Wyandotte County Where Fun And History Come Alive - Kansas City, Kansas.

If your wish list for a perfect community includes things like strong neighborhood atmosphere, proximity to the big city,” down-home feel, and tons of entertainment opportunities, Wyandotte County is the place for you. The home of the “other Kansas City,” Wyandotte County may live in Missouri’s shadow, but it’s not willing to lay down and ride on its neighbor’s coat tails. Loaded with great neighborhoods and tons of reasons to visit all on its own, Wyandotte is a dynamic county for working, playing and living.

Made up of such communities as Roeland Park, Kansas City, Kansas, and Bonner Springs, fun is the order of the day in Wyandotte. This county has something to offer just about any taste when it comes to activities. It’s the home of a NASCAR track, horse racing, an amphitheater and even the nationally known Kansas City Renaissance Festival.

A small town by all rights, Roeland Park has about 7,200 residents living within its bounds. Its proximity to great employment and recreational centers, make this community a favorite for living, however. Its community priorities include good clean fun and its city government priority list highlights such projects as trail building, streetscapes and community pool reconstruction for the coming years. Putting children first, Roeland Park works hard to provide its youngest residents with lots of options for entertainment. Its parks system includes Granada, a neighborhood skate park complete with stairs, ledges and rails.

Kansas City, Kansas, might be confused with its Missouri neighbor more often than not, but the differences are distinct. Though boasting only a fraction of the population of its larger namesake twin, the Kansas version of the big city has about 160,000 year-round residents. Operating with a consolidated government where city and county come together under the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, this progressive town has plenty of reasons to be proud.

Kansas City, Kansas, is home to the Kansas Speedway, famous for its NASCAR races, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, T-Bone Stadium and its baseball games, and Legends Shopping Center at Village West, an 805,000-square-foot center that offers stores, entertainment and dining. Bonner Springs is very small compared to its neighbors, coming in with about 6,700 residents during the 2000 Census, but this little town proves size doesn’t matter when it comes to a great community. Home of the nationally known Kansas City Renaissance Festival and a vibrant downtown business district, Bonner Springs works hard to maintain its small-town charms while embracing its seven-week-a-year national fame.

Journey to the Past.

The Greater Kansas City Metropolitan area is renowned for its deep historical roots. Whether you’re talking Kansas or Missouri, the history runs deep. While its neighbors embrace their American ties, Bonner Springs’ historical fame belongs to a different place and time all together. Seven weeks each year, Bonner Springs is transformed into a 16th century village when the renaissance festival comes to town. Recognized as one of the Top 100 events in North America, the Renaissance Festival is visited by more than 100,000 people each month during its run. Taking place adjacent to Wyandotte County Park at 126 Street and State Avenue, the festival is pushing its 30th year and has certainly taken on a life of its own.

Visitors can expect to be transported back in time to an era when armor-clad knights fought to defend the honor of lords and ladies, earning glory or death for their efforts. With 16 acres of shaded festival grounds, guests are treated to a living history exhibit that rivals the best of the best as more than 500 costumed characters populating the village.

Each weekend’s theme is a little different, but no matter when guests visit they can count on hearing the sweet sounds of the dulcimer, harp and even mandolin while they stroll shops and eateries, watch specialized shows and soak up the Renaissance feel of the festival. Perhaps the biggest draw of the festival, the joust pits armored knights in battle, riding their fearless steeds in a clash to gain favor of the audience and the festivity’s Queen. More than 13 stages each offer their own brand of entertainment while the joust leaves visitors wondering if they, too, could have survived the rigors faced by a medieval knight.

With great shopping, a baseball team, horse and car racing, entertainment amphitheater and even its own World Class Renaissance Festival, it’s easy to see why tourists make Wyandotte County a destination. It is also easy to see why those who call Wyandotte County home wouldn’t have it any other way.

by Tiffany Lewis, Kansas City Premier Apartments, Inc.