Wamego offers a small-town atmosphere and amenities close to Topeka
The city of Wamego has several parks, dining mainstays, factory jobs and cultural outlets along the Kansas River. This Manhattan-area agricultural town is home to nearly 5,000 people, experiencing nonstop growth since the 1920s. “It’s a ‘Smalltown, USA’ city that has lots of things for young families and other folks to do,” says Bill Disberger, a broker with Crossroads Real Estate and Auction. “From golfing to getting outdoors, you can get everything you need. We have lots of people in Wamego who work in Manhattan and Topeka, and we also have a little bit of industry in town. Typically, one spouse might work locally, and the other might work elsewhere.”
Newer suburban homes ring around older construction
Streets in central Wamego are grid-patterned and have sidewalks, many of them shaded by rows of trees. Suburban areas often have gravel roads, large front yards and no sidewalks. Wamego has seen steady homebuilding since its 1869 founding. Properties built from 1870 to 1990, most of them ranch-style homes near the city center, sell from $90,000 to $440,000. In Wamego’s more spacious outskirts, larger ranch-style and bungalow homes built from 1990 to the 2020s have sold from $230,000 to $580,000. “There’s quite a bit of activity in both of our new developments,” Disberger says. “People are buying lots to build custom homes, and we’ve already got a solid supply of upper-level properties.” Condos built from the 2000s to 2010s go for between $320,000 and $380,000. Wamego’s median home price of $420,000 makes it a pricier option than Manhattan, where the median is $360,000.
The "Yellow Brick Road" runs through a vintage downtown
Downtown life revolves around Lincoln Avenue. Brick storefronts from the turn of the 20th century now house small businesses from antique stores to insurance agencies and small eateries. The family-owned Kreem Kup Restaurant has been in business since 1952, specializing in burgers and ice cream. The Friendly Cooker, a well-established brunch venue, has served all-day breakfast since 1981. Visitors to Viva La Fiesta are greeted by a colorful atmosphere where chairs, walls and tables each sport painted scenes and figures from Aztec and Mexican history. Toto’s TacOz takes its name and theme from the neighboring Oz Museum, including dishes like the “Tin Man Burrito” and “Emerald City Street Tacos” on its menu. “At one time, they thought that a little structure here was part of the original ‘Wizard of Oz’ film set,” Disberger says. “The Yellow Brick Road takes you through a few businesses and adds some flavor to downtown.” Grocery options include Gene’s Heartland Foods and Dollar General.
Wamego parks offer summertime swimming, sports and fireworks
Just a block from downtown, Wamego City Park serves as the city’s prime outdoor space. The 12-acre park includes an aquatic center with both outdoor and indoor pools, complete with water slides. Tennis and basketball courts, a playground, a baseball field and a fishing pond offer additional venues for outdoor play. A few blocks north of the city park, the Wamego Recreation Sports Complex includes four baseball fields and several tennis courts and hosts a popular yearly event. “We take the Fourth of July seriously here, and we’re known for our Boomtown USA festival,” Disberger says. “We have a week’s worth of activities that cumulates with a huge fireworks display. We can safely bet that it’s the best fireworks display in the state of Kansas.” The Wamego Country Club’s 18-hole golf course may be private, but its driving range and practice green are open to the public, as is the neighboring Pennyland Park Disc Golf Course. “For those who like to go fishing or are into the outdoorsy scene, proximity to Manhattan and Topeka also puts you close to Tuttle Creek and Milford Lake,” Disberger says.
Public schools and colleges emphasize athletics and skilled trades
Students can start at Central Elementary School, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche, from kindergarten to second grade. The B-plus-rated West Elementary School serves grades 3-5, and Wamego Middle School and Wamego High School each receive B-minuses. “A lot of our city’s activities are focused on school-age kids, as we have huge community support for youth sporting events,” Disberger says. Highland Community College and the Wamego campus of the Manhattan Area Technical College help students learn trades like nursing and welding, and MATC has historically stood out for its high student retention and graduation rates.
A national highway connects Wamego to big-city jobs
U.S. Route 24 puts the nearby city of Manhattan a 16-mile drive to the west, while the state capital of Topeka is 40 miles to the southeast. Wamego has its own hospital, the Wamego Health Center, next to the country club.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
