Don’t worry — this column is not about the movie with a girl from Kansas, her dog, and some sparkly red shoes. However, it is about the best kept secret in the Army… Fort Riley, Kansas. Although I consider myself an Oklahoman, I absolutely love this area and am proud to call Kansas home.
Fort Riley is a historic post that was at the edge of the frontier when it was formed in 1853 to protect settlers traveling on the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails. Many of the original buildings are still in use today in the Historic Main Post area of the installation. In 1892, Fort Riley became home to cavalry training and has expanded its training capabilities as needed through all major world events since World War I. Today, Fort Riley is the home of the First Infantry Division (1ID), also proudly known as the Big Red One.
Located in the Flint Hills region of northeast Kansas, Fort Riley is surrounded by farm land and the tallgrass prairie. You may be surprised at the graceful contours of the land in the area, especially if you thought Kansas is flat. While some people find the wide open spaces disquieting, Kansas farmers use the land to raise cattle and grow wheat, hay, sorghum, soybeans, and corn. Agriculture is an essential part of the state economy. Since a Kansas farmer feeds at least 129 people, you need a lot of open land to be a successful producer. A visit to the Flint Hills Discovery Center will help you learn more about the last remaining prairie land in the United States.
The Kansas prairie also produces some spectacular sunrises, sunsets and vibrant rainbows. At Fort Riley, you also get to experience all four seasons in Kansas and spring is my favorite. I love seeing the leaves pop on trees, the flowers and shrubs blooming, chirping birds, grass turning green and getting to plant my garden. Spring typically marks the arrival of winds, thunderstorms and the potential tornados. I love the sound of a good thunderstorm! For those who are afraid of tornados, my advice to you is to invest in a weather radio, pay attention to the weather forecast, and a have plan if a tornado warning is issued for our area. And remember, the official tornado season is really a very short period of time!
If I have to point to one thing about Fort Riley that makes it great, it would be the people. Be prepared to meet honest, compassionate, hard-working, friendly people. The people in the region wrap their arms around military families and appreciate the sacrifices made by military families. The friends and neighbors you meet are what make Fort Riley a fantastic place to call home.
Relocation
Fort Riley is in northeastern Kansas between Manhattan and Junction City. Junction City sits just south of Fort Riley offering an easy commute to work, great schools, churches and expanding shopping and dining options. Manhattan is home to Kansas State University, a revitalized downtown, a variety of shopping areas, public and private schools, and a range of dining and entertainment options. The area also has several other smaller communities such as Riley, Wamego, Abilene, Milford, and others which many military families love to call home.
On-post housing is provided by Corvias Military Living and offers military families numerous amenities and services as well as convenient access to work and Fort Riley services. Housing choices include newly renovated or constructed homes, classic townhomes and duplexes and remarkable historic homes. Living on-post also offers you an extension of your home with four Corvias community centers, a community garden, bark park, walking trails and numerous playgrounds within each neighborhood.
Fort Riley boasts many of its own amenities, including the Warrior Zone, movie theater, bowling alley, swimming pools and splash pad, library, Moon Lake for picnics and fishing, golf and much more. The commissary and PX make shopping easy and convenient. The two museums on post offer visitors a look into the history of Fort Riley and the First Infantry Division. In addition to the Corvias community center pools and fitness centers, MWR also has five on-post gyms with an additional gym under construction.
Schools on Fort Riley are operated by Geary County Schools, or Unified School District (USD) 475, located in Junction City. There are seven schools, including six elementary schools and one middle school on Fort Riley. Four of the on-post elementary schools have been previously named National Blue Ribbon Schools. High school-aged students attend school off-post at Junction City High School. The Fort Riley area also has private schools as an education option. Fort Riley’s School Liaison Officer can assist home school parents with local information and resources.
Fun facts about the Fort Riley area
Fort Riley is named after Major General Bennett C. Riley
In World War I, Fort Riley was home to 50,000 soldiers
The First Territorial Capitol of Kansas sits on present-day Fort Riley
Fort Riley has more than 100,000 acres of land in two counties
Manhattan, Kansas, is commonly referred to as the “Little Apple”
Historic Main Post is on the National Register of Historic Places
Surrounding area
Don’t hesitate to explore the area once you are settled. For those that love to be outside, you will not be disappointed! Milford and Tuttle Creek Reservoirs are man-made lakes near Fort Riley and offer recreational boating and fishing opportunities. The Fort Riley Marina is located on Milford Reservoir. Off the water, be sure to visit the Milford Nature Center, Fish Hatchery, Milford State Park, or Tuttle Creek State Park.
Other outdoor adventures include hiking the Konza Prairie or Tall Grass Nature Preserve, biking or running on the Linear Trail, disc golf at Tuttle Creek State Park and canoeing or kayaking on the local rivers. The area is also a hunter’s paradise. From whitetail deer, elk, upland birds, waterfowl or turkey there is something to hunt all year long. Areas of Fort Riley are also open to public hunting.
If hunting with a camera is more your style, visit the Sunset Zoo or the K-State Insect Zoo while you are in Manhattan. For other animal adventures, travel to the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina or to Wichita, Kansas, for a hands-on animal experience at Tanganyika Wildlife Park.
For those looking for some “culture,” both McCain Auditorium at Kansas State University and C.L. Hoover Opera House bring in big name performers such as YoYo Ma, Second City, REZA, and Blue Man Group, just to name a few. Don’t miss local theater productions by the Junction City Little Theater, Manhattan Art Theater, or the Columbian Theater in Wamego. The Beach Museum at Kansas State University is a must see for any art enthusiast.
Other unique experiences include the Junction City Gem Theaters in Junction City; Abilene and Smokey Valley Railroad and Dinner Train, and Seelye Mansion in Abilene; Kansas Underground Salt Museum and Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Museum in Hutchinson; Kansas Children’s Discovery Center in Topeka and the Oz Museum in Wamego.
Of course, there are numerous other activities, events and attractions in the area. All you have to do is get out and explore!
Weekend Destinations
Topeka, Kansas, is about 1 hour away
Wichita, Kansas, is about 2 hours away
Kansas City, Missouri, is about 2 hours away
Lincoln, Nebraska, is about 3 hours away
Des Moines, Iowa, is about 4 hours away
Denver, Colorado, is about 7 hours away
If your family gets the chance to be a part of the Fort Riley community, you can make it a great experience by exploring the items highlighted in this column. You never know what you might discover along the way!
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Michelle Geering, Corvias Communications Manager at Fort Riley
Hi, I’m Michelle. I can be found during the day at a job I love with Corvias Military Living. I live in Kansas with my handsome husband and two lovely daughters. I am a working mom who cherishes time with my family, loves to cook amazing (and not so amazing) meals and I have an obsession with shoes and kitchen gadgets. Stop in to see me at the Fort Riley Corvias Program Office!