The Johnson County War Tour on August 16, 2025 allows attendees to travel by bus the approximate route of the “Invaders” in their fateful attack on the “Rustlers” in April 1892, learning about the war and stopping at various sites of historical significance along the way.
Stops include the KC Cabin Fight site, where Nate Champion made a heroic stand against overwhelming odds, Plunkett’s Horse Ranch where the Invaders changed horses, the Smith homestead site where a near ambush of the Invaders almost occurred, the historic 28 Ranch where Invaders rested their horses, and the TA Ranch where the final battle occurred. The tour will also stop at the assassination sit
es of John. A. Tisdale and Ranger Jones, whose murders occurred in the months leading up to the war, foreshadowing the events of 1892.
The historical guides narrating the journey are Brock Hanson and Laurel Foster. Brock Hanson is a 4th generation local historian whose family lived through the war and documented the historic events with interviews of the various people involved in the war. Laurel Foster is the director of the museum, and has been conducting the museum’s historical tours for 15 years.
The tour will begin in Kaycee at 9:00 AM (with an AM check-in time of 8:30 AM) and ends at approximately 4:00 PM. Lunch is included the ticket price of $100, which must be purchased in advance due to limited space on the bus.
Questions about the tour? Please contact us at 307-738-2381 or info@hoofprintsofthepast.org
The 2025 Johnson County War Tour is full. If you would like to be notified of the 2026 tour date, please complete the Tour Notification Form
Please note: Dogs are not allowed on the tour for any reason.