disKCovery

Published August 31, 2021

While my heart is always in Kansas City, and disKCovery was founded to share my love affair with this city, my feet often take me outside of this city. After a year that was largely without travel, I am making up for lost time. #nomaDD provides an opportunity for me to write about the places that I visit outside of our wonderful city. Over the course of the next few weeks, I will provide a recap of my summer travels. At the conclusion of “A Walk In The Parks”, I will get back to my number one priority - helping you, and others, discover the best of KC.

All factors held equal, I would always travel by train if I could. While cost, convenience, and time are usually the primary factors in how I choose to travel, rail is, without question, my favorite form of transportation.

Unfortunately, in the Midwest, options to travel anywhere by Amtrak are few and far between. And, even when they do exist - who has the time?

Regardless, I had long dreamt of taking a cross-country Amtrak trip that would cover at least 1,000 miles. Like most Americans, I also dream of visiting all fifty U.S. states (as of this article, only two remain!). In the winter of 2018, the perfect storm created by this very specific combination of goals gave way to my recent affinity for our country’s national parks.

As I often do around the holidays, I look forward to the coming year and where I want to travel. As 2019 approached, I had a wealth of Amtrak points and I started looking at Amtrak routes that would help me visit a new state or two that would overlap with a worthwhile destination. As I played around with Google Maps, a really obvious destination presented itself that would allow me to travel to two new states via the rail - Glacier National Park in Montana.

I knew this would not be a trip that I wanted to take solo. My brother Connor and I had always talked about doing some traveling together and he was excited by the idea of Montana. So in June of 2019, we flew to Spokane, Washington and made our way from Spokane to Glacier National Park (where we spent four days) to Minot, North Dakota to St. Paul, Minnesota all via Amtrak.

Not only was this a transformative trip for the two of us but it sparked an annual tradition of Connor and I visiting a national park. In the summer of 2020, at the height of COVID-19, we opted for a place we could drive to and socially distance, so we visited the Badlands in South Dakota, along with a couple other pit stops.

As this year rolled around and the world began to open up, Connor and I were anxious to continue our newfound tradition of visiting a new national park each summer. Around the time we were starting to finalize some destinations this past March, Southwest Airlines announced they were opening routes to Bozeman, Montana. We saw the super affordable introductory flights (less than $200 roundtrip from KC) as a sign that it was time to visit two parks at the top of our collective list - Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

And so, at the beginning of June, Connor and I boarded a flight to Bozeman, anxious to conquer some new parks.

Days 1 & 2

After a night in Bozeman, we picked up our rental car* and were excited to visit the first park of our ten day trip. The first park was not a national park, or even a state park, but instead was a minor league ballpark. Connor and I were making a slight detour and headed to Melaleuca Field, home of the Idaho Falls Chukars.

Since 1940, the Idaho Falls Chukars have existed, under one name or another, and are the only professional sports team in eastern Idaho. A member of the Pioneer League, this independent baseball team has played at their current home since 2007.

At this point in the story, I know exactly what you are thinking. “Why in the world would they go an hour out of the way to catch a minor league ballgame in Idaho Falls?” Those who know me may point to my affinity for baseball or my own personal history with minor league sports but the real reason that we went, is because my brother and I are Kansas City Royals’ fans.

From 2004 - 2020, the Chukars were an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. However, while seeing a game at the field where the likes of Salvador Perez, Mike Moustakas, and Eric Hosmer came into their own was a perk - the main reason we were going was in the hopes of meeting the new Chukars’ Hitting Coach - Billy Butler.

Beloved by Royals’ fans to this day, the All-Star Designated Hitter known as “Country Breakfast”^ spent eight seasons in Kansas City. One of the few bright spots in those KC lineups of the 2000s, Butler was a pivotal part of the team that won the 2014 American League Pennant. Many in Kansas City will forever remember Butler stealing second in Game 3 of the 2014 American League Division Series and revving up an air motorcycle as only Jarrod Dyson could do. To this day, the Royals’ faithful still boo Robinson Cano for excluding Butler from the 2012 MLB Homerun Derby in Kansas City. Butler loomed so large in Kansas City that he even had his own “Billy’s Hit It A Ton” BBQ sauce.

So when we learned in late April that Butler was returning to the team where he made his professional baseball debut, I told Connor we were making a slight detour. I then called the Chukars and bought a pair of tickets in Row 1, on the aisle, behind the home team dug-out in the hopes of snagging an autograph. When the salesperson told me that players and coaches were discouraged from interacting with fans due to COVID-19 restrictions, I was slightly deterred but still hopeful.

On the morning of Thursday, June 3, we hit the road in our Hyundai Sonata. We arrived in Idaho Falls mid-day with a few hours to kill so after exploring the banks of the Snake River (of Oregon Trail computer game fame of course!), we made a few pit stops.

Idaho Falls Public Library

As a child, I was an absolute bookworm; reading multiple books per day. It may seem odd to pay a visit to a library on vacation but it so happens that Idaho Falls is one town that lays claim to one of my favorite childhood authors - Wilson Rawls. Rawls was not the most prolific of authors; he published only two novels. To this day, however, those two books, Where The Red Fern Grows and Summer of the Monkeys, remain two of my favorite stories that have ever been written. Each novel was heavily lauded upon release and won multiple awards. Where The Red Fern Grows and Summer of the Monkeys are both coming-of-age stories that are set in the Ozarks (Oklahoma) and heavily influenced by Rawls’ upbringing in The Sooner State. While Rawls wrote of his childhood home, he resided in Idaho Falls when he wrote these books.

Today, in front of the Idaho Falls Public Library, stands a statue of the protagonists of his most famous work, Where The Red Fern Grows. I had to see Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann for myself while I was in town.

Eagle Rock Fountain

When a town has a fountain among their most notable attractions, I feel an obligation to check it out. I am from Fountain City after all. Constructed in 2006, this mammoth fountain located in the middle of a traffic circle stands over 25 feet tall. Designed by the Walker Brothers, the bronze eagles have a wingspan of over 20 feet (three times that of an actual eagle) and all the stones in the fountain were hand-picked from the surrounding area. Eagle Rock Fountain was absolutely massive and breathtaking. Kansas City may have the most fountains in the US, but I am not certain that we have any that are nearly as awe-inspiring as this monument in Idaho Falls.

The inspiration, and the name for the fountain, come from the original town name of “Eagle Rock” which was a reference to an abandoned island in the Snake River that served as a nesting ground for Eagles. The town’s name was changed to Idaho Falls near the end of the nineteenth century. Today, this beautiful sculpture is a reminder of the town’s origin and a must-visit for those passing through.

Scotty’s Drive-In

By the time 3:00pm rolled around, Connor and I were quite hungry as we had not eaten all day. It should surprise exactly zero of my readers that I am a person who seeks out local fare when I am on the road. Now the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Idaho and Montana is huckleberry-flavored EVERYTHING. With all due respect to the people of these beautiful states - huckleberry just isn’t my thing. Luckily, there is a local Idaho favorite that has long intrigued me - finger steaks.

Perhaps not the most appetizing of names, finger steaks are a middle ground between the chicken tender of the South and the chicken fried steak of the Midwest. Typically, sliced, tender strips of top sirloin are dredged in flour, battered in a tempura-like batter, and deep fried to create this Idaho delicacy.

After a little research, it seemed that Scotty’s Drive-In was a great spot to find this local favorite. Founded in 1964, this humble drive-in harkens to an era long gone. I was immediately sucked in by the Americana and history of the joint. A place for burgers, fries, and milkshakes (over three dozen flavors!), we came for the finger steaks, but we were definitely looking to feast.

I ordered a Double Rodeo Scott (two beef patties, Scotty’s barbeque sauce, lettuce, tomato, fried onion ring, Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, and bacon on a Kaiser roll), hand-cut Idaho French fries, and even though it was definitely out of season, the pumpkin shake. I couldn’t help myself! With nearly 40 milkshake flavors, I had to go with the shake of the day! And let’s not forget the finger steaks! Naturally, the two of us split an order.

The burger patties were noticeably dense and very lean, but full of flavor. The toppings were so fresh. I would later learn that Scotty’s prides themselves on using locally sourced ingredients, and it shows! The fries were everything you want in a fry - crispy exterior, mealy interior, and a nice pinch of saltiness. The pumpkin milkshake was rich and creamy in the way that only hand-scooped ice cream can be. All the best fall flavors (pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves) danced across my taste buds.

As for the main event? I would come back to Idaho for the finger steaks alone! The sirloin meat was tender and melted in my mouth. The breading had a country seasoning that reminded me of (I’m about to age myself here) the breading that Hardee’s used to use in their fried chicken back when they offered it. It was airy and crunchy but not messy. The breading and ribbons of succulent beef worked in concert to satisfy every texture and flavor profile you could hope for in an appetizer. Served with sides of ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, and fry sauce, I found the ranch to be the perfect dip for this Idaho treat.

For over 50 years, Scotty’s Drive-Ins has served their delicious burgers, hand-cut fries, and a multitude of milkshake flavors. However, we came for a treat that can only be found in Idaho - Finger Steaks (PICTURED RIGHT).

Melaleuca Field
Idaho Falls Chukars vs. Rocky Mountain Vibes

Having seen the sights, consumed our fast food feast, and checked into our hotel - it was time to head to the game. Repping the Boys in Blue and armed with a sign that I hoped would get Butler’s attention, we made our way to Melaleuca Field.

Hanging out with Charlie the Chukar before the game.

Our arrival was a little surreal as the ballpark is smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Being a “neighborhood team” so to speak definitely added to the charm of the experience. The first thing I noticed when we got there was the large plaster statue of a slugger that adorned the top of the ticket window. Appropriately, he was number 16 - same as Billy Butler. As we made our way to that statue, we passed a tent for the Idaho Grain Producers Association and then took note of the banners hanging from the stadium exterior, highlighting the most notable players in Chukars’ history. Many of them were names familiar to these Kansas Citians - Hosmer, Moustakas, Butler, and Perez among them.

As someone who loves to visit stadiums, there is always a process for my first visit to any venue. First off, I arrive as early as I can and then I take a lap. In my lap I usually look for three things - notable points of interest, where I want to get a photo taken before too many people arrive, and which concession stand(s) I plan to patronize. Melaleuca Field was no exception. Being less than 1/10th the size of most Major League Ballparks**, that tour did not take too long at all. Secondly, still full from our Scotty’s experience, we were going to be satisfied with any stand where we could get a drink.

After a few minutes on the lower concourse and a visit to the team store, we climbed the stairs to the upper concourse. Most notable on the upper concourse was that the Chukars have a black stadium seat that sits empty to honor POW/MIA^^ soldiers and their families. Adjacent to the honorary seat were the teams’ retired numbers. A couple of announcers were honored as was Jackie Robinson’s #42. The only player who actually played for the Chukars whose number was retired was the man we were there to see - #16.

While the ballpark was fairly empty when we first arrived, we were so amazed by how welcoming every single person we interacted with was. As someone is a stickler for good service (as customer service is a passion of mine), I was impressed by the hospitality of Melaleuca Field. When people realized that we were not only Royals fans but had actually made the trip from KC, they were quick to welcome us and strike up a conversation. The PA Announcer even called to us from his perch in the media booth above to have a five minute conversation with us. He was such a kind gentleman that I wish I would have gotten his name. He shared some interesting tidbits and stories with us before he asked us, “So what brings you to town? Just visiting some Royals’ minor league parks?”

After explaining that our ultimate destination was the nearby National Parks, I just replied, “That part is cool but we’re here for Billy. What do you think our chances are of actually meeting him?” He chuckled and remarked, “I’d say they’re pretty good.” After we wrapped up our conversation with the announcer, the Idaho Falls Chukar stopped by for a photo and we grabbed our seats - front row, on the home team batters’ circle - to watch the players come out for batting practice.

About 10 minutes into the session, we caught our first glance of the man we were there to see coming down the right field line and entering the Chukars’ dugout. With a few baseball cards in my pocket and the sign ready to go, I approached the end of the dugout.

There was no hiding the reason that we made a detour to Melaleuca Field in Idaho Falls.

I held the sign up for less than two minutes before one of the Chukars’ players pointed Butler in the direction of my sign. He turned around, saw the sign, broke a smile, and just said, “Hey, what’s up man?” before walking over towards my brother and I.

We chatted for a few minutes before each handing him a pair of baseball cards which he graciously signed. He was also willing to grab a photo with us which we appreciated. He then asked a favor of us, “My wife is going to be behind home plate tonight with her dad. Can you make sure they see that sign?” When we replied, “Of course!” Butler then asked us, “You boys going to have some beers tonight?” to which our response in unison was the same.

“You didn’t believe me did you?” I asked Connor as we headed out to the concessions to take Butler’s advice. “You didn’t believe we were going to meet Country Breakfast did you?” I nagged. Shaking his head and smiling, Connor said, “I didn’t know what to think. That was the best case scenario.” And I, foolishly, thought he was right.

Our tickets in the front row behind the home dugout were $28, FOR THE PAIR! The parking was free. And we were excited to see that the affordability that makes minor league sports so great extended to the concessions as well. The Chukars were pouring 24 ounce domestic drafts for $7 each. With it being a bit of a scorcher, we both opted to get some limes in our Michelob Ultras.

Little did we know that signing some baseball cards for a pair of Royals’ fans was just the beginning of Billy Butler’s kindness.

We had met Billy Butler. We had cold beers in hand. We had gotten a picture with the mascot and circled the concourse. All that was left to do was enjoy the game as the Idaho Falls Chukars played host to the Rocky Mountain Vibes.

Well, except that night we weren’t exactly seeing the Chukars. This particular game was part of the “Copa de la Diversión” (which translates to “The Fun Cup”) which is a season-long Minor League Baseball event where certain games are designated for teams to celebrate and embrace the culture and values of their local Latin American communities. As a result, we were going to see the brilliant aqua and deep pink of the “Madres de Idaho Falls” (Mothers of Idaho Falls). Even though they only had this mascot in place for a number of select games this season, this mascot choice made the “Madres” the first team in professional baseball to have a female logo and name. The Madres name was in place for all Sunday games this season and we just happened to be lucky enough to be there for the Chukars’ lone weeknight Copa game.

The anthem was sung, the players took the field, we had our beers in hand, and we were there to cheer on the Chukars. Strike that. We were there to cheer on la Madres!

From the get-go, the bats were blazing for la Madres! Idaho Falls raced out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and at every opportunity we could, either Connor or I held up our sign to show our support for the hitting coach responsible. And per the hitting coach’s request, we always made sure to flash the sign towards the crowd behind home plate between innings. Our sign and antics made us a lot of friends in our section.

We quickly learned two things:
1. The people of Idaho Falls are INCREDIBLY friendly.
2. Too many of those same fans had no idea who “Country Breakfast” was in spite of him being the only Chukars’ player whose number had been retired by the team.

As part of Minor League Baseball’s “Copa de la Diversión”, the Idaho Falls Chukars played a handful of games this season as “La Madres de Idaho Falls”, making them the first professional baseball team to have a female name and logo.

We also found that the Idaho Falls Chukars/La Madres de Idaho Falls were affordable, family entertainment done right. Another thing I love about minor league sports are the promotions. Both Connor’s and my favorite of the night was a competition between two pairs of people that was essentially a “burger race”. Both teammates were dressed like buns and had a patty and a stack of toppings they had to put on the lower bun before the top bun would essentially body slam their teammate to win. It was hilarious and one of the many great things about minor league sports. Not only were the promotions great but they had an excellent PA Announcer and MC to pull it off. As someone who has spent so much of his life around minor league sports, the people of Idaho Falls should be proud of the production that the Chukars put on at Melaleuca Field. This was an A+ entertainment experience!

“The people of Idaho Falls should be proud of the production that the Chukars put on at Melaleuca Field. This was an A+ entertainment experience!”

As the game progressed, la Madres kept scoring! They added another run in the 2nd and 3 more in the 3rd. In fact, the 9th inning was the only one they did not score in and that is because after a 7-run 8th and a 20-5 lead, there was no need for la Madres to take the field in the bottom of the 9th. La Madres recorded 24 hits on the night so it was fair to say that our hero, Chukars’ Hitting Coach, Billy “Country Breakfast” Butler had done his job.

And la Madres were not the only ones crushing it. By the end of game, Connor and I had (perhaps singlehandedly) run the stadium out of limes. Our proficiency in the act of social hydration inspired another sign that simply read, “We Here So We Beer (Like Billy Asked Us To)” on the reverse of our original sign. Of course, we flashed this new sign to the fans behind home plate as well.

After a 20-5 victory, we watched as kids scurried down to get autographs from the players. We even lent one young man a sharpie. We were about to leave when a familiar figure motioned us over behind home plate and said, “I need you guys to walk down to first base and come on the field with me.”

We had no idea what was happening but we walked down to first base where Butler invited us out on to the field. Butler took my phone, handed it to an intern, and asked them to get a photo of the three of us on the field together. Then Butler made his second request of the night, “Can I hold the sign?”

After the game, Billy Butler found us and asked us to join him on the field to take a picture. He wanted to hold the sign and we were too happy to oblige.

When I called an audible and made this sign, Billy Butler’s wife Katie immediately texted him a photo of the sign.

After the photo, we chatted a bit more. Butler shook our hands and thanked us for coming out. I remarked, “24 hits by your guys seems like a job well done to me!” He chuckled, thanked us again, and before heading towards the locker room, introduced us to his wife, Katie, and his father-in-law.

That’s when we learned the side of the game story we did not know.

All night long we had been curious if Katie Butler had seen our sign(s). Not only had she seen them, but with every flash of the sign, with the debut of a new sign, and every chant and cheer, she was texting her husband throughout the duration of the game. We were both convinced that that second sign is actually what got us the invite on to the field.

Connor and I spent a good 45 minutes after the game talking to Katie about how her and Billy first met when he was playing for the Chukars. We talked about Kansas City and how much they enjoyed their time there and how special of a place it was to them. Katie shared stories with us about Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Jarrod Dyson, and of course, that 2014 American League Champion team. We reminded her how beloved her husband was by Royals’ fans.

We were absolutely blown away by the hospitality of Billy and Katie Butler. Earlier in the night Connor had called getting a quick picture and those autographs a “best case scenario” and I thought he was right. Then that was trumped by spending more time on the field with Butler and getting a photo where he asked to hold our sign. And yet even that was still to be topped by getting to spend 45 minutes chatting with his lovely wife as we talked about Kansas City and the Royals.

Without question, by the time we walked out of the park with Katie and her dad, and went our separate ways, our Chukars’ experience had truly been a “best-case scenario.”

“It’s a really special place. We loved our time in Kansas City!”

— Katie Butler

We had made this detour to Idaho Falls hoping to meet Billy Butler but everything that transpired was more than we ever could have imagined. It was such a great night for the two of us, and apparently we weren’t the only ones who thought so.

After this incredible experience, there was only one thing to do - keep the party going. Connor reminded me, “Billy asked us to have some beers.” (#WeHereSoWeBeer)

From Melaleuca Field, we hailed a Lyft to explore downtown Idaho Falls ready to tell everyone about our night meeting Country Breakfast. Pints were poured, pizza slices were crushed, and even karaoke was sang as we made a few new friends along Park Avenue. To say we closed Idaho Falls down, would be an understatement. To say we have never been so happy to go 86 miles out of our way, would be equally so.

To Be Continued…

Those Pesky Endnotes That I Often Insist On

*Before I continue, something that I cannot stress enough in the current climate is book your rental car well in advance of any trip and KEEP ALL DOCUMENTATION. There is a national rental car shortage and not only are they more expensive at the moment, but I have incurred multiple horror stories of travelers arriving at their destination to find their rental car unavailable. While this was, luckily, not the case for us, travelers should still be as proactive as possible in booking rental cars and keeping documentation of their reservation.

^ Billy Butler was nicknamed “Country Breakfast” by my friend Ross Martin in 2011, who was then Sports Editor for the “St. Joe News-Press”.

** Melaleuca Field has a capacity of 3,400 people. By comparison, Kauffman Stadium seats 37,903.

^^ The National League of POW (Prisoner of War) / MIA (Missing in Action) Families supports POW/MIA [s] and KIA (Killed in Action) / BNR (Body Not Recovered) soldiers from the Vietnam War by working to obtain the return and release of all prisoners, the fullest possible accounting for the missing, and the repatriation of remains of those not yet recovered who died while in service to the United States.

I hope you enjoyed reading about the first two days of my summer vacation.
Please join me in September for Part II of “A Walk In The Parks”!

A Walk In The Parks, Pt. I