Located in Eastern South Dakota, the World’s Only Corn Palace makes a great stop on any Interstate 90 road trip. This multi-use center hosts stage shows, concerts and sports events, but it’s worth a stop even when there’s no live entertainment. What sets this venue apart are the corn murals that adorn the outside of the structure. Each year they are stripped down and new murals are created, so even if you’ve seen the corn palace once, it’s still worth a return visit.
Accessible parking is available in nearby lots, with level access over to the front entrance. Inside there’s plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair throughout the venue. A free guided tour, which includes a video that tells the story of the corn palace is available. Afterwards, visitors are free to browse through the historic exhibits at their own pace. And if you visit in the peak summer season, you’ll mostly likely see folks adding new murals to the outside facade. Don’t forget to get your photo taken with the statue of Cornelius, the World’s Only Corn Palace mascot. He’s located across the street form the corn palace — just look for the giant ear of corn!
Barrier-Free Travel Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers
Tickets are now available for the 2025 Symphony in the Flint Hills, which is slated for Saturday June 14, 2025. A eclectic mixture of classical music and cowboy culture, this day-long event celebrates the history, ecology and culture of the last stand of native tallgrass prairie. This years concert will be held at the Evans Family Ranch in Chase County, Kansas. Although the venue changes yearly, great care is always taken to insure this popular event is accessible to wheelchair-users and slow walkers.
Wheelchair Access at 2025 Symphony in the Flint Hills
The Evans Family Ranch is large, and the concert site is located a good distance from the ticket gate. That said, accessible parking will be available to anyone who has a placard, and there will be limited golf cart transportation to the front gate for folks who cannot manage the walk. A special entrance lane will be designated for disabled patrons, where wristbands that allow access to accessible seating and transportation will be available.
Most attendees walk over the rock and dirt covered prairie to the concert site; however accommodations will be in place for folks who can’t manage the walk. A lift-equipped shuttle bus will transport wheelchair-users and slow walkers to the concert site. From there, a separate shuttle will be available to transfer folks with special assistance wristbands between the waiting area, the Patron Tent and the ADA concert area. Accessible porta-potties will also be located throughout the venue.
The Grand Finale
Now in its 20th year, the Symphony in the Flint Hills will celebrate its Grand Finale in 2025. Says Mary Ice, Board Chair of Symphony in the Flint Hills, “This 20th anniversary represents a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, and the many possibilities ahead for sharing our mission.”
Gates will open at 1 PM. During the afternoon, lectures and activities will be presented in the tents near the concert site. There will be level access to all tents, where you’ll also find a silent art auction, adult libations, and a scrumptious BBQ dinner with all the trimmings. The sunset concert is the highlight of the day, but plan to arrive in the early afternoon so you can enjoy the other activities.
You’ll never forget the experience of listening to the music of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra set against the backdrop of the tallgrass prairie. As the sun sets, cowboys appear on horseback on the horizon, and then slowly make their way down to the stage area. And when the show nears an end they ride off into the distance. It’s probably the only symphony performance where you’ll feel comfortable in blue jeans and cowboy boots.
And in keeping with tradition, the performance concludes with a rousing sing along of Home on the Range. Afterwards, guests are welcome to linger on and enjoy the night sky, or maybe listen in on the story circle, or indulge in a little dancing. Whatever you choice, you’ll have a full day of fun on the beautiful Kansas prairie.
Advance tickets are required for the 2025 Symphony in the Flint Hills, and they can be purchased at symphonyintheflinthills.org. Plan ahead though as tickets go like hotcakes, and this popular event always sells out.
Barrier-Free Travel 22 Accessible Road Trips for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Although Memorial Day is celebrated in a variety of ways across the country, the Eastern Sierra town of Bishop marks this traditional beginning of summer with Bishop Mule Days (muledays.org). This annual event, which promotes the heritage, legacy and talents of mules; draws mule teams and spectators from across the west, and offers a week filled with fun, festivities and good old fashioned western entertainment. Although the 2025 event technically runs from May 20 to May 26, the highlights of the festivities are the weekend parade and arena events.
Everyone Loves a Parade
20 Mule Team at the Bishop Mule Days Parade
The Bishop Mule Days Parade, which is billed as the world’s longest non-motorized parade, is definitely a crowd favorite. It begins at 10 AM at South and Main Streets and travels north on Main Street. This festive event features mule teams, horses, wagons, bands and lots of mules with costumed riders. You never know quite what you’ll see, as the popular costume contest has a different theme every year.
Accessible parking for the parade is available in front of the Bishop Dog Park, but it’s best to ask the officer at the Main Street road block to direct you to other accessible parking areas. The good news is that the town is pretty flat, so it’s easy to navigate in a wheelchair. The not so good news is that the parade draws a huge crowd, so accessible parking can be difficult to find. The best plan of action is to arrive early for first crack at the accessible parking spots, then have a leisurely breakfast and stake out a place to watch the parade. It’s an extremely popular event, and many locals even save their spots with chairs as early as Friday afternoon.
2025 Bishop Mule Days Rodeo
The bulk of the other events take place at the Tri-County Fairgrounds over the next two days. Accessible parking is available in the fairgrounds parking lot, and a paved level pathway leads from the parking area, around the mule barns to the grandstand. Accessible seating for up to two people is available in Box 1 in the grandstand, and for groups of three or more in the first rows of Sections A and E. It’s best to call (760) 872-4263 and order your tickets as far in advance as possible. Additionally, it’s extremely important to specify that you need accessible seating when you place your order.
The arena events resemble something akin to a mule rodeo, where the packers show off their skills. The whole event is steeped in tradition, as mule packers are a fixture in the Sierras for back country camping, hunting and rescue operations. There are no money prizes for the winners, but the bragging rights are huge.
The Main Events
The Scramble that starts the Individual Packing Event
A variety of different competitions are held in the arena, but here’s a sampling of some of the events you can expect to see.
Timed Packers Choice
Packers lead their mule strings over and around their choice of obstacles in this timed event. Obstacles range from bridges, gates, water hazards and logs. Packers earn one point for each obstacle they navigate successfully.
Coon Jumping
In this event, handlers encourage their mules to jump over a bar from a standstill. The bar is raised until there is one mule left. The contest takes its name from the practice of jumping mules over fences during coon hunts. There’s always a laugh or two during this contest as some mules are very hesitant to jump.
Individual Packing
A variety of objects, including ice chests, washtubs, pots and pans are laid out on the ground. Packers then pack everything on their two mules, cover the load with a tarp, and attempt to race to the finish line without losing anything.
Run, Ride and Lead
In this fast-paced event packers run to their mules which are located on the opposite side of the arena. Next they ride their mules back to the start, then lead the animals back across the arena. In the end, more than one packer usually ends up on the ground.
Team Pack Scramble
One of the highlights of the arena events is the Team Pack Scramble. Packers lead their mule strings into the arena, then unpack and unharness the animals. Cowboys then fire blank shots into the air to disperse the animals. Packers must round up their animals, repack them, assemble their strings, then lead them by horseback out of the arena for a lap around the parking lot. A real crowd pleaser!
Make Plans to Attend!
Although distinctly different from a traditional rodeo, Bishop Mule Days is a fun, family-friendly way to celebrate Memorial Day. Afternoon and evening arena events are held on Saturday and Sunday, and you can get a single ticket or a buy an all-event pass. Get your tickets early though, as this popular event sells out quickly. Don’t miss the 2025 celebration – a tradition that dates back 55 years.
Barrier-Free Travel Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
660 N. Main Street
