Leisure activities are abundant for residents as well as visitors. Recreational opportunities include organized sports for youth and adults, visual and performing arts, museums and a year-round calendar of festivals and special events. Several beautiful city parks offer swimming, field sports, horseshoes, hiking and biking, fishing, camping and picnicking.
Both youth and adults can take advantage of the Atchison Family YMCA, the Lions Swimming Pool, West Lanes Bowling Center and miniature golf and batting cages at Raven Rock Adventure Park. The Atchison Recreation Commission offers roller-skating in Memorial Hall and has programs for baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball and tennis. Golfers can choose from a private course at Pineview Country Club or a public course at Atchison Golf Club at Bellevue.
Beautiful city parks give residents the opportunity to pursue healthy activities. The largest, Jackson Park is a heavily wooded area with trails, play equipment, shelter house and picnicking. The other parks have facilities for tennis, basketball, baseball and horseshoes. Warnock Lake offers swimming, volleyball and picnic facilities. Several small lakes and the Missouri River provide fishing opportunities.
The recently completed Riverfront Development project provides an abundance of opportunities for walkers, bicyclists, boaters, or those who just want to relax for a bit. The $4.2 million project, dedicated June 19, 2004, was seven years in the making. With its completion, the public can take advantage of several recreational outlets. Two boat ramps will allow avid sportsmen to easily launch or dock their vessel. Sightseers will enjoy an overlook near one of the boat ramps where they can safely stand and look out over the Missouri River. Families can take their children to Independence Park and enjoy playtime on newly installed play equipment, including a replica of a keel boat, similar to the one used in the Lewis and Clark Expedition 200 years ago. If you’re a walker or bicyclist, you can begin a ten-mile journey from the south end of the riverfront. The trail takes you north to a replicated Kansas Indian Village and returns to the riverfront park.
Veteran’s Memorial Park memorializes those from Atchison County who lost their lives in combat and acknowledges those who serve or have served in the military.
Citadel Caverns
6675 Sherman Road
Atchison, Kansas 66002
(913) 367-5244
www.citadelcaverns.com
Citadel Caverns is located in Atchison, Kansas on 125 acres of land that was previously a secure military storage facility owned by the U.S. Army. Extreme Underground is also located here. Come tour this historical site!
CAMPGROUNDS
Warnock Lake
16 sites with electricity and 1 central water hydrant available. $10.00 per camper per day payable to the groundskeeper at the lake. For more information, call (913) 367-5561.
Atchison County Lake
Located west of Huron on 326th Rd. $3.00 for 2 days or less, $1.00 per additional day; maximum stay of 10 days for camping, drinking water included. No electricity available. For more information, call the Atchison County Court House at (913) 367-1653 or Carl Strathman at (785) 548-7727.
Atchison State Fishing Lake (Formerly Known as Hetherington Lake)
Located about 3 miles North of Atchison on Hwy. 7. No charge for camping. Drinking water available, no electricity. New cabin now available for rent. Cabin sleeps a maximum of 6. $71 first night; $60 each additional. Kitchen utensils provided; bed & bath linens NOT provided. Reservations must be made only online at www.kdwp.state.ks.us. For more information, call (913) 367-7811 or email kirkat@wp.state.ks.us.
Lewis & Clark State Park
Located at Lewis and Clark Lake , 6 miles east of Atchison on Hwy 45. The campground has both basic campsites and those with electrical hookups. For more information, call (816) 579-5564. You can make reservations online at www.mostateparks.com.
Perry Lake & Campground Areas
South on US 59 to Oskaloosa, then west on Hwy 92. 4 campgrounds that surround Perry Lake, 600 camper sites, 150 with electrical hook-ups, $12.00 with hook-ups. Lake area also includes 2 boating marinas, 3 restaurants, and 7 boat ramps. All camping areas have shower facilities. For more information, call (913) 597-5144.
Ron’s Full Hook-Up RV Camp
Located at Bean Lake, MO, 9 miles East of Atchison on Missouri Hwy 45, 35 sites available with full hook-ups, includes water, electricity. No Cable TV. Charge is $20.00 per day. $110.00 per week, and $250.00 per month. For more information, call Ron Eckman (816) 565-0428.
Basswood Country Inn
Bed and breakfast and RV resort in Platte City, MO. 5 miles East of I-29 (exit 18) 120 total hook-ups tenting, 6 suites, condo style cabins, cottages, stocked fishing, wooded trails, pool, meeting rooms, full facilities. For more information, call (816) 792-7691.
Atchison Dump Station
Half-mile West of Country Mart on Hwy 59.