A new attraction is coming along Highway 54 just east of the Andover city limits
When you think of miniature golf courses, you probably think of windmills, clowns and castles that decorate the courses, but teachers Kelli and Todd Miller think the courses can be not only fun and but educational, too.
In April, the two started a portable Mega Pines Mini Golf course that they’ve been renting to schools, recreation centers and communities for events and fundraisers.
“It is all tied to science, social studies and math,” Kelli Miller said. “STEM standards.”
The course is entertaining, she said, but it also teaches about money, measurement, geometry and problem solving.
Now, the Millers are working to open three permanent Mega Pines Mini Golf courses along U.S. 54 just east of the Andover city limits. They’re not pinpointing the exact 14 acres yet as they finalize some details with the land and see what happens with highway construction.
Mega Pines won’t open until next spring, but Kelli Miller said, “I’ve got a lot of the aspects built already — a lot of the yard games, a lot of the signs.”
The Millers also are working with a Michigan company to build the courses with a relatively new product that will be built off site and then installed over a two-month period. Kelli Miller said the permeable product allows water to flow in and out freely “so it has much more longevity than your traditional courses.”
The first 18 holes will have a national park theme.
“As you go through each hole, it will tell you a little bit about the history of each park,” Miller said.
That will include information about the park’s original inhabitants, animals and some plants.
The second 18 holes will be an American history course. There also will be a 9-hole indoor course with a Kansas theme.
Miller is a math intervention specialist at Jardine Middle School. This is her 27th year of teaching. Todd Miller is a science teacher at El Dorado High School and is in his 26th year of teaching. He has degrees in wildlife biology and secondary education.
Their adult children will be part of the business as well.
Meagan Miller is majoring in interior design at Kansas State University.
“She will be helping us design the building and the structures inside and out,” Kelli Miller said.
Tyler Miller graduated from K-State in May with a degree in entrepreneurship and business.
The Millers also own the Rose Hill Strike Zone, which has batting cages and shaved ice.
Mega Pines will have some food, such as nachos, shaved ice, ice cream sandwiches and the kinds of snacks you might find at high school athletic events. The Millers also will invite food trucks to visit, and customers can bring in their own food as well.
There also will be yard games and a kiddie track with battery-powered cars.
The miniature golf courses are geared to older children. Children 5 and younger will be free.
Kelli Miller says there also will be three rental units on the property for people to stay overnight.
Though the Millers made sure their own children saw almost every national park as they grew up, Kelli Miller said a lot of kids don’t have that opportunity. She said the majority of her students haven’t been to one national park.
“They have no prior concepts of those at all.”
She said she hopes what they learn at Mega Pines “gives them a little bit of background — piques their interest.”
Miller said she wants the attraction to help increase tourism as well.
“Our hope is that this will have a large draw.”
Look for more information closer to the Mega Pines opening next spring.
