Exploration Place – In March 2024, Exploration Place broke ground on a 1,500-capacity amphitheater, which will overlook the Keeper of the Plains on the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita. It is designed to host droFne shows and other outdoor events and is expected to open this fall in time to host the Drone Light Festival from Sept. 20-22. The amphitheater is part of a five-year strategic plan to capitalize on Exploration Place’s location along the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita.
Also in March of this year, Exploration Place announced Textron Aviation as the naming sponsor of the largest attraction at the heart of the museum’s expansive new outdoor “destination playscape” project, the Textron Aviation Flight Adventure. The new exhibition is anticipated to open in the fall of 2025.
The Textron Aviation Flight Adventure features a Beechcraft Staggerwing biplane sculpture atop a towering control tower and an explorable Cessna Citation business jet, not only designed for climbing and play, but also to ignite visitors’ imaginations and foster a sense of wonder in aviation. The aircraft serve as a testament to the state’s rich aviation heritage and promise of a continued bright future in advanced aviation manufacturing.
In 2023, Exploration Place welcomed 403,543 visitors. With the arrival of the envisioned destination playscape spanning across 6.5 acres, it is anticipated that Exploration Place will soar to an annual count of 1 million visitors, amplifying the impact and reach of Textron Aviation.
Tap N Paddles – Two Kansas natives and pickleball fanatics are opening an all-new pickleball facility in summer 2024, which will be located near Aloft Wichita Northeast. The facility will include 12 professional level courts, a full restaurant and bar, an indoor event space and more.
Elsewhere Festival and Conference – Wichita will be the location for the first-ever Elsewhere Festival and Conference. Produced by Midtopia, the event is set for June 21 and 22. The genre-agnostic festival will feature performances from Killer Mike, Lane 8, Vince Staples, Steve Aoki, Snow Tha Product, BADBADNOTGOOD, Sudan Archives and more. Many local Wichita venues will host festival and conference programming throughout the event, with one free stage open to the public. The festival will also include various art experiences, an immersive light and sound stage and will act as a platform for community-based artists of all kinds. Part of what distinguishes the event is its community focus—specifically within the Midwest, a region often overlooked despite its vast influence and vibrant musical history.
Sedgwick County Zoo – Kansas’ most-visited attraction, the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, expects to welcome five baby African elephants in 2025. If five current elephant pregnancies are successful in 2025, Wichita's zoo would be the first accredited zoo in the U.S. to have five elephant births in one year. Elephant pregnancies last 22 to 24 months, potential births are anticipated at the end of spring 2025 into next summer.
Fitness Court® – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS), Wichita Park & Recreation and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) partnered to develop and open an outdoor Fitness Court® at Pat Garcia Veterans Memorial Park in Wichita. The Fitness Court, which opened May 10, 2024, was developed by the three organizations to expand free access to high quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise for communities around the state. The Fitness Court is the world’s best outdoor gym that lets people use their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations and will be a great option for visitors looking to stay active while traveling. Created with people aged 14 and older and with all abilities in mind, the workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users also may download the free Fitness Court App which acts as a coach-in-your-pocket and enhances the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience.
NBC World Series – The National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series is celebrating its 90th Anniversary in 2024. Since 1935, the NBC World Series has been bringing a one-of-a-kind baseball experience to Wichita. The 2024 event will take place July 25-Aug. 3 at Wichita State University’s Eck Stadium. The series is an opportunity to watch baseball stars and experience this 90-year-old baseball tradition that has brought talent like Ozzie Smith, Mark Teixeira, Barry Bonds, Joe Carter and more to the NBC World Series.
Barks & Brews – The first off-leash, indoor/outdoor dog park and bar, Barks & Brews, has opened in Wichita. The new attraction allows humans to enjoy adult beverages while their dogs play in an off-leash park. In order to keep both human and canine visitors safe, those who want to visit the business must have a membership, which requires up-to-date vaccination records. People can choose from annual or monthly memberships, or they can pay per visit.
Broadway Plaza AC Marriott is underway in Wichita’s historic Broadway Plaza, located at Douglas Avenue and Broadway Street in downtown Wichita. The hotel is being developed in conjunction with the Kansas Health Science Center - Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and is expected to have 118 rooms. Developers plan to blend modern aesthetics with the building’s unique, historic elements. The 11-story hotel will feature a ground-floor bar that will be open to the public and a covered entryway for valet parking.
The Derby Shores – Construction is set to begin summer 2024 on The Derby Shores, a 4.5-acre, $160 million project in Derby, Kansas, located southeast of Wichita. The attraction is expected to include a man-made lagoon, hotel, rock-climbing facility, waterslides, beach volleyball courts, waterfront restaurants and more.
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