Planning a ghost town road trip to Ashtabula Colony means heading to southern McPherson County, Kansas, where Ohio settlers built a frontier community in 1871 that’s since vanished into the prairie. You’ll start your drive from McPherson, just 8 miles away, passing open farmland that once supported a thriving settlement. King City’s post office closed in 1887, and today only whispers of its past remain. Stick around to uncover exactly what happened here and how to find it.
Key Takeaways
- Ashtabula Colony, founded in 1871 by Ohio settlers, sits in southern McPherson County near the ghost town of King City.
- The site is approximately 8 miles from McPherson, making it ideal for a convenient half-day road trip.
- From Halstead, drive roughly 20 miles north through open Kansas farmland, watching for potential historical artifacts along the route.
- Contact the McPherson County Historical Society beforehand for guidance on locating the poorly documented, minimally visible site remains.
- Combine your visit with nearby ghost towns like Elyria and McPherson Centre for a fuller Kansas history road trip experience.
What Was Ashtabula Colony in Kansas?
Although the name “Ashtabula Colony” might sound like a standalone Kansas town, it’s actually tied to King City, a settlement that a group of Ohio migrants founded in spring 1871 in southern McPherson County. These settlers came specifically from Ashtabula County, Ohio, bringing their community memories with them and stamping their Ohio roots onto the Kansas prairie.
King City grew into a functioning community with post office access and proximity to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. However, it stagnated by the early 1880s, and once the county seat shifted to McPherson Centre, the town fundamentally fell apart.
The post office closed in February 1887.
Today, historical preservation efforts help keep this story alive, making King City a compelling destination for anyone curious about Kansas’s forgotten past.
Why Did King City Disappear After Just One Decade?
King City’s disappearance wasn’t the result of a single dramatic event — it was a slow erosion driven by political and logistical shifts that stripped the town of its reason to exist. Once the county seat moved to McPherson Centre, King City lost its administrative pull.
King City didn’t vanish overnight — it was slowly drained of purpose, one political shift at a time.
Residents followed opportunity elsewhere, and the post office closed on February 26, 1887, relocating to Elyria. That closure effectively ended the town’s functional identity.
Any historical architecture that once defined its streets gradually surrendered to weather and neglect. Local legends suggest the town simply “fell to pieces” — and the historical record backs that up.
Within roughly one decade of its 1871 founding, King City had evolved from a promising settlement into one of Kansas’s 1,053 documented vanished communities.
Where Is the King City Ghost Town Site Today?
Tucked into the southeast corner of King City Township, the former townsite sits roughly 8 miles from McPherson and about 20 miles from Halstead in McPherson County, Kansas. You won’t find a bustling town here — King City has long since faded into the landscape.
What remains are historical landmarks best uncovered through county historical societies and local museums, which hold records of the Ohio settlers who built this community from scratch in 1871.
Local legends about the town’s swift collapse after the county seat shifted still circulate among history enthusiasts. Before you hit the road, verify current site conditions, since on-the-ground visibility isn’t well documented.
Treat this as a raw, authentic slice of Kansas history — one that rewards curious, independent travelers willing to dig deeper.
How to Get to King City From McPherson or Halstead
If you’re coming from McPherson, you’re already just about 8 miles away, making it a quick highway run to the King City site in southern McPherson County.
Heading north from Halstead adds roughly 20 miles to your drive, but the flat Kansas landscape keeps navigation straightforward.
Either route puts you on a direct path to one of central Kansas’s most historically layered ghost town sites.
From McPherson Via Highway
Reaching the former Ashtabula Colony site near King City is straightforward whether you’re coming from McPherson or Halstead. From McPherson, you’re looking at roughly 8 miles, making this an easy half-day detour.
Head southwest from McPherson’s courthouse square and follow local routes into King City Township’s southeastern corner. The drive itself rewards curiosity — open Kansas farmland stretches in every direction, and locals carry oral traditions tied to the area’s founding settlers.
Keep your eyes open for any surviving historical architecture along the route, since remnants of 19th-century settlement occasionally appear near former townsites. Don’t hesitate to ask residents about local legends surrounding King City’s rise and collapse.
Freedom-seekers will appreciate that this route demands no toll roads, no crowds, and no rigid itinerary.
From Halstead Heading North
Heading north from Halstead puts roughly 20 miles between you and the King City site, so budget accordingly — this stretch works best as a morning drive before the Kansas sun peaks. You’ll move through open central Kansas farmland, so keep your eyes open for any surviving historical architecture that dots the rural landscape.
Remnants of the late-1800s settlement era occasionally appear as weathered structures along county roads. Ask locals about the area before you go — regional local legends around King City and the Ashtabula Colony settlers from Ohio add real texture to an otherwise quiet drive.
Stop at a McPherson County historical society if you can; they’ll give you sharper details about what’s actually visible at the townsite before you commit to the full route.
What Survives at the King City Townsite Today
Though the King City townsite sits quietly in southeast King City Township, what you’ll actually find there today remains difficult to confirm with precision.
The King City townsite rests quietly in southeast King City Township, its present-day condition difficult to confirm with precision.
Ghost-town guides suggest that some Kansas sites retain visible historical artifacts—old foundations, structural ruins, or scattered remnants of earlier buildings—but King City’s present-day condition isn’t clearly documented in available sources.
What you can count on is the landscape features themselves: central Kansas farmland that once supported a functioning community with a post office and rail shipping access.
The land tells a quieter story now.
Before you make the drive from McPherson, roughly 8 miles away, contact the McPherson County Historical Society.
They’ll give you the most reliable, current picture of what actually remains on the ground.
Nearby McPherson County Ghost Towns to Add to Your Route
Kansas holds over 1,000 vanished or diminished communities, so once you’re already in McPherson County, it makes sense to map out a few neighboring ghost towns and turn the King City stop into a fuller day’s route.
Pull up historical maps before you leave home to trace the old settlement corridors and spot clusters worth visiting together.
Here are three nearby stops to contemplate adding:
- Elyria – The very town that absorbed King City’s post office in 1887, carrying local legends about the colony’s collapse.
- McPherson Centre – The former county seat whose rise directly triggered King City’s fall.
- Halstead area settlements – Roughly 20 miles out, offering additional ghost-town remnants along a natural driving corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Access the King City Site on Foot or Only by Vehicle?
Ready to roam freely? You can access the King City site for urban exploration by vehicle or on foot. Historical access isn’t clearly documented, so verify current conditions before you adventure out there.
Is the King City Townsite Located on Private Land Today?
The sources don’t confirm the land ownership status of King City’s townsite. Before you visit, check with McPherson County for historical preservation records and current land ownership details so you’re not trespassing on private property.
Are There Any Historical Markers Placed at the Ashtabula Colony Site?
We don’t have confirmed records of historical preservation markers at the Ashtabula Colony site. Before adding it to your tourist attractions list, you’ll want to contact McPherson County’s historical society for the most current, reliable information.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Visit Kansas Ghost Towns?
Spring and fall offer you the best seasonal weather for exploring Kansas ghost towns. You’ll enjoy mild temperatures, fewer tourist crowds, and wide-open freedom to roam historic sites like Ashtabula Colony without summer’s brutal heat slowing you down.
Does Mcpherson County Have a Local Museum Covering King City’s History?
You’ll want to check with McPherson County’s local archives and historical preservation resources directly, as they’re your best bet for uncovering King City’s story through maps, records, and regional exhibits waiting to be explored.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dtIPX7pIqI
- https://legendsofkansas.com/king-city-kansas/
- https://www.facebook.com/KansasTravel/posts/dunlap-kansas-southeast-of-council-grove-is-essentially-a-ghost-town-and-had-a-p/1505103204957166/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy7nLwjHkbY
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Kansas
- https://legendsofkansas.com/kansas-ghost-town-list/
- https://ghosttowntrails.com/kansas
- https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/ks/ks.html
