The Gunsmoke Trail Pass allows fans of Emmy award-winning Western classic to earn points and prizes just by visiting locations along the Gunsmoke Trail. The trail launched in May 2023 as a collaboration between the Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and peer organizations in Abilene, Hays, and Wichita. The Gunsmoke Trail is a road trip adventure through four Kansas communities featured on the show.

Gunsmoke entertained audiences for two decades and remains a fan favorite today. Fans eager to visit the iconic destinations featured on the show will find the Gunsmoke Trail Pass easy to access and use on any smartphone. The passport functions similarly to a mobile app and allows users to check in at different stops, earning points for prizes, but no app is needed to play. 

“The biggest winners from this collaboration are the fans of Gunsmoke,” said Megan Welsh, director of the Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Fans that take this journey will have an unforgettable adventure and experience some of the best Old West history and attractions available today.”

Examples of Old West themed locations and attractions visitors will encounter along the trail in Dodge City include:

·       Boot Hill Museum

·       Santa Fe Depot

·       Trail of Fame

·       Gunfighters Wax Museum

·       Santa Fe Trail Rut Site

·       Longhorn Park

·        Home of Stone

·        Historic Trolley Tour

To view a list of attractions in each community included in the Gunsmoke Trail or to sign up for the trail pass, go to www.kansasgunsmoketrail.com.

The Hays Convention & Visitors Bureau, in collaboration with CVBs in Wichita, Abilene, and Dodge City, recently launched the Gunsmoke Trail – a road trip that takes visitors through towns that were mentioned in the hit show of the same name.

Gunsmoke, the Emmy award-winning primetime Western, entertained audiences for 20 years. The show still runs on select networks, with iconic characters telling the story of frontier life in the Old West.

“This collaboration is a win-win for all of our communities,” said Melissa Dixon, Executive Director of the Hays CVB.

“The Gunsmoke fan base is looking for nostalgic Old West experiences that we already have in place, so we just had to make a connection with that audience.”

The Gunsmoke Trail is easily accessible through a mobile “passport” program which allows smart phone users to check in at different stops, earning points for prizes. The passport functions like a mobile app but requires no app download.

Examples of Wild West-themed locations that visitors will be directed to in Hays include:

-        Historic Walking Tour on the Bricks in Downtown Hays, where bronze plaques mark the first shops, saloons, and shootouts of Hays City (now Hays)

-        Fort Hays State Historic Site, now offering free admission, which showcases the life of the soldiers who were stationed at Fort Hays

-        Ellis County Historical Society Museum, which offers scheduled tours of the Younger Harness Shop

-        Felten Sculpture Tour featuring statues of “Buffalo Bill” Cody and “Wild Bill” Hickok

-        Murals throughout downtown Hays featuring icons of the Old West

-        Bison Herd in Frontier Park

-        Boot Hill Cemetery, where many buried there died “with their boots on.”

Visitors can learn more and sign up for the program at KansasGunsmokeTrail.com or call 785-628-8202.

The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with CVBs in Wichita, Hays, and Dodge City, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Gunsmoke Trail Passport. This exciting road trip adventure guides visitors through towns immortalized in the legendary TV series "Gunsmoke."

A timeless classic, "Gunsmoke" captivated audiences for 20 years, chronicling the tales of iconic characters against the backdrop of the Old West. Still airing on select networks, the show continues to capture the imagination, making the Gunsmoke Trail a journey into America's frontier history.

"The Gunsmoke Trail collaboration is a fantastic opportunity to promote our cowboy stories and travel throughout Kansas," said Julie Roller Weeks, Director of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. "As we approach America's 250th anniversary and the World Cup in Kansas City, we believe this cowboy-themed adventure will captivate travelers both nationally and internationally today and into 2026."

The Gunsmoke Trail is easily accessible through a mobile "passport" program, allowing smartphone users to check in at different stops and earn points for prizes. This innovative passport operates as a mobile app without the need for a download.

In Abilene, visitors can explore Wild West-themed locations like the Dickinson County Heritage Center, where they can learn about Marshal Wild Bill Hickok and cattle king Joseph McCoy. The Heritage Center showcases Abilene's history as a booming Cowtown at the end of the Chisholm Trail, featuring attractions like the Wild Bill Hickok Bronze Statue and a replica of his famous gun.

For a taste of frontier travel, guests can hop aboard the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad. This historic train ride offers a glimpse into the past, allowing passengers to experience the thrill of traveling by train during Abilene's lively Cowtown days.

Old Abilene Town is another must-visit destination along the Gunsmoke Trail, featuring the Chisholm Trail Museum and Interpretive Trail Center. Visitors can immerse themselves in the Old West ambiance, strolling the boardwalk, watching gunfight reenactments, and seeing can-can dancers at Alamo Saloon.

Don't miss the Cowboy Art Trail, which celebrates cowboy attire by showcasing decorated Cowboy Boots honoring T.C. McInerney's Drovers Boot Store from the 1870s, the Big Spur, and the World's Largest Belt Buckle.

To learn more about the Gunsmoke Trail program and sign up, visit KansasGunsmokeTrail.com or call 785-263-2231. 

May 5, 2023

Howdy, partners, and welcome to the Kansas Gunsmoke Trail! This road trip visits four cities in Kansas that had a role in Gunsmoke, the Emmy award-winning primetime Western that entertained audiences for 20 years.

The show still runs on select networks, with iconic characters telling the story of frontier life in the Old West. Several present-day cities in Kansas play a part in the show’s storylines, including Wichita, Abilene, Hays City (now Hays), and of course, Dodge City.

Each community has opportunities to look back on the region’s Wild West days which are accessible and fun for all ages. For fans who want to experience the cities that inspired the show, we invite you to explore the Gunsmoke Trail.

"Gunsmoke" is a television western drama series based in and around Dodge City, Kansas, during the settlement of the American West. "Gunsmoke" is the longest-running western in television history, originally running from 1955 to 1975 totaling 635 episodes. It was the most-watched show from 1957 to 1961. Each episode follows the life of Marshal Matt Dillon as he attempts to keep peace in and around the city.

Other Kansas towns mentioned in Gunsmoke include:

• Plainville

• Bucklin

• Spearville

• Meade

• Mullinville

• Hutchinson

• Garden City

• Olathe

• Salina

• Kalvesta

• Holcomb

• Pierceville

• Ellsworth 

• Ellsworth

• Norton

• Scott City

• Jetmore

• Larned

• Fort Dodge

• Fort Wallace

• Fort Larned

• Fort Hays

Help us add to our list! Do you know of other Kansas towns featured in Gunsmoke?