The Honking Tree
If you live or have lived west of Wichita, Kansas, then you might recognize this tree that grows on the south side of K96, a couple of miles west of the Maize exit.
Some locals refer to it as the “Honking Tree.” Others remember late nights of drinking beer when a pit stop was required in order to empty full bladders. They called it the “Peeing Tree.”
Still others recall it as “The Ten-Mile Tree,” and “The Kissing Tree.”
I’m a writer and author who is currently developing a workshop on the topic, “Memoir Writing.”
While I’ve written a police memoir, people use their memories to write in many genres–poetry, prose, posts, etc.
I’m asking for help from readers like you. Do you know the Honking Tree? Do you have any memories to share with me? I just had a friend reply to a Facebook post. He said that his family used to honk as they drove by the tree until he was in college. He also said that he was “a superstitious regular.”
If you don’t know the Honking Tree, you can still be a big help to me. Do you have a memory to share? Or, do you have an interesting superstitious memory? I’m curious.
If you’d like to participate in this inquiry, you can respond to this post via smailmail, email, Facebook, or Messenger. Please include contact information.
Jim Potter, PO Box, Hutchinson, KS, 67504-1172; jim@copintheclassroom.com; 620-899-3144.
I continue to share many of my memories on my website, blog, and podcast.
What’s one of your memories?
Until next time, happy writing and reading!
Good luck, Jim. You should find some very interesting stories and experiences doing this type of research. Look forward to reading your next project.
Thanks for your encouragement! Just heard that one person referred to the landmark as “The Ten Mile Tree,” while another said, “We called it ‘The Kissing Tree'”.
When we moved here in 1980 we knew we were moving to prairie flatlands. Every other state we had lived in had many trees in an
extensive variety of species and ages. We were told that along the drive to Wichita there was ONE tree and the tradition was to pay it homage and recognition by honking. So we did. If we got distracted by cars, the kids would be sure to let us know as it was approaching.
Lois, what a beautifully written contribution to the conversation! Yes, we are a special plains people in that we revere a single tree, one we find remarkable. Jim
Attached is something Author Steve Miller wrote for his book, Huddle Up Hutch: A History of Salthawk Football, 1902-2016.
The link I was given to Steve Miller’s exceptional book shares some history of “The Good Luck Tree.” When Steve was a first-year assistant football coach for Hutchinson High School, the bus driver carrying the football team to Wichita’s North HS suddenly laid on the horn for a series of honks. Steven wondered what was going on as everyone on the bus was looking out the windows on the right side of the bus. He soon learned that all the sports teams honked at the tree for good luck. The football teams honked seven times, probably because a touchdown and extra point is worth seven points.
I cannot believe what I learned today. I’ve checked it out. It really exists. There’s a Facebook group page that focuses on the Good Luck Tree. It has over 5,000 followers! That’s right! It’s called “We always honk at the lucky tree outside of Wichita!” Here’s the address: https://www.facebook.com/groups/107305225956210/
First I have heard of this tree, but I am commenting to follow along!
Tracy, I’m gathering examples of people’s memories and then in the workshop I’ll transition from memories to memoirs. Stay tuned! Jim
I’ve heard that this was a post office tree during the time the land was being settled by pioneers. IOW, travelers through the area left messages here for other travelers. Only a highly visible landmark tree would have worked well for a post office.
Within the last decade, when my mother had heart surgery in Wichita, we learned over many trips to and from the hospital there exactly how many minutes of travel time we had left when we reached the honking tree on our way to the hospital. I presume this landmark has served a similar purpose for others who frequently travel this route. For our family, this time marker was a new “use” for the honking tree.
I’m looking forward to the memoir instruction.
Sure makes me wonder about the age of the tree. Now you’ve got me wondering about post offices or at least places letters were dropped off and picked up.
I love trees. Trees are where I find my solace. Everyone knows my deep sadness when one has to be brought down. Especially the Cottonwood tree which, with the leaves’ movement in the breeze, whispers comfort, shouts mirth, and bears its massive trunk and huge branches – steadfastly anchored by deep roots in the earth. So this beloved tree caught my attention early in life and I named it the kissing tree long before I was aware of the fact that it was famous. Little by little I realized it was a favorite of many people.
My ritual is to honk six times – once for each of my grandchildren. When they came to visit from the west coast and from the east coast, I told them it was known as a famous tree – in fact if they would google “Honking Tree” they didn’t even have to tell the world wide web a location, and it would pop up.
So yes, I love that tree. By comparing the size of the trunk to some that have fallen on our property (we counted rings) it could be 200 years old. Maybe it was a seedling nearly a half century before Kansas’ statehood!
Karen, thank you for sharing your love of trees! It’s also quite evident that you are an excellent writer as you communicate passionately. Now I know another reason, another story, of why a driver might honk six, not seven times. Also, I’m beginning to believe that the Honking Tree can really be older than Kansas Statehood. Just amazing. Jim
If you’re not a member of the Kansas Authors Club, you ought to be.
I just learned another name for the Honking Tree or Good Luck Tree or Kissing Tree or Ten-Mile Tree. Some people, especially those on the way to casinos, call it the Bingo Tree.
Our tree even got politicians involved to help save its life! Back when K-96 was being expanded into a four-lane highway, Jan Pauls, D-Hutchinson at the time, fought in Topeka to get a Safe Tree Order so that the tree would be protected and the highway would go around it. Pauls knew how important the tree was to her constituents.
TRESS by Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)
I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast:
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
“Trees” was originally published in Trees and Other Poems. Joyce Kilmer. New York: George H. Doran Co., 1914
I can remember it being called The Wishing Tree. I was 5 years old. I can remember Mom and Dad putting us 10 kids plus my parents in the car here in Hutchinson. We would drive to Wichita to see my grandma Johnson. When we would get close to The Wishing Tree, my Dad would say we’re almost to the Wishing Tree. So the car was so quiet that we could hear a pin drop with each one of us making our Wish before passing. When I got married I told my 2 kids the same thing. Then I asked my dad why we would always say a Wish at The Wishing Tree. Dad smiled and said, that was the only few seconds that mom and l had peace and quiet in the car. And now I’m 67 yrs. old and still saying it.
Barbara, I love this! You have passed this on to another generation for sure. Do you remember any of your wishes?
“The wishing tree” — I like that the very best!
It’s going to be my wishing tree from now on!
Yes, I much prefer the Wishing Tree.