By Brad Arnold

Known as the City of Fountains, Kansas City seriously has some great winch spots. Most occur in the suburbs, generally in newer housing developments. I found this beauty a few years ago, but didn’t really start hitting it until last summer.

Fairfield gap, as it’s been known to be called, happens to be located right next to a Fairfield Inn and an apartment complex pool in Olathe, KS, on the southwest side of KC. It is really easy to go to this place and take an hour long set behind the winch, even though it is located right off a major road and highway. I would have to say that this is definitely my favorite spot we have winched so far, mainly because we’ve only been asked to leave twice and the locals at the pool love our company and think it is the coolest thing ever.

The top pool is pretty smelly (we’ve seen a few dead fish…) and the landing is a little over waist deep with rocks on the bottom. Any time of the day is primo, but the evenings are usually a little less busy in the area. Also, winching at night is a great way to add some difficulty to any manuever here.

The entire thing is really easy and convenient, to sum it up. Back your vehicle up in the parking lot, walk the rope over grass to start, sit on the concrete ledge in the upper pond, and boom. You’re winching. There is plenty of setup time before you make the drop, so no worries there. Myself, Richard Bayly, Keaton Bowlby, and Reed Leible were the first to session Fairfield and I’m almost 100% positive that no one else has. If you’re ever in the Kansas/Missouri/Kansas City area, give me a call and we will work something out.

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