I'm from a small town in India and really cannot afford to visit America. But I must say I've seen a lot more America sitting at my home in India thanks to your channel. I thought I'd never go to America but whenever I see your videos I feel like I'm living there. Thanks for bringing small town America to me❤
What a cool comment. I'd love to hear some of your general thoughts on what you've seen through his videos? 99% of us never really see this part of our country. So his videos are super fascinating even for us.
What a remarkable body of work you've created in a rather short time, documenting the country as seen and experienced by you guys, always with an open mind and always respectfull of your surroundings. There will be a time that people will reference your work as the Joe & Nic Libraries. Until that time, please keep up the good work. There are a lot of people enjoying what you're doing. Have a nice break, hope to see you soon!
Right! Unless RUclips ceases to exist and Joe and Nic's videos are lost, there is really a very good chance that in the future they will become teaching tools to show how Americans lived in the 21st Century!
In 2007, I drove from Colorado to Texas, via Kansas. I had a nice chat with a gas station clerk who told me about a recent tornado. She pointed out the area hit, it was leveled. I could not understand or comprehend that entire neighborhoods and schools once had recently stood, within the stark contrast of completely bare landscape that I was looking at. All I saw was dirt and the occasional tree stump or concrete steps where a home once stood. That clerk told me how helpless she felt, being at work and watching that tornado hit from a distance. I was so impressed with the people of Kansas to withstand such a horrific event so bravely and matter of fact. She just accepted it and the town around her was slowly rebuilding. I cannot say that I would be so cool and level headed had it happened where I live.
I live in a small Kansas town. Came out of the shop I worked at to watch a tornado from straight to the west of us. It zig zagged around then came straight at the shop. At one point my boss said it looks like it's right over your house. And I knew in my heart that it was. I had to at that point sign everything over to God. Cause there was nothing I could do. Called my wife's work and told them. They got inside a big walk in cooler. When it blew away I drove home. It came right through our yard. Pulled some tin up on a roof and that was all. Stuff was blown around in two different directions. It came back down right after our house sucked a door off a machine shed and roof off of a cattle sale barn. I went out later to help a neighbor that was sitting in his house when it formed right behind him. It ripped the entire roof off , rafters and all. And left the rest of the house untouched. He said guns were flying all over the house.
You are to be highly commended for your chronicling of the slow decline of the the small towns that we in Europe saw as the heartlands of your country in the past. The vistas of the horizon stretching to infinity as you log the miles appears incredible to our eyes. Thank for your outstanding achievements on this and all your road trips !.
I live near Greeley. All of these towns have been on my Home Health route. I've seen a lot of very small villages while driving around. Thank you for doing this video!
Loved my trip to Kansas city, MO in 2016. Beautiful city and people were very friendly and had not met many new Zealanders if any before, very cool. Drove from Kansas to Omaha, Nebraska, and stayed in Omaha for a few days and saw Warren Buffet! Then off to Vegas for a few days. Loved my trip. Amazing people. The most amazing thing to me is not seeing people walking in the cities and these beautiful streets, not a single soul. Does every single person drive? I live in Australia and go for 5am walks in the morning, it's glorious.
I used to work for that implement in Greeley as a mechanic. The town is very quiet. Great community as well. That little store there has the best biscuits and gravy EVER!
Actually, it gives me a great sense of great sadness. I see our country dying from a cancer of hopelessness and despair generated by the policies of those leading our country. MAGA.
Or drive to Paola, of which most folks will do since that is the closest WalMart. Even though shopping sucks here, Greeley isn't bad to raise a family in a safe area...
Just caught this vid. Am a native Kansan, I was born in Kansas City brought to Wichita at 9 months old and have lived there for 15 years then moved to Lincoln,Neb for a year then back to Kansas City for a year then back to Wichita . Got married in’80 and moved to Olathe for a year then moved back to Wichita. I now live in Goddard,Ks just 9 miles west of Wichita. I love my hometown and state.
What a beautiful home that Brook Mansion is sold in 2022 5bd 4 bath for 197.4k. It was built in 1886 and it still has alot of the original wood work and pocket doors. WOW what a gem. Have a great day and safe travels
As someone from India, I can assure you that this video gives me an eerie feeling. I'm accustomed to living amidst hundreds of people, surrounded by the chaos and vibrancy of life. I could never imagine wanting to find myself in a situation where I'd have to live in such desolate towns, devoid of any signs of life. It is depressing and gloomy ! It may be green all around yet so lonely !!
I'd love to live here, it's very spacious, green and above all, quiet and devoid of people - yet, Kansas City is a short drive away, so you can have all the noise of the big city anytime you like. Perfect combination.
Totally agree. Those vast lawns are a boon for sore city-fatigued eyes. And I very much like the 19th-century houses. Apparently some come quite cheap.
You would think. But it's soooo boring. Everyone's always in your business. You have to drive everywhere just to go to a city. Living in small town kansas isn't what it's cracked up to be sadly
@@stacyr7032 I'd LOVE it for "everyone to be in my business". Here in Northern Europe I'm completely ignored. Natives don't even have any friends outside family, they complain about it all the time. And I'm a foreigner.
@@stacyr7032 If you’re a small town, country type of person, it’s not boring at all. Some of the best hunting and fishing in the country. So yes, small town / rural Kansas living is all it’s cracked up to be, if you want the country life. If you want the big city life (and all the crap that comes with it), then Kansas is not your state.
Kansas is the epitome of "middle America". It's literally located smack dab in the middle of the country. Its one of my favorite states to drive through. So many American flags, i love it.
330 Spruce Street: $99,900. This all brings back memories of growing up in a small town near Wichita. Makes me want to move back, to one of these, maybe. Yes - surprising about the crime. Sad to think of those old towns dying.
Watching from the Philippines, I can truly say I enjoy every bit of your travel videos. I love the scenery especially in the small towns you visit. America the Beautiful is well-deserved.
There's something about these smaller towns that gives me so much sense of peace and comfort. I just love small town America and like you said "all that rust and overgrowth" has something about it..
Driving through my home state of KS with my grandpa who was born in the 20s, I was shocked to hear of how many empty fields today once had booming towns on them. Schools, dance halls, markets, stations, all gone and now just wheat and corn fields. I was shocked, and blessed, as he narrated our drive. Wish we hadn’t lost the video we made of our tour by him. He is now gone.
I live in Spring Hill which is about an hour north of most of these towns. Ive been to all these towns before. Right now they might seem like they're fading but I tend to believe the populations will increase because Kansas City is moving further south and those who rent will be pushed further down south. Spring Hill about two decades ago looked like these towns in the video but now is the fastest growing town in the entire state going from 2,700 in 2000 to just under 10,000 right now. It might be another decade or two but I think these towns will grow again.
Toto I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore 😂! Ty Nicole and Joe 4 this great road trip and all that great narrating u did, just amazing! U guys rock this channel 4 sure! B safe and c ya in Hawaii. Unless u have more 4 us in Texas! Thanx again!
Welcome to Kansas you two wild and crazy travelers; my home state. You picked the right latitude in the state to travel! Love the historical and socioeconomic analyses of your videos. Way better than t.v. ! Look forward to your next episode 😇
Very happy to see quite and lush green rural Kansas. Soothing and lovely. Your wonderful commentary brought double the happiness. A lot of thanks and eagerly looking forward for your next videos. God bless.
I was stationed in Hawaii, 1983-91. It was interesting because in 1983, there were still remnants of WW2 bunkers, buildings and fallout shelters around the air station located a ways out from Honolulu. I spent Christmas eve 1984 with a friend who lived on the more isolated part of the island. Woke up Christmas morning before dawn to hear what sounded like carols and ukuleles. Looked outside to see 'locals' standing in the surf, singing carols in Hawaiian.
At one time I drove OTR and have been by or through all of these towns' multiple times. My thoughts of them are similar to most in that I think of the past and current residence. Driving OTR, as you can imagine, gave me the unique opportunity to stop in many or even stay overnight at a fuel stop. Iola, KS was a favorite of mine, I loved Iola, I was there so often the locals started thinking of me as a resident, lol. I drive local now, I miss the residence I met from the border towns in Texas to northern Washington, the mid-western states, the east coast and the south.
I didn't realize towns in Kansas were so pretty. My father was born on a farm near Zurich Kansas. He and my aunts and uncles talked about the weather and living thru the dust bowl on a farm, long walks to the one room school house through deep snow. Sometimes the boys carried their youngest sister through the deep snow. They ended up selling the farm and moving to Chicago. Mound City looks like a nice place to live!
The eastern parts of Kansas near the Missouri border aren't what people typically envision when they think of Kansas. It is still rather hilly and wooded in that part of the state, as you see in this video. If you keep heading west though, the trees quickly disappear and you will go through the flint hills, which are mostly large rolling hills and otherwise featureless plains. West of that, you get what most people imagine when they think of Kansas. Barren, flat, dry grasslands that stretch west all the way to the rocky mountains half-way through Colorado.
Western KS is a lot higher altitude. And it's rolling hills. I'm in N central KS. Lots of small lakes. I moved here a couple of years ago and I'm happy with the cost of living and with my neighbors.
A few years ago, while my husband was working in Oklahoma, on a film, I drove up from Bartlesville to Kansas City, to meet my cousin who was coming from Iowa. At one point, I hit a road closure on a “highway”. With no clue where to go, I found myself lost in the tiny town of Garland, Kansas, with a population of 31. I was still able to find a local couple and get directions to Kansas City.
I am a huge fan, what I like the most is 1. You find every little (and grand) house interesting., no matter how poor it is. 2. You have a knowledge of Architecture styles. 3. Your driver thought of neighborhoods.
Greetings from the UK Love your videos Joe they're so relaxing and informative I'm really excited to see your tour of Alaska one of bucket list places to visit!! Get some videos of bears 🐻!!
Great ride as always! a bit more info on 330 Spruce St. Mound City, Kansas 4 bedroom 1 1/2 bath 2 story home in Mound City Ks. The home features a metal roof and large shaded yard situated on a corner lot. The inside of the house is ready for the new owner to make their own. It is in need of some updating inside but has tons of potential! Don't miss this opportunity to purchase a solid home in a beautiful town! $99,900 and still pending.
My ancestors moved from Brooklyn to Greeley in 1901. My brother still lives on the same farm. The stone church (not shown in the video but it is next to the little store) where US 169 skirts the town all the truckers know that landmark, we were baptized, schooled, married and such. The last 40 years have really taken its toll.
Joe, the next time you go through Kansas, if there is a next time, you need to go through Marshall county and the cities of Waterville and Blue Rapids and Frankfurt and Marysville, where one of the wealthiest men in Kansas, Don Landoll lives in just a small town of 3,000 and started to build his fortune out of his garage in Hanover Kansas which is just 20 miles from where he now lives in Marysville Kansas. He probably started, and owns and is still president of Landoll at the age of 80. Very interesting man with an interesting story. Hell, Waterville has a street where part of it is referred to as “Bankers Row”. I think you really would love visiting some of these smaller cities with rich history including the Pony Express starting here and the Railroad back in the late 1800’s.
@@davedavid7061 not that I am aware of. Dodge City is towards the Southwest corner of Kansas and Marysville is towards the Northeast side of Kansas. No college there at all…
My step-dad was born and raised in eastern Colorado just a few miles from Kansas. He had a lot of relatives in Kansas. I remember going on a family vacation in the mid 60s during which we visited his relatives in Colorado, Kansas and northern Oklahoma. I remember going up in the local grain elevator in several of those towns and having the grain elevator in the next town pointed out. Other than that the terrain was dead flat with a very gradual slope up from east to west. Also the farther west you went the fewer trees there were. The towns looked pretty much the same almost 60 years ago.
What a road warrior. 2 months of hotels and eating out? Oh yell no. Most folks don't take longer than a week for a vacation and then can't wait to get back home to their beds and home cooked meals. You guys are hardcore! Thanks for the great content.
I live in a rural Kansas town of about 900 people called Kiowa. Located in South Central Kansas right at the Oklahoma border. I'm originally from Los Angeles....Beverly Hills to be exact. I grew up in what was once a small town in Monterey Bay California called Pacific Grove. I absolutely love the small town charm of Kiowa Kansas. It may be small and rural but not fading.
Planning a bit of a tour next month, Kansas on the itinerary. Was thinking to go by public transport but watching your videos, think I'll drive. Tend to avoid it in the UK, it's pretty hellish here. As usual guys, great stuff! Look forward to the next one.
Small Kansas cafes tend to be rather good...Can't remember a bad breakfast in Kansas. I used to haul hay as a college kid and worked in Moran, Gas City, and Bronson
There is an online service that will pair you up with small towns in Kansas that will pay you up to $5,000 to move there if you are a "remote worker" or if you can move a viable business there. I looked into it very seriously but the big problem with all of these small towns is lack of housing. You've seen this on many of your road trips to small towns that there are a lot of abandoned houses, but they are just not livable. Even the ones currently occupied have not been well maintained and would fail a number of inspections if they were in a larger city. This is what happens when people in low income places don't have enough money to maintain their homes. I was all set to move, but there was nothing habitable in the town I was looking at that made me an offer to move there. The snowball effect of people not being able to maintain their properties will be the doom of these small rural towns.
Greetings from Florida Joe & Nic. Just want to say that I enjoy watching your videos. If you ever get down to Florida again, I would recommend that you visit Mt. Dora. Very interesting town.
"Toto, I've a feeling we're in Kansas..." wait, that's not the famous quote, is it? 🙃 It's so nice to see everything so green there--the hills in the Bay Area all turned brown about a month ago. As you say, small towns like these have seen their best days and are gradually emptying out. Kinda sad but it's inevitable given the lack of opportunity for young folks. Hope you managed to avoid the nasty weather of the last several weeks and are enjoying your time back at home base. Until the next adventure, happy trails!
Really enjoyed the tour of these rural Kansas towns. It’s beautiful in the area you visited. Some great buildings! Looks so peaceful. Amazed the first few towns had higher crime. Looking forward to seeing Hawaii. Hope TX provides a nice break for you.
Bless you both for sharing your road trip with us. I fully enjoyed seeing every town and city. I am in Western Canada and could never do the trip myself, so Thank-You both. When you get home and have spare time, may I suggest you do a little research on these old buildings. They are much older than the MSM is telling us and there is usually much more underground. They were not built with horse, donkey and buggy in the late 1800's. Here's a few good channels on utube to get you started, Jon Levi, Jarid Booster and My Lunch Breck. Much Love from Canada I am patiently waiting to see Dallas, Texas
That cafe in the first town probably attracts customers from the surrounding towns too (didn’t see many fine dining options in the other towns in the video). I doubt the 280 residents of the cafe’s hometown are Keeping them in business by themselves. But good to see the locals supporting a non Dollar store business
I’ve lived here all my life and there are soooo many places I haven’t been! I’ve been everywhere in South Central and a little bit elsewhere. Thank you for sharing.
Watching from australia, love seeing all the small towns and the houses etc, if you get to southern Illinois go to fairfield, garden of the gods which is awesome and cave in rock where pirates used to hide out
Hi Joe Quiet accompanying, greenary abound, deserted roads, empty houses, chirping of birds throughout in the background it was a great drive offering solace to body, mind and soul. It seems to be like a live demo of 'Niksen' : Dutch art of doing nothing, a relaxation technic simply 'looking out of window'! Thanks a lot for this wonderful and relaxing video. I was wondering about 2 states Alaska and Hawaii and at the end of the video you made it clear. Best of wishes for the journey ahead! Thanks once again.
My brother worked in Pleasanton for a couple years at an automotive restoration shop that only restored 1955-1957 Chevy's and all year Corvettes. I wonder if that has survived after more than 30 years since then? Can't recall the name of the shop.
My ex-wife and I used to visit her grandmother in Marquette, KS which as I recall is in the middle of the state somewhere. Very small nothing of a town, but it was nice and quiet. I remember a post office, a park, several unused old buildings on their main street there. They did have a bar called Honkers though LOL. This was in the early 2000's.
I really love these small country towns ! Very peaceful and always so interesting ! Some very pretty residential streets, and the downtowns are always fascinating ! I hope you have both been enjoying a well-earned break ! Thanks so much, Joe and Nic.😊💖
Little late getting to check this one out and it didn’t disappoint at all. Great video. Love those small towns. As I’ve said not one to live in town but those real small ones could be an exception. I’m sure by now it’s safe to say… Toto I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore. LoL 😂 course I know you knew it was coming sometime. LoL. I tell ya Joe with all this trip and all the others you would have made a great long haul driving buddy. LoL. And with your easy and original commentary style I could have listened to you narrate the whole run. I have been to Greely once took a load of tractor implements around 2009 I think was a beautiful laid back place, appears to still be. I’m really sorry that you and Nicole have to suffer the trip to Hawaii , but I know you’re suffering for your faithful viewers. LoL 😂. I have always said I could watch Robert Duvall paint a fence white and he’d make it interesting i now truthfully can say you could narrate the painting and make it even more interesting. Safe travels my friend, keep filming and I’ll keep watching.
Annoying Teacher Pet here: 18 century is from 1. January 1701 till 31. December 1800. So all the Houses are from the 19 century. ;) sorry for interrupting… btw. nice Video
Hawaii sounds fun and be interesting to see the small communities there. Thinking you will have some fabulous drone shots. Every time I see one of those I think wow what a great camera and what a great drone.
I always want to do what you guys do but I don’t have the endurance to drive these many miles. Not to mention I won’t able to afford it now. I see how much you spend on food & hotel stay, It is definitely not in my budget. Driving such long distance is not easy, there are long stretches of hwy that I’d fall sleep behind the wheel. You guys sure made us so thrilled at seeing across America without the stress you have to go through. Thank you so much for being there. We love your channel.
Thanks for doing these videos. Always so interesting.
330 Spruce Street $99,000. 4 bed 1 1/2 bath Built 1880
Thank you
termites
@@mickaelwilliams6129 toxoplasmosis, it’s a shame you’re suffering from it.
I'm from a small town in India and really cannot afford to visit America. But I must say I've seen a lot more America sitting at my home in India thanks to your channel. I thought I'd never go to America but whenever I see your videos I feel like I'm living there. Thanks for bringing small town America to me❤
What a cool comment. I'd love to hear some of your general thoughts on what you've seen through his videos?
99% of us never really see this part of our country. So his videos are super fascinating even for us.
What a remarkable body of work you've created in a rather short time, documenting the country as seen and experienced by you guys, always with an open mind and always respectfull of your surroundings. There will be a time that people will reference your work as the Joe & Nic Libraries. Until that time, please keep up the good work. There are a lot of people enjoying what you're doing. Have a nice break, hope to see you soon!
Right! Unless RUclips ceases to exist and Joe and Nic's videos are lost, there is really a very good chance that in the future they will become teaching tools to show how Americans lived in the 21st Century!
In 2007, I drove from Colorado to Texas, via Kansas. I had a nice chat with a gas station clerk who told me about a recent tornado. She pointed out the area hit, it was leveled. I could not understand or comprehend that entire neighborhoods and schools once had recently stood, within the stark contrast of completely bare landscape that I was looking at. All I saw was dirt and the occasional tree stump or concrete steps where a home once stood. That clerk told me how helpless she felt, being at work and watching that tornado hit from a distance. I was so impressed with the people of Kansas to withstand such a horrific event so bravely and matter of fact. She just accepted it and the town around her was slowly rebuilding. I cannot say that I would be so cool and level headed had it happened where I live.
Wow! 😮
Disposable small towns
It's the same way in West Virginia, only it's much more beautiful!
I live in a small Kansas town. Came out of the shop I worked at to watch a tornado from straight to the west of us. It zig zagged around then came straight at the shop. At one point my boss said it looks like it's right over your house. And I knew in my heart that it was. I had to at that point sign everything over to God. Cause there was nothing I could do. Called my wife's work and told them. They got inside a big walk in cooler. When it blew away I drove home. It came right through our yard. Pulled some tin up on a roof and that was all. Stuff was blown around in two different directions. It came back down right after our house sucked a door off a machine shed and roof off of a cattle sale barn. I went out later to help a neighbor that was sitting in his house when it formed right behind him. It ripped the entire roof off , rafters and all. And left the rest of the house untouched. He said guns were flying all over the house.
@@wrenchmantooly51699
You are to be highly commended for your chronicling of the slow decline of the the small towns that we in Europe saw as the heartlands of your country in the past. The vistas of the horizon stretching to infinity as you log the miles appears incredible to our eyes. Thank for your outstanding achievements on this and all your road trips !.
Thank you, I understand why some towns in Kansas wanted college graduates to move there.
I live near Greeley. All of these towns have been on my Home Health route. I've seen a lot of very small villages while driving around. Thank you for doing this video!
Kansas has a special place in my heart. I appreciate that you toured through part of KS.
Loved my trip to Kansas city, MO in 2016. Beautiful city and people were very friendly and had not met many new Zealanders if any before, very cool.
Drove from Kansas to Omaha, Nebraska, and stayed in Omaha for a few days and saw Warren Buffet! Then off to Vegas for a few days. Loved my trip. Amazing people.
The most amazing thing to me is not seeing people walking in the cities and these beautiful streets, not a single soul. Does every single person drive? I live in Australia and go for 5am walks in the morning, it's glorious.
I used to work for that implement in Greeley as a mechanic. The town is very quiet. Great community as well. That little store there has the best biscuits and gravy EVER!
Your videos give me a sense of calmness. Thank you for making these.
It's great, isn't it. Sure hope Joe & Nic realize the goodness & positive affects they have on so many ppl. 🥰 God Bless them
I agree completely. I look forward to all of their travels. Love the statistics, so interesting. Great comment!
Actually, it gives me a great sense of great sadness. I see our country dying from a cancer of hopelessness and despair generated by the policies of those leading our country. MAGA.
@@Sealight007 America reached its peak in the 70s through 2010, then it just changed.... we really need to MAGA
The folks in Greeley drive about five miles west to Garnett for groceries and restaurants.
Or drive to Paola, of which most folks will do since that is the closest WalMart. Even though shopping sucks here, Greeley isn't bad to raise a family in a safe area...
Just caught this vid. Am a native Kansan, I was born in Kansas City brought to Wichita at 9 months old and have lived there for 15 years then moved to Lincoln,Neb for a year then back to Kansas City for a year then back to Wichita . Got married in’80 and moved to Olathe for a year then moved back to Wichita. I now live in Goddard,Ks just 9 miles west of Wichita. I love my hometown and state.
Hi Joe and Nic! Just love your videos so much. You have such a comforting voice, Joe. Can't wait for all your new one's coming up.🤩xxooxx
What a beautiful home that Brook Mansion is sold in 2022 5bd 4 bath for 197.4k. It was built in 1886 and it still has alot of the original wood work and pocket doors. WOW what a gem. Have a great day and safe travels
As someone from India, I can assure you that this video gives me an eerie feeling. I'm accustomed to living amidst hundreds of people, surrounded by the chaos and vibrancy of life. I could never imagine wanting to find myself in a situation where I'd have to live in such desolate towns, devoid of any signs of life. It is depressing and gloomy ! It may be green all around yet so lonely !!
I'd love to live here, it's very spacious, green and above all, quiet and devoid of people - yet, Kansas City is a short drive away, so you can have all the noise of the big city anytime you like. Perfect combination.
I agree with you.
Totally agree. Those vast lawns are a boon for sore city-fatigued eyes. And I very much like the 19th-century houses. Apparently some come quite cheap.
You would think. But it's soooo boring. Everyone's always in your business. You have to drive everywhere just to go to a city. Living in small town kansas isn't what it's cracked up to be sadly
@@stacyr7032 I'd LOVE it for "everyone to be in my business". Here in Northern Europe I'm completely ignored. Natives don't even have any friends outside family, they complain about it all the time. And I'm a foreigner.
@@stacyr7032 If you’re a small town, country type of person, it’s not boring at all. Some of the best hunting and fishing in the country. So yes, small town / rural Kansas living is all it’s cracked up to be, if you want the country life. If you want the big city life (and all the crap that comes with it), then Kansas is not your state.
Kansas is the epitome of "middle America". It's literally located smack dab in the middle of the country. Its one of my favorite states to drive through. So many American flags, i love it.
I’m driving through next week, can’t wait!
330 Spruce Street: $99,900. This all brings back memories of growing up in a small town near Wichita. Makes me want to move back, to one of these, maybe.
Yes - surprising about the crime. Sad to think of those old towns dying.
I lived outside of Leon for a couple years and in Wichita for kindergarten and first grade in the 1950’s.
$7,862 in annual property taxes or 7.86% of the total value of the home. No wonder rural America is dying.
What town outside of Wichita ?
Watching from the Philippines, I can truly say I enjoy every bit of your travel videos. I love the scenery especially in the small towns you visit. America the Beautiful is well-deserved.
There's something about these smaller towns that gives me so much sense of peace and comfort. I just love small town America and like you said "all that rust and overgrowth" has something about it..
Driving through my home state of KS with my grandpa who was born in the 20s, I was shocked to hear of how many empty fields today once had booming towns on them. Schools, dance halls, markets, stations, all gone and now just wheat and corn fields. I was shocked, and blessed, as he narrated our drive. Wish we hadn’t lost the video we made of our tour by him. He is now gone.
The courthouse in Mound City was used in the 1969 film "The learning Tree" . I enjoy your videos.
I live in Spring Hill which is about an hour north of most of these towns. Ive been to all these towns before. Right now they might seem like they're fading but I tend to believe the populations will increase because Kansas City is moving further south and those who rent will be pushed further down south. Spring Hill about two decades ago looked like these towns in the video but now is the fastest growing town in the entire state going from 2,700 in 2000 to just under 10,000 right now. It might be another decade or two but I think these towns will grow again.
Love seeing these small towns. Your videos have really changed the way I look at them and have inspired me to find my own!
Toto I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore 😂! Ty Nicole and Joe 4 this great road trip and all that great narrating u did, just amazing! U guys rock this channel 4 sure! B safe and c ya in Hawaii. Unless u have more 4 us in Texas! Thanx again!
"We're not in Kansas anymore" I had no idea how lovely it is, great vid!
Everything is so green!
Yes. I recognize that. I like a quiet neighborhood myself. I just need a good diner, grocery store and a gas station nearby. Thank you.
Welcome to Kansas you two wild and crazy travelers; my home state. You picked the right latitude in the state to travel! Love the historical and socioeconomic analyses of your videos. Way better than t.v. ! Look forward to your next episode 😇
Very happy to see quite and lush green rural Kansas.
Soothing and lovely. Your wonderful commentary brought double the happiness.
A lot of thanks and eagerly looking forward for your next videos.
God bless.
I was stationed in Hawaii, 1983-91. It was interesting because in 1983, there were still remnants of WW2 bunkers, buildings and fallout shelters around the air station located a ways out from Honolulu. I spent Christmas eve 1984 with a friend who lived on the more isolated part of the island. Woke up Christmas morning before dawn to hear what sounded like carols and ukuleles. Looked outside to see 'locals' standing in the surf, singing carols in Hawaiian.
I was at Schofield Barracks 1966-67 bullet holes still in buildings on base where planes came thru Kole-Kole pass to hit wheeler AF base & Schofield.
At one time I drove OTR and have been by or through all of these towns' multiple times. My thoughts of them are similar to most in that I think of the past and current residence. Driving OTR, as you can imagine, gave me the unique opportunity to stop in many or even stay overnight at a fuel stop. Iola, KS was a favorite of mine, I loved Iola, I was there so often the locals started thinking of me as a resident, lol. I drive local now, I miss the residence I met from the border towns in Texas to northern Washington, the mid-western states, the east coast and the south.
I didn't realize towns in Kansas were so pretty. My father was born on a farm near Zurich Kansas. He and my aunts and uncles talked about the weather and living thru the dust bowl on a farm, long walks to the one room school house through deep snow. Sometimes the boys carried their youngest sister through the deep snow. They ended up selling the farm and moving to Chicago. Mound City looks like a nice place to live!
The eastern parts of Kansas near the Missouri border aren't what people typically envision when they think of Kansas. It is still rather hilly and wooded in that part of the state, as you see in this video. If you keep heading west though, the trees quickly disappear and you will go through the flint hills, which are mostly large rolling hills and otherwise featureless plains. West of that, you get what most people imagine when they think of Kansas. Barren, flat, dry grasslands that stretch west all the way to the rocky mountains half-way through Colorado.
Western KS is a lot higher altitude. And it's rolling hills. I'm in N central KS. Lots of small lakes. I moved here a couple of years ago and I'm happy with the cost of living and with my neighbors.
Kansas is beautiful! Not to be disrespectful but I would chose Kansas over Chicago any day.
@@timothyglassel1239 That's not disrespectful! I agree.
A few years ago, while my husband was working in Oklahoma, on a film, I drove up from Bartlesville to Kansas City, to meet my cousin who was coming from Iowa. At one point, I hit a road closure on a “highway”. With no clue where to go, I found myself lost in the tiny town of Garland, Kansas, with a population of 31. I was still able to find a local couple and get directions to Kansas City.
Greeley and Mound City are beautiful. Nice, quite living.
Often times on Saturday folks from small towns go to the closest “big box grocer” to stock up, get gas and eat out….
Thanks Joe...very nice, as always! 🌼
I am a huge fan, what I like the most is 1. You find every little (and grand) house interesting., no matter how poor it is. 2. You have a knowledge of Architecture styles. 3. Your driver thought of neighborhoods.
Greetings from the UK Love your videos Joe they're so relaxing and informative I'm really excited to see your tour of Alaska one of bucket list places to visit!! Get some videos of bears 🐻!!
Great ride as always! a bit more info on 330 Spruce St. Mound City, Kansas 4 bedroom 1 1/2 bath 2 story home in Mound City Ks. The home features a metal roof and large shaded yard situated on a corner lot. The inside of the house is ready for the new owner to make their own. It is in need of some updating inside but has tons of potential! Don't miss this opportunity to purchase a solid home in a beautiful town! $99,900 and still pending.
$86k would be my best offer.
My ancestors moved from Brooklyn to Greeley in 1901. My brother still lives on the same farm. The stone church (not shown in the video but it is next to the little store) where US 169 skirts the town all the truckers know that landmark, we were baptized, schooled, married and such. The last 40 years have really taken its toll.
Joe, the next time you go through Kansas, if there is a next time, you need to go through Marshall county and the cities of Waterville and Blue Rapids and Frankfurt and Marysville, where one of the wealthiest men in Kansas, Don Landoll lives in just a small town of 3,000 and started to build his fortune out of his garage in Hanover Kansas which is just 20 miles from where he now lives in Marysville Kansas. He probably started, and owns and is still president of Landoll at the age of 80. Very interesting man with an interesting story. Hell, Waterville has a street where part of it is referred to as “Bankers Row”. I think you really would love visiting some of these smaller cities with rich history including the Pony Express starting here and the Railroad back in the late 1800’s.
My dad used to have a Marysville of the Plains College jacket. Would it be the same Marysville? He grew up in Dodge City
@@davedavid7061 not that I am aware of. Dodge City is towards the Southwest corner of Kansas and Marysville is towards the Northeast side of Kansas. No college there at all…
@@davedavid7061 It was St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, not Marysville.
@@michaelrome-yj2hq that's it!
My step-dad was born and raised in eastern Colorado just a few miles from Kansas. He had a lot of relatives in Kansas. I remember going on a family vacation in the mid 60s during which we visited his relatives in Colorado, Kansas and northern Oklahoma. I remember going up in the local grain elevator in several of those towns and having the grain elevator in the next town pointed out. Other than that the terrain was dead flat with a very gradual slope up from east to west. Also the farther west you went the fewer trees there were. The towns looked pretty much the same almost 60 years ago.
Love your reports, they have a unique tone to them. It's almost like we're there for the ride.
Go home, rest up and then please go on the road. Enjoy the series enormously.
What a road warrior. 2 months of hotels and eating out? Oh yell no. Most folks don't take longer than a week for a vacation and then can't wait to get back home to their beds and home cooked meals. You guys are hardcore! Thanks for the great content.
I don’t think Joe and Nic even have a home in Dallas. They’re full time wanderers.
I live in a rural Kansas town of about 900 people called Kiowa. Located in South Central Kansas right at the Oklahoma border.
I'm originally from Los Angeles....Beverly Hills to be exact.
I grew up in what was once a small town in Monterey Bay California called Pacific Grove.
I absolutely love the small town charm of Kiowa Kansas. It may be small and rural but not fading.
Planning a bit of a tour next month, Kansas on the itinerary. Was thinking to go by public transport but watching your videos, think I'll drive. Tend to avoid it in the UK, it's pretty hellish here. As usual guys, great stuff! Look forward to the next one.
I've driven through there many, many times going from St. Louis to Denver. 😊
Small Kansas cafes tend to be rather good...Can't remember a bad breakfast in Kansas. I used to haul hay as a college kid and worked in Moran, Gas City, and Bronson
Greetings from Russia! 👏❤️
Some places remind me our country,few people,abandoned towns,houses..
Thank you for video ! 👏
Take care! ❤️
what about getting out of ukraine?
Yeah because im sure he's in charge of that....
@@plinker439What about telling NATO to stop It's eastward expansion to Russian borders!
There is an online service that will pair you up with small towns in Kansas that will pay you up to $5,000 to move there if you are a "remote worker" or if you can move a viable business there. I looked into it very seriously but the big problem with all of these small towns is lack of housing. You've seen this on many of your road trips to small towns that there are a lot of abandoned houses, but they are just not livable. Even the ones currently occupied have not been well maintained and would fail a number of inspections if they were in a larger city. This is what happens when people in low income places don't have enough money to maintain their homes. I was all set to move, but there was nothing habitable in the town I was looking at that made me an offer to move there. The snowball effect of people not being able to maintain their properties will be the doom of these small rural towns.
Most of these small towns will die the way they want to die , in calm , peace and quiet . No help needed , thank you and everyone for your concern .
@@alanjones3874 That's a very interesting perspective.
I enjoyed seeing rural Kansas. Parts of it are beautiful! It looks so peaceful.
This sounds so true I consider it prescient!
My little town is also fiber optic.
Looking forward to your videos. Alaska and Hawaii will be incredible. Im jealous.
Cool video. I was born and raised in Greeley next time come back the Friday night after Labor Day weekend. Much better video!
Absolutely love your channel. Good stuff, man.
Thank you!
Greetings from Florida Joe & Nic. Just want to say that I enjoy watching your videos. If you ever get down to Florida again, I would recommend that you visit Mt. Dora. Very interesting town.
Oh hey…you’re not too far from me. I live in Leavenworth, KS aka prison town they mention in some movies 😅
"Toto, I've a feeling we're in Kansas..." wait, that's not the famous quote, is it? 🙃 It's so nice to see everything so green there--the hills in the Bay Area all turned brown about a month ago. As you say, small towns like these have seen their best days and are gradually emptying out. Kinda sad but it's inevitable given the lack of opportunity for young folks.
Hope you managed to avoid the nasty weather of the last several weeks and are enjoying your time back at home base. Until the next adventure, happy trails!
THOSE GREAT OLD HOMES AND FANTASTIC YARDS, and I would love to rent / buy there. 🙏🌻🌷
Really enjoyed the tour of these rural Kansas towns. It’s beautiful in the area you visited. Some great buildings! Looks so peaceful. Amazed the first few towns had higher crime. Looking forward to seeing Hawaii. Hope TX provides a nice break for you.
I saw
a library sign in Blue Mound. Yayyyyyy!
Looking forward to your future videos
Bless you both for sharing your road trip with us. I fully enjoyed seeing every town and city. I am in Western Canada and could never do the trip myself, so Thank-You both. When you get home and have spare time, may I suggest you do a little research on these old buildings. They are much older than the MSM is telling us and there is usually much more underground. They were not built with horse, donkey and buggy in the late 1800's. Here's a few good channels on utube to get you started, Jon Levi, Jarid Booster and My Lunch Breck. Much Love from Canada I am patiently waiting to see Dallas, Texas
That cafe in the first town probably attracts customers from the surrounding towns too (didn’t see many fine dining options in the other towns in the video). I doubt the 280 residents of the cafe’s hometown are Keeping them in business by themselves. But good to see the locals supporting a non Dollar store business
I lived in Pleasanton for several years enjoyed it but got tired of driving to Kansas City area Olathe to go to work especially on cold snowy days
I’ve lived here all my life and there are soooo many places I haven’t been! I’ve been everywhere in South Central and a little bit elsewhere. Thank you for sharing.
Watching from australia, love seeing all the small towns and the houses etc, if you get to southern Illinois go to fairfield, garden of the gods which is awesome and cave in rock where pirates used to hide out
Like,,,,
“Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind”🤣
I intend to be a lump as long as possible .
Love your vids about the small american towns.
All so beautiful.
Cheers from Brazil.
I hope you get a chance to kick back and get some rest. Thanks for a interesting Sping and all of the stats. Welcome back to the gloom and humidity. ❤
Wow! Look at that grainery
Hi Joe
Quiet accompanying, greenary abound, deserted roads, empty houses, chirping of birds throughout in the background it was a great drive offering solace to body, mind and soul. It seems to be like a live demo of 'Niksen' : Dutch art of doing nothing, a relaxation technic simply 'looking out of window'!
Thanks a lot for this wonderful and relaxing video.
I was wondering about 2 states Alaska and Hawaii and at the end of the video you made it clear.
Best of wishes for the journey ahead! Thanks once again.
beautiful thanks for sharing joe and Nik 👍
Can't express how much I appreciate you & Nicole ; taking us along with you, I feel Blessed. Take care.
You said it first.
My brother worked in Pleasanton for a couple years at an automotive restoration shop that only restored 1955-1957 Chevy's and all year Corvettes. I wonder if that has survived after more than 30 years since then? Can't recall the name of the shop.
My ex-wife and I used to visit her grandmother in Marquette, KS which as I recall is in the middle of the state somewhere. Very small nothing of a town, but it was nice and quiet. I remember a post office, a park, several unused old buildings on their main street there. They did have a bar called Honkers though LOL. This was in the early 2000's.
Marquette is home to Kansas Motorcycle Museum. Started by a local gentleman who was a championship motorcycle racer. I live about 30 miles from there.
I enjoy traveling with you & Nic. Thank you. I love all your videos.Great job
what a charming little town, quiet and peaceful, -Greenley-to die for, brings one thought to mind: America The Beautiful
So good of you to share. Thanks!!
Other small towns, which are in SE Kansas, include Cherokee, Ks, Scammon, Ks, and West mineral.
My new favorite channel 👌🙌
always love to learn english .
and this time i learned one phrase .
this town "bucks the trend" of other town .❤
That house on 330 Spruce st, Mound City is 99,9K and is pending. I am in Annapolis, MD ...when do you plan to be here?
...I'm in my early 70's - and also pending!
Beautiful neighborhood
I really love these small country towns ! Very peaceful and always so interesting ! Some very pretty residential streets, and the downtowns are always fascinating ! I hope you have both been enjoying a well-earned break ! Thanks so much, Joe and Nic.😊💖
Epic trip. Thanks for taking us along!
love that you updated the info for a much detailed video, great job
Very enjoyable. I'm looking forward to you next lot of videos. Greetings from Australia.
Little late getting to check this one out and it didn’t disappoint at all. Great video. Love those small towns. As I’ve said not one to live in town but those real small ones could be an exception. I’m sure by now it’s safe to say… Toto I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore. LoL 😂 course I know you knew it was coming sometime. LoL. I tell ya Joe with all this trip and all the others you would have made a great long haul driving buddy. LoL. And with your easy and original commentary style I could have listened to you narrate the whole run. I have been to Greely once took a load of tractor implements around 2009 I think was a beautiful laid back place, appears to still be. I’m really sorry that you and Nicole have to suffer the trip to Hawaii , but I know you’re suffering for your faithful viewers. LoL 😂. I have always said I could watch Robert Duvall paint a fence white and he’d make it interesting i now truthfully can say you could narrate the painting and make it even more interesting. Safe travels my friend, keep filming and I’ll keep watching.
Thanks, man!! :)
Wouldn’t miss it! Thanks for your fascinating videos, so glad there’s a bunch more coming up!😊
Annoying Teacher Pet here: 18 century is from 1. January 1701 till 31. December 1800. So all the Houses are from the 19 century. ;) sorry for interrupting… btw. nice Video
Nice little towns
Love those small downtown areas
Hawaii sounds fun and be interesting to see the small communities there. Thinking you will have some fabulous drone shots. Every time I see one of those I think wow what a great camera and what a great drone.
I like Linn. I can live in Linn. Watching from the Philippines.
If you guys are going to be in CT. check out a few shoreline towns. Guilford, Branford, Yale, Milford.
You never know, I might see some little town to move to sometime in the future.
The real “America”
Just beautiful
I always want to do what you guys do but I don’t have the endurance to drive these many miles. Not to mention I won’t able to afford it now. I see how much you spend on food & hotel stay, It is definitely not in my budget. Driving such long distance is not easy, there are long stretches of hwy that I’d fall sleep behind the wheel. You guys sure made us so thrilled at seeing across America without the stress you have to go through. Thank you so much for being there. We love your channel.
I love the stories, so relaxing way you do it. Thanks