Sunset Nature Walk
“Nature is ever at work building and pulling down, creating and destroying, keeping everything whirling and flowing, allowing no rest but in rhythmical motion, chasing everything in endless song out of one beautiful form into another.”
John Muir
Wander these paths and observe how nature has restored the land on which a Poor Farm resided.
The Sunset Nature Walk is a set of paths just north of 11811 S. Sunset Dr. in Olathe. They are designed to encourage the enjoyment of nature and educate visitors on native plants, animals, and ecosystems. These paths wind through woodlands located on property that was, from 18631 to the mid-1940s, the site of the Johnson County Poor Farm. After the Poor Farm was closed, nature began to restore the land to its former natural state.
To understand the magnitude of this restoration, check out the satellite images shown below. The image from 1954 shows very little vegetation compared to that of 2024. While walking the paths, you will see signs pointing out the many native plants that took part in the restoration process. Several signs highlight how individual plants participated.
Of course, there is also a significant amount of invasive species in the woodlands, which interfere with the growth of natural species. Click the links provided to learn more.
We encourage you to experience nature’s restoration project — from developed land to woodlands.
