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The sun sets over Fort Riley, Kansas.

Ft. Riley, KS

“If you want me to say that we love it here, we do. If you want me to tell you to move here, you should!” my friend Alexis exclaimed about how much she loved being stationed at Ft. Riley.

I had asked her opinion when we were deciding on where to rank the post on our preference list nearly three and a half years ago. Who would have thought Ft. Riley, Kansas would have floated to the top of our list?

Ft. Riley is in the middle of Kansas’ Flint Hills, 20 minutes from beautiful Manhattan (the Little Apple) and right next to both Junction City and Ogden.

Riding Through History

The post has a rich history which its beautiful, historic architecture evokes. The area adjacent to the Artillery and Cavalry Parade Fields includes these historic homes, the U.S. Cavalry Museum and the historic Custer House.

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Homes with unique stories line the main post historical district.

Ft. Riley was founded in the mid-1850s when the United States was establishing camps and forts along the Oregon, California and Santa Fe trails during westward expansion. Ft. Riley continued to be an important post from which soldiers would deploy to installations further west in order to deter what was thought to be aggressive actions by the tribal peoples.

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The Old Trooper Monument nicknamed “Old Bill” stands proudly near the parade field.

In the late 1800’s the cavalry started to have a substantial presence here. Even the Buffalo Soldiers were here for a while. Right before World War II the horse units gave way to the mechanized units with tanks.

Today the tradition of Civil War era horse mounted units live on in the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard. This unit is for ceremonial purposes, but it does make frequent appearances for events around post, throughout Kansas and even important events elsewhere in the country like inaugural parades!

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A convoy gets ready to go to the field for a training exercise.

Much has changed at Ft. Riley since it was a small out-post in the mid 1850’s. It is now the home of 1st Infantry Division (ID), also known as the Big Red One or BRO for short because the patch / insignia is a big, red number one.

BRO has all kinds of units in both light (think infantry) and heavy (think armor). All helicopter platforms also fly from Ft. Riley. Of all the places we have lived, Ft. Riley may be the most diverse base in terms of military occupational specialty (MOS).

A Family Friendly Post

There is plenty to do for the whole family at Ft. Riley. On post activities are not limited to a bowling alley and pools. There is a climbing wall in one gym.

Ft. Riley’s MWR plans many events throughout the year.  Those events appear on their website where you can see their updated calendar and also on their Facebook page. In fact, I am THRILLED to say I just checked, and the Lt. Dan Band is coming this summer! In October there is a festival called “Apple Days” which is featured as a highlight of the yearly calendar. So, yes, there are cool things here!

Ft. Riley is the first place we have elected to live off post prior to asking about housing availability on post.  We wanted to own our own home and have our children in specific schools. Last year Kansas adopted a new policy that allows families on post to request the school district of their choice (some restrictions apply), so there is more flexibility now.  Three years ago it was a deal breaker for on-post living.

Outside the Gates

I have loved living in Manhattan. The west side is a convenient 16 minutes to the Ogden gate.  The city was first explained to me as either being a large town or a small city. There is one Walmart, one Target (opposite sides of town) and three large city parks. Don’t be confused by the name of “City Park”. It’s one of the three I mentioned. Each park has a pool complex open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

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Kansas State University in Manhattan is close to Fort Riley.

Manhattan also is the home of Kansas State University (KSU), Flint Hills Discovery Center, and the Sunset Zoo. KSU has Division I sports, which is very popular among K-State fans and sports enthusiasts. Each year there are a few games that are available to soldiers and their families for free. Just keep an eye out for the MWR information.

There is also a rich performing arts program at KSU. The McCain Center has had many popular groups in the years we have been here. Straight No Chaser and Diamond Rio are two that come to mind.

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Wildlflowers make the Flint Hills beautiful in the spring.

The Flint Hills Discovery center is an experiential science museum geared toward families with elementary children. There are many hands-on activities to learn about the history and geography of the area. They have a yearly pass that my friends with young ones say is totally worth it.

Similarly, the Sunset Zoo has a yearly pass and is a great little outside activity for the whole family. It's perfect for a two-hour adventure after nap time or earlier in the morning in the warmer months to get the kiddos tired. There are also programs for the older kids. They can take a class or even work at the zoo.

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A cowboy rides a bull for eight wild seconds at the rodeo.

Kansas folks say they live in the Midwest, but to this East Coast girl who has spent time in Indiana and Missouri, Kansas seems like the West. One case in point is the love of all things beef. Head to one of the rodeos in the area. Every summer the Kaw Valley Rodeo is at the county fair at Cico Park in Manhattan. It is a must for anyone stationed at Ft. Riley. Pick up a funnel cake and be a part of a true Americana celebration.

Kansas has a very agricultural economy and the Ft. Riley area is no different. There are a lot of road-side markets. Junction City and Manhattan have weekly farmers' markets six to nine months of the year featuring local farms and ranches.

Junction City has been making efforts to revitalize its downtown. In the three years I’ve been here not a lot has changed, but I have been to a couple of restaurants that have been decent. However, the selection is slim.

If night life is what you are looking for, Manhattan is where you want to be. Aggieville, the popular nightlife area adjacent to KSU in Manhattan, has a wide variety of food and drink establishments. If you love donuts, try Varsity Donuts. If you love sandwiches, go to Rock-a-Belly Bar & Deli, and if you love designer tacos go to Taco Lucha. There is something for everyone in Aggieville.

Downtown Manhattan is a few blocks south of Aggieville, at Poyntz and 4th streets. It is a bit less crowded when KSU is in session. There are yet more restaurants and shopping, serving a little bit different clientele. Our favorite place for a long-drawn-out date night is Bourbon and Baker. It’s known for tapas.

Road Trips!

If you want to leave Kansas, Nebraska is about an hour drive north with Lincoln an hour beyond that. Kansas City, Missouri is two hours east, both Tulsa and Oklahoma City, OK are over four hours south and Colorado is about five hours west with another two hours to Colorado Springs or three to Denver and Boulder.

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Kansas City is just two hours from Fort Riley.

Want to fly? The Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK) is about five minutes from the Ogden gate. It has American Airlines flights several times a day to and from Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago airports, so if you can get connecting flights through either of those hubs you can have an easy flight! Fair warning: while it is convenient, it is a bit pricier than driving two hours to Kansas City, but sometimes it’s worth it!

Afraid there just isn’t enough to see? Here are some regional highlights. Some of these are still on the bucket list, but I hear they should be on everyone’s list! The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home is in Abilene, KS, about 30 minutes west of post. Further south about another hour is the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, KS where there is a planetarium, artifacts from the 1960s space race, and a reconstructed rocket lab. The reviews are always excellent.

Plug In Quickly

My husband has been stationed at Ft. Riley for three years now. The Flint Hills have made for a good home. My number one recommendation to families is to get plugged into the community as soon as possible. The operational tempo is high.

Ande Flagg/PCS Adventures

The Main Post Chapel opened in 1897 for the Fort Riley community.

Since we’ve been here both brigades have been deployed, some combination of air cavalry has been deployed and there have been many units going to Ft. Irwin’s National Training Center (NTC) what seems like every few months.

The sooner you get plugged into the community, whether on post or in one of the towns nearby, the easier it will be to handle your service member being away for long days, weeks and months. The boys and I have come to love our lives here, even though we miss dad a little too often.