Lucas, Kansas
Time Needed: full-day, half-day
Experience Type: family fun, offbeat & fun, small-town charm
Known as the “Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas,” Lucas celebrates the imagination of self-taught artists who’ve transformed everyday materials into extraordinary creations. This town’s quirky, art-filled attractions make it one of America’s most delightfully eccentric roadside destinations.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- Tour Dinsmoor’s Garden of Eden – Explore a fantastical landscape of concrete sculptures blending biblical stories, political commentary, and personal vision by artist Samuel P. Dinsmoor.
- Explore the Grassroots Art Center – See whimsical works by self-taught artists, many crafted from recycled materials, and learn their stories on a guided tour.
- Visit Bowl Plaza – Step inside this award-winning mosaic public restroom, a glittering, humorous testament to Lucas’s artistic spirit and community creativity.
- Stop by World’s Largest Things, Inc. – Discover miniatures of famous roadside “world’s largest” attractions and celebrate the country’s love of oversized oddities.
- Walk Miller’s Park & Florence Deeble Rock Garden – Admire colorful cement and stone scenes inspired by travels, crafted into postcard-like dioramas of American landmarks.
Cool Find: Check out 100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die, a lively handbook that highlights the state’s icons, hidden gems, and wide-open horizons—from wildlife refuges and historic sites to small-town surprises and big-city adventures.
Photo Credit: Lucas Area Chamber of Commerce