Everything You Need to Know About Blue Springs, Missouri
Just 20 miles east of downtown Kansas City, Blue Springs offers residents an easy and convenient commute to nearby attractions and all parts of the Kansas City metropolitan area, while offering a quiet, suburban setting with an excellent selection of eating establishments, retail stores and recreational activities. You’ll find affordable housing, the nationally recognized Blue Springs School District, St. Mary’s Hospital, and Adams Dairy Landing for restaurants and shopping.
With a population of nearly 56,000 and 11th largest city in Missouri, more people than ever are making Blue Springs a community of choice. Founded by pioneers in the 1800s along the little Blue River – Blue Springs’ history is tied to the migration of settlers on their westward journey. Pioneers found the area to be an ideal stopover due to the abundance of cool, clean water from a spring of the Little Blue River – hence the name Blue Springs.
Blake’s Favorite Things About Blue Springs
About Blue Springs
A growing community with quick access to I-70
Distance to Downtown
19 miles / 22 minutes
Outdoor Spaces
Fleming Park, Lake Jacomo, Missouri Town 1855, Burr Oaks Nature Center
Distance to Airport
38 miles/ 39 minutes
School District
Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Grain Valley or private
Amenities
Affordable housing, central location
Walk Score
27
Gym
Fieldhouse Blue Springs
Bar
Vertigo
Closest Hospital
St. Mary’s
Shopping
Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Grain Valley or private
Events
Movies in the Park, Fall Fun Festival
Fun Facts About Blue Springs
Did you know that David Cook, American Idol Season 7 winner is from Blue Springs?
Or that internationally recognized Olympic gymnastics coach, Al Fong, has trained gymnasts in Blue Springs who have gone to represent the USA in the Olympic games since 2004. He coaches at Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE).
Best Restaurants in Blue Springs
Sinclairs
Check out some of Blue Springs residents’ favorite restaurants. Sinclairs has been voted #1 with offerings of daily Chef Specials, gluten-free and vegetarian options, Happy Hour and private dining options. It’s a perfect place to enjoy live entertainment at their charming bar.
Responders Grill & Bar
Responders Grill & Bar is a family-friendly casual hangout dedicated to serving great food and honoring and supporting the heroes who protect our families and our freedoms every day!
Rancho Grande Cantina
If you’re hungry for authentic Mexican food, try Rancho Grande Cantina. Great for Taco Tuesdays!
Bean Counter Cafe
Bean Counter Cafe is a little hidden hotspot IN Colonial Gardens Nursery. It’s known for its biscuits & sausage gravy, ham & spinach florentine frittata, scratch-made cinnamon rolls, quiche, grilled reuben sandwiches, strawberry napoleans, plus many other made in-house baked goods. Featuring locally roasted coffee from award-winning Broadway Roasting Company, and locally grown produce from Colonial Gardens and many other LOCAL suppliers.
East Forty Brewing
Come on down to East Forty for original open mic night. Open to musicians, comedians, poets, everybody! Come to play, or just come to enjoy the talent of the community. East Forty offers happy hour all night on Tuesdays.
The City of Blue Springs prides itself on its nationally recognized park system where citizens can enjoy beautiful landscapes and take part in various recreation activities.
Fleming Park
Fleming Park is the largest public park in Jackson County, encompassing 7,809 acres of which 1,690 acres is water. Within Fleming Park is the Kemper Outdoor Education and Nature Center. Inside the Nature Center, you’ll find rock and fossil exhibits, a natural resource library, mounted examples of native wildlife. The grounds feature nature trails, butterfly and water gardens, wildlife viewing areas, an arboretum, a shelter house, large pond and a day camp site. The Outdoor Classroom offers a valuable resource for hands-on environmental education. Hikers on the Habitat Trail can explore a variety of ecology: wetland, prairie, woodland and cactus glade.
Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure
Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure is a 110-acre fenced enclosure is home to bison, elk and white-tailed deer. Bring your family to stare a buffalo in the eye or enjoy watching a family of elk playing in a pasture near Lake Jacomo in Fleming Park Nearby is the Radio-Controlled Model Airplane Field. It’s a fun place to fly your planes, or a fun family outing just to watch!
Lake Jacomo
Lake Jacomo is a freshwater lake within Fleming Park. Activities at the lake include sailing, pontoon boats, fishing, and hiking. Common fish include crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, carp, catfish, hybrid striped bass, green sunfish, and walleye. Lake Jacomo boasts a "state of the art" marina open to the public year around. This marina is the largest boat rental marina in the Kansas City metropolitan area with more than 80 rentals available.
Missouri Town 1855
Visit Missouri Town 1855 and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of a small Missouri town on the eve of the Civil War. Missouri Town 1855 is a living history museum with more than 25 buildings dating from 1820 – 1860 spread across nearly 30 picturesque acres. Original structures from seven western Missouri counties are filled with historic tools and furnishings, setting the stage for life in the mid-1800s.
Burr Oak Woods
Discover nature at Burr Oak Woods! Burr Oak Woods is a showplace for Missouri's fish, forests and wildlife -- a natural oasis in your own backyard, just 1 mile north of I-70 and minutes from downtown Kansas City. Join in for a youth, adult or family program or special event. Explore on your own by hiking one of six beautiful trails. Experience the Nature Center as you come eye to eye with some fantastic wild animals, encounter nature's wonders and secrets with hands-on exhibits and catch a glimpse of resident wildlife in the wildlife-viewing room. Step just outside the backdoors and into the all new, all-natural Nature Explore Classroom.
The Blue Springs Fieldhouse
The Blue Springs Fieldhouse offers more than 76,000-square-feet of indoor recreational space providing fitness and recreation for all. Offering a state-of the-art fitness center, the Fieldhouse is equipped with a variety of cardio machines, weight equipment and free Wi-Fi. The facility also offers group exercise rooms including spin and aerobics studios. Membership includes unlimited access to on-demand classes and instructor-led classes.
If you’re looking for water, residents can enjoy year-round use of “The Blue” Centennial Pool-Plex that includes indoor and outdoor pools, water slides, and a “zero depth” pool for small children.
Blue Springs offers 19 public parks, numerous shelters and playgrounds, a disc golf course, dog park, an 18-hole golf course and two skate parks. There is an extensive recreation program with a wide variety of leisure opportunities and over 200 activities and events offered annually.
There are many exciting community events planned in Blue Springs. Free concerts are available in Rotary Park every Sunday evening in the summer, in addition to hosting Movies in the Park. The Chamber sponsors Fall Fun Festival every September in the Downtown which consists of concerts, booths, parade and carnival, car show, and fireworks. Bring the family to enjoy the Mayor’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting outside of City Hall in Downtown Blue Springs.
With all that Blue Springs has to offer, one can see why this fast-growing community with all the amenities is a place many want to call home.
