It's two horses and two towns, but Western Entertainment hot spots Cowtown and the Prairie Rose are barely a county apart.
Now some are concerned if the two counties can't reach a compromise. If they can't, it could spell trouble for both parties.

"I want to see Cowtown prosper and grow. I just want to also make sure the (Prairie Rose) Chuckwagon can succeed on our own merits," says Greg Johnson, owner of the Prairie Rose.

The Prairie Rose and Cowtown have a lot in common, including a band. The Diamond W. Wranglers used to headline at the Rose, but they now light up the stage at Cowtown.

"The Wranglers I think are ambassadors for the state of Kansas. They put Western music on the map for this state," said Johnson.

But just months after the new owners got the Rose blooming again, news of Wichita thinking of expanding Cowtown into a dinner theater similar to Prairie Rose is raising some eyebrows in Butler County. Some are saying the privately owned Prairie Rose may not be able to weather a storm of government funding that could head to Cowtown.

"For them to compete with big brother, for lack of a better term, is essentially impossible," explains David Alfaro, director of economic development in Butler County.

It also raises another concern for Butler County, that an agreement in place between counties preventing one from taking tourism from another could be violated. The agreement states it's there to "to ensure that competition doesn't result in conflict between member economic development coalitions."

"We are a little bit concerned that, basically, the cooperative spirit that exists between the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County with Butler County... is not actually being honored," said Alfaro.

But in Butler County, it's not about wanting Cowtown to go away. Instead, it's about realizing the Rose is alive and well.

"I think their thoughts and ours are going hand in hand. We just need to work together and help both of us prosper," says Johnson.

"What we would like to see done is sit down and see how this Prairie Rose Supper Club can enhance the operations of Cowtown," said Alfaro.

While discussions between Wichita and Butler County officials have yet to take place, Wichita city council members say they're up for it.