Looking for a new fun experience that is unique to the Flint Hills? Consider taking a tour of Lazy Heart D Ranch and getting up close with American Bison!
Location and admission
The Lazy Heart D Bison Ranch in Westmoreland hosts tours all year long, pending weather. Tours will be rescheduled if there is rain or if weather is too cold. Each tour is free, but the owner will suggest donating to Community Care Ministries in Wamego.
Bison Tours
The best way to schedule a tour is to email the owner, Ed Dillinger. The tour includes seeing the original building site of Wamego’s Dutch Mill and an opportunity to learn about and even feed the bison herd. Ed greets you immediately upon arrival for the tour with bison jerky samples. He then discusses the origins of the Flint Hills and his ranch.
Once Ed is ready to begin the tour of the ranch, guests will enter an open-topped wagon to begin their journey into the pasture to find the bison. Most of the time, the bison are easy to find, and it only takes a short wagon ride to get to them. One time that we went, it took a long time to track them down, but even with the longer ride, it was a fun experience for us to ride around the pasture searching for them.
The tour lasts about an hour and a half, depending on the group size and participation during the tour. Ed will sometimes schedule a few small groups to participate together, or you can have one big group. He typically likes to keep the tour group no bigger than 25 people so there is enough room on the wagon.
Feeding the Bison
Once the wagon gets near the bison, the herd knows it’s time for treats! They come up right to the wagon and are ready to be fed. Guests are given cups of range cubes, a hard multi-vitamin nutrient nugget, to feed the bison. Ed explains that you can let the bison grab treats with their tongues if you are willing to experience a slobbery mess. You can also simply toss the treats to the herd. Throughout the tour, guests will be informed about the characteristics and the interactions of the bison.
After the Ride
When the ride is over, guests can purchase a variety of bison meat, feel a bison hide, touch bison fur, and look at the chickens, turkeys, cows, and horses that are also on the property. This is also a great time to ask questions!
Helpful mom tips:
- Wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water, especially if it is a hot day.
- Wear closed-toed shoes or boots.
- There is a small bathroom on site for guests to use but it is difficult to manage with multiple children so do encourage all your little ones to use the potty before heading to the ranch.
- The ranch does have a booth at the Manhattan Farmer’s Market where they sell their bison products, and you can also find out about special events.
If you are looking for a new and unique family outing or if you have out-of-town visiting and want to show them a piece of Kansas living, schedule a tour of Lazy Heart D Ranch!
