Rick Andrews, rural Lawrence, believes he has something lots of Lawrence residents want but can’t afford — a piece of the country.

Andrews, along with several family members, in November bought the former Coal Creek Stables, 1676 N. 1000 Road, about eight miles south of Lawrence. The family now is expanding the business to include more than just horse boarding.

“What we’ve got to offer that most people don’t is 175 acres out in the country,” Andrews said. “We’re going to have all types of events. We want people to come out here and learn about the Old West and country living.

“When I was young, everybody wanted to grow up and be a cowboy. We’re going to make it so you can come out here and actually do it.”

The new owners changed the name of the business to Coal Creek Farms and last weekend played host to Wild West Days, which featured cowboy re-enactors, cowboy music, hay rides, cake walks and a chicken-catching contest. The owners plan to make Wild West Days an annual event.

In June the business will add a series of summer camps designed for children in first through fourth grades. The business will offer one-day, two-day and overnight camps, with costs from $50 to $125, running June 2-20. The camps will feature horse riding, gardening, butter churning, corn shucking and a host of traditional farm chores.

“The No. 1 reason we got into this business is because we really wanted to start what we call a farm school,” said Andrews, who grew up on an Iowa farm. “We want to teach kids about the land and the art and science of agriculture. Kids are becoming more detached from agriculture all the time.”

Andrews thinks the idea will take off, especially with Lawrence residents.

Rick Andrews, rural Lawrence, brushes a stallion at Coal Creek Farm. The Andrews family plans to expand business at the farm by offering trail rides and camps for children.

“I think more and more people are wanting to get out in the country, but for most people, especially in Douglas County, it is just not financially feasible to buy this much ground, he said.

“We’ve got enough land that you can go over the hill and think that there is not anybody within 100 miles of you.”

The business will keep its horse boarding operation, which was started by the previous owner about 15 years ago, Andrews said. The business has 38 stables and 60 acres of pasture ground for horses to graze. It also has a small indoor arena and a competition-size outdoor arena. Andrews, his wife and the families of their two sons and daughter also are working on building about three miles of horse trails through the property.

“I think there are a lot of people in Lawrence who would like to have a horse but they don’t have any place to keep it because they live in the city,” Andrews said.

The business charges people $250 a month to board a horse, which includes feeding the horses, daily cleaning of stalls and gives the horse owner access to all the property’s trails.

People who don’t board their horses at the facility can pay $15 a day or $40 a month to use the trails.

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