 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Outhouses found in Elk Falls, KS Outhouse Capital of the World! | |||
The Chamber Pot
"The Chamber Pot" built by Steve behind their pottery shop, Elk Falls Pottery. This outhouse was voted third place in this year's contest and has won several times in past years. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
Inside the Chamber Pot Outhouse
The chamber pot has no bottom but a lip fits down in the hole so it can't slide away. Sink, water reservoir, and crocks also made by owner. Outhouse is insulated and wired. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
|
Outhouse Tour Headquarters 
Outhouse Tour Headquarters "Voting Booth" - downtown Elk Falls, KS Visitors drop their ballots in a slot in the seat inside. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
|
The "Postal Privy" (also known as the Priority Privy) is an actual working outhouse behind the post office. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
Inside the Postal Privy. You can't buy stamps here, but you can make a deposit! Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
The "Practice Room" entered by Cynthia, a former music teacher. Built by her husband, Mike. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
"The Dog House" was built for the town dogs! Notice the fire hydrant inside and the dog bone cutout in the door. Built by Mike, who never gets sent to the doghouse (unless his outhouse get more votes than Cynthia's). Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
This year's winner - "Gilligans Contemplation Palace." An unusual and very creative 2-holer built down a winding, wooded path. Very majestic (and well ventilated!) Built by James and owned by Cecelia. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
|
"The Far Out-house 2.0" built by Kells and Edgar who may be lost in the '60s! Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
Inside the Far Out-house. The legs kicked back and forth, which is probably why this one won second place this year. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
The newly restored 3-holer "Gem of the Prairie" sits behind the renovated Prairie Gem one room schoolhouse. A project of the Friends of Elk Falls. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
Inside the Gem of the Prairie. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
The "Flower Pot"- a WPA privy moved and restored by Steve and Jane which now sits at the back edge of the flower garden at the Sherman House B & B. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
Gourdy the gardener surprised visitors of the Flower Pot! Calls this his sittin' place where he goes to sit an think. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
"Nature Calls" is a transplanted outhouse brought in (and removed) by the local telephone company. The door cutout got split a little, but it originally was a phone symbol. And of course there was a pay phone inside. Photo taken by Jane F. Used by permission |
"Santa's North Hole" - an original outhouse on its original site done up right nice by Alan and David. A right pretty sight at night. Too bad the contest was during the day! Last year's winner. Photo taken by Zach F. Used by permission |
|
In the words of the contributor... I just stumbled onto your website and had to contact you. I live in Elk Falls, KS (pop. 120) which bills itself as the Outhouse Capital of Kansas. We just had our 12th Annual Outhouse Tour and Contest. It's always the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving in Elk Falls, KS. Contact info: | |
| The tour began as a joking suggestion at one of our Friends of Elk Falls brainstorming meetings in '96 when we were discussing possible additions to our Fall Open House weekend. After ruling out historic home tours (we don't have any), garden tours (unless people want to help weed!), someone commented we have a lot of outhouses! After a good laugh, we thought, why not? Well, not everyone in town thought promoting outhouses was something we wanted to be associated with (I'm sure you know the story), but folks coming to town loved it and rest, as they say, is history! | |
|
We've had a lot of participation over the years, but usually have 10 - 12 outhouses entered in the contest. Visitors buy a commemorative Outhouse Button for $1 which allows them to get a map and a ballot and take the self guided tour. The outhouses are scattered around town and owned by various businesses or individuals. The outhouses themselves run the gamut, from original to custom built for the contest. Some are historic WPA privies, some more creative. Some are fancy, some pretty crude. After viewing all the outhouses (or as many as they can take!), visitors vote for their first and second choices and "deposit" their ballots in the slotted seat of the Outhouse Headquarters "Voting Booth", an outhouse parked permanently downtown. It's a lot of fun,
and to our knowledge, other than your online tour, the only outhouse tour anywhere! The winner receives the traveling Outhouse Throne Award, a custom made stoneware chamber pot trophy as well as cash prizes for the first 3 places. I know you have gobs of pictures on your site (my wife and I must have spent over an hour last night looking and still haven't seen them all!), but I'd love to send you some of ours if you'd like to see them. Back to the Outhouse of America Curator; Well we did enjoy viewing the pictures he sent and they are shown above! | |
| What else can you see in the images shown? Many times a photo is worth a thousand words and I've only elaborated with a few so why don't you add some "color commentary" to my collection. If your addition is worthy, you will find the quote added on the Comments to the Curator
page. | |
Have you seen all the Outhouses yet? 
Return to the Outhouse Tour by clicking HERE! 
Return to my home page Return to the Top RECOMMEND THIS SITE TO A FRIEND! Copyright © 2007 | |