Discover Anderson: Lake Garnett, Motorsport and History

Gently rolling plains shape Anderson County in the Osage Cuestas region. Lake Garnett, a long motorsport history and historic buildings reveal other sides of the area. This offers several ways to plan your trip: focus on the landscape, recurring events or cultural history.

Lake Garnett and Motorsport History

Lake Garnett is an artificial lake covering 48 acres. Its construction began on October 15, 1934, as part of a Civilian Conservation Corps project. The lake’s history is also tied to the lakeside road in North Lake Park, where KART go-kart races are held twice a year. The Anderson County Fairgrounds is also in the park.

An earlier period of motorsport should be distinguished from this. From 1959 to 1972, the 2.8-mile lakeside road served as a course for nine SCCA-sanctioned sports car races. Events held annually in North Lake Park include the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival. The Lake Garnett Cruisers also hold an annual car and motorcycle show, with a drive or ceremonial lap around the lake.

Dated races from 1959 to 1972 therefore sit alongside notices of recurring events. If you want to plan your trip around an event, check its specific dates in advance. Keep the two periods separate when planning: the historic races mark an earlier phase of the course, while the annual events are separate occasions.

Historic Sites and Architecture

The Anderson County Historical Museum is located in the former Longfellow School, at 410 West 6th Street on Highway 59. The history of the Valentin Gerth Cabin also reaches far back: built in 1856, the cabin in Greeley is considered the first white settlement in Anderson County and a hiding place for enslaved people. The original cabin was moved to the south side of Greeley and restored by the Anderson County Historical Society. The history of settlement and the history of enslaved people thus form part of a shared, layered historical memory.

Both the architectural style and the window details stand out at the Harris House: the building is designed in the late Victorian style, and each of its 44 windows features a tulip pattern in the brickwork and a tulip in the woodwork. The carriage house at the Harris House contains an 1860 Conestoga wagon belonging to the Manners family.

The Sennett and Bertha Kirk House and the Shelley-Tipton House showcase other architectural styles. The Sennett and Bertha Kirk House was built in 1913 in the Colonial Revival style. The Shelley-Tipton House is a two-story wood-frame house in the Italianate style, dating from 1871. The Anderson County Courthouse was completed in 1902 and is among the county’s properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Plan for Seasonal Dates

The Garnett Farmers Market runs from May to October. If you want to make the market or an event the reason for your trip, check the specific dates in advance. For a stay focused on history, the cabin, museum and range of house styles offer several distinct themes, from settlement history to architectural details.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Garnett, Smith County, Kearny County, Cherokee County, Wyandotte County, Seward County, Grant, Wilson.

For the main travel overview: Kansas.