Paxico, Kansas is located one and a half hours west of Kansas City on Interstate 70. Paxico was an offspring of the Newbury Township, which is located just a mile and a half north of Paxico. In 1886 Paxico won the battle for the railroad, when the Rock Island chose to place a Depot in Paxico over Newbury. The depot sits next to the Mill Creek Camp Ground as you enter Paxico from the west. Today the Newbury Township is home to a few residents and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church (known as the "Cathedral of the Flint Hills).
Just inside the Flint Hills, Paxico is a small community offering tourists several shops filled with antiques. If the streets were unpaved travelers would get the feeling from the design of the buildings and lay out of the streets that they had just stepped into a scene from the 1870’s. You can still find items from the 1800’s in stores like Mill Creek Antiques, Paxico Antiques or W B Antiques, located in the building that has “General Store” painted on the front of it.
Visit the Brown Rabbit Studio, on the south side of the railroad tracks, to pick a new original painting. Susan Poitevin not only sales paintings, she offers painting classes for the hidden artist in everyone. Tuesday is an on-going class for teens and adults with mixed media. The Brown Rabbit Studio was featured in the spring of 2007 issue of The Kansas Magazine as a “Favorite Place” to visit in Kansas.
When visiting Paxico you can stay at the Mill Creek Camp Ground and RV Park. Mill Creek offers visitors fishing, canoeing and beautiful hiking trails. The campground sits next to the Brown Rabbit Studio. Take a scenic drive down the Mill Creek Skyline Scenic Drive which runs from Paxico to Alma, Kansas 13 miles away, for a fascinating look at the rolling prairies and Flint Hills of Kansas.
Paxico has an annual Meatloaf Festival and Car Show which was held in June of 2011. The festival features crafts, food vendors and other activities for the whole family. The 2011 Meatloaf Cookoff was won by the “Gilly Gals”, Deanna Gilbert, Ashley and Payton Gilbert. For information on the 2012 Meatloaf Festival contact the Paxico Merchants Association.
On the third Saturday in September the Blues Festival brings big city blues to downtown Paxico. Attendance at the festival is free and many of the towns’ merchants will offer specials during the festival. The blues start in the morning and run until about 8:30 p.m.
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