Trego County: Find Hotels and Plan Your Trip

Trego County lies in the High Plains and Smoky Hills physiographic regions. Gently rolling prairies and prominent bluffs shape the landscape. The area also features historic trails and stations, as well as Cedar Bluff Reservoir. If you’re looking for hotels for a stay in Trego County, you can plan your trip around the landscape, regional history, or the Trego County Free Fair.

Landscape and Cedar Bluff

Cedar Bluff Reservoir was created on the Smoky Hill River in 1949. Along its shores, Cedar Bluff State Park is divided into two distinct areas. The Smoky Valley Byway is also part of this scenic setting: it loops around the state park. The overlook and the park layout are two separate reference points for finding your way around the region.

In the Cedar Bluff Wildlife Area, the Scenic Bluff Overlook features a section about half a mile long, with 100-foot-high chalk cliffs. The measurements and rock type combine to give a specific picture of the bluffs. The Cedar Bluff Wildlife Area office provides information, permits, and licenses. If you need information or a permit for your plans, you can check with the office; operational details may change.

Travel Routes and Early Stations

John C. Fremont traveled through Trego County in the 1840s, and the Smoky Hills Trail also crossed the county. Fort Downer adds a station with several functions to this history: established as a relay station in 1865, it served as a military post in 1867 and 1868. A meal station for the Butterfield Overland Dispatch was also located at Fort Downer.

Camp Ogallah was established in the 1860s to protect railroad workers and is located near WaKeeney. Along with the information about Fremont and Fort Downer, it represents several distinct historical connections: travel through the county, a relay and supply station, and the protection of railroad workers. The respective dates and time periods help distinguish these themes chronologically.

Museum, Schoolhouse, and Architecture

The Trego County Historical Society Museum features exhibits on local history dating back to the mid-19th century. The grounds are home to the original one-room Pleasant Valley schoolhouse, which was moved there in 1997. The new addition houses a large mural by local artists depicting earlier life in Trego County. The schoolhouse, mural, and historical exhibits each highlight a different aspect of local history.

The Stradal House is a distinct architectural landmark. It is a one-story Lustron home with a side-gabled roof, designed according to the Westchester Deluxe two-bedroom plan. The form and floor plan are clearly distinct: the one-story home with a side-gabled roof describes the building’s form, while Westchester Deluxe refers to the two-bedroom plan.

Fair and Events

The Trego County Free Fair has been a tradition for more than 100 years. It includes a free community dinner; the menu and date vary from year to year. If you’d like to plan your trip around the fair, check the date for that year and the dinner details.

The Trego County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building dates to around 1916 and has historical ties to the Trego County Free Fair. It is used to display fair entries. WaKeeney also hosts several summer races at WaKeeney Speedway, a 3/8-mile clay oval track. The fair and the races are separate events; if you’re planning a trip around a specific date, check the latest dates for each.

For a trip to the Trego County Free Fair, the date for that year is the key consideration; the other topics offer a different way to spend your time in the region.

Discover more destinations: Wakeeney, Reno County, Lyon, Riley County, Dickinson County, Gray County, Logan County, Smith County

For the broader travel overview: Kansas.