Here is our secret. The answer is, helping a stranger, a neighbor, quiet evenings on a porch, walking your dog with your family and waving at your neighbors from across town. Listening to a story told by a student and realizing the family may need some help and making it happen without anyone knowing. Different religions gathering in one building and singing praise to the God they believe in without judging anyone. A place where a little bit of vandalism may happen and the whole community comes together and makes it right.
If your child does something wrong, they were probably corrected on the spot by the closest adult before they ever got home or you even knew it happened.
We have people who volunteer their time and safety and serve on our fire department and ambulance service. Most of the time, we never knew they were out due to privacy laws.
We make things happen as a community.
We are a small spot on the Kansas map. Most people only know us in July when a few thousand people drive in and fill our streets, wearing their boots and hats and attend the rodeo that has taken place here by volunteers for over 80 years.
This quiet town has so many great things to offer visitors. It has been our secret for a long time.
But 2018 is a year that we are striving to become a destination community with many things to do while visiting.
The Blue Shoe Theater has come to life again and will have movies and performances.
The Skating Rink, where most of us learned to roller skate. Still opens for community and guests.
The Links Golf Course has begun a facelift after 20 yrs and this Spring will be welcoming tournaments, corporate events and golfers of all ages and levels.
The Pretty Prairie Steakhouse offers daily features, karaoke special weekends, private catering and more.
The J M Collingwood Barn is a beautiful event venue just outside of town. They host weddings, bazaars, private events and dances.
Potter Creek Lodge, is a popular Kansas Airbnb guest house. The quiet country setting plays host to up to 16 overnight guests. Perfect for retreats, church groups, artist weekends, family and class reunions, and wedding parties at the J M Collingwood Barn.
Storm Creek Horse Rescue, a not for profit also outside of PP. A great place to get your family horse riding lessons, adopt a horse, go on a trail ride, and support this family who has the biggest heart for animals.
And our newest addition to the community is the Graber Mercantile and Event Emporium. It will be opening Memorial Weekend and will be a great place to visit. Incubator Kitchen, community space to gather, Boutique for shopping, art classes and gallery at Prairie Works Art.
The picture is deceiving. It looks abandoned with nothing going for it.
It has been our secret for years. But now we are inviting everyone to visit and see what makes Pretty Prairie such a great town.
Liz Shepherd
