Credit: Strataca
By Richard Shank
Strataca, Kansas Underground Salt Museum will hold its third annual Block Party this Saturday from 7 p.m.-11 p.m. in the attraction’s parking lot at 3650 East Avenue G.
Strataca Director of Operations Rachel Terry said the first Block Party was held in 2023 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Hutchinson salt mine, and was originally intended to be a one-time event.
The mine’s grand opening on June 23, 1923, is one of Hutchinson’s most historic events. President Warren G. Harding made an appearance and delivered a speech at the event.
Terry said approximately 2,000 attended the first Block Party, exceeding all expectations, so staff decided to host a second annual last year, which attracted a crowd of 3,000. If all goes as planned, the Strataca Block Party will be a permanent yearly event in Hutchinson.
Terry joined Strataca in 2021 and was elevated to Director of Operations on April 3, 2024.
“Eighty percent of our visitors reside in states outside Kansas,” Terry said. “We have a large number of visitors from Texas and the Chicago area. And, others from throughout the world visit Strataca each year.”
Terry said there would be something of interest for people of all ages at the Block Party.
“Twelve food vendors will be on-site to satisfy all food cravings,” Terry said with a hearty laugh.
Organizations and groups participating will include Hutchinson’s Fire Department, which will have a fire truck parked on site with firefighters available to talk to anyone attending. The Hutchinson Zoo will bring an assortment of animals, and the Animal Shelter will provide families the opportunity to meet up with pets they may wish to adopt. Inflatables will be available for children to walk through. A booth will provide children with face painting, and adults can try their luck in an axe-throwing event.
“Families, if they wish, are invited to bring their own pets to the Block Party,” Terry said.
Adults can stop by a Beer Garden to consume their favorite adult beverage. Two live bands with a DJ will serenade the attendees throughout the evening.
As the sun sets and darkness takes over, a fireworks celebration will end the evening. “We encourage all those planning to attend to bring a lawn chair,” Terry said. “Also, since parking will be limited for a large audience, we suggest you carpool, if possible.” Admittance to the event will be free.
“This will be a fun evening, and we hope everyone will have a good time,” Terry said. “Some people are calling the Strataca Block Party a kickoff to summer.”
Strataca opened its doors May 1, 2007. There are 14 other salt mines in the United States, but Strataca is the only one accessible to tourists. The museum is built within one of the world’s largest deposits of rock salt, formed 275 million years ago, and provides the opportunity for tourists to go 650 feet beneath the earth’s surface. More than 60,000 tourists visit Strataca annually.
Three cities, including Hutchinson, are home to underground salt museums, the other two being in Austria and Poland.
