In Kiowa County, topics range from historic prairie architecture to the reception of distant radio signals. Five miles south of Haswell, on County Road 20, the Deep Space Exploration Society has a 60-foot parabolic antenna. It can receive radio signals across a broad frequency range from celestial objects or spacecraft. This technical detail adds a glimpse of outer space to the region’s landscape and history themes.
Prairie, Water and Nature Watching
South of Eads lie the Great Plains Reservoirs Nee Gronda and Nee Noshe. These naturally formed bodies of water developed in depressions in rolling shortgrass prairie and are part of the Queens State Wildlife Area. Camping is possible in the area, and guided tours are also available. The reservoirs offer opportunities for hunting, birdwatching and boating, with fishing available in some areas. Check current CPW rules and access requirements before your outing.
Another nature destination is Jackson’s Pond, an eight-acre pond and the centerpiece of the Kiowa Creek Natural Area. It has a picnic shelter, tables and restrooms. As facilities may change, it is a good idea to check local conditions before you travel.
Bird enthusiasts can find year-round opportunities for birdwatching and photography along the Snow Goose Trail segment of the Colorado Birding Trail. The segment runs through Kiowa County; check trail conditions locally. In addition to the waterways, wildlife watching and photography are distinct nature activities in the area.
Buildings and History
Eads Community Church is a locally significant church building in the Jacobean Revival style. It is also the oldest, largest and best-preserved religious building in Kiowa County. Built in 1929, the Eads School Gymnasium is locally significant for entertainment and recreation, education, and social history. Sheridan Lake School is also significant for education and social history; it operated from 1929 to 1962.
Jackson Barn represents a different type of construction: the barn is a well-preserved example of a three-part horse barn built using balloon-frame construction in the early 20th century, approximately from 1915 to 1920. In Haswell stands the 1921 jail, a small concrete building with a footprint of 14 by 16 feet that remains a visible local landmark. The Haswell Hotel, also known as the Holly Hotel, was built in 1907 by Acquilla Hollingsworth and operated as an inn for about sixty years.
The Kiowa County Museum in Eads covers topics ranging from the county’s schools, the Towner bus tragedy and the Sand Creek Massacre to early movie theaters, banks, agriculture and ranching. Other exhibits feature local businesses and churches, military veterans, and life on early prairie farms.
Sand Creek and Getting There
The Monument Hill area of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site includes a viewpoint above Big Sandy Creek and the Repatriation Area. Access to the site involves at least eight miles of unpaved roads. Road conditions can vary after rain or snow; contact the site before driving. There is currently no public transportation between the site and the surrounding communities.
The Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site Visitor Center offers educational and orientation materials, as well as a sales area for educational and informational items. Hours and services may change; check the details before your visit.
Eads as a Point of Reference
Eads, the Kiowa County seat, is located at the intersection of Colorado Highway 96 and U.S. Highway 287 on the Ports to Plains Corridor. The highway is also a point of reference for cyclists: the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail runs through Kiowa County on State Highway 96, where it is known as the Prairie Horizons Trail.
Discover more destinations: Eads, Custer, Mesa, Alamosa County, Routt, El Paso, Logan, San Miguel
For the main travel overview: Colorado.
