Z-bar Ranch

Abilene Chase County Council Grove Elderhostel Emporia Flint Hills McPherson Prairie "Quiet" Towns Topeka Z-bar Ranch

Z-bar Ranch

Spring Hill Farm and Stock Ranch

now part of the

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

 

the Z-bar ranch house

 

Spring Hill Farm house

Cattleman Stephen F. Jones built his home in 1881 with hand-cut limestone. The 11-room house is characteristic of the Second Empire style of 19th century architecture. The springs on the hillside provided water to the house - thus the name. Spring Hill Farm and Stock Ranch.  Nearby are the massive three-story limestone barn and Lower Fox Creek School. a one-room schoolhouse. The ranch was designated a National Historic Landmark in February 1997.

 

rear view of the farm house

 

side view of the farm house

 

interior parlor

 

detail of the quilt frame

 

 

the fireplaces in the parlors

 

massive post of the interior stairway

 

bed room

 

what the ranch needs to function

 

the limestone built necessity house

 

two holer

 

smoke house

 

spring house

 

water flows from the spring house
through the basement room under the smoke house
to keep a cool place to preserve food

 

crocks used to preserve foods

 

farm building

 

Phillip's 66


the Farm

 

 

the barn

 

 

incline to the upper barn bay

 

view of the Tallgrass Prairie from the barn opening

 

now part of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve


the Prairie

 

 

More Photos of the Prairie

 

for many years wind power has pumped water for the cattle
but now landowners seem reluctant to use wind power to generate electricity
by installing modern wind turbines and using the abundant wind of the Flint Hills


Abilene Chase County Council Grove Elderhostel Emporia Flint Hills McPherson Prairie "Quiet" Towns Topeka Z-bar Ranch

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