ÐÏà¡±á>þÿ :<þÿÿÿ;ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿì¥Á` ð¿Õbjbjæ‡æ‡ 4"„í„íÕÿÿÿÿÿÿ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¸üüüü¸¼¶ ;======$rhÚ2a¤ÿ ÿÿa¤¤ vÏÏÏÿ.¤ ¤ ;Ïÿ;ÏÏ¤¤Ï àSæóµbÈü-FÏ;Œ0¼ÏsRÏ¤Ïl (H ŠÏÒ <ñ aaÅ ¼ÿÿÿÿ¸¸¸Dü¸¸¸ü¸¸¸¤¤¤¤¤¤ÿÿÿÿLITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE P. O. BOX 110 INDEPENDENCE, KANSAS 67301 (620-289-4238) The Little House on the Prairie is the historical home site of renowned children’s book author, Laura Ingalls Wilder located 13 miles southwest of Independence, Kansas. It is a global destination and one of the most popular attractions in the state. The “Little House” books and TV series “Little House on the Prairie” is a part of home entertainment in life all over the world, which brings visitors from over 30 countries annually. Three fourths of the 12,000 plus visitors are either from out of state or other countries and know very little about the “real” Kansas. Many of them express their delight in learning that their attitudes and preconceived notions about Kansas are not correct. It is often said “Kansas is getting a bum rap, the stigma of “flat, dry and boring” just isn’t true. We have truly enjoyed our visit and appreciate your good roads. You just need to let us know what you have”. They do complain about our lack of visitor centers, because once they arrive, there is nothing to invite them to stay and visit. Entry from Oklahoma and Missouri is not acknowledged in any way by the State of Kansas inviting them to “stay a spell” and check us out. The Little House site is 2 miles off Highway 75 so “just driving by” doesn’t produce high visitation numbers. Most of our visitors find us because we were on their map, they called and ask, or checked out our website before starting their trip. The site is deep in the southeast corner of the state with the closest interstate highway around 75 miles away, while only 13 miles to the Kansas/Oklahoma state line on Highway 75 and 2 hours from the Missouri state line on Highway 166. Being so far removed from the interstate, State Visitors Centers and 13 miles to the nearest town, increased effort to attract attention is necessary and difficult to do alone. The Little House on the Prairie site is in position to grow with its vast natural resources, reaching out to Boy & Girl Scouts, 4-H Clubs, Future Farmers of America Organizations and any other nature lovers with camping and nature educational opportunities. We have approximately 1,200 students come each year to learn about pioneer life and see where Laura Ingalls and her family lived in Indian Territory. The Little House book series is part of their class curriculum and it is exciting to actually be there. Expanding the student pioneer experience by offering classroom activities, daily chores and play is a goal for this year. Currently, recruiting a volunteer staff is in progress. We have 4 major events a year, Grand Opening in March; Prairie Days in June; Bluegrass on the Prairie in October and Christmas Open House with “Santa Comes to Little House” in November. Little House fans come from everywhere for our Prairie Days and Bluegrass on the Prairie Festivals. Prairie Days hosts a crowd of 1,000 and Bluegrass on the Prairie 300 but growing. Prairie Days has grown to the point that vendors and crafters call us to participate. Our Little House Character Contest pulls in fans from many states, one year with 42 contestants. Plans for the Bluegrass on the Prairie Festival is to grow to become a major Bluegrass festival. The Little House site has a replica cabin of the one the Ingalls lived in from 1869 to 1871, original 1885 Wayside Post Office, Sunnyside School House built in 1871, 1880’s farm house, 1920’s barn and nature trail. The barn is scheduled to be restored and used as a learning and activity center this year. Upkeep is expensive, especially for historical buildings, and grants will play an important part in the growth and maintenance of the Little House on the Prairie site. KTI is the answer to the Tourism Industry’s initiative to market Kansas and make it a place people just have to visit. Although the Little House on the Prairie is a global destination, it is small and in an isolated area, as are many other historical sites in Kansas. We need the team work of the Tourism Industry and KTI to make a difference. Tourism is a very lucrative, although not recognized, part of the economy of Kansas. Implementation of KTI is the answer. Over 10,000 visitors annually from all over the world come to see where Laura lived as a child in Indian Territory. Three fourths of those visitors are from states other than Kansas or from other countries. The Little House on the Prairie is a global destination, not just an interesting historical site that caught their eye while in the vicinity. Kansas is a plains state and historical sites are spread all over the state, small and very little resources to advertise. KTI is just the means to help remedy this situation. Pooled resources and teamwork will strengthen our voice. 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