If you’re looking for a fun weekend getaway, Junction City is just a hop, skip and a jump from Topeka. Located one hour due west of Topeka in the heart of the Flint Hills, this historic town offers fun shopping and dining opportunities and even a rustic cabin on a lake for an adventurous stay.
Where to Shop
Ours was a girls trip, so the first stop was shopping. Just a few minutes south of downtown Junction City at 207 E. Spruce Street is the most amazing home decor shop - Found 31. The store is located in the refurbished Acme dairy barn built in 1865 and run by a husband and wife team, Kendra and David Dunbar. “David is retired Army, so early in our marriage he’d be gone 200 days a year and every time he came home I had rearranged the house,” Kendra laughed. “He said, ‘You need a store.’ It’s true, if we didn’t have a store we’d look like hoarders.” They opened their first brick and mortar location when they lived in Moriarty, NM about seven years ago. But once David retired, they moved back to Kansas to be closer to family. She has Topeka ties. Her brother is Chef Adam, owner of the White Linen.
Kendra says her husband is a big part of making the business successful. “I love decorating, but some of my ideas require a little help,” said Kendra. “I give him an idea and he runs with it. Or sometimes he says, ‘That’s HGTV, Kendra. We can’t do that.’ But for the most part he just goes with my craziness.” One of the big projects David helps with is building custom reclaimed wood tables from 8 to 12 feet long. “I like finding lost pieces and giving them a home," Kendra said.
Kendra skillfully mixes old vintage pieces with modern decor to create just the right combination of homey and high-end. Her displays look like they belong on the cover of a home decor magazine. “One of my favorite things is when people bring me a picture of the room they are wanting to decorate,” Kendra said. “It’s the connections you make that make this job worth.”
Found 31 is only open Saturdays from 9-3 and by appointment during the week. To see more, follow them on Instagram @foundthirtyone and Facebook @found31.
Where to Eat
Our next delightful surprise was lunch. We ate at a historic restaurant called Six on Sixth, located on the corner of Sixth Street and Washington. These small towns are just drenched in history and this restaurant had a great story to tell. It is in the historic Bartell House built in 1878. The Bartell House was a busy hotel all the way through WWII. Over the years it has housed many businesses including a post office, a barbershop, a cigar shop, and an auto garage. Today, it houses The Bartell Place Apartments above and Six on Sixth restaurant below.
The new owners updated the space but were careful to let the charm of the original building shine through. Brick walls and warm wood floors play nicely with large paintings from local artists. In the large bar area they masterfully mixed old tin ceilings with modern neon lights.
But the star of this show was the food! Chef Irving, we were told, creates tasty twists on American cuisine and he didn’t disappoint! We tried a Cobb salad, a Nashville chicken sandwich, and a shrimp pasta - all delicious. From presentation to palate, the whole experience was wonderful! Stop into this new veteran-owned-and-operated restaurant.
Follow on Facebook @Sixonsixth
Where to Stay
For your overnight accommodations, we’ve got just the spot. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but once you arrive, you realize that “off the beaten path” is just what you were looking for. This one-of-a-kind cabin in the middle of 400 acres of pasture overlooks a private four-acre pond perfect for swimming and fishing off the dock, or you can take the jon boat or canoe for a little ride. Relax on the screened-in porch and watch for deer and other wildlife to wander by. There’s even disc golf and a trampoline to entertain the kids.
Megan and her husband Tim Rusch are the owners. Tim’s dad had always wanted to build a cabin at the pond, and when he turned 70, the timing aligned to begin the project. Tim built the cabin by hand using a chainsaw and electricity from the solar on his camper to charge his tool batteries. It took most of a year to finish, and was a complete labor of love. Tim did a great job of creating a cozy cabin with all the creature comforts yet still making it feel woodsy and outdoorsy. From the 3-inch thick chainsaw milled log countertops to the corrugated tin backsplash in the kitchen to the raw wood walls and live tree steps on the staircase up to the loft, everything about this cabin says “rustic.” Ducks, deer and pheasant adorn the walls and ceiling giving it a true hunter’s cabin feel. But this cabin is comfy with air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.
This cabin is peaceful and secluded and there won't be another soul in sight. To make reservations, visit airbnb.com/h/karibucabins.
Get going. Summertime adventure is only an hour away!
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