Small-town living bordering some of Kansas City's largest attractions
Located at the edge of the Kansas City metropolitan area, Bonner Springs combines small-town living with the vibrancy of a major city. Residential neighborhoods are quiet, and nearby attractions range from the seasonal Kansas City Renaissance Fair to the revved-up activity of the Kansas Speedway. By 2026, Bonner Springs will be home to a Mattel-brand theme park.
Despite so many headline attractions, the city still has a community-focused pace of life. "Bonner is the difference between suburbia and urban living," says Chad Chadwick, a city resident and sales professional with Better Homes and Gardens. "It's centered around a main street, it's got a bandstand, it's got Thursday evening concerts with an ice cream social in the summer. The ballpark and the football fields are where you see a lot of your family and friends." With highway access into the heart of downtown Kansas City, Bonner Springs is popular with commuting workers.
Bonner Springs homes range from ranch-style houses to luxury builds
Bonner Springs has a variety of neighborhoods, including shaded streets with older ranch-style homes, newer subdivisions and rural plots of land. Lake of the Forest is a gated, master-planned community within the city. Smaller, older homes start around $150,000 to $300,000, and more updated properties are $300,000 to $600,000. Some luxury or custom-built properties can range between $650,000 and $1 million.
"As far as the market, houses don't last too long," says Lori Hobbs, a local broker with Lori Hobbs Real Estate. "There are still affordable houses out there, which is nice. You can get quite a bit more than you can in some areas of Johnson County." However, Chadwick notes that the prices have been on the rise. "Bonner was historically an affordable neighborhood, but the market for the last few years has eliminated a lot of inventory and bumped the prices up," he says.
Career courses at the high school and several preschool options
Kids can attend Bonner Springs Elementary and then Robert E. Clark Middle. Both get a B-minus grade from Niche. Bonner Springs High receives a B. The high school has a Career and Technical Education program with specialty courses in fields like health science, arts and business. The district also has several preschool options, with free enrollment for eligible families.
Kansas City Renaissance Festival and an upcoming Mattel theme park
The city is home to the open-air Azura Amphitheater, an 18,000-person venue that has hosted big names like Kiss and Tim McGraw. For seven weekends following Labor Day, the area surrounding the amphitheater transforms for the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, with jousting tournaments, replica castles and artisan crafts. At the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, visitors can explore the role of farming in America's past. In 2026, the city will celebrate the grand opening of Mattel Adventure Park, a family friendly park with all things Mattel, including Hot Wheels-themed coasters, a life-size Barbie Beach House and He-Man laser tag.
Bonner Springs is also about 7 miles from large attractions like the Kansas Speedway, Hollywood Casino, the Legends Outlets shopping mall and the American Royal facility, which hosts the World Series of Barbecue competition.
Downtown has lively businesses and regular events
Downtown Bonner Springs has a few boutiques and eateries, including the cozy Third Space Coffee and Kobi's Bar & Grill, which hosts live music nights on a back deck. The owner of the vintage toy shop Moon Marble Company frequently demonstrated how to work with glass to create marbles. One of the most popular community spaces is Ten & Two Coffee, a combination coffee shop, bar and barbecue restaurant housed in a renovated mill. Ten & Two has space for family games and an antique car display. In the summer, downtown has a weekly farmers market and Tiblow Days, a three-day carnival that honors the town's founder, Henry Tiblow.
The city's largest big-brand retail corridor is along state Route 7, anchored by a Walmart Supercenter and Queen's Price Chopper.
Staying busy at ball fields, golf courses and the local pool
Residents can stay active at youth ball games, the local YMCA and Aquatic Park's pool and water slides. Lions Park is a central spot for recreation, with lighted sports courts and two playgrounds. But Wyandotte County Park is the city's largest green space, with several picnic shelters, tennis courts and a junior six-hole golf course. Right next door, golfers can spend more time at the 18-hole Sunflower Hills Golf Course. The public course hosts the Wyandotte County Open tournament every year.
A central point between Kansas City, Lawrence and Fort Leavenworth
Downtown Kansas City is about 20 miles away, a direct drive by connecting north to Interstate 70. The interstate also passes by Lawrence , 25 miles away, or out to Topeka , just under 50 miles away. Fort Leavenworth is a large U.S. Army base about 20 miles north. According to Chadwick, the city's central location is often the main reason why his clients choose Bonner Springs. The closest hospital is Providence Medical Center, 10 miles north. To reach an airport, Kansas City International is about 30 miles away.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
