Paradise to some, mere rumor to others, Lake Quivira is one of the smallest cities in the metro area with less than 1,000 residents. It is a tiny sliver of a town, comprising the lake and surrounding residences nestled in between Shawnee and Kansas City, Kansas. The name emanates from explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541, for the mythical “Seven Cities of Gold” (which he never found). The brainchild of Charles Gault, the lake was dammed and created in the late twenties. Fifty years later it incorporated as a city based on rumors of impending annexation by Shawnee.
As a city that doubles as a country club, you must be a member (which is a requirement of residents) or guest to enter. The key attractions are the 18-hole golf course and the lake itself. In the summertime, swimming, boating and picnics down at the sizable sand beach reign supreme. Throughout the year, wedding receptions and even high school dances take advantage of the clubhouse’s spectacular view of the beach and lake. In the winter, the golf course takes on a second life as the best sledding spot in the metro area.
More than just fun and games, Lake Quivira is home to one of the most unique political features in town. The North side of the lake, which includes the golf course, beach, clubhouse and seventeen residences, lies in Wyandotte County, while the rest of the roughly four hundred residences lie in Johnson County. Another unusual facet of the city is the architecture. Without the strict building requirements of many suburban areas, Lake Quivira is home to an array of architectural diversity. Though it’s hard to choose a favorite, Bruce Goff Youngstrom’s 1968 residence is hard to beat.
Lake Quivira residents have also been blessed in the last couple of years with an all-American treat. In recent winters, as the lake was partially iced over, hundreds of unusual fishermen came to visit: bald eagles. Drivers across the dam have been known to see what looks like around one hundred bald eagles relaxing on the ice, or dozens perched in trees, possibly on the lookout for lunch.
So, if you work in the city but can’t get enough of lakes, beaches, golf or birds, Lake Quivira might be what you’re looking for.
- Michael Grigsby
