Fritz's Train Cafe - Shelley Beatty

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope is unique to Kansas City. Provided by Hallmark Card, it is a place where children and their families are invited to be creative, have fun, and feel good about their own special ideas.

At Kaleidoscope, children use their imaginations to make art with materials from Hallmark’s manufacturing processes. Some are cut into shapes, while others are left just as Hallmark sends them. And Hallmark provides different materials so the projects are ever-changing!

Kaleidoscope Kansas City, Missouri

Henry

Kaleidoscope

Caroline at dryer

Adam and Emily

Kaleidoscope

Becca and Henry

Carolyn

Becca and Henry

Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Hallmark Visitor’s Center is a walk through history. There’s so much to see at the Hallmark Visitors Center. Interactive displays and fascinating exhibits give a glimpse into the rich history and creative spirit of Hallmark.

Becca and Henry at Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Trees at the Hallmark Visitors Center

The favorite is the bow making machine where one can watch a bow being made with the touch of a button.

Henry making bows at Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Caroline making bows at Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Collins at Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Hallmark Visitor’s Center

Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant

Fritz’s is a Kansas City Tradition which dates back to the 1920’s. Fritz and Virginia Kropf started their own fifties-style drive-in restaurant at 32nd and Brown Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.Fritz added a second location on 18th street in the mid 1960’s. During this time, Fritz’s inventor skills lead him to the development of a food delivery system that he designed and tested in the basement of his home. The patented system was primarily intended to help with the shortage of labor which was a constant headache as he tried to operated both restaurants efficiently. Once the system, nicknamed the “Skat Kat,” was installed at the 18th street location in the early 1970’s, however, people began calling it a train. At first Fritz played down the railroad aspect of the Skat Kat, but he eventually decided to go with this popular theme. Train memorabilia and engineer’s hats for the kids enhanced this concept. Fritz was still tinkering with the trains when he died in 2004 from complications following a wreck on his motor scooter at the age of 83! He and Virginia both believed in living life to its fullest. Virginia, now 83, still does some of the bookwork for the restaurants.Fred and Mary were approached by Crown Center Development to open a Fritz’s at Crown Center in conjunction with the re-opening of Union Station. Just when they thought they might be able to relax a little, they were thrown back into the frying pan so to speak! Installing a train that delivers food back in the 1970’s was one thing. Installing it to meet all the new government safety regulations was a true challenge.Shortly before Christmas in 1999, Fritz’s Crown Center opened. The tradition continues!