Our club was founded in May of 1980 for the purpose of "preserving our heritage", and to teach children how their forefathers lived, to promote good sportsmanship, respect for other hunters and their property, and the care of and respect for weapons.

    Currently, the club is located near the town of Florence, Kansas. The property lies between the Cottonwood River and Doyle Creek where it is said that Indians once camped. We have been told that it is one of the most beautiful rendezvous sites in Kansas! We have held a rendezvous and shooting and hawk contest at this area for six consecutive years during the Labor Day Weekend. For the past several years we have participated in the Labor Day Parade in downtown Florence , much to the enjoyment of the crowd and ourselves as well! We will hold our seventh annual event on Labor Day Weekend in 2002 and welcome all participants and campers. We have had an excellent response and a ton of fun!

Club History

    An area Resident, Larry LaLouette (Wapiti), wanted to introduce the Mountain Man Rendezvous setting and a Black Powder shooting contest to the Florence Area. A few other area residents joined his enthusiasm and decided the rendezvous should be held as part of the Florence Labor Day weekend activities. Larry joined the Smokey Valley Long Rifle & Pistol Club and with a handful of members sponsored the 1st Annual Florence Labor day Rendezvous & Shoot. One member brought a tipi and three lodges, a Texas friend brought a lodge (along with his shooting and rendezvous experience) and some brave people from Abilene set up camp. The word got out and we had area participants and drew a crowd of spectators with everyone having a good time. Wapiti then leased a site for two years on the outskirts of Florence, Kansas, where the Cottonwood and Doyle Rivers meet, so that the club would have a place to meet and hold their events. The membership grew and many people helped make the campsite what it is today. In 1999, a new club was formed calling itself the Flint Hills Muzzle Loaders, Inc., which has approximately 40 adult members. Club meetings are held the 3rd full weekend of each month. We held our 4th Annual Labor Day Rendezvous with almost 100 shooters in the rifle contest and over 60 camps. We are in the process of reorganizing our efforts so that next years rendezvous is the best yet.

Directions

  The rendezvous is located near Florence Kansas, 26 miles East of Newton on Highway 50. Turn South on Highway 77 off of Highway 50, next to the Florence water tower. This will empty onto West 5th Street, with the water tower on the East side of W. 5th Street. Go South on W. 5th Street 0.5miles to Main Street. Go West on Main Street 0.2 miles over a small hill and over two railroad tracks. Turn South immediately after the second tracks onto a gravel road with a large sign that says "City of Florence Burn Site". Proceed South past the sign and you'll be there!

For Information Call:
Robert Konarik: (620) 924-5533
Roy Hager: (620) 878-4267

Read about our Labor Day Rendezvous!

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