In 2025 alone, Hutchinson had over 300,000 visitors for the Kansas State Fair and the NJCAA championships. These traditions are close and dear to our hearts and define Hutchinson’s culture.
But as we take in all these visitors, another issue arises: we can’t fit them all. Every September, people arrive with campers because there aren’t enough hotels. Despite the excitement and revenue, there’s a reality we can’t ignore. Hutchinson does not have the hotel capacity to properly host both. Every year, the problem gets worse. Visitors have nowhere to stay. Even ⅓ of basketball teams stay in nearby towns. Some people stop coming altogether.
Back in December 2022, a new hotel was announced to address this issue. It was scheduled for completion by March 2025. But now, in September, that building isn’t close to being finished. And even when it is, it won’t be enough, and $10 million will be wasted.
Critics argue that even with more hotels, Hutchinson still can’t support these events, and, being honest, they’re right. Our city isn’t designed to host hundreds of thousands of visitors in two to three weeks. Pretending we have the infrastructure of Los Angeles or New York only damages the reputation of both events. If this persists, they could even start losing money.
That’s why there’s a clear decision to make: we need to relocate one of these events. Cities like Manhattan or Salina could take on the visitors without the burden of hosting another major event. Hutchinson could then focus on doing one thing well, rather than juggling two and falling short.
There will be backlash. These events are part of what Hutchinson is. But keeping both at the cost of overcrowding risks our legacy more than letting one go with dignity. Forcing both to stay means everything crumbles.
Moving one event is a long-term goal, even if it has short-term harm. The goal is ensuring visitors have a great experience, one that makes them want to return. If we continue ignoring this issue, we risk our tourism and the aura that makes these events so special. Once people stop coming, we are cooked.
So to our leaders and the public: please, on behalf of me and the 40,000 who live here, make this change. We might not want it, but it’s for our own good.
Shelby Harriman—Hutchinson