Greensburg

A 1.7-mile-wide EF-5 tornado hit the tiny town of Greensburg, Kan. in 2007. Given the opportunity to start from a blank slate, those who stayed decided to rebuild green, including developing something that has had a lasting ripple-effect: a media center.

For small towns with dwindling populations and shrinking tax bases, luring travelers to stop and spend a few dollars is a matter of community survival. Some turn to quirky roadside tourist attractions. And the community pride these offbeat sites generate can be just as valuable as the money they bring in.

Go here to subscribe to the My Fellow Kansans podcast. This season, we look at the prospects of rural places. GREENSBURG, Kansas — The massive tornado...

It’s a rainy Tuesday in April, bringing local farmers to the Crazy Mule for a noon meal – which is located in a seven-year-old downtown that is nearly 80…