Baxter Springs Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city in Cherokee County, Kansas, United States
About Baxter Springs
The area fromJoplin, Missouri throughGalena, Riverton and Baxter Springs, Kansas toPicher, Oklahoma was lead and zinc mining country, extracting galena (lead sulphide) ore until the 1960s. The closure of the mines, followed by the bypassing of US Route 66 by Interstate highways, led to a decline in the local economy and a drop in local population. As mining was never permitted within the Baxter Springs city limits, the town escaped the ecological damage which turned nearby Picher into a ghost town. The original motels and campgrounds which served motorists on the dozen miles of US Route 66 in Kansas are now gone, but portions of the city's Route 66 legacy live on to attract visitors today.
Top Attractions in Baxter Springs
Explore the best things to see and do in Baxter Springs:
- ★Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum
- ★Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Service Station
- ★Cowtown Days
- ★Soldiers' Lot, Baxter Springs City Cemetery
Where to Eat in Baxter Springs
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴El Cabrito
- 🍴Route 66 Soda Fountain
- 🍴Weston's Route 66 Café
Where to Stay in Baxter Springs
- 🏨Baxter Inn
- 🏨Riverside Park
Baxter Springs Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: