Courtesy of various media listed in source. Many parts of the campground that is quite old. It is about 135 years old at the time of closing. The bottom photo is a run down mineral springs. It does not look like you can go in there anymore.
The Rink --
Sycamore Springs Roller Skating Rink 3126 Bittersweet Road, Sabetha, KS
Actually, this rink was one of the recreational activates at an age old campground. It has a very rich history! I do not know where to begin! Very long history.
From several sources it said it was a stopping ground for wagon caravans in early 19th Century traveling to west to resettle, they stopped at Sycamore Springs to stay overnight or stay a few days. Sycamore Springs were named after natural springs were found there and said to be healing for those with ill or sore from traveling. The Sycamore Springs Resort became of it because of the stops. But also it was another purpose as time went by prior to the American Civil War that it was a stopover on the underground railroad to help escaped slaves to freedom in the North from the South. Many escaped riding on wagons along the creek and trails on way up north where Slavery were abolished in 1840s-1850s just before the Civil War.
I am sure many still escaped during the Civil War and for others to depart to West where the battles were far less common. After the War, many Easterners exodus through this trail west. It was part of well - known Oregon Trail, where they had groups of resettlers. Over 400,000 re-settlers, and I am sure many more ex-slaves as well. The Oregon Trail was common in early 19th Century till around 1869 when the Transcontinental Railroad finally connected which made traveling easier and non-stop overnight.
But that did not stop Sycamore Springs Resort from forming. The reason they stopped is mostly because of the Sycamore trees and the springs--creek along the grounds. When you go there, you will see the trees although the RV campground has been closed since end of season, 2017. The reason they stopped is to cool them down under the shades of those trees in that area. Midwest is known for plains, not forests like the East or the West coasts.
The railroad did not stop the resort from forming. It was 1886 they established the Sycamore Spring Resort. They had the hotel built but it burned down. As wagon trains were faded and railroads were more common, also came along automobiles. The newly established resort became a place for various needs as a venue such as weddings, receptions, reunions, company picnics/outings, church services and church dinners, etc.
Many owners owned the resort come and go. Before the final one we know of, the Aues purchased when they were young after hearing about how this company that owned the resort did terrible job taking care of the resort by not upkept the place. This caused the swimming pool problems and the Aues who bought it to save it from anyone else who would convert it into anything else. However, they discovered it was too much and cost too much to repair a huge swimming pool which is right next to the roller skating rink. They operated for 30 years.
The Aues operated the rink themselves working the counter for skate rental, admission, and concession. It was the same concession that swimmers and sunbathers came in to get a nice cold one and some burgers to eat.
The grounds besides became a RV campground, it also had roller rink, swimming pool (which was closed immediately after the Aues purchased it), 2 tennis courts, and a miniature golf course. Also had hiking, playgrounds, and of course, a church. It made sense to have a church there because back in the wagon train era, missionaries stopped there on way out west to various trails including the Mormons, The Oregon, and other trails as well. They had tent camping and cabins as well as an old motel that was a rebuilt in 1920 after the original bigger one burned in 1916. The original had 60 rooms which was considered pretty large hotel built in late 1880s after the Resort was opened.
The church was originally elsewhere but was placed there which made more sense where it belonged.
More about the once popular swimming pool -- Before the present owners owned this property, some company had the pool operational and let it go down hill. And that affected the business of having no swimmers, no campers, etc., they went into bankruptcy which took years to get that finalized. The Aues decided it would take too much money to repair it plus the cost of updating into what the federal regulations requires it to be. (Like today, you must have a fence around your pool and when not in use, cover it).
Now about the rink, nothing I can find when it first set up. The building did looked like it was early 20th Century.
The Interior.
It has an Oak wood floor. Layout all straight, no turns. it really does brighten up inside with a lot of windows. But the ceiling is quite low that you literally almost can touch it with you hand if you are tall and wearing skates that is about 2 to 3 inches off the floor. No, it was low but high enough not to touch. It has 2 starburst lights set up that was popular in 20th Century. It has no diamond ball/mirrored ball. It would be too low. The walls are tongue and groove pine wood that gave very county homely feel to it. I love that wood for décor because of the knots on the wood. It is a natural art itself with wood. When you come in, the skate rentals is on your right as you face the rink. They had extension on both side at the pool side end of the building making it look like a T-shaped building. The original did not have that in that difficult black-n-white photo. I believe it was an over exposure photograph by the photographer at the time.
The same goes with digital camera with too much blue light exposure giving too blue. The actual color photo would be with skaters on the roller floor. That one appeared to be film produced, not digital produced.
The Exterior.
The building originally was built one long building for roller skating along with swimming pool. It was just one straight building but eventually they added extension of the building on both sides on the pool side end of the building (see photo above). There was once a swimming pool but it was closed around 2000.
The building originally was just Gabled Wood Truss Built Wood Walled building but with the additions, it became Cross-Gable roof Wood-Truss Wood-Walled building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Oak. Floor Layout: Straight.
Building Size: N/A. Built: Resort-1886, rink- N/A. Demolished: Still standing (ATM)
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood Truss Wood-Walled Camp lodge - like Building.
Roof: Cross-Gable.
Acres: 60.
Operated: N/A to 2017.
Resort: Spring 1886 to 2017.
Rink: N/A to 2017.
Reason for Closure: Couple wanted to retire, attempted to sell for a few years since 2014 in an auction but back on market. Closed for good in 2017.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Yelp; Trip Advisor; Merchant Circle; Story Book Pieces - Long history on property;
New Press Now - Campground wont reopen; Land and Farm - Auction in 2014;
Hiawatha World Online - About the place and legends; Vicki in Yelp;
Date of issue: 2 February 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
From several sources it said it was a stopping ground for wagon caravans in early 19th Century traveling to west to resettle, they stopped at Sycamore Springs to stay overnight or stay a few days. Sycamore Springs were named after natural springs were found there and said to be healing for those with ill or sore from traveling. The Sycamore Springs Resort became of it because of the stops. But also it was another purpose as time went by prior to the American Civil War that it was a stopover on the underground railroad to help escaped slaves to freedom in the North from the South. Many escaped riding on wagons along the creek and trails on way up north where Slavery were abolished in 1840s-1850s just before the Civil War.
I am sure many still escaped during the Civil War and for others to depart to West where the battles were far less common. After the War, many Easterners exodus through this trail west. It was part of well - known Oregon Trail, where they had groups of resettlers. Over 400,000 re-settlers, and I am sure many more ex-slaves as well. The Oregon Trail was common in early 19th Century till around 1869 when the Transcontinental Railroad finally connected which made traveling easier and non-stop overnight.
But that did not stop Sycamore Springs Resort from forming. The reason they stopped is mostly because of the Sycamore trees and the springs--creek along the grounds. When you go there, you will see the trees although the RV campground has been closed since end of season, 2017. The reason they stopped is to cool them down under the shades of those trees in that area. Midwest is known for plains, not forests like the East or the West coasts.
The railroad did not stop the resort from forming. It was 1886 they established the Sycamore Spring Resort. They had the hotel built but it burned down. As wagon trains were faded and railroads were more common, also came along automobiles. The newly established resort became a place for various needs as a venue such as weddings, receptions, reunions, company picnics/outings, church services and church dinners, etc.
Many owners owned the resort come and go. Before the final one we know of, the Aues purchased when they were young after hearing about how this company that owned the resort did terrible job taking care of the resort by not upkept the place. This caused the swimming pool problems and the Aues who bought it to save it from anyone else who would convert it into anything else. However, they discovered it was too much and cost too much to repair a huge swimming pool which is right next to the roller skating rink. They operated for 30 years.
The Aues operated the rink themselves working the counter for skate rental, admission, and concession. It was the same concession that swimmers and sunbathers came in to get a nice cold one and some burgers to eat.
The grounds besides became a RV campground, it also had roller rink, swimming pool (which was closed immediately after the Aues purchased it), 2 tennis courts, and a miniature golf course. Also had hiking, playgrounds, and of course, a church. It made sense to have a church there because back in the wagon train era, missionaries stopped there on way out west to various trails including the Mormons, The Oregon, and other trails as well. They had tent camping and cabins as well as an old motel that was a rebuilt in 1920 after the original bigger one burned in 1916. The original had 60 rooms which was considered pretty large hotel built in late 1880s after the Resort was opened.
The church was originally elsewhere but was placed there which made more sense where it belonged.
More about the once popular swimming pool -- Before the present owners owned this property, some company had the pool operational and let it go down hill. And that affected the business of having no swimmers, no campers, etc., they went into bankruptcy which took years to get that finalized. The Aues decided it would take too much money to repair it plus the cost of updating into what the federal regulations requires it to be. (Like today, you must have a fence around your pool and when not in use, cover it).
Now about the rink, nothing I can find when it first set up. The building did looked like it was early 20th Century.
The Interior.
It has an Oak wood floor. Layout all straight, no turns. it really does brighten up inside with a lot of windows. But the ceiling is quite low that you literally almost can touch it with you hand if you are tall and wearing skates that is about 2 to 3 inches off the floor. No, it was low but high enough not to touch. It has 2 starburst lights set up that was popular in 20th Century. It has no diamond ball/mirrored ball. It would be too low. The walls are tongue and groove pine wood that gave very county homely feel to it. I love that wood for décor because of the knots on the wood. It is a natural art itself with wood. When you come in, the skate rentals is on your right as you face the rink. They had extension on both side at the pool side end of the building making it look like a T-shaped building. The original did not have that in that difficult black-n-white photo. I believe it was an over exposure photograph by the photographer at the time.
The same goes with digital camera with too much blue light exposure giving too blue. The actual color photo would be with skaters on the roller floor. That one appeared to be film produced, not digital produced.
The Exterior.
The building originally was built one long building for roller skating along with swimming pool. It was just one straight building but eventually they added extension of the building on both sides on the pool side end of the building (see photo above). There was once a swimming pool but it was closed around 2000.
The building originally was just Gabled Wood Truss Built Wood Walled building but with the additions, it became Cross-Gable roof Wood-Truss Wood-Walled building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Oak. Floor Layout: Straight.
Building Size: N/A. Built: Resort-1886, rink- N/A. Demolished: Still standing (ATM)
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood Truss Wood-Walled Camp lodge - like Building.
Roof: Cross-Gable.
Acres: 60.
Operated: N/A to 2017.
Resort: Spring 1886 to 2017.
Rink: N/A to 2017.
Reason for Closure: Couple wanted to retire, attempted to sell for a few years since 2014 in an auction but back on market. Closed for good in 2017.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Yelp; Trip Advisor; Merchant Circle; Story Book Pieces - Long history on property;
New Press Now - Campground wont reopen; Land and Farm - Auction in 2014;
Hiawatha World Online - About the place and legends; Vicki in Yelp;
Date of issue: 2 February 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.