Abilene Tourism Advocate

September 24, 2026

Why Abilene Should Be Your Next Kansas Road Trip

by Backroads Travel Co.

Some road trips are about getting somewhere.

The ones we love are about what you find along the way.

Abilene, Kansas, is exactly the kind of destination we love at Backroads Travel Co.—full of history, unexpected stops, great food, beautiful places, and plenty of reasons to slow down and explore.

From the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum to the historic downtown, the beautiful rose garden, a few unique finds, and some seriously good food, Abilene gave us the kind of weekend that makes you want to take the long way home.

We put together our Abilene, Kansas road trip so you can see what made this little Kansas town such a fun stop.

John Gruber's Farm Toy Collection Fills New Museum

by Cindy Ladage, Farm World

Within the grounds of the Dickinson County Heritage Center, a history museum in Abilene, is a relatively new Farm Toy Museum that opened in October 2025. A new mural by Mindy Allen helps advertise the museum on the front of the Heritage Center.

While Abilene is known for their cowboy mural trail and the biggest belt buckle, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and boyhood home, Visit Abilene wants visitors to know about this latest addition to their town. On the museum website, they share a bit about this amazing collection.

“John Gruber has donated his collection of toy tractors that he started collecting in the 1970s. John was a longtime employee at Shouse Implement. There are over 1,500 toy farm tractors, equipment and memorabilia for guests to see. Explore our agricultural history in miniature and see how it progresses through the years. Within the museum, there is a kid zone for youth to play with and learn about our agricultural history.”

Gruber was excited about donating his toys after learning that at the museum they would keep his collection together and build a brand-new museum to house the collection. “I wanted to keep my collection together and that way it will be there for a long time.”

Gruber shared how his collection began. “My collection started when my grandma Martha Johnson got my brother Jim and I started in the toy business. I was 5, and he was 3, she took us to the John Deere dealership in Salina and got us a full set of John Deere toys. We also collected guns. My brother Jim took the guns, and I took the toys That’s how I got started.”

PBS Kansas - Melvin Mania Visits Abilene

Sunflower Summer Generates More than $101,000 for Abilene Attractions

Sunflower Summer generated $101,104 in direct admission reimbursements for Abilene attractions in 2026, a nearly 7 percent increase over 2025.

Seven Abilene attractions participated in the 2026 Sunflower Summer program, recording 7,031 admissions during the summer. Six attractions receiving admission reimbursements generated $101,104, an increase of $6,545 over the $94,559 generated in 2025.

"More than $101,000 going directly to Abilene's attractions is a big deal," said Julie Roller Weeks, director of the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau. "These are dollars our attractions don't have to raise through fundraisers or find in already tight operating budgets. They can help sustain operations, maintain facilities and make special projects possible."

The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad generated the largest direct impact locally, receiving $60,670 in reimbursements from 2,805 admissions.

The Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home recorded 1,105 admissions and received $12,860 in reimbursements, while Great Plains Theatre welcomed 705 admissions and generated $11,750. Great Plains Theatre's reimbursement more than doubled from $4,905 in 2025.

The Dickinson County Heritage Center recorded 1,104 admissions and received $7,320, the Historic Seelye Mansion recorded 697 admissions and received $6,719, and Old Abilene Town recorded 357 admissions and received $1,785. 

The Greyhound Hall of Fame joined Abilene's Sunflower Summer lineup in 2026, recording 258 admissions and expanding the number of Abilene attractions participating in the program.

Sunflower Summer also helped bring families to Abilene from communities across Kansas. Top cities represented among Sunflower Summer visitors include Abilene, Manhattan, Newton, Junction City, Salina, Wichita, Fort Riley, McPherson, Hutchinson and Haysville.

Those communities help demonstrate the program's reach as families travel across Kansas to visit participating attractions. Once in Abilene, visitors also have opportunities to enjoy local restaurants, shop, purchase fuel and experience additional attractions.

Statewide, Sunflower Summer recorded 188,418 users in 2026, including 62,513 adults and 125,905 students.

Roller Weeks thanked the Kansas Legislature for continuing to fund Sunflower Summer, including $2.75 million budgeted for the program for fiscal year 2027, as well as the Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Tourism for administering the program.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Kansas Legislature for continuing to invest in Sunflower Summer and to the Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Tourism for administering the program and making it successful," Roller Weeks said. "It gives families an affordable way to explore Kansas, supports attractions across the state and brings visitors to communities like Abilene. It's an investment that benefits families, attractions and Kansas communities."



To learn more about Sunflower Summer, visit www.SunflowerSummer.org. 

America Likes Dinner Trains

“O’zapft!” That’s the official call for the start of Oktoberfest on Germany, meaning “the beer has been tapped,” setting off a late fall celebration of German culture and food. And here in North Central Kansas, we celebrate Oktoberfest on the train with German food and beer!

Join us on Saturday, September 27, as Schatzi’s Schnitzel Haus in Riley caters the Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad’s Smoky Valley Limited.

Chef Manfred has prepared your choice of Schatzi’s golden brown schnitzel with jagersauce (mushroom sauce), OR rinderbraten, a slowly roasted beef in burgundy gravy. Either menu choice includes spätzle (soft egg noodle dumplings) and glazed carrots. And for dessert? Schatzi’s creamy, rich biramisu (a German version of tiramisu, made of dark beer, Kalua, and ladyfingers).

Coffee, tea and water are complimentary. Soft drinks, beer and wine are available for purchase.

And for a little extra, enjoy a classic German beer!

Our two-hour journey begins at 6:00 p.m. at Abilene’s Rock Island Depot, featuring a stop in nearby Enterprise, Kansas, for a tour of the Hoffman Mill. Celebrate Oktoberfest on the rails…and PROST (“cheers”)!

2026 is off to a great start! Check back weekly for updates as we receive more information from our partners about exciting events happening this year.

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