Quilt Trail Now Being Organized

Kansas Flint Hills Barn Quilt Trail 

Drive through the countryside anywhere in Rural America and you will most likely come across many barns. They drape the landscape in many designs, colors and architecture.  Some barns are painted to display advertisements. Years ago a woman named Donna Sue Groves, from Adams County, Ohio wanted to honor her mother by hanging a colorful painted quilt block on her barn. She soon began a community project in which twenty quilt blocks were displayed along a driving trail to encourage visitors to travel through the countryside. This was the start of the first quilt trail in America. 

According to Suzi Parron who authored Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement, quilt trails are now being organized all across the country.  Quilt blocks are displayed on barns around the countryside and then mapped out for tourists to follow these amazing works of art.  The quilt trails draw visitors into our rural communities as well as promote county-wide pride and showcase agriculture.

Traditional stars and various quilt patterns are now being displayed on barns, homes, sheds and sides of buildings throughout the Flint Hills. They are also put on posts and displayed in yards and parks. The Flint Hills Tourism Coalition is currently developing a Flint Hills Quilt Trail. New participants are welcome to join the trail. If you have a quilt block on a barn or building, or you are interested in displaying a quilt block on a barn or building, and want to become part of the Kansas Flint Hills Quilt Trail, please contact Connie Larson, Alta Vista Ag Heritage Park, President, at 785-532-8393.