Here is a town with a fascinating history. And, yes, it does lay claim to a waterfall (just north of town just downstream of where Mill Street crosses the
Delaware River). The falls, though only a 3 foot drop, were an ample source of mechanical power a mill around which the town, then named Grasshopper, flourished. But a few, serious grasshopper plagues, some devastating fires and a few other misfortunes
aroused the folks to request a name change. The legislature picked a name the residents didn't like so, a few name changes
later, the present name, Valley Falls, won the draw.
This is another of the aberrations you'll find here and there in Kansas. The whole area is heavily wooded. Perry Lake State Park on the west shore of Perry Lake, just south of town, offers fishing, boating, swimming, camping and hunting. A public boat ramp on the
Delaware River near the waterfall provides access to the river and the lake.
How to get there:
From the Kansas Turnpike (I-70) in Topeka:
Take exit 182 and head north on KS-4 to Valley Falls (a little less than 25 miles).
For more information:
