Enjoy staying in Cherryvale!

Welcome to Cherryvale, Kansas
"Gateway to Big Hill Lake"

Cherryvale is a quiet community with much to be proud
of.  It's first class schools, fine churches, and a nice mix
of small business make it a great place to live or visit.
The town is located in Southeast Kansas between
Independence and Parsons.  It is about one hour from
Grand Lake, Oklahoma, and two hours from Wichita,
Kansas; Kansas City, Kansas; Tulsa Oklahoma; and
Springfield, Missouri.  It is about 3 hours from Branson,
Missouri.
Louise Brooks was born in Cherryvale at 531 East 7th
on November 14, 1906.  She was known as the most
erotic silent screen star of her time.  Her second home in
Cherryvale was located at 322 East 2nd Street.
Frank Bellamy lived at 916 East 7th.  He authored the
Pledge of Allegiance and won a 1892 national student
contest.  The pledge was first used in a national
celebration coinciding with the opening of the World's
Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  He is burried in
Cherryvale's Fairview Cemetary and is a veteran of the
Spanish-American War.
Vivian Vance was born in Cherryvale at 309 West 6th
on July 26, 1909.  She starred as Ethel Mertz in the I
Love Lucy Show with Lucille Ball.
Cherryvale's water supplier, Public Wholesale Water
Supply District #4, was voted as having the "Best
Tasting Water in the Nation" by the National Rural
Water Association in 2003.
Cherryvale business include G & W Foods Grocery
Store, Pizza Hut, Hillbilly Jim's Restaurant, Sonic, Just
Us Restaurant, Newton's True Value Hardware, Cherry
Tree Antiques, Dollar General, Dewey Auto Parts, gift
shops, 3 auto repair places, 2 banks with ATMs, 3
convenience stores, several churches and numerous
other businesses including several manuracturers.

Lakeview Country Club and Resort is open 7 days a
week.  It offers a 9 hole golf course featuring a putting
green, driving range, pro shop, and golf cart rentals.  
Horse rentals, camping, picnicking, hiking, and RV
parking are available.  Their large lake provide an
excellent opportunity for fishing, boat rentals, and
swimming.  Their restaurant, Expressions, serves
breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Nightly entertainment,
dancing and full bar are available.  Their phone numbers
are (888) 522-2582 or (620) 336-3020.          
From 1871 to 1873 the Bender family, John, his wife,
son, and daughter Kate lived just North of Cherryvale
near "Bender Mound".  Kate was known as a self
proclaimed healer and spiritualist.  The Benders sold
meals and supplies to travelers from their home.  A
canvas curtain divided the house into two rooms and the
victim was struck from behind this canvas with a
hammer.  The body was dropped into a basement pit
through a back door and later buried in the backyard
orchard.  
After killing more than a dozen people, they
disappeared in the spring of 1873, shortly before the
bodies were discovered.  The ultimate fate of the
murderous "Bloody Benders" is uncertain.  Some say
they escaped while others claim they were executed by
a vengeful posse.  Their unresolved story remains one of
the greatest unsolved mysteries of the Old West.  
Several books have been written about the Benders,
including one from Cherryvale resident Fern Wood,
"Bloody Benders, Keepers of the Devil's Inn"        
Three of the original hammers, drawings, newspaper
clippings, portraits, and photos are displayed at the
Cherryvale Museum, along with other artifacts from
the small town's incredible history.
The Cherryvale Chamber of Commerce is located in
Peoples State Bank at 200 West Main.  Their phone
number is (620) 336-2108.  Cherryvale City Hall is
located at 123 West Main and their phone number is
(620) 336-2776.
For more information about Cherryvale's attractions,
events, and shopping look at lasr.net.

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