Chase County Living Magazine

Living
Her
Legacy
2017
INSIDE
A Refreshing
Escape
a look inside
Clover Cliff Ranch
Day Trip
Destinations
explore six
historical places
Grand
Experiences
hear from Grand Central
owner Suzan Barnes

A
Refreshing
Escape
WRITTEN BY JESSIE WAGONER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON DAILEY
A stately home stands
at the top of the hill, inviting
guests to enter and explore
Clover Cliff Ranch Bed & Breakfast.
10 | CHASE COUNTY Living

isitors enter, taking a step
back in time to 19th-century
gracious living. Meticulously
decorated bedrooms offer rest,
relaxation and perhaps a bit of romance.
The veranda offers a healthy dose of
sunshine and a delectable breakfast served
by owners Warren and Susie Harshman.
A simple step outside treats guests
to a center stage view of the Flint Hills.
Wildflowers in bloom and birds singing
provide beautiful sights and sounds to enjoy
while exploring the land surrounding Clover
Cliff. Hiking trails and a private 18-hole disc
golf course lead to adventure and fun.
Clover Cliff guests come to stay for a
variety of reasons — a simple weekend
getaway, family reunions, an opportunity to
connect with nature. Whatever motivates
their visit, the Harshmans strive to make
every guest feel refreshed.
“We have found a majority of people are
overwhelmed with life,” Susie said. “There
is so much stress and everyone is busier
than they used to be. People just kind of
need a refreshing. To come here and relax,
get outside, see the stars — they leave
rejuvenated.”
Warren said Clover Cliff is much more
than a home or a business for the couple.
Clover Cliff serves as an opportunity for
the couple to connect with others while
maintaining a property which has been a part
of their life for years.
SUMMER 2017 | 11

Dancing
IN THE
FLINT
HILLS
By Melissa Lowery | Photos by Dave Leiker
y first experience with the Flint Hills Victorian Dance
Society was at its 2017 Statehood Ball in January. I was
assigned to cover the ball for The Emporia Gazette, and
my first thought upon reading my assignment sheet
was, “We have a Victorian Dance Society?!? Why has this
not been part of my life before?!?”
Those of you already in the know are probably shaking your heads at my ignorance, but
I wasn’t alone in my surprise and immediate gleeful anticipation. When I mentioned to
people how I was spending my Saturday evening that weekend, the unanimous reaction
was, “What is the Flint Hills Victorian Dance Society? Tell me everything!”
Of course, I didn’t know anything yet, but after spending time with members of the
society and talking with one of the co-founders, I realized this has the potential to be one
of the area’s most entertaining evenings out.
The Flint Hills Victorian Dance Society hosts a number of dances and balls
throughout the year, including the Statehood Ball, a Spring Ball, a Harvest Ball and a
Christmas Ball.
Co-founded by Derrick Doty and Sue Smith, the Flint Hills Victorian Dance Society
got its start in 2009 when the duo produced a Spring Ball. It was so well received that soon
they were hosting four balls each year as well as monthly contra dances.
Sue is well-known in Chase County. She owned the Emma Chase Cafe and Prairie
Pastimes, cultivating artists and live music until she retired in 2014. She is steeped in the
history of the area, able to tell stories about local happenings stretching back to frontier
days. Sue is also one of the organizers of the Flint Hills Folklife Festival, which takes place
in Cottonwood Falls each June and includes a contra dance.

The magic of
BY J E S S I E WA G O N E R
P H OTO S BY D AV E L E I K E R
ine dining, enchanting entertainment and
watching the sun set over the river are
just a few of the reasons River Suite
provides a magical evening for guests.
River Suite, hosted by the Chase County
Chamber of Commerce, is historically held
on the Friday evening before the Symphony
in the Flint Hills. The event highlights the
magical nature of Chase County — an
exquisite combination of country charm
and elegant enchantment.
Now in its 10th year, River Suite has
sustained a legacy of excellence.

rand
Historic, charming and elegant are all
effective descriptors of the Grand Central
Hotel in Cottonwood Falls. Yet, the only
way to fully experience the wonder of
Grand Central is to treat yourself to a visit.
Experiences
Written by Jessie Wagoner
| Photography by Jason Dailey
26 | CHASE COUNTY Living

Grand Central Hotel, owned and operated
by Suzan Barnes, was built in 1884 and
was the first hotel in Chase County. Over
the years as the hotel changed hands,
it would close for periods of time and re-open.
Yet in the 1980s, the hotel sat vacant for
almost 10 years.
“They were contemplating tearing it
down but a local person bought it on the
courthouse steps for $41, that was the back
taxes,” Barnes said.
Where some may have seen an abandoned
building destined to be destroyed, Barnes saw
possibility — lots of possibilities.
“It was in bad shape,” Barnes said. “There
were chicken and pigeons living upstairs. It
would have reminded you of “Gunsmoke” —
Miss Kitty and the whole thing.”
After changing hands several more times,
a group of investors purchased the property
and Barnes went to work for them. The hotel
was gutted in 1995 and after six months of
extensive renovations, Grand Central opened
as the elegant establishment it is known as
today. When the investors were ready to bid
farewell to the hotel, Barnes wasn’t ready to
leave, so she purchased the property and has
remained ever since.
The renovations incorporate a rustic yet
elegant design. The room sizes were expanded,
resulting in 10 luxurious guest rooms. While
SUMMER 2017 | 27