Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper

The Prairie Rose Chuckwagon is well worth the drive out to Benton from Wichita, Andover, El Dorado, and any of the surrounding communities. I was meaning to write a review about this place once I got the chance to see it in warmer weather. The two times I’ve been here (under two different owners), have both been in the winter, and therefore I haven’t had as much of a chance to enjoy the fun attractions that are located on the property. I won’t be able to write about those until an update, which should come soon.
The place has recently changed ownership, and the new owners have tried to keep the essence of the place the same as it used to be, as far as I can tell, although they have added a decidedly religious aspect to the place that wasn’t there before. The new owner has expressed that he wants the Chuckwagon to become a cowboy church over time. If you aren’t religious, don’t let that stop you, because you’ll still have a good time.
When I was here this past February, the overall feel of the place was the same as it had been a couple of years before that. The Hopalong Cassidy museum is still there, and the theater is still in use, although I believe a lot of the original pieces in the museum are no longer there. If anyone else knows different, please correct me! This place is good for groups and office parties looking for a less formal, more interactive special occasion event.
The easiest way to experience this is to make a reservation for the dinner and show, held in the Opera House, and then come a bit early to explore the grounds a bit. The tickets for the dinner run right about $ 30, but you get as much food as you can eat, and a dinner show as well. Before dinner, there’s a prayer and everyone says the Pledge of Allegiance. I found this to be a little bit quaint, since I hadn’t said the pledge since elementary school, but it was sort of nice.
The food is awesome, and is just like I remember it. Brisket, real sausage, cornbread rolls, baked beans, and new potatoes. Everything was fantastic, and I’m especially a fan of the brisket. The performers serve as waiters before the show, and each one comes around and makes sure you have enough, and if you want anymore, just be prepared to have your rolls thrown at you (seriously, this happens)!
After dinner, the show begins, performed by the Prairie Rose Rangers (not to be confused with the Prairie Rose Wranglers, who used to perform here. I believe they now perform at Cowtown under a different name). It’s a typical western production, with great cowboy songs, a bit of comedy thrown in, and a bit of gospel to round out the show. My best friend plays the fiddle for them, and can attest to the fact that while they’re still growing and developing as a musical group, they are dedicated and very talented. They mix the comedy well with the more sober numbers, and at one point, during the «pony ride,» I was rolling in the aisles. That’s got to be the funniest part of the show. Just go and you’ll get what I’m talking about.
The place is a bit different than it was a couple of years ago, but it’s managed to maintain the western spirit that makes the place so unique. It’s still working to define itself, but that makes the experience all the more interesting, I’d like to think.