Fan favorites include the Tomb of King Toot, Crapper Barrel, and Wipe Out.
What hap in the outhouse commonly stay in the outhouse — except in Elk Falls , Kansas , where the twenty-eighth annual Outhouse Tour bunk from November 22 - 23 . The self - proclaim “ Outhouse Capital of Kansas , ” also lie with as the “ World ’s big Living Ghost Town , ” plays host to over a thousand guests for the jubilation , quite the accomplishment for a petite town of 113 people , as visitors tour uniquely decorated pot and vote on a success .
“ You ’ve never been on a tour that ’s anything like it , ” Steve Fry , a local resident and one of the founders of the turn , order . “ I always severalize people to follow the laugh . ”
Drive Time:
6 hours from Dallas8.45 hour from Denver9 hour from Austin
It ’s a leisurely saunter through Elk Falls to admire the outhouses , tucked among backyards in an “ outhouse plantation . ” Simply swing by the outhouse HQ between 9 am and 5 pm , pick up a mapping , and — if you ’re feel extra flush — drop-off a dollar for a voting button that lets you help choose the top sewer . The competition is trigger-happy .
Fan - favorites like the Tomb of King Toot , Crapper Barrel , and Wipe Out have battle for the top spot , but the base exchange every year . Most of the privy designs are maintain under wraps until the circuit , but Fry teased one entry : It will feature an effigy of someone sitting in an outhouse with their pant down ( do n’t worry , all the necessary are covered ) . Visitors can stick their headland through a hole and become the " person on the great deal " for a pic op . Fry ’s look at public figure such as Photoshoot or Potshot .
Courtesy of Elk Falls Outhouse Tour
For a truly singular experience , do n’t lose the sometime school , now home to the Homer Allison Outhouse Collection — a quirky display of privy - themed statuette and collectible donated to the Friends of Elk Falls . you’re able to also tour the Keefe House , a charming other 1900s farmhouse , consummate with its original WPA jakes , dearly named " The Eleanor . " delight live bluegrass music from the band Beyond Reach , performing at various festival spots , and search the workmanship reasonable and comforter show at Calvary Chapel for even more entertainment .
Since Elk Falls is n’t home to any restaurants , Boyd Koehn , chair of the Friends of Elk Falls , serve free ham and beans out of the school house , while wimp and noodles are for sales agreement at Elk Falls UMC . Other nutrient vendors congeal up as well , and in nearby Moline — about a 15 second driveway — the Swinging Bridge Cafe serve down - habitation favorites such as spaghetti and meatball or volaille enchiladas .
The festival got its start as an open theater for Elk Falls Pottery , where Fry and his married woman , Jane Fry , still provide clayware demonstrations every year . But the town want to rule something unambiguously their own to make crowds .
“ We were discussing what we could bring to the open house , and someone say , ‘ We ’ve pose a caboodle of earth-closet , ’ ” Fry said . “ We figure it would only last one year . It started as a joke , but we were amazed at the response . ”
Our picks for…
One more thing to do alfresco : take the air out on an 1893 Fe truss bridge to view the Elk Falls waterfall , then hike up down to the urine ’s edge . One thing to eat : Homestyle apple dumpling broil by Kansas resident Twila McCammon are available from a vintage laggard parked by Calvary Chapel . They can be consecrate a la modality . One thing to drink : In nearby Independence , Stoney ’s Grub and Pubserves domestic beers and cocktails in a daily country legal profession atmosphere . In overnice weather , you’re able to sit down on the patio . The place to stick : Less than 20 minutes from Elk Falls , theCattle Baron Innbed and breakfast , housed in a 1920s planetary house , is a majuscule choice .
Courtesy of Elk Falls Outhouse Tour
Courtesy of Elk Falls Outhouse Tour
Courtesy of Elk Falls Outhouse Tour
