About the area |
When the Kansas City, Springfield and Memphis Railroad ran a line through the area around 1882 they chose Thayer as the division point and the town was named Division. A few short years later the name was changed to Augusta, however there was a conflict with the same name and the name subsequently became Thayer in honor of the director of the railroad. Although passenger service to Thayer ended around 1968 but the depot remains and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad runs through town and is a major employer. Now a caboose, next to the McDonalds at US 63 and SR 142, serves as a railroad museum and tourist information center. Sherwood Park has pavilions, tennis courts, basketball courts, an Olympic sized city pool, playground, walking trails, an authentic log home and a rail road caboose on display. The rodeo arena and truck and tractor pull track, near the park, holds events throughout the year. |