Development of prairie preserve gets a nudge
Thanks to the recent bequeath of a $4.8 million dollar endowment from Frank and Frances Horton of Wellington to Nature Conservancy, the Z Bar Ranch near Cottonwood Falls may finally become the tourist destination that was envisioned 10 years ago.
At that time, the ranch was purchased by National Park Trust, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit organization. Through the instigation of former Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker, Congress designated 32 acres including the ranch's homestead as a national preserve. It was dubbed the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.
The $4 million debt incurred in the takeover never was paid off and no improvements were made. No bison were brought in and much of the tall grass was grazed off in many places.
The debt includes a mortgage, expenses incurred by National Park Trust, and $1.6 million to buy out a grazing lease.
Last year, Baker, former governor Mike Hayden, former Representative Dan Glickman, Governor Kathleen Sebelius, and television journalist Bill Kurtis formed Kansas Park Trust to purchase the 11,000-acre ranch from National Park Trust.
According to an article in the Feb. 22 issue of Grass and Grain, Governor Sebelius recently announced completion of the purchase.
"I am thrilled this land will be preserved and protected for future generations to use and enjoy," the governor said.
Money from the endowment and conservancy will be used to pay the preserve's debt.
The deed will be transferred this month from Kansas Park Trust to Nature Conservancy. The organization is owner of the world's largest system of privately-owned nature preserves.
"We are looking for a bright future for the preserve," said Alan Pollom, director of the Kansas chapter of Nature Conservancy. "There are a lot of things that are possible now."
Kansas Park Trust will work to raise money and promote tourism at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.
Its first priority is to build a visitor center. The trust will seek an estimated $5 million in federal funding for the center's construction.
Plans also have begun for a walking and biking trail that would connect Cottonwood Falls, Strong City, and the preserve, which is located two miles north of U.S.-50 on K-177. The park is administered by the National Park Service.
