Faris Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Between Brookville, Kanopolis, Ellsworth, and Salina. From Brookville Hwy. K-140 west 21 km to County Road 22, turn south on Road 22 (gravel). After 7.2 km turn west on 'N' Road, 2.5 km until it ends at the caves.
Open:	no restriction
Fee:	free
Classification:	Cave House Dakota Sandstone
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Kanopolis State Park, Tel: +1-785-546-2565. Ellsworth/Kanopolis Chamber of Commerce, Tel: +1-785-472-4071.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1880s	excavated by a Colorado miner named Charles Griffee.
1893	purchased by the Faris family.
1955	Kanopolis State Park created.

Description

The Faris caves are named after the owners of the area, the Faris family. They were rather famous, as they owned one of the largest farms in the area. However, they did not built the caves.

The hill of Dakota Sandstone was ideal for building a cave house, the cliff allows easy access to the rock, and the soft sandstone is easy to mine and gives a good climate in the caves. The caves were excavated by the owner of the land, Charles Griffee. He had been a miner in Colorada, so he knew the techniques. He built the caves to live in, but after a few years he sold the whole property to the Faris family.

The Faris family constructed a wooden house nearby and lived there. The caves were used as a spring house and a generator room. For a short time it was used as a school.

There sre stories about indian wall paintings, but as the caves are younger they are definitely outside. They are very hard to find, and this is obviously good for their protection.