Things To Do In Excelsior Springs

Kansas City's Ghosts and Gangsters Tour takes thrill-seekers by coach for an authentically spooky look at KC's paranormal and Mafia life. Strap on a proton pack and let an engaging guide tell of the history and hauntstory of landmarks such as the Hotel Savoy, the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi, and St. Mary's Church, which the ghost of Father Henry David Jardine is said to haunt to prove his death wasn't a suicide and his car wasn't a bicycle. In addition to spectral sights, you'll see several worldly Mafioso spots, such as the location of several late-1970s bombings and bullet holes from a 1933 massacre of four police officers and a fugitive at the Union Station railroad depot. Tours, which start at 1300 W. 12th Street, are held by reservation on Friday nights and Saturday nights from 6 p.m.–9 p.m. and 9 p.m.–12 a.m.

Each autumn, friends and families meander through the twists and turns of the 25-acre Liberty Corn Maze, whose GPS-precision-cut design changes every year. This year’s design, which commemorates World War One and our nation's soldiers, is actually composed of four separate mazes, each dotted with nefarious twists and turns. Visitors set off down 50-inch-wide trails lined with tall, swaying stalks, armed only with a map, their wits, and a lion sidekick whose fear makes them strong. Along the way, bridges lift travelers above the stalks and give them a bird’s-eye view of their surroundings. Friendly staffers keep guests on the right trail and help locate lost friends and family members. For young ones, a separate three-foot-high soybean maze provides entertainment while keeping kids within view at all times.

On Tuesday nights, Crossfire Recreation Center’s range masters close things to the public and begin setting up a bowling-pin shoot. After registering for the tournament-style competition, marksmen approach the range, prepare to draw from their holsters or low ready positions, and wait for the buzzer. When it sounds, competitors get 30 seconds to flatten five bowling pins set up 25 feet away.

At all other times, Crossfire’s 10-lane, 75-foot indoor range—rated for most handgun cartridges that are shot or thrown at less than 2,000 feet per second—welcomes guests to hone their marksmanship or train for the next bowling-pin shoot. The range’s cable system positions targets that include both standard and zombie silhouettes. Four instructors uphold the training standards of the NRA, teaching classes from the NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course to private marksmanship sessions. For shooters who frequent the range twice a month or more, Crossfire’s staff offers them reduced rates through membership options. Crossfire shares a building with Arms Mart, a pro shop with an onsite gunsmith.

Boasting a combined resumé of 75 years of experience and more than 16,000 jumps, the members of Falcon Skydiving Team show off their aerial skills at exhibitions all over the states. They kicked off the US promotion of the latest Pokémon products with a whirling dive and perform as a highlight of the Richards-Gebaur air show. When not free-falling for audiences, they take up passengers with them and teach them the basics during tandem dives.

Diamond Bowl, a refreshing fusion of bowling alley and robust restaurant, serves as a hangout for pin-battering rollers hungry for lane-thundering action and thirsty for food. Games ($5) on Diamond’s eight lanes keep hook-happy fingers limber, and shoes ($3) safeguard feet from toe-stomping sore losers. Follow up your fourth turkey with tangible foodstuffs from Diamond's full menu, such as the blackened-salmon sandwich on a kaiser roll ($7.99), the well-rounded bowling burger ($7.49), or the crispy chicken-tender salad ($8.99). Serious contenders can take a break from finger calisthenics to enroll in one of Diamond Bowl's leagues, and casual players can pair their match play with drinks from Diamond’s fully stocked bar, or they can watch a less phalange-intensive sport on one of nine crystalline HD TVs. Hourly games are also available.

Kansas City Royals

MVPs, Gold Gloves, and a World Series title pepper more than 40 years of Kansas City Royals history, replete with powerful pitches and bat-cracking home runs. The recently renovated Kauffman Stadium treats visitors to a giant high-definition video board, which wears a 40-foot crown and waves a scepter made of massive glow sticks. During breaks in the action, fans can visit concessions stands, play mini golf in the outfield experience, or count each of the stadium’s 37,903 seats. Open until the top of the eighth inning, a 7,000-square-foot Hall of Fame guides guests through a maze of memorabilia, including photos of Royals past and perfume-scented love notes to the Royals of the future.