Missouri Girls Trip - Day 3

 Good morning Kansas City!  

First task is to find breakfast - and coffee.  We are downtown - parking garage below what we think is the right place.

Well, when we came out of the parking garage, things didn't go smoothly and we are in off and on rain to boot.  I took off and went around the block to find someone to get directions from.  Once that was completed, I went back to the others and we found the entrance into the area we wanted.  It still takes a bit and this place would be HOPPING on a weekend night, but we succeed.

While everyone orders, I go on the hunt for coffee for Gwen.  This is NOT an easy task and I'm shocked, to be honest.  It takes me three food places to finally connect.  Wow.

Our final stop in Kansas City is SubTropolis.  We're not 100 per cent sure we can get in, but we're gonna give it a valiant effort.

We've found the entrance - in we go.  No one has stopped us, yet.

Hey - this is pretty cool.  From The Story of SubTropolis:

"Beneath Kansas City's streets lies an unexpected wonder… SubTropolis, the world's largest underground business complex, spanning approximately 9 million square feet in a 270-million-year-old limestone deposit.

Carved out of limestone in the 1940s, this hidden metropolis was the vision of Lamar Hunt, famed founder of the Kansas City Chiefs. Originally a mining site, SubTropolis has become an essential part of Kansas City’s economic landscape.

The origins of SubTropolis date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when extensive limestone mining operations supported Kansas City's rapid expansion. When demand for limestone dwindled, the vast network of tunnels left behind presented a unique opportunity. 

Recognizing the potential of these naturally climate-controlled spaces, Hunt transformed the old mines into a modern underground city, officially opening SubTropolis in the 1960s."

"SubTropolis quickly attracted a range of tenants, including major companies like Ford Motors, Pillsbury, and Russell Stover. Ford, for instance, uses the underground space to store vehicles and customize truck beds in a controlled environment. In the early 1970s, ​Ford leased 25 acres of underground space​ to store thousands of unsold vehicles until they could be sold. 

The stable temperature of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit makes it ideal for preserving delicate items, such as original film reels of Hollywood classics like "Gone with the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz," stored deep within SubTropolis. The US Postal Service and the National Archives also lease space in the naturally climate controlled space."

Covering an area large enough to fit 42 Arrowhead Stadiums, SubTropolis is a marvel of modern engineering. Over 10 miles of paved roads crisscross its tunnels, well-lit by energy-efficient LED lights. 

The limestone walls act as natural insulators, significantly reducing the need for heating and cooling, earning SubTropolis a perfect 100 percent rating from ENERGY STAR®.

Safety and security are paramount in SubTropolis. The limestone pillars supporting the tunnels are six times stronger than concrete, making the complex one of the safest places to be during natural disasters. Security measures include 24/7 surveillance and commissioned officers, essential for the government agencies and high-value tenants housed within the complex.

As SubTropolis continues to evolve, plans for expansion are already underway, with another 8 million square feet of industrial space set to be developed.

What began as an abandoned limestone mine has become a thriving underground city, a testament to Lamar Hunt's ingenuity and resilience.

Time to go --- this was pretty cool.  Honest.

Well, since this is a quilting trip, it wouldn't surprise you if we stop at a quilt shop.  BoLin's Fabric in Smithville.

I spent most of my time here helping Jen with a pair of overalls she wants to make and then a phone call from my daughter.  No purchase by me.

Well - off to Hamilton and more phone calls for me.  I am actually surprised when we arrive as I must have been blind while driving and listening.  We go to the retreat center and discover that we are too early so hunt down a place to eat and that is almost impossible after a certain time on a Monday, but we do manage to sneak in under the wire.  After lunch, we get checked in and set up.  Right inside the door is a schedule of events for us.

Spotted these chair rollers on another person's chair and fell in love with them.  Might have to make a set.

We are set up!  There is a bit of turmoil in the room with the arrival of a large group and we opt to depart for a bit.

There is a brand new Bar and Grill in town - Jigs and Gigs Tavern.  We are gonna give it a try.  Gin and tonic time.

AND . . .   crazy good food for pub food.  Everyone loved what they had.  This is a definite "remember" place for next time in Hamilton.  That's it for our day - tomorrow the quilt fun begins.  For now, sleeping is the plan.