News
We love to share positive stories about our five-star community!
Check out some of our favorites:
- Destination of the Year by Midwest Travel Network (2022)
- #2 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2022)
- #1 Favorite U.S. Small Town by TravelAwaits (2022)
- #1 Friendliest U.S. Small Town by TravelAwaits (2022)
- Best Promotion of a Historic Place by TrueWest magazine (2022)
- #4 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2021)
- Best U.S. Small Town by TravelAwaits (2021)
- #2 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2020)
- Coolest Small Town in Kansas by Far and Wide (2020)
- Most Beautiful Small Town in Kansas by House Beautiful magazine (2020)
- #8 Best Historic Small Town by USA TODAY (2019)
- #1 True Western Town of the Year by TrueWest magazine (2018)
- Best Weekend Getaway by KANSAS! magazine (2018)
Keep checking back as we continue to populate this list!
Abilene to host 45th Annual Homes for the Holidays Tour
The city of Abilene will be merry and bright this weekend, especially with the 45th Annual Homes for the Holidays Tour. Julie Roller and Sabrina Holland with the Heritage Homes Association stopped...
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Abilene Homes for the Holidays Tour set for Dec. 3-4
From homes with connections to C.L. Brown, C.H. Lebold, bank presidents, WWII Veterans and immigrants to a special farmhouse and growing church, you won’t want to miss the upcoming Heritage Homes...
10 Small Towns with Big Midwestern Charm
Big cities have their appeal with a plethora of fine dining restaurants and high-dollar museums, but there's something about a small town that charms like nothing else. From picture-perfect main...
12 Nights of Kansas Christmas
The song “12 Days of Christmas” tells a fabulous gift list that “my true love gave to me.” Instead of “a partridge in a pear tree,” this list explains 12 fabulous Kansas Christmas communities to...
Christmas Tree Lane tradition continues in Abilene
The City of Abilene Public Works Department is celebrating 50 years of Christmas Tree Lane tradition. The tradition begins with the public works department cutting down cedar trees and installing...
Secret Spots: Seelye Mansion
This beautiful home in Abilene is filled with os much history, beautiful craftsmanship, many original artifacts and a unique bowling alley. The owner of the Seelye Mansion knows the ins and outs of...
2022 Kansas I-70 Holiday Event Guide
It’s once again that magical time of year! Many of our Kansas I-70 communities have unique holiday experiences, parades, and tree displays for you and your family to discover. We’ve put together a...
Abilene residents compete for $2,000 in Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown
For people who love this time of year for the dazzling displays of lights and decorations, then you won’t want to miss the 2nd annual Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown Saturday, December 3, in Abilene...
9 Historic Midwest Homes That Bring The Holidays To Life
Historic homes are beautiful throughout the year and exceptionally beautiful around the holidays. The Midwest is fortunate to have several historic homes that transition from historic beauty to...
World's Largest Belt Buckle Nearing Completion
Efforts are underway to construct the World's Largest Belt Buckle, a new roadside attraction, in Abilene. Local artist Jason Lahr of Fluters Creek Metal Works is constructing the buckle. Lahr is...
Iron Horse Trail Receives Grant
The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad recently received a nearly $50,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ Recreational Trails Program for Phase 3 of the Iron Horse Trail....
Abilene CVB Wins Award
The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau received a Travel Industry Association of Kansas (TIAK) marketing award at the Kansas Tourism Conference in Wichita. Abilene received the Destination (...
Abilene businesses gear up for Pink Friday
Abilene businesses are gearing up for a new local shopping promotion ahead of the holiday season - Pink Friday. The Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau says that “Shop Small First” is its message...
Heritage Homes Association Receives Grant
Thanks to a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Dickinson County, the Heritage Homes Association is preparing to celebrate and share Abilene’s historic properties in a new way. The grant,...
Cowboys, Calls, and Carousels – Dickinson Heritage Center
On a warm summer day we rolled into Abilene, Kansas. We arrived from the south, much like the cattle drives of old. The first destination on our itinerary was the Dickinson Heritage Center. This...
Get ready for holiday memory-making
The holidays are just around the corner, and holidays means welcoming back friends and relatives for visits. As I have gotten older, I have started to realize that very few of my most cherished...
14 Things to Do in Abilene, Kansas
When I’m planning to visit a new place, I love to leave a bit of my trip up to chance. Sure, I will always be an over zealous planner. But I also like to build some time into my schedule to explore,...
6 Ways to Experience the History of Abilene, Kansas
For a town of less than 7,000 people, Abilene, Kansas has some seriously big local history. From a presidential library and museum to more than 40 sites on the National Register of Historic Places,...
Autumn & Art + Abilene Oktoberfest
Kids are getting settled in for the school year and the weather seems to finally be heading toward fall. Families and community members across the state are feeling ready for some fall activities! We...