The Keeper of the Plains

The phenomenal centerpiece of Wichita, on the river right where the Arkansas and the Little Arkansas come together, and accessible from either McLean or Central. This beautiful sculpture is the most famous sight to see in the city as well as one of the most treasured destinations in all of Kansas. The bridges on both sides are astounding to admire and easy to cross and gain access to The Keeper. The circular path surrounding the statue itself has many other artistic tributes to Native American culture and the short walk is even highlighted by wonderful soundscapes that add to the masterful experience. A ring of flames can be seen here nightly as well, which times vary depending on the season and functionality of the fire pots. This area also leads to great walks along the river, which is most breathtaking after the sun is going down. This is one place in Wichita I can recommend to all locals and visitors to check out over and over again.

Definitely worth it to visit The Keeper of the Plains along the ArKansas river near downtown Wichita. We had a family event near Exploration Place so we parked on the Riverside side & walked over the bridge & down to exploration place to meet with our family group. We had not been for several years. And it was a lovely evening to be on the river bank enjoying the stars and the breeze and our family. Free.

We loved this. Nice walking trails and wild life . Near another attraction also.

Beautiful. Relaxing. Iconic. This is a MUST visit when coming to Wichita. Ride your bike here. Walk around. Take in the history by the status. Come at 9pm to watch the fire display. It’s a great place for the family and friends to come hang out. Pack a lunch or come after ice cream. Great place to hang out and get your picture taken with the Keeper in the background, along with the city views. The exploration place is across the street. It’s within walking distance of River Front Stadium (baseball stadium). Delano district nearby. Parking on either side of the bridges! (Exploration place parking has a lot of room) Enjoy!

Beautiful statue and bridge. Easy to access and nice area to explore and learn from the plaques along the wall near the statue.

Very beautiful walking trail along the River ...walk ..run...skate..bike.....hike..scooter...or skip....or just sit and enjoy the buetiful view.....on a buetiful weekend day or any sunny day

Beautiful. Exciting to read about the history. Could clean up the river some seen a lot of trash in it.

Wow. What an experience!! I have wanted to visit here, I live near Cincinnati, for a few years and made it here today!! Such a beautiful statue and tribute to the native Americans that used to live here. The statue itself is breathtaking and the music and panels with information adds to the experience . Free to park and visit.

This is a must visit in Wichita. walking UpTo the Keeper the serene quietness around the Keeper, the hanging bridge, the river, the water what a place. Don't miss this gem. The best time to visit this place is on the nights when lights are on. I visited on a chilly day and hence couldn't spend a lot of time. plan your day accordingly.

Beautiful scenery! Great place for a walk.

Made a trip to Wichita to spend time with my granddaughter. I wish we would have had more time to spend here. It’s absolutely beautiful. A great place to walk, run, enjoy a picnic, ride a bike, take pictures or just relax. There’s little scooters you can rent to ride around on also. Hopefully will make it back to enjoy longer next time.

Absolutely enjoyed my walk around the keeper. Soundscapes music was playing. Very educational. The rivers meeting there with a small damn that was nice. Very peaceful here. There is scooter rental also. I went back at night for the lighting
So beautiful It was warm by the flames. Families sit on the river bank as well. Very well lite area at night and safe

Amazing and relaxing experience while traveling through Witchita. It was a windy day. I couldn't stay for the fire show. But there's always next time. I'm Chumash and Yaqui, so I try to visit places representing the tribes native to the areas I go to. I love to learn more about our different tribes, customs and people. 10/10 would visit again.

Really enjoyed the walk across the bridge. A nice area to enjoy for sure.

This experience is a must! Walking up to the keeper some music can be heard in the distance. It takes you getting closer to realize that the keeper actually has music playing around it. The land in between is also considered sacred which just adds onto the experience. The land sits in between where Little Arkansas and Big Arkansas river meet. It was a hot and humid day but the excitement of seeing the Keeper of the Plains just gave me the jump I needed. The walls around the keeper hold all the history of the place. I would advise also reading up online as well for more details. I went when the sun was overhead during a lunch break and would advise you go when it is much cooler. A point to note is that the ring of fire is not lit during the weekdays. My fellow travelers complained about having to wait for the ring of fire and nothing happened. I believe it is only lit on weekends at 7pm and 9pm. Unfortunately I did not stay over the weekend but I look forward to my next visit to Wichita so I can catch the full show.

We come to walk here nightly. Fire starts at 9pm and lasts 15 minutes. It’s beautiful and culturally significant. If you’re in Wichita, this is a must see!

Absolutely beautiful statue and Native memorial! If you're visiting Wichita it is a very must to see, super romantic as well <3 they turn on the fires around 7PM I believe at least in the cold season, I do believe it changes in the warmer season

I could see it in the far distance from my hotel window, decided to walk and then ended up riding a scooter on the riverside to see it. It did not disappoint. Lovely area with water falls and plenty of spots to walk around and take pics. The area along the river walk has lovely tribute to native Americans. Many little status fountains and structures along the way to keep one entertained. It was a fun walk to get to the statue and fun to hang around it and take pics.

I Love walking across the bridge with my family and our 4 legged fur-babies. I wish other people who brought their dogs would clean up after their pets and keep them on leashes. I would like to see them add a few benches along the river for resting.

There is no reason not to come and get fresh air, quality people watching, and a healthy dose of nature beauty here.

May is a great time to see new geese and duck parents. It's a place for taking pictures, stretching your legs, and teaching children how to approach wildlife from a SAFE distant. Respect the animals and their place when visiting, and you'll have a great time.

Get the Movatics app and rent a bike to get through the park faster. I personally like gliding along while takeing videos.