Area Attractions

Big Brutus - West Mineral, Kansas Museum and RV Park

One of the most unique day trips in Southeast Kansas is to Big Brutus, 11,000,000 pounds of fun! Big Brutus is the world's second largest electric mining shovel. Big Brutus is not just a symbol of the past, but an eternal tribute to the mining heritage of Southeast Kansasand to miners all across this nation who toiled to support their families. On July 13, 1985, Big Brutus was dedicated as "a Museum and Memorial Dedicated to the Rich Coal Mining History in Southeast Kansas."In September, 1987, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) designated Big Brutus a Regional Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, the 10th since 1971 to be so designated.Big Brutus is a museum open year round. Hours vary with the season. Call (620)827-6177 or visit www.bigbrutus.org for more information .

Carona Train Depo

The Heart of the Heartlands Railroad Club was formed in 1991 and is governed by a nine member board of directors.  Heartlands members are dedicated to preserving railroad history and providing short passenger train rides and motorcar excursions. They have established a museum complex in Carona, Kansas to preserve and display railroad memorabilia, our restored depots, and other miscellaneous railroad equipment. For visiting hours and train ride schedules call 620.396.8594 or visit there website at http://www.heartlandstrainclub.org/index.html.

Mined Wildlife Area

Mined Wildlife area is located north and west of Columbus, KS. It is home to some of the best hunting and fishing in the area. The property is 14,500 acres in size, comprised of 1,500 acres of water and 13,000 acres of land. All but 2,000 acres of the property was surface mined for coal during the 1920’s through 1974. The property is rugged country dotted with over 1,000 strip-mine lakes, steep-sided hills and dense vegetation. Unmined areas consist of mature bottomland woodland and small crop fields. The strip-mine lakes vary in size from ¼ ace to 50 acres in size with depths to 60 feet. Mined Land WA Unit No. 30 is stocked every year with trout. For more information on Kansas hunting and fishing visit http://www.kdwpt.state.ks.us/.

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