Get ready for the rumble of wagon wheels, the sound of hoofbeats on the prairie, and a true taste of the Old West as Cowboy Rick Hamby and the Journey Stagecoach crew return for another unforgettable adventure across the High Plains.
Known throughout the region for his “Just for Kids Roundup,” Cowboy Rick Hamby has become a favorite storyteller and ambassador of Western heritage. His annual Journey Stagecoach rides bring history to life while creating opportunities for families, communities, and visitors to experience the spirit of the frontier firsthand.
Following the success of last year’s “Dust in the Wind” journey along the historic Smoky Hill Trail, this year’s Journey Stagecoach Ride will travel June 6–10 from St. Francis, Kansas, through the scenic and rugged Arickaree Breaks, to the historic Beecher Island Battle Memorial Site in Colorado.
Along the way, participants and visitors will enjoy stagecoach rides, cowboy fellowship, living history, breathtaking prairie scenery, campfires, music, and stories beneath the western sky. The adventure officially begins in St. Francis, Kansas, on Friday, June 5 in the evening at the Hardt Gallery, followed by a full day of family-friendly activities, historical presentations, and community celebrations on Saturday. The adventure will end on Wednesday, June 10 at the Battle of Beecher Island Memorial grounds in Colorado.
Friday, June 5 —The Hardt Gallery in St. Francis, Kansas
6 to 9 PM CT “Western Art and Culture” exhibition at the Hardt Gallery featuring works by 21 regional artists. Experience an inspiring collection of art in a variety of mediums and styles, including oil, acrylic, pencil, leather, bronze, pottery, and silver.
Saturday, June 6 — St. Francis, Kansas
Families and visitors are invited to enjoy a fun-filled day of activities including:
• 10:00 AM CT Nursing Home Visit to Cheyenne County Village • 12:00 PM CT Tour of the Cheyenne County Museum
• 2:00 PM CT Slideshow presentation featuring past Journey Stagecoach adventures and view the Western Art and Culture Exhibit at the Hardt Gallery
• 4:00 PM CT Hey kids! Ready for a Wild West Adventure?
Come out to the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds to meet the crew and view the real-life stagecoach up close in person!
• 6:00 PM CT Free-will donation supper at the fairgrounds
Sunday, June 7 – Wednesday, June 10 — Trail Ride Through the Arickaree Breaks
Beginning Sunday, June 7, the stagecoach crew and outriders will begin their four-day journey through the beautiful Arickaree Breaks — one of the High Plains’ hidden treasures. The stagecoach will leave Saint Francis bright and early. Trail outriders wishing to ride in or accompany the stagecoach on horseback during the June 7–10 trek must receive approval from the trail bosses to ensure safety and trail access across private lands. Riders are responsible for supplying their own horses, feed, camping equipment, and trail gear. Once registered, outriders will receive a detailed route map including campsite locations, rollout times, and estimated daily arrival times. Riders are welcome to participate in the entire four-day journey or simply join for a single day of the ride.
Arickaree or Arikaree?
Both Arikaree and Arickaree are common spellings used for the river, geologic formation, and local place names in Colorado. Arikaree is generally accepted today as the spelling for the river, while Arickaree is often used for specific local landmarks and historic references. Both names are derived from the Arikara Native American tribe.
Stretching across northwest Kansas, eastern Colorado, and into Nebraska, the Arickaree Breaks feature dramatic canyons, rugged ravines, rolling prairie, yucca, sagebrush, and native grasses. Many visitors compare the scenery to a “mini-Grand Canyon” hidden in the middle of the plains. The area is also filled with fascinating stories from the past; the Breaks were once traveled by Native American tribes, stagecoach passengers heading west during the Colorado Gold Rush, the cattle-drives along the Great Western Cattle Trail, and frontier scouts during the days of the Old West.
In Colorado, near the headwaters of the Arickaree River, the Battle of Beecher Island took place in September 1868. One of the American West’s most legendary frontier conflicts, where a small band of 51 U.S. frontier scouts famously held off an overwhelming force of hundreds of Northern Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Lakota Sioux warriors over nine harrowing days. Today, the area serves as an important reminder of the region’s rich and complex frontier history.
Wednesday, June 10 — Beecher Island, Colorado
The final day of the journey concludes at the Beecher Island Battle Memorial Site along the Arickaree River in eastern Colorado.
Activities include:
• Approx. 3:00 PM MT Arrival of the stagecoach and outriders
• 5:00 PM MT Delivery of letters to area school children • 6:00 PM MT Chuckwagon dinner for the crew and guests. ▪ Community members are invited to attend the chuckwagon dinner for $15 per person. If interested, please make dinner reservations by May 20.
▪ After supper, everyone is welcome to gather around the campfire for cowboy stories, guitar pickin’, singing, and fellowship beneath the prairie stars — a perfect ending to a memorable western adventure.
The Journey Stagecoach Ride continues to celebrate the people, places, and stories that shaped the American West while bringing communities together for a fun and meaningful experience for all ages. For additional information, event participation, or dinner reservations, contact The Hardt Gallery by email: [email protected] or by phone: 785-332-4950 or the Wray Museum at [email protected] or by phone: 970-332-5063.
