one high school regulation court), 12,000-square-foot natatorium, 1/10-mile walking track, cardio and strength training equipment and a community/party room space available for private rentals.
Kansas city AutoMOTIVE museum
Olathe’s newest museum at 15095 W. 116th St. is dedicated to the education, preservation and promotion of Kansas City’s rich automotive heritage, which includes major automotive and motorcycle manufacturing, racing and a vibrant collector community. See more than 30 cars and motorcycles and learn more about 1965 LeMans winner Mastern Gregory (the “Kansas City Flash”), the Ford Winchester Plant and Greenlease Cadillac. The museum also hosts car club meetings and special events throughout the year. The museum’s theme and display changes monthly.
Main Event Entertainment
Main Event Entertainment is a top destination for people ready to play! Its unique “Eat.Bowl.Play.” experience features state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag, high ropes adventure courses, billiards and interactive and virtual video games, with dining experiences ranging from fast-casual to chef-inspired casual and creative cocktails, beer and wine. Corporations, individuals and families consistently rank the centers “Best Place to Bowl” and “Best Party Place.”
