Starting in Frankfort, you’ll head southwest along Zenith Road for roughly seven miles to find Bigelow’s historical marker — the primary above-ground memory of a town now resting beneath Tuttle Creek Lake. The Army Corps of Engineers submerged the entire community before 1962, leaving only the marker and Antioch Cemetery visible today. Pack water, a physical map, and sturdy shoes for the dirt roads ahead. There’s far more to this story than the waterline suggests.
Key Takeaways
- Start your road trip from Frankfort, heading southwest along Zenith Road for approximately seven miles to reach Bigelow’s historical marker.
- Only two remnants of Bigelow survive: a historical marker at 17th and Zenith Roads and the intact Antioch Cemetery.
- Travel on narrow dirt and gravel roads cautiously, watching for loose gravel and wildlife; motorcycles handle these routes well.
- Carry a physical map, water, snacks, sturdy shoes, and a camera, as cell service is unreliable in remote areas.
- Extend your trip by visiting nearby ghost towns Irving, Barrett, and Home, all accessible along scenic rural back roads.
How Bigelow Kansas Ended Up Beneath Tuttle Creek Lake
Bigelow’s story didn’t end with economic decline — it ended underwater. After the quarry closed around 1910, the town spent nearly 50 years slowly fading.
Bigelow didn’t die quickly — it spent five decades quietly disappearing after the quarry fell silent.
Then the Army Corps of Engineers arrived with a bigger plan: Tuttle Creek Lake. Officials forced remaining residents to pack up, compensated them for their losses, and demolished everything standing.
By 1962, Bigelow was gone — no architectural ruins left to explore, no streets to walk. The rising waters swallowed it completely.
Today, local legends speak of the submerged town resting beneath the lake’s surface, a ghost you can’t quite reach. Sedimentation has since claimed 38% of the reservoir’s surface area, quietly burying Bigelow even deeper.
You won’t find the town — but you’ll feel its absence.
What Survives Above the Waterline Today
Most of Bigelow lies silent under Tuttle Creek Lake, but two remnants survived the demolition and rising waters. You’ll find a historical marker standing at the intersection of 17th and Zenith Roads, roughly seven miles southwest of Frankfort. It’s the only above-ground reminder that 200 people once called this limestone quarry town home.
Antioch Cemetery also remains, quietly holding the stories of Bigelow’s former residents. Cemeteries like this one naturally attract urban legends and folklore stories, and you might find yourself imagining the lives buried beneath those old stones.
Both sites sit along dirt and gravel back roads, making them ideal stops for motorcycle riders craving open terrain and raw history. Pack your curiosity — these modest markers carry more weight than they appear.
Getting to the Bigelow Historical Marker From Frankfort
Reaching the Bigelow historical marker from Frankfort takes you roughly seven miles southwest through Marshall County’s quiet back roads. Head southwest from Frankfort, following Zenith Road until you reach the intersection of 17th and Zenith Roads, where the marker stands.
The route winds through dirt and gravel roads that reward motorcyclists and adventurous drivers equally.
Practice smart road safety on these narrow stretches — slow down around blind curves and watch for loose gravel that can catch you off guard. Local wildlife frequently crosses these rural roads, so stay alert for deer and other animals moving between fields.
The drive itself becomes part of the experience, pulling you deeper into Kansas countryside before delivering you to the quiet, marker-only remnant of a town that time and water swallowed completely.
What the Antioch Cemetery Tells You About the Town
When you visit Antioch Cemetery, you’re standing at the only physical remnant of Bigelow that survived both the town’s demolition and the rising waters of Tuttle Creek Lake.
The headstones reveal the community’s demographics — the names, dates, and origins of the settlers who built their lives around the limestone quarry industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
It’s a quiet but powerful reminder that behind every ghost town marker, real families once called this now-submerged place home.
Cemetery’s Historical Significance
Though the town of Bigelow now lies beneath Tuttle Creek Lake, the Antioch Cemetery stands as one of the last tangible connections to the community that once thrived here. Walking among its headstones, you’ll encounter the names and dates of early settlers who built their lives around the limestone quarry industry.
Local legends surrounding the town’s final days add a haunting layer to your visit, making each grave marker feel like a chapter in a larger, forgotten story.
Preservation efforts have kept the cemetery intact, giving you a rare opportunity to connect with Marshall County‘s buried past. It’s one of those places where history stops feeling abstract and starts feeling personal, reminding you that real people once called this now-submerged community home.
Graves Reflect Town Demographics
Walking through Antioch Cemetery, you’ll notice the headstones tell a quiet but detailed story about who Bigelow’s residents actually were. The historical architecture of the older markers reflects 19th-century craftsmanship, with carved limestone monuments that mirror the very rock the town quarried for its livelihood.
You’ll find family names clustered together, suggesting tight-knit communities that built their lives around the quarry industry.
The dates etched into stone reveal demographic shifts clearly — earlier graves mark the town’s ambitious founding era, while later ones reflect the thinning population after 1910. Fewer burials appear as the decades progress, visually confirming Bigelow’s slow fade.
Reading these stones, you’re fundamentally walking through a timeline of a community’s rise, struggle, and eventual disappearance beneath Tuttle Creek Lake’s waters.
Only Remaining Physical Evidence
How much can a cemetery tell you about a town that no longer exists? Quite a lot, actually. Antioch Cemetery stands as one of two remaining physical pieces of evidence that Bigelow ever existed, alongside its historical marker at 17th and Zenith Roads.
Urban development and environmental impact erased nearly everything else. The Army Corps of Engineers demolished the town in 1962, and Tuttle Creek Lake swallowed what remained. You won’t find buildings, foundations, or streets — only water above where people once lived and worked.
But the cemetery survived. It connects you directly to the community that thrived here before quarry closures and flood control projects ended it all. When you stand there, you’re touching the last tangible proof that 200 people once called this place home.
The Best Back Road Route Through Marshall County
To start your Marshall County route, head southwest from Frankfort along Zenith Road for roughly seven miles until you reach the historical marker at the intersection of 17th and Zenith Roads.
Along the way, you can extend your tour by stopping at nearby ghost towns like Irving, Barrett, and Home, each offering its own slice of Kansas history.
Just know that you’ll be traveling dirt and gravel back roads for much of the trip, making it an ideal run for motorcyclists who don’t mind trading pavement for scenery.
Starting Your Marshall County Route
Once you’ve decided to explore Marshall County’s ghost towns, the best place to start is Frankfort, a small town in northeastern Kansas that puts you within striking distance of Bigelow, Irving, Barrett, and Home.
From Frankfort, head southwest along dirt and gravel back roads toward Zenith Road, roughly seven miles out. You’ll pass through open Kansas terrain where local wildlife roams freely across rolling limestone-rich landscapes.
The geological features of the region tell the same story that once made Bigelow’s quarry industry thrive. Keep your eyes on the road signs — the intersections out here aren’t always obvious.
Whether you’re riding a motorcycle or driving a truck, these back roads reward travelers who crave independence, open skies, and authentic encounters with forgotten American history.
Key Stops Along The Way
As you roll southwest out of Frankfort, your first real stop is the historical marker at the intersection of 17th and Zenith Roads — the last physical trace of Bigelow standing above water. Snap your photos, soak in the local folklore surrounding a town swallowed whole by Tuttle Creek Lake, and let that eerie stillness sink in.
From there, navigate the dirt and gravel back roads to Antioch Cemetery. It is the only other surviving remnant. Urban legends about submerged structures beneath the lake surface make this stretch feel charged with mystery.
If you’re building a full day’s route, add Irving, Barrett, and Home to your itinerary. Each extinct community carries its own story, turning your ride through Marshall County into something far more meaningful than a simple road trip.
Exploring the back roads of Marshall County rewards you with sweeping rural scenery, but you’ll want to prepare before tackling the dirt and gravel stretches leading to Bigelow’s historical marker.
Head southwest from Frankfort roughly seven miles along Zenith Road until you reach the intersection of 17th and Zenith Roads. Motorcycles handle these surfaces particularly well, giving you the freedom to navigate confidently.
Unlike traditional urban decay stories where crumbling structures remain visible, Bigelow’s remnants vanished through water reclamation when Tuttle Creek Lake submerged everything beneath its surface.
The roads themselves offer quiet, unhurried travel through open Kansas countryside. Keep your speed controlled on loose gravel, watch for soft shoulders, and carry a physical map since cell service gets unreliable in these remote stretches.
Three Ghost Towns to Pair With Bigelow on the Same Day
Marshall County rewards the curious traveler with more than just Bigelow — nearby ghost towns Irving, Barrett, and Home make it easy to turn a single stop into a full day of historical exploration. Each site carries its own story of economic collapse and community loss, reflecting the region’s fragile relationship between cultural preservation and environmental impact.
Irving and Bigelow share a common fate — both exist today only as stone markers, quiet testaments to towns that once thrived.
Barrett and Home add additional layers of history worth discovering as you wind through Marshall County’s back roads.
You’ll cover meaningful ground without excessive backtracking, since these towns sit within reasonable range of each other.
Pack a lunch, fuel up, and plan your route the night before.
What to Bring and What to Expect on the Drive Out
Getting to Bigelow means trading smooth pavement for dirt and gravel back roads, so come prepared. Pack water, snacks, and a printed map since cell service gets spotty out here. Sturdy shoes matter if you plan to walk around the historical marker at 17th and Zenith Roads or visit Antioch Cemetery nearby.
Expect a quiet, humbling experience rather than a dramatic spectacle. Local legends about the submerged town add atmosphere, but the landscape itself tells the story plainly. Tuttle Creek Lake stretches out where neighbors once gathered, shopped, and worked.
Preservation efforts are minimal here — just a stone marker and a cemetery standing against time. Respect both. Bring a camera, arrive with curiosity, and give yourself enough daylight to explore Irving or Barrett on the same run.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was General Alfred Bigelow Ever a Resident of the Town?
General Alfred Bigelow wasn’t a resident — he’s a railroad official the town honored in name. You’ll uncover fascinating local legends and historical landmarks that reveal how his legacy shaped this now-submerged ghost town.
How Deep Is the Water Above Where Bigelow Once Stood?
The available knowledge doesn’t specify the exact depth of water above Bigelow’s submerged infrastructure. You’re exploring historical water levels shrouding a lost town beneath Tuttle Creek Lake, where sedimentation’s already claimed 38% of the reservoir’s surface area.
Are There Any Old Photographs of Bigelow Before Demolition Available?
You’ll likely find old photographs through historical preservation societies and photographic archives in Marshall County or Kansas State Historical Society. These resources can connect you with rare, enthralling images capturing Bigelow’s vibrant limestone quarry community before its 1962 demolition.
Did Any Bigelow Businesses Relocate to Nearby Towns Before 1962?
The records don’t confirm if Bigelow’s businesses relocated before 1962, but you’ll uncover local legends and historic landmarks suggesting economic decline slowly swallowed the town whole for nearly 50 years before demolition claimed everything.
Can Divers Legally Explore the Submerged Remains of Bigelow Underwater?
Like a locked treasure chest, Bigelow’s underwater exploration faces legal restrictions — you’d need to check with Kansas authorities before diving, as submerged historical sites often carry protective regulations governing what you can touch or disturb.
References
- https://legendsofkansas.com/bigelow-kansas/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB5rHT14eVI
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Bigelow
- https://lostkansas.ccrsdigitalprojects.com/sites/lostkansas/files/private_static/2022-12/LT_MS_Bigelow_Broxterman.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigelow
- https://www.romeoriders.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=173
