Council Grove was one of the last stops on the Santa Fe Trail heading north. It was first settled by Seth Hays, a grandson of Daniel Boone, who came to the area in 1847 to trade with the Kaw tribe. In 1858, the town was officially incorporated. Hays also opened a restaurant in 1857, the Hays House, which is said to be the oldest continuously-operating restaurant west of the Mississippi River. There are 13 registered historical sites in the town. One such site is the Post Office Oak. Travelers would leave their mail in this designated tree to be picked up by others going in the other direction. General Custer of the United States Army slept here with his troops during the American Civil War, under a large tree known now as the Custer Elm. Presently, both the Council Grove Reservoir and the City Lake are popular for recreational activities. While both lakes are open to the public and motorized boats, most of the land around the City Lake is privately owned with around one hundred lake houses. Building is restricted on the larger Council Grove Reservoir but there are many well positioned camp sites. Excellent fishing is found on these lakes as well. Walleye, crappie, white bass, and many more fish are in both the Council Grove Reservior and the City Lake.