Visit Paola

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     Paola is a charming community with 150 years of history.  It is located about twenty minutes south of the Kansas City metropolitan area on highway #169 in Miami County, the third fastest growing county in Kansas.  Paola is the County Seat for Miami County.

     When visiting Paola be sure to visit our beautiful Historic Downtown Park Square.  In the 1800's the park square was a gathering place for the local Indian tribes, a track for horse racing, parades, celebrations, Patterson Circus performances, and simply a place to spend a great afternoon visiting with friends.  Today the same historic square is used for the Roots Festival in August, special celebrations throughout the year such as the Sesquicentennial Celebration that was held in the summer of 2005.  The Historic Park is also host to the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony with a visit from Santa and carriage rides through the historic streets lined with homes that date back to the early 1800s.

     In the center of our Historic Park Square you will find a picturesque fountain and an enchanting Victorian Gazebo.  The Gazebo has seen many romantic weddings since its early beginnings.  The original Gazebo was actually a Bandstand, and it was built in 1867.  The current Gazebo was designed by architect, George Washburn, and completed in 1913.  On the north and south sides of the Gazebo proudly stand two gas street lanterns.  The lanterns are reproductions of the original Wellsbach gas street lanterns marking the era of Paola's pride when natural gas was discovered in 1882.  Paola was the first town west of the Mississippi to be completely illuminated with gas lighting.

     Paola's Downtown Square is flanked with antique stores, gifts and specialty stores, florists, a special event center for weddings, meetings and parties, great restaurants, and professional offices.  We are very fortunate to have a thriving downtown as well as Baptiste Drive where you also will find retail stores, restaurants, professional services and our local hospital.

• Community Center
• Dance Studios
• Hillsdale Lake
• Hitchin' Post Museum
• Lake Miola
• Lodging
• Louisburg Cider Mill
• Miami County Tourism
• Miami County Fair
• Newspaper
• Paola Aquatic Center
• Paola Rotary Fair Parade
• Recreation
• Roots Festival
• Swan River Museum
• Veterans Memorial
• Wallace Park