Entry No. 78 — the Wichita file — filed under: outdoor

Keeper of the Plains Ring of Fire

At the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers, a 44-foot Cor-Ten steel statue stands on a stone promontory reachable by two bow-and-arrow-inspired cable bridges. Most nights, five fire drums set on boulders at the statue's feet are lit by hand and burn for about 15 minutes, ringing the Keeper in flame against the dark. It is free, brief, and weather-dependent, lit at 9 p.m. in summer and 7 p.m. in winter.

The move: Walk out across one of the cable bridges at dusk and stand at the base of the statue to watch the five fire drums get lit and burn for fifteen minutes.

📍 Before you go Ring of Fire is lit manually and skipped in high wind, rain, high river levels, or if people/geese are too close. Summer 9-9:15 p.m., winter 7-7:15 p.m.

• 📍 Downtown / Riverfront
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Keeper of the Plains Plaza, 650 N Seneca St, Wichita, KS 67203

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23