Entry No. 17 — the Wichita file — filed under: roadside oddity
The Lucky Tree (Honking Tree)
A massive cottonwood nearly 150 years old stands alone on the west side of K-96 between the Bentley and Maize Road exits, and generations of drivers honk as they pass for good luck, a ritual reportedly started by Hutchinson High students who honk four times and lift their feet. It has its own Facebook following and was saved from a 1990s highway reroute.
The move: Drive out toward Maize, roll down the windows, honk four times and lift your feet off the floorboard together as you pass the lone tree, then loop back for a photo.
📍 Before you go It sits alone on the west side of K-96 between the Bentley Road and Maize Road exits, around mile markers 275.8 to 276, so a northbound pass puts it on your side of the divided highway. There's no shoulder, pull-off, or parking here, so treat this as a drive-by and loop back via an exit for a second run or a photo from a safe spot. Daylight is best, and the cottonwood looks fullest from late spring through summer; it's bare in winter. Drive attentively, honk courteously, and pair it with a swing through Maize.
- 📍 Northwest Wichita (K-96 near Maize)
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Hours: Viewable anytime while driving K-96; west side between the Bentley and Maize Road exits (around mile markers 275.8-276).
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: kmuw.org · Facebook
last checked: 2026-06-06