Roads end at South Galveston Street. Open all year.  Built in 1870 to draw fresh water for the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railway steam locomotives and later for the Atchison Topeka Santa Fe Railway's steam locomotives, this 45-acre lake was deeded by the Santa Fe Railway to the city as a New Years gift in 1954. Prior to being deeded to the city, by some sort of lease arrangement, it became the water supply for the entire town until 1900 when the the new municipal water lake was puts into service. 

During the depression years, the old lake was seized by a group of volunteers and huge amounts of fish were distributed among those who hardly knew where their next meal was to come from. After the Santa Fe Railway discontinued use of the old lake, for years its served no practical use. In April 1, 1957, public fishing opened at the lake. The Cherryvale News, April 28, 1881, stated: "Last week the fish commissioner for this state, Mr. Long, put 10,000 fish in the lake south of town."

It is now part of Cherryvale's Recreation Commission with three baseball fields, a pitching batting cage, basketball and tennis courts, playground and a picnic shelter with fire pit. The commission organizes youth baseball, softball, football, and basketball leagues each season. Tanko Lake is still an ideal fishing spot for young and old alike with its fishing berms and a small boat ramp. The National Guard has built a bridge to the island for added fishing access. But largemouth bass under 18 inches and channel catfish under 15 inches must be returned into the water. Guests at the lake can enjoy the migratory waterfowl which make the lake a regular stop on their mysterious seasonal journeys. Sometimes "Tanko" even provides an ideal skating place. 

If you come to town and can not find that person at home during summer evenings, chances are they will be enjoying the cool breeze from the lake with their family, friends and neighbors creating cherished memories with their children, grandchildren and neighbor's children engaging in some wholesome entertainment or relaxation. Overnight Camping, Swimming, Firearms and Hunting are prohibited at Tanko Lake. © 2000-2005 Wayne Hallowell
 

Lakeview Country Club & Resort, Cherryvale   

Open to the public.  Located two miles southeast of downtown Cherryvale, the Lakeview Country Golf Club & Resort is on 150-arcres, with a 50-acre fresh water lake that was at one time Cherryvale's municipal waterworks. It is open 7 days a week, with a  9-hole golf course featuring a putting green, driving range and pro shop. Golf pro Paul Hamby will give you golf lessons and will organize regular scrambles, tournaments and seasonal leagues. United States Golf Association rules governs all playing. Monthly, at dusk during the summer, glow golf balls provide night golf featuring 2-man scramble with a "Shotgun Start." Prize monies are paid out to low and middle team, 100% prize money paid out. Golf car rentals and storage are available there. Boat rentals, fishing, swimming, camping, picnicking, hiking, horse rentals, and RV parking is provided around the lake. There are 8 sites with electrical/water hook-ups and additional spaces are available around the lake without utilities.

The Expressions Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and carry outs. Nightly entertainment and dancing is enjoyed along with a full bar. Utilizing its 8-page menu, the restaurant also specializes in banquets, receptions, buffets, church functions, office and company parties, club meetings, family reunions, anniversaries, birthdays and any kind of dances. Information on both the golf course and restaurant can be obtained by phone 888 522-2582 or 620 336-3020 or E-mail: lakeview@horizon.hit.net. Kansas fishing licenses, and boat permits are required. Hunting and firearms are prohibited at the resort.
  

Elk City Reservoir, Elk City  

Open year-round.  Operated by the Army Corp of Engineers, this tranquil reservoir in the Osage Questas of southeastern Kansas, is located 19-miles west of Cherryvale off Highway 160 and is well known among fishermen and hunters. It forms a lake featuring a shoreline nearly 50-miles in length. Elk City Lake offers a wide variety of other outdoor recreation, camping, picnicking, sightseeing, swimming, boating, water skiing, hiking, and wildlife spotting for one to come and enjoy. The huge pileated woodpecker is common among the mature trees. A myriad of wild mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates add greatly to the vitality and natural heritage of the area. Wintering waterfowl feeding in the wildlife refuge provides spectacular viewing in spring and late fall.

Camping, RVing, Picnicking & Swimming: Paved access roads lead into four attractive park areas maintained both by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks with picnicking and camping sites both with and without electricity. Card Creek Park and Oak Ridge offer one-lane boat launching ramps and included swimming areas, water hydrants, sanitary facilities, fireplaces, and group shelters. Primitive as well as modern camp sites are also available.

Fishing: Season Open Year-Round.  Excellent opportunities for fishing are provided by both the state of Kansas and the Corps with a combined total of 8,450 acres of surface water. Principal species include white crappie, wipers, white bass, largemouth bass, saugeye, channel catfish, flathead and various sunfish. In May of 1998, a 123-pound, 61 inch flathead was caught there. The handicap access fishing dock is located within the state park area. Fishing tournaments are welcome. There are numerous underwater hazards for boaters to be especially watchful for. All boaters must wear life jackets and make sure someone is aware of where you are. 

Hunting: Seasonal October through Mid-March. The US Army Corps of Engineers oversees 1,600 acres for wildlife purposes. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has a license to approximately 12,240 acres of project area for wildlife management and public hunting on the east shore. Almost all areas are open for public hunting except around the developed recreational areas, the dams, control structures and the water fowl fefuge. These open areas are marked with "Public Hunting Area" signs and have gravel, township, and county dirt roads providing necessary access. Rifles, shotguns, handguns, primitive firearms, and bows and arrows can be used in designated hunting areas.

Primary species hunted are whitetail deer, bobwhite quail, cottontail rabbit, morning dove, fox and gray squirrel, prairie chickens, and a variety of species of duck and geese. Only temporary duck blinds are authorized and must be removed after each days use. Wild turkeys were reintroduced into the area in 1953, and their numbers have grown over the years. The surrounding expanses of grass and wooded hillsides support some of the best quail populations in Kansas. Common furbearers include beaver, raccoon, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, opossum, mink, and muskrat. A portion of the state park is open to shot gun pellets and archery hunting only. Kansas fishing licenses, boat permits, hunting licenses and maps are available at the project office.

Backpacking and Hiking: The lake is well known for its six scenic trails. The area has many habitat types, which support a variety of wildlife. These trails meander through the colorful oak and hickory forest surrounding the lake dominated with vegetation consisting of big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass and switchgrass and other plants associated with the bluestem prairie. A prominent feature of the landscape is the precipitous rock bluff of limestone known as Table Mound. Wind and erosion have created many scenic vistas on the bluffs along the park's northern border and lead the hiker through some of the most interesting rock formation in Kansas. In the spring and fall, three trails are alive with an abundance of vivid colors. The trails range from a one-mile all-weather/handicap accessible trail to a 15-mile scenic trail offering spectacular opportunity to view various wildlife species and for the nature enthusiast to enjoy wonderful views. Two of the hiking trails are noted for being the first trails in the state of Kansas to receive the National Trails designation. © 2000-2005 Wayne Hallowell

The lake is a project of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Inquires regarding  its use are welcomed at the reservoir's Project Office, phone 620 336-2741, Fax 620 336-3903, web site www.swt.usace.army.mil/res/re[t.html. State Park Office, 620 331-6295. Hunting and fishing regulations are provided by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Order brochures and purchase licenses on line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, www.kdwp.state.ks.us.
 

You know you're in a small town when you are given directions to turn left where the big oak tree use to be...