Attractions
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm Historic Site
Imagine you’re a passenger on a stagecoach traveling the Santa Fe Trail on the Barlow and Sanderson Stagecoach Line and you pull into the welcome sight of the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop. You can do just that when you visit the old stone farmhouse built by J.B. and Lucinda Mahaffie for use as one of the first stops on the stagecoach line for passengers headed to Santa Fe, California or Oregon. Explore the house and grounds and make a reservation to make your own stagecoach ride at this only original stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail which is open to the public.
Ensor Farm Site and Museum
Four miles south of Olathe and one mile east of U.S. Highway 169 sits the restored 1892 farmhouse of Marshall Ensor, Olathe teacher and amateur radio pioneer. View articles and memorabilia including household items and antique ham radio equipment in the house and be sure to visit the property’s barn with its unique construction of rough-sawed lumber and wood peg beams.
Great Plains Brewery
The largest microbrewery in Kansas, the Great Plains Brewery offers tours of its 16,000 square feet facility. Famous for its award-winning Pony Express brand beers, the brewery operates a bottling and kegging production of 10,000 barrels each year from its Olathe location.
Whittaker Flower Farm
Prairie flowers come alive on this 38-acre Johnson County facility dedicated to commercial cut flower production. Tour the woodlands, gardens, private pond, children’s garden and Larkwhistle cottage. Weekends bring an incredible farmer’s market complete with fresh blooms and home-grown produce.
Sadlers Indoor Racing
If you have the need for speed, then Sadlers Indoor Racing will jump start your engine! This indoor racing track offers high-performance go-karts imported from England for track action up to 45 m.p.h. You’ll think you’re racing the Grand Prix on the European Style Road Race courses. If you want a break from racing, try your game luck in the arcade fully stocked with pool tables, video games, air hockey, slot cars and much more.
Jeepers! Amusement Park
This ultimate family entertainment venue is located indoors at the Great Mall of the Great Plains so there’s no such thing as not having any fun on rainy days! Games, rides and activities designed for kids aged two through twelve, Jeepers! offers hours of fun in its bright shiny world of imagination!
Advanced Laser Tag
The only two-story laser tag venue in the Kansas City area, Advanced Laser Tag is the ultimate spot for the fast-paced sport of laser tag. Friends and family will have hours of fun with fantasy role-playing and doing laser battle. Pizza and other concessions are available which makes Advanced Laser Tag perfect for birthday parties and other group events too.
Kansas City Zoo
The second largest urban park in the United States, the Kansas City Zoo is a marvel for visitors who return time and time again to witness the ever-changing exhibits and new zoo babies becoming part of the zoo’s 900-animal family. Situated on 200 acres in the middle of Swope Park, the zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s and is available for group outings and events.
Moon Marble Company
The specialized art of making marbles comes to life at the Moon Marble Company where visitors may view the process necessary to create these little glass balls that are central to so many games. Thousands of marbles are on display and for purchase from this very specialized shop. The company also welcomes groups and tour buses to be part of the fun and education of making these colorful little glass balls.
Wonderscope Children’s Museum
What a wonderful place for imaginations! Kids of all ages will delight in the options available to explore, invent, create, play and learn at this hands-on facility. The Wonderscope Children’s Museum is dedicated to ultimate learning experiences in the arts humanities and sciences. The museum’s exhibits and programs are designed for children aged six months through ten years but even adults will re-discover their inner child in this very special place.
The completion of Interstate 35 in 1957 provided a better link to Kansas City and significantly altered the city’s growth with this new method of accessibility. Today, Interstate 35 is supplemented by Interstate 435, U.S. Highways 56 and 169; and State Highways K-7, K-10, and K-150 to create a network of transportation options.
Amtrak rail service is available from nearby Kansas City to St. Louis where it connects to other lines. Greyhound Bus Lines also operates from Kansas City to points within Kansas and other points within the U.S.
Air travel for Olathe is available from two regional airports: Johnson County Executive Airport and New Century Air Center. Major airports in the area include Mid Continent Airport in Wichita and Kansas City International Airport, both of which are served by major domestic airlines.
Population: 115,000
Median Household Income: $61,111
Median Family Income: $68,498
Per Capita Income: $24,498
Latitude: 38.881N
Longitude: 94.818W
Climate: Average temperature in January is 30.4 degrees and July is 79.1 degrees. Average rainfall is 36 inches including snowfall.
Olathe is on the Central Standard Time Zone and observes Daylight Savings Time.