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ADVENTURE.
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NO BETTER DIRECTION FOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
GET LOST & FIND YOURSELF HERE Call for your FREE Travel Guide! 308-432-3006
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2 • Destination western nebraska 2022
It would take a
JETPACK
to get a better view of Bailey Yard. DISCOVER MORE AT
BuffaloBillsAdventures.com
A real one, not whatever that contraption is. The Golden Spike Tower offers the world’s best view of the world’s largest railyard. The observation deck gives you a panoramic view of Bailey Yard, but it’s the exhibits and the volunteers that make this a can’t-miss destination for anyone with a love for trains.
That’s why the Golden Spike Tower gets Buffalo Bill’s Buffalo of Approval. 800-955-4528 | BuffaloBillsAdventures.com
Sponsored Content
ole’s big game steakhouse Rosser “Ole” Herstedt was a Paxton native who started a bar the very night that Prohibition ended in 1933. The bar’s name, of course, was Ole’s. Ole worked long hours to feed, and provide drink for, the town’s guests. But he always left time for hunting. In 1938, he bagged a big white tail buck and hung the mount in the bar. Nobody could have suspected where that would lead. Over the next few years, Ole embarked on a hobby of big game hunting that took him to every continent. For 35 years, he brought his trophy mounts home and hung them above the bar tables and booths. A moose from Canada came to Paxton; a black bear from Alaska; a red fox from England; even a python from Honduras. Eventually, over 200 trophies were on display, and Ole’s Bar became one of the most unusual farm town taverns in America. In 1969, Ole shot a polar bear on Russia’s Chukchi Sea while hunting on a 70-acre ice flow. A full mount of the huge white bear was brought back to the bar and put on display just inside the door. Within four years of that hunt Ole quit his hunting trips. But he continued to run the bar.
4 • Destination western nebraska 2022
In 1988, when he was 87, Ole decided he’d had enough. Tim Holzfaster, a 28-year-old Paxton native, called to ask if Ole’s was indeed closing. “He told me he couldn’t find anybody local to buy the business.” Holzfaster said. A few weeks later, he became the second owner of the business in 53 years.
“There’s nothing fancy about Ole’s. We just try to provide good food and good service.” —Tim Holzfaster Holzfaster created a family-friendly atmosphere at Ole’s. But the polar bear stayed. So did the Canadian moose and Ole’s other trophies. Holzfaster was determined from the start not to let Ole’s Bar become touristy. “There’s nothing fancy about Ole’s,” he said. “We just try to provide good food and good service.”
Holzfaster eventually bought the adjacent bars, and used much of the old décor and furnishings of these businesses in a redo, but he opened walls between the three side-byside lounges, which greatly expanded Ole’s seating capacity. He also restored a big dance hall above Swede’s for prom parties, wedding dances, banquets and meetings. Ole’s is open every day of the year except Christmas. Holzfaster isn’t able to travel like his predecessor, but he does get away. America’s hunting tradition and love for the land explain the unusual steakhouse. But why Paxton? Two reasons: Ole Herstedt and Tim Holzfaster. 123 N Oak St. Paxton, NE 69155 olesbiggame.com 308.239.4500
Sponsored Content
Golden Spike Tower
Stretching over eight miles long and two and a half miles wide, Bailey Yard is truly "massive" with its over 2,850 acres. In 1995, the Guinness World Records officials deemed Bailey Yard as the "World's Largest Classification Yard," a "VERY UNEXPECTED JEWEL IN THE MIDDLE OF distinction that continues today. NEBRASKA!" - Gary, from Indiana Over 10,000 rail cars pass through the yard daily, being sorted for new destinations on the nearly 400 miles of tracks laid within the yard. From 104 feet off the ground, the yard really to gab and the knowledge to share. They add the personality comes alive. The angles and "lay of the land" really make you to a concrete building. By the time you are done with them, feel like you are right there next to the tracks. You can watch you will be ready to drive a train, well maybe after a stop on the rail cars roll down the mounds, through what is called the the 7th floor open-air balcony to grab a great selfie shot and "hump process" and see the cars being sorted in over 100 hear the retarders as the screeching of the train wheels sound "bowl" tracks, with miles and miles of rail cars. It is easy to below. get lost watching the traffic and guessing what commodities In addition to the action of the yard, you don't want to miss are in each rail car: tennis shoes, Christmas trees, brand new the incredible stories of the Orphan Train, the North Platte vehicles, apples, maple syrup, coal, or maybe, lumber. Your Canteen of World War II or the gift giving of the Merci Train. imagination truly can run wild, and it would be correct too! These stories really tug on the heart strings when you think of Trains really do carry so many different things; your guess is all the people over the years who were adopted from a train as good as ours! ride or received a hero's welcome, when they needed it most. There is a real human side behind the steel and smoke. Since opening in the summer of 2008, the Golden Spike A stop to "the Tower" is not complete without a browse Tower welcomes over 30,000 guests annually from all over through the colorful gift store, with such an array of unique the world. Some guests are not even aware they are rail fans items for both kids and adults.There really is something for until they visit. Sure, there are the true "ferroequinologists," everyone and a lot of items you can't find anywhere else. The who know all the ins and outs of the rail yard and even bring doors are open daily, closed during winter holidays. Twilight their own scanners to hear the yard, then there are the ones Tours on the third Saturday of each month and other special who are just curious enough to stop, but no worries, guides events throughout the year make a visit to this "oneofare on the 8th floor to help even the most novice guests learn a-kind" attraction even more special. about the operation and how the yard works.These guides, 1249 N Homestead Road, North Platte, NE typically former Union Pacific employees, truly have the gift GoldenSpikeTower.com westNebraska.com • 5
Western Nebraska
Tourism Coalition Professional services offices Chairman – Kerri Rempp – Chadron Vice Chairman – Jessica Rocha – Kimball Secretary – Karla Niedan-Streeks – Gering Treasurer – Kirsten Parker – North Platte Address for the WNTC Professional Services Offices: Jane Kuchta, Admin. 1249 N. Homestead Road North Platte, NE 69101 info@VisitWestNebraska.com www.WestNebraska.com
OMAha magazine advertising information 402-884-2000
subscribe online omahamagazine.com/subscribe Omaha Magazine, LTD. is a publishing company in Omaha that prints six publications created in-house: Omaha Magazine, OmahaHome, B2B Omaha, FamilyGuide, 60PLUS in Omaha Magazine, and The Old Market Directory. Omaha Magazine also produces the annual Best of Omaha™ and Best of B2B™ contests, Faces of Omaha, and other custom publishing products.
Tanking and toadstool park photos provided by nebraska tourism
6 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Table of Contents 8 master Map 10 Scenic Byways 12 tourism contact
information 14 Pine Ridge
22 info 17 Attractions 17 Chadron 20 Crawford 22 Harrison 22 Gordon 22 Hay Springs 22 Rushville 22 Ellsworth 26 Trails West 40 info 31 Attractions 31 Gering 34 Scottsbluff 35 Henry 35 Minatare 35 Morril 36 Mitchell 36 Bayard 37 Bridgeport 37 Broadwater 37 Lisco 39 Lewellen 39 Oshkosh
44 Wild West 54 info 49 Attractions 47 North Platte 48 Maxwell 48 Brady 49 Hershey 49 Sutherland 49 Sidney 51 Potter 51 Lodgepole 51 Dalton 51 Gurley 51 Lemoyne 51 Ogallala 53 Keystone 53 Paxton 53 Brule 53 Big Spings 53 Chappell 54 Kimball 54 Harrisburg
62 Sandhills &
Scenic Rivers
75 info 67 Attractions 65 Mullen 66 Alliance 67 Hemingford 68 Hyannis 68 Ashby 68 Seneca 68 Thedford 68 Halsey 68 Tryon 68 Arthur 71 Valentine 71 Merriman 71 Nenzel & Cody
westNebraska.com • 7
From Rapid City & Black Hills
Sidney-Deadwood Trail
Whiteclay
Ogalala National Grassland
37 min.
Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center
Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed
Fort Robinson State Park
Museum of the Fur Trade
26 min.
Soldier Creek Wilderness
Harrison
Chadron
Crawford
20
28 min.
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Pine Ridge Mountain Bike Trail
ic R i S c en Nio b r a r a
Hemingford
87
26 min. Hemingford to chadron
Goldrush Byway
51 min. Hemingford to Crawford
Mormon Trail
92
Riverside Discovery
Gering
Carhenge “Old Jules” Sandoz Grave Site Dobby Frontier Town
Antioch
Alliance
Lakeside
2
26 min.
Ellsworth
92
Chimney Rock Pony Express Station
27
Bayard Chimney Rock Museum
Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Northport Pioneer Trails Museum
61
Broadwater
92
88
Arthur
Wes te
Court House and Jail Rocks
rn T rails
27
Byw
1 hr. 3 min
ay
Lisco Nor
th P
71
43 min.
Bridgeport State Recreation Area
Bayard
Chimney Rock Bridgeport National Historic Site
Harrisburg
Prairie Schooner Museum
Dalton
latt
eR
Historical Museum
ive
53 min.
r
Oshkosh
385
26
18 min.
Gurley Plains Historical Society 30
F
ne heyen rom C
Hyannis
62A
Robidoux Trading Post & Pioneer Graves
McGrew
27 min Gering to Bayard
Bushnell
Whitman
Ashby
Bingham 34 min.
Lake Minatare State Recreation Area North Platte Wildlife Refuge
Minatare
Melbeta
Banner County Historical Museum
250
385
Scottsbluff Scottsbluff
Wildcat Hills Nature Center
1 hr.
Lake Minatare Lighthouse
14 min. Center 7 min. Mitchell to Scottsbluff Scottbluff to Gering
Scotts Bluff National Monument Robidoux trading post Five Rocks Amphitheater Legacy of the Plains Museum
61
Smith Lake Wildlife Management Area
Carnegie Arts Center Sallows Military Museum and Conservatory
26
1 hr. 10 min.
Berea
71
Midwest Theater
13 min.
ve r
44 min. Hemingford to chadron
Knight Museum
Mitchell
27
Rushville
2
1 hr. 27 min. Scottsbluff to Crawford
Henry Morrill
16 min.
53 min.
Box Butte Reservoir
1
29
Metcalf Wildlife Management Area
Walgren Lake State 87 Recreation Area
Marsland
1 hr. 17 min
30 min.
385
2
20
Clinton
Hay Springs
Chadron State Park
Nebraska National Forest
Fort Laramie to Fort Robinson Trail
Oregon Trail
Gordon
20 min.
Eli
Arthur Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
Tri-State Old Time Cowboy Museum
87
Whitney
High Plains Homestead Trailside Museum
Warbonnet Battlefield
Merriman
White River
Toadstool Geologic Park
Kimball 18 min
Dix Duckpin Bowling Alley
Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area 71
Tri-State Marker Nebraska’s Highest Point Panorama Point
Railroad Museum Potter L inco 39 min
27
Fort Sidney Post Commander’s Home
ln By way 80
Sidney
Pony Express National Monument 16 min
Lorenzo
19
30
Lodgepole Depot Museum
Sunol
Hillside Golf Cabela’s Retail Store Course and Wildlife Exhibit
Haythorn 92
Ash Hollow State Historical Park
L a ke 44 min.
50 min.
Lodgepole Chappell
30 min. Sidney to Chappell
Bergstrom Rock & Gem Collection
Lewellen
1
California Hill Historical Marker
Sudman-Neumann Heritage House Big Springs
30
McCo
naug
Kingsley Dam/ Hydro Plant
hy
Brule Ogallala 80
39 min. Ogallala to Chappell
Boot Hill Little Church of Keystone Roscoe
Mansion on the Hill
Front Street Petrified Wood Gallery
61 30 min.
Prehistoric Wonders Settling the west The Great OutDoors Pioneer trails One-of-a-Kinds Unique Geology Welcome Centers/Rest Areas 8 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Madrid
Scenic Byways
Brandon
(see page 11)
Bridges to Buttes Byway- Hwy 20 Valentine to WY Border 385 Gold Rush Byway - Hwys 385 & 87 Sidney to Chadron Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway - Hwy 2 East from Alliance Western Trails Byway - Hwy 26 Ogallala to WY Border Lincoln Highway - Hwy 30 East of Brady to WY Border
15 min.
Grant
57 min. Grant to Dickens
MOUNTAIN Cody
CENTRAL TIME
Kilgore
Nenzel
Cherry County Historical Museum Crookston
Smith Falls State Park Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
Valentine Niobrara National River
97
Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest
Sparks
12
Niobara National Scenic Riv er
Need to know information Road Conditions
Snake River Falls
For Nebraska winter travel conditions, call (800) 906-9069. To check with the Nebraska Department of Roads, visit www.511.nebraska.gov, or call 511 (if calling from Nebraska).
Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area Snake River
S16B
Valentine National Wildlife Refuge
1 hr. 15 min.
North Loup River
Information centers
All major communities have tourist information centers, as do some rest areas along 1-80.
83
Middle Loup River
Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway
L oup River
Mullen
2
Time Zones ---
Seneca
45 min.
Thedford
29 min.
Tanking on the Middle Loup and Dismal River
While North Platte and Valentine are in the Central Time zone, most of Western Nebraska is on Mountain Time, which is an hour earlier. Check the map to be sure of the time at your destination.
18 min.
Thomas County Historical Museum
Halsey 2
Dismal River
Nebraska National Forest
55 min.
Airports
Western Nebraska has airports with airline service to and from Denver at Alliance, (308) 762-4512; Chadron, (308) 252-5731; North Platte, (800) 864-8331; and Scottsbluff, (308) 635-4941.
83
Tryon
92
Ringold Stapleton 29 min.
92
Regional Intercity Bus Services
54 min.
97
Sutherland Paxton
Buffalo Bill State Historical Park Hershey
30
The Rail Road Museum
North Platte
Golden Spike Tower & Visitors Fort Cody Center Trading Post
Sutherland Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse & Lounge Reservoir 47 min. Ogallala to North Platte
Brady 30 From
Om aha
Mormon Trail
Oregon Trail
Dickens Wallace
80
Pine Ridge
40 min. North Platte to Dickens
Grainton
Maxwell
Fort McPherson National Cemetery
Lake Maloney
25
Elsie
Panhandle Trails Intercity Public Transit is based in Alliance. The bus fleet connects travelers with their desired Western Nebraska destinations, (308) 761-8747.
32 min.
23
Sandhills & Scenic Rivers Trails West Wild West
83
MOUNTAIN
CENTRAL TIME
westNebraska.com • 9
Scenic byways
For more information turn to page 12
PICTURED ABOVE: 385 GOLD RUSH SCENIC BYWAY, BRIDGES TO BUTTES BYWAY, LINCOLN HIGHWAY SCENIC BYWAY, HWY 83 10 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Escapethe grind & travel Western Nebraska’s 5 Scenic byways. 1
2
3
20
22
Chadron
5
4
21
Valentine
Bridges to Buttes Byway
7
Crawford
20
6
385 87
385 Gold Rush Byway 10
Scottsbluff & Gering 11
Kimball
2
Mullen
Thedford 20
14
26
92
Oshkosh
15
Potter
0
Alliance
Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway
385
12 13
8
9
Western Trails Scenic &Historic Byway 17
30
Sidney
16
18
30
Miles
Ogallala
30
19
North Platte
Lincoln Highway National Scenic & Historic Byway 75
Follow our scenic byways
AND VISIT THESE EXCITING ATTRACTIONS ALONG THE WAY:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Toadstool Geologic Park High Plains Homestead Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center Fort Robinson State Park Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center Museum of the fur Trade Chadron State Park Carhenge Alliance Historic Main Street Alliance Central Park Fountain Scotts Bluff National Monument
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Riverside Discovery Center Chimney Rock Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock Tin Roof Sundae National Pony Express Monument Ash Hollow State Historical Park Lake McConaughy Buffalo Bill State Historical Park Nebraska National Forest Bessey Ranger District Niobrara National Scenic River Bowring Ranch State Historical Park westNebraska.com • 11
Tourism CONTACT INFORMATION
Traveling Nebraska’s Western Frontier can be the adventure of a lifetime. All year round, quality merchants, entertaining attractions and exciting events await those seeking to explore the West. If you need a little help planning your trail, the helpful folks below would be delighted to throw you a rope or proudly tell you all about what makes their communities and the region such a special place in which to live, work, explore and play.
Alliance
Kimball
Sidney
Box Butte Development Corporation (308) 762-1800 Visitalliance.com
Kimball Area Tourism (308) 241-0573 Visitkimball.com
Sidney/Cheyenne County Tourism (308) 254-4030 VisitSidneyNE.com
Bayard
Mitchell
Sutherland
Bayard City Office (308) 586-1121 Cityofbayard.net
Mitchell Chamber of Commerce (308) 623-1523 Mitchellcity.net
Sutherland Chamber of Commerce (308) 386-4617 Villageofsutherland.com
Big Springs
Morrill
Thedford
Big Springs Chamber of Commerce (308) 889-3212 Ci.big-springs.ne.us
Morrill Community Development Group (308) 247-3132 Villageofmorrill.com
Thomas County Tourism (308) 645-2715 Thomascountynebraska.us
Bridgeport
Mullen
Valentine
Morrill County Visitors Committee (308) 262-1825 Morrillcounty.net
Hooker County Visitors Committee (308) 546-0636 Co.hooker.ne.us
Cherry County Visitors Committee (402) 376-2969 Visitvalentine.org
Chadron
North Platte
Discover Northwest Nebraska (308) 432-3006 Discovernwnebraska.com
North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau (800) 955-4528 Visitnorthplatte.com
Chappell
Ogallala
Deuel County Tourism (308) 464-0983 Visitdeuelcounty.com
Keith County Visitors Committee (800) 658-4390 Ilovelakemac.com
Crawford
Oshkosh
Crawford Chamber of Commerce (308) 665-1817 Crawfordnebraska.info
Garden County Visitors Committee (308) 778-9557 Visitgardencounty.com
Byways CONTACTS Hwy 2
Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway (308) 645-2715 Sandhillsjourney.com
Hwy 20 Bridges to Buttes Byway (800) 658-4024 visitvalentine.org Discovernwnebraska.com
Gering
Potter
HWY US 26/NE 92
Gering Visitors Bureau (800) 245-0717 Visitgering.com
Potter Community Improvement Group (308) 879-4451 Potternebraska.com
Western Trails Historic & Scenic Byway (308) 284-4066 (Ogallala) (308) 436-6886 (Gering) Westerntrailsnebyway.com
Gordon
Rushville
Gordon Chamber of Commerce (308) 282-0730 Gordon-ne.us
Sheridan County Tourism (308) 282-0730 Visitsheridancounty.com
Hemingford
Scottsbluff
Village of Hemingford (308) 487-3465 Ci.hemingford.ne.us
Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau (308) 633-1808 Visitscottsbluff.com
12 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Hwy 385 Gold Rush Byway VisitSidneyNE.com Discovernwnebraska.com
Hwy 30 Nebraska Lincoln Highway Historic Byway (800) 955-4528 Lincolnhighwaynebraskabyway.com
FAMOUS ROCKS & HISTORIC TRAILS Famous rocks were landmarks for many historic trails—such as the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, California Trail, Sydney to Black Hills Trail, Great Western Cattle Trails, and the Pony Express.
Chimney Rock is the most frequently mentioned landmark in diaries of pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Today you can visit the rock like the pioneers did by visiting The Ethel and Christopher J. Abbott Visitor Center—located just south of Bayard. Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock are equally impressive, rising 340 feet above the valley floor five miles south of Bridgeport. Visit during the Camp Clarke Raiders Rendezvous for black powder shoots, reenactments, games, food, and more!
WORKING
Morrill County Visitors Committee • 308-262-1825 • MorrillCounty.net Angora • Bayard • Bridgeport • Broadwater PHOTOS: Top Row—Chimney Rock by L. T. James; Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock by Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition. Second Row—Pioneer Trails Museum, Bridgeport; The Farm House B&B, Broadwater; Bridgeport State Recreation Area; The Pumpkin Patch at BE Farm, Bayard. Third Row—Bayard Depot Museum, The Ethel and Christopher J. Abbott Visitor Center, Bayard; Camp Clarke Raiders Muzzle Loading Club, Bridgeport; Broadwater Museum.
westNebraska.com • 13
14 • Destination western nebraska 2022
CHADRON • CRAWFORD HARRISON • RUSHVILLE GORDON • HAY SPRINGS ELLSWORTH
A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
The general consensus from people outside Nebraska is that it is flat and uninteresting. But, believe it or not, it’s rather hilly. Scattered with pine forests and tree-covered ridges, the Pine Ridge is a rolling, rocky region where golden eagles soar overhead and nest on cliffs overlooking pastures of grazing longhorn cattle and bison. It’s wide open. There is plenty of room here for people, too. The Pine Ridge is roughly 20 miles wide and 100 miles long, and is a place where cowboys still ride off into the sunset. Breathing in the scenic, rugged beauty is a feast for the senses.
Fort Robinson State Park pictured left
Pine Ridge • WestNebraska.com • 15
You’re invited to visit the
Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center
The Very Best in
Family Dining
At Chadron State College Carmen and John Gottschalk Mari Sandoz Gallery
The Carmen and John Gottschalk Mari Sandoz Gallery tells the story of the life and literature of Mari Sandoz. The exhibit examines the topics of her writing – landscape, advocacy for Native Americans, writing style, and dedication to research – through the lens of her personal experience.
C.F. Coffee Gallery
The C. F. Coffee Gallery is dedicated to the history of Cattle Ranching on the High Plains. Exhibits in the gallery space begin with the movement of cattle from Texas to the High Plains, the open range era, and the transition to the ranching system we know today. The primary focus of the Gallery’s work has been collecting archival resources for use by the students at Chadron State College and researchers from around the world.
Your Time in Pine Ridge Country begins with a hearty meal from the award-winning Country Kitchen menu. From breakfast classics such as our premium omelettes to our All-American sandwich board, fresh salads and homemade soups, there is delicious food for every appetite. We invite you to relax in the lounge with your favorite beverage and enjoy the very best in family dining.
1250 W. 10th, Corner of Hwy 20 & 385
Chadron, NE • 308.432.5111
www.countrykitchenrestaurants.com
Heritage Gardens
The Heritage Gardens reflect the region’s prairie, native, and ranching cultures. The Gardens are a cultural, historical, and environmental learning space and consist of several collections: Old Jules’ Orchard Immigrant Plants Traditional Plants of the Lakota The Sandhills Collection Woody Plants of the Pine Ridge The Claude Barr Collection
Free!Official 2020 Travel Guide
Free!Off
icial 20
20 Trav
Free admission
el G uide
Free!Official 2020 Travel Guide Find your next
ADVENTURE.
Find your next WestNebraska.com 66 1.866.684.40a.com
ADVENTURE.
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to noon & 1 to 4 p.m. Friday: 10 a.m. to noon.
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Want to Advertise? Contact Gil Cohen at
Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing 402.884.2047 | gil@omahapublications.com
16 • Destination western nebraska 2022
ormon Trail
regon Trail
From Rapid City & Black Hills
Sidney-Deadwood Trail
Whiteclay
Oglala National Grassland
2
Warbonnet Battlefield
4 5
37 min.
Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center
3
Fort Robinson State Park 28 min.
Chadron 12
Whitney
8
High Plains 15 Homestead Soldier Creek Wilderness 7 Trailside Museum
Harrison
11
6
26 min.
6
Crawford
20
Fort Laramie to Fort Robinson Trail
9
1 1 hr. 17 min
51 min. Hemingford to Crawford
29
Metcalf Wildlife Management Area
Hemingford
87
Rushville
13 min.
61 1 hr.
r 250
Smith Lake Wildlife Management Area
44 min. Hemingford to chadron
Knight Museum
Sallows Military Museum and Conservatory
Carhenge
15 27 13 26 “Old Jules” Sandoz Grave Site 28 Dobby Frontier Town 14 Antioch
1 Agate Fossil Beds National Monument 9 Mountain Biking Alliance Lake Minatare 2 Henry Oglala National Grassland 10 Dawes County Historical Museum Riverside Discovery Lighthouse Morrill Center 16 385 3 Toadsto0l Geologic Park 10 11 Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center Mitchell 26 17 Scottsbluff Midwest TheaterEducation Lake Minatare 4 Hudson-Meng & Research CenterState Recreation 12 Area Museum of the fur Trade 21 92 22 North Platte Wildlife Refuge Scotts Bluff 5 Fossil Hunting 13 Metcalf WildLife Management Area National Monument 18 62A Minatare Five Rocks Amphitheater Gering 6 Horseback Riding19 14 Tri-state Old Time 92 Bridgeport State Cowboy Museum Melbeta Bayard Legacy of the Plains Museum Recreation Area 8 Bayard Chimney 7 Fort Robinson State Park McGrew 15 Trailside Museum of Natural History Rock Museum Wildcat Hills 20 Chimney Rock Northport Nature Center 16 8 High Plains Homestead Pony Express Station 23 Pioneer Trails Museum
Lakeside
26 min.
Robidoux Trading Post & Pioneer Graves
Chadron |
Chimney Rock Bridgeport National Historic Site 88
pg. 24
24
Court House and Jail Rocks
92
Ellsworth
Prehistoric Wonders Ashby Bingham Settling the west The Great OutDoors Pioneer trails One-of-a-Kinds Unique Geology Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge Welcome Centers/Rest Areas 25 2
W Hyannis
34 min.
7 min. Scottsbluff to Gering
Harrisburg
1 hr. 10 min.
2
Carnegie Arts Center
71
27 min Gering to Bayard
27
Berea
Attractions #PINE RIDGE 14 min. Mitchell to Scottbluff
30 min.
53 min.
Box Butte Reservoir
1 hr. 27 min. Scottsbluff to Crawford
13
16 min.
Walgren Lake State 87 Recreation Area
Pine Ridge Mountain Bike Trail
26 min. Hemingford to chadron
Gordon
Clinton
ic R i v e S c en Nio b r a r a Marsland
14
20 min.
385
9
2
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Arthur Bowrin State Histori
Tri-State Old Time Cowboy Museum
87
Hay Springs
Chadron State Park
Nebraska National Forest
4
Museum of the Fur Trade
10
Goldrush Byway
Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed
Merriman
White River
Toadstool Geologic Park
27
43 min.
61
Broadwater Wes te
rn T rails
16
Byw
Arthur 27
ay
hookups, showers, laundromat, dumpLisco station Forest/Oglala National Grassland are available Historical Nor cowboys, ranchand playground. Be careful with fire at & th P in this Museumthe Chadron Chamber of Commerce 53 min. latt eR 71 ive 26 Center. Chadron State Park offers the r in Dalton and bike trails spread Schooner Museum ers and railroaders were known to get a little Prairiewooded area. Hike Visitor Oshkosh 18 min. rowdy from time to time. The once tiny frontier every direction.385(308)-432-6167. National Forest/Oglala National Grassland map 26 town has grown to 5,800 residents and 3,000 showing trails. (308)-432-0300. Lewellen 35 Gurley Oliver Reservoir students at Chadron State very well-behaved Pine Ridge Ranger District of the Nebraska Ash Hollow 92 Recreation Area Plains Historical Museum State Historical Park 27 L a ke Railroad National Forest is 52,000 acres of Ponderosa College. The Dawes liesMuseum Pine Ridge National Recreation is a Kingsley D M c CArea Bushnell onau 27 KimballCounty community Dix Fort Sidney Post ghy Hydro Pla Potter 29 L 44 min. i n c o Commander’s Home between the forested Pine Ridge and scenic pine and mixed grass prairies. Primitive camp6,600-acre parcel limited to non-motorized l Lodgepole Depot Museum n 34 30 Bywa 18 min 50 min. y 30 Duckpin 80 40 39 min ing is allowed. High Plains. recreation. There are corrals, a rider ramp, Sunol Campground Bowling SidneyThe Red Cloud Boot Hill 30 Alley Lodgepole Rosc 31 nne e California Hill y e has picnic tables, fire grates and vault toilets; modern toilets and drinkable water. Hiking, Ogallala h Cabela’s Retail Store 32 om C Historical Marker Hillside 71 Chappell and Wildlife Exhibit Brule Sudman-Neumannriding and mountain biking are Golf 16 min south Chadron State Park was Nebraska’s first state it is 8 miles of Chadron on Highway 385. horseback 30 min. Sidney to Chappell 33 Front Stre Course Pony Express Heritage House Big Springs 30 80 Tri-State Marker Bergstrom Rock & 19 Mansion on National Monument park.Nebraska’s Founded in 1921, it encompasses nearly Marked trails, about 80 miles worth, appeal to allowed. The recreation area 39and 1 Highest Point min. trailhead are Petrified Wo Gem Collection Lorenzo the Hill Ogallala to Gallery Chappell 1,00028acres of Pine Ridge public land 9 miles mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders. connected by the scenic 3 Mile Loop. 61 south of Chadron on Highway 385. The park The area’s most popular trailheads include 30 min. offers fishing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, East Ash, West Ash, Soldier Creek, Spotted Tail, The best entry point to the Pine Ridge National bird watching and horseback riding. Cabins are Roberts and Outrider. Roberts and Outrider Recreation Area is from the Roberts trailhead, 8 available April 15-Nov. 15. A swimming pool trailheads have horse corrals and a rider ramp. miles west of Chadron on HighwayBrandon 20 to Eleson Grant and sand volleyball courts elevate the fun, and Off-road vehicles must be equipped with spark Road, then 7 miles south to Bethel15 min. Road and mountain bikes and paddle boats are available arrestors to reduce wildfire danger. Maps of then 1 ½ miles east. for rent. The RV campground has 70 electrical the Pine Ridge Trails system and the National Banner County 1 hr. 3 min Chadron’sHistorical earlyMuseum fur traders,
»
Pine Ridge • WestNebraska.com • 17
Old West Trail PRCA Rodeo 76 th Anniversary Crawford, NE
MUSEUM OF THE FUR TRADE See the history of the first business in North America—the fur trade. 10 Unique Items to View!
John Kinzie’s gun • HBC Officer’s sword William Clark Fabric Samples Brass Handle Cartouche Knife Parchment HBC Officers Certificate Russian American Co. note Andrew Henry’s Leggings Oldest dated trap - 1755 Kit Fox Society Lance • Chief’s Coat Photos by Katie Cain (top & bottom right) and Moni Hourt (bottom left)
July 1st—Jr King and Jr Princess contest at 9 am • Kids Fun Day Rodeo at 10 am July 3rd & 4th— 8 pm Performance Each Night July 4th—Fireworks Display Following the Rodeo The only PRCA rodeo in the state of Nebraska over the 4th of July and part of the PRCA Cowboy Christmas run. The 3rd eldest in the state.
Open 8-5 | May 1 to October 31 3 miles east of Chadron on US Highway 20 www.furtrade.org | 308-432-3843 museum@furtrade.org
Ticket locations in Crawford and Chadron . owtrodeo.com PRODUCED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE DAWES COUNTY TRAVEL BOARD
ONE O F N E B R A S K A’S FINES T
MUSEUM DAWE S CO U N T Y H I S TO R I CA L S OC IE T Y, INC .
Sioux County Museum
Specializing in research, genealogy, and collections
3 Miles South of Chadron, Nebraska on HWY 385 | Phone 308-432-4999 for Appointment Any Time May - September | 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Monday - Saturday | 1 p.m. - 5 p.m Sundays & Holidays
October 1, 2022 Celebrating 10 Years
• Vendors • Contests • Games • Beer Garden
FUN for All Ages! www.harvestmoonfestival.org
18 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Dawes County Fairgrounds Chadron, NE
Six Buildings of Sioux County History! Featuring House & Telephone Oႈce Post Oႈce Newspaper Oႈce Main Museum Antique Tractor Schoolhouse South Main Street Harrison, NE
Facebook: Sioux County Historical Society Museum
Open Memorial Day to Labor Day Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday 1- 4 p.m.
Paid for by the Sioux County Travel Board
fort robinson
« Museum
of the Fur Trade is the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to the fur trade era. It is 3 miles east of Chadron on Highway 20 at the site of a trading post operated by the American Fur Co. from 1837 to 1876. The Bordeaux Trading Post has been reconstructed on the original foundation. The museum’s three galleries interpret the fur trade industry from the American Southwest to the Arctic, from early colonial days to the 20th century.
garnering attention from around the world. Characters such as horse thief “Doc” Middleton, a race favorite among Chadron residents, and William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody were involved. Dishonesty and cheating were exposed before the winner crossed the finish line 13 days later in Chicago at the World’s Fair. The Cowboy Trail east of Chadron covers part of the 1,000mile race route. The former Blaine Hotel is an apartment complex today. Pose for a selfie at 159 Bordeaux St.
Exhibits trace the everyday lives of British, French and Spanish traders, mountain men, buffalo hunters and plains and woodland Indians. Among the museum’s artifacts are trade goods from the 18th and 19th centuries—such as “Northwest” muskets made for Native Americans (including one that belonged to the famous Shawnee chief, Tecumseh), trade silver, textiles, beads and paints. Open May 1-Oct. 31 or by appointment. (308) 432-3843.
Dawes County Historical Museum—located 3 miles south of Chadron on Highway 385—has an original log house and barn, schoolhouse, church, blacksmith shop, vintage toy collection and the many innovative inventions of local farmer Marcus Cain. Research is their specialty. Open Memorial Day-Sept. 30. (308) 432-4999.
Chadron
2022 Events FESTIVAL OF QUILTS
April 22-24. Learn about quilts with lectures, demonstrations, appraisals, feature quilters and a large trunk show at Assumption Arena. (308)-430-5615.
FUR TRADE DAYS
In 1980, after the Wounded Knee Massacre, Gen. Nelson Miles commandeered the Chadron House while investigating the incident. The luxury hotel was the town’s showplace. Today, it is restored to its former glory and operates as Olde Main Street Inn. The inn offers lodging and dining and includes the 77 Longbranch Saloon. 115 Main St. (308) 432-3380. When the Chadron-to-Chicago Horse Race began in 1893, it did so with a shot fired by Chadron’s fire chief using a Colt revolver from the veranda of the Blaine Hotel. The event began as a joke, but then came to fruition,
Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center is dedicated to the study of Nebraska and High Plains culture, literature and history. Located in Chadron State College, the center is named after Mari Sandoz (1896-1966), one of Nebraska’s best-known authors. Sandoz gained national prominence with her 1935 biography of her father, Old Jules. Sandoz wrote powerfully of plains subjects such as Crazy Horse, the Cheyenne Outbreak, buffalo hunters and homesteaders. (308) 432-6401. For more information about Chadron and Northwest Nebraska, contact Chadron Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Center at (308) 432-4401 or (308) 432-3006.
July 7-10. Join the celebration commemorating America’s fur trade heritage and Museum of the Fur Trade. Events include a buckskinner camp, historic presentations, Traders Market and parade. (308) 432-4401.
DAWES COUNTY FAIR July 28-August 5. Enjoy livestock shows, 4-H projects, tractor pull, rodeos, Tough Truck contest, games, sports tournaments and concerts. (308) 432-3373.
BANDS ON BORDEAUX July. The 100 block of Bordeaux Street is the place to be on Thursday evenings in July when music, food, drinks and vendors mix downtown. (308) 432-4401.
BAND OF CITIZENS’ OPEN MIC NIGHT Every Other Tuesday. Meet at Bean Broker Coffeehouse & Pub every Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m. for food, drink and singing with a real backup band. This is not karaoke, but it is loads of fun. 202 W. Second St. (308) 432-4500.
Pine Ridge • WestNebraska.com • 19
Crawford | Stay at the historic Harrison House Hotel Out of the Way and Out of the Ordinary!
Built in 1886 by the railroad, the hotel had 9 rooms and 3 shared bathrooms upstairs. Enjoy a continental breakfast daily and Sunday Buffet. Call to book a room at this unique and friendly place! harrisonhousehotel.net 308.665.5199 • 115 Main St. • Harrison
Your next group event destination location! Welcome to the Homestead!
1-308-665-2592
highplainshomestead.com
pg. 23
Crawford is known as the “Big Game Capital of Nebraska.” Located in the heart of the Pine Ridge, whitetail and mule deer, antelope, elk and bighorn sheep whet the appetites of hunters scouting for wild game. You never know when a shot at a legendary animal will present itself. Northwest Nebraska High Country is a group of rural families opening their unique private properties as places to stay, ride and hunt. www.nebraskahighcountry.com Legend Buttes Golf Course was once named Nebraska’s top nine-hole course by Nebraska Golfer magazine. Even if your game is over par, the view here is stunning. History abounds in Crawford. The Army scout known as Little Bat was killed on Main Street. The Crawford Historical Museum chronicles this history and more at 341 Second St. (308) 665-1732. Down Home Ranch Guest House is located 10 miles south of Crawford on the Pine Ridge near Belmont. This 100-plus-year-old home is fully equipped with everything a guest may need for a weekend getaway or an extended stay, and offers hunting for deer and turkey.
to Authors
DISCOVER MORE IN SHERIDAN COUNTY Come ride, run and enjoy the views from Nebraska’s first state recreation trail, the Cowboy Trail in Sheridan County. Travel the Mari Sandoz Trail to explore the childhood sites of author Mari Sandoz. Visit museums and schoolhouses and learn the tales of the infamous gunmen and outlaws like Doc Middleton. Book your western vacation today! ATTRACTIONS
• Mari Sandoz Trail • Potash Plant Ruins • Camp Sheridan • Spade Ranch Historical Marker • Scamahorn Museum • Tri-State Old Time Cowboys’ Memorial Museum • Sheridan County Historical Museum • Heritage Museum • Schoolhouse Museum • WWII Balloon Bomb Historical Site
EVENTS
• Sheridan County Fair • Hay Springs Friendly Festival • Rushville Fun Days • Gordon’s Willow Tree Festival
LODGING • Nebraskaland Motel • Antlers Motel • Jefco Inn • Western Sands Motel
PO BOX 485 • RUSHVILLE, NE
For more details about attractions, events, and businesses in Sheridan County please visit our website:
visitsheridancounty.com
20 • Destination western nebraska 2022
White River Gallery features local artists, and offers art workshops and youth camps in this renovated former bakery at 425 Second St. (308) 430-5882. Fort Robinson State Park is 3 miles west of Crawford on Highway 20. It began in 1874 as a military camp at the Red Cloud Indian Agency. The park is Nebraska’s largest state park. Lakota warrior Crazy Horse surrendered here in 1877. Two years later, the fort was involved with the Cheyenne Outbreak. Northern Cheyenne fled their Oklahoma reservation but were caught and imprisoned at Fort Robinson. One night in January 1879, 130 Northern Cheyenne escaped. Sixty-four Cheyenne and 11 soldiers died in the fighting. The Northern Cheyenne Breakout Monument stands west of Fort Robinson near Cheyenne Buttes. Visitors can enjoy cookouts, trail rides, hiking and a summer repertory theater at the Post Playhouse. There’s lodging in officers' houses, camping at 100 sites with electricity and also 25 non-electrical pads.
Fort Robinson is open mid-April through mid-November. A state park entry permit is required. (308) 665-2900. Fort Robinson History Center traces fort history from the Indian Wars through the 1940s. (308) 665-2919. Trailside Museum of Natural History explores the area’s geology and natural history. Don’t miss the “Clash of the Mammoths” exhibit. A pair of bull mammoths locked tusks more than 10,000 years ago and died together. Their fossilized skeletons lie in display at the museum. (308) 665-2929. Soldier Creek Wilderness was once part of the military reservation. Today, the 7,794-acre area has 14 miles of twisting trails. Peterson State Wildlife Management Area is nearby, south of Highway 20. From Red Cloud Buttes, you can see Crawford to the east, Fort Robinson to the south and the Red Cloud Agency site to the southeast. Six miles northeast of Crawford is the site of the Treaty Tree, where, in 1875, the U.S. government tried to buy the Black Hills from the Lakota. Sioux and Crow warriors battled in 1849 at what is now known as Crow Butte. For the best view, travel 2 ½ miles south of Crawford, down highways 2 and 71, then 4 miles east to Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area. Falcons, mule deer and golden eagles are often seen here. Take Highway 2/71 north to the Oglala National Grasslands, home of pronghorn, prairie dogs and a few rattlesnakes. See scenic vistas and terrain unlike anything else in Nebraska. (308) 432-0300. Toadstool Geologic Park is a unique landscape within the grassland. Sediment layers have eroded at different rates, leaving sandstone formations perched on clay stems that early visitors compared to the shapes of toadstools. The park has a hiking trail, picnic tables, a campground and a reconstructed sod house. Go 5 miles north from Crawford on Highway 2, then 10 miles northwest on Toadstool Road. Go slow, as the non-paved roads can be challenging, especially when wet. People thought rancher Albert Meng had found sheep bones. He and friend Bill Hudson invited scientists to take a look. It turned out the bones were the remains of more than 600 ancient bison.
The 10,000-year-old bones are still being studied in Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center. The facility is west of Toadstool Geologic Park. On Toadstool Road, turn on Sandcreek Road and go 6 miles west. Open mid-May through September. Allow meandering cattle and rattlesnakes the right of way. (308) 665-3900.
Set High Expectations
Discover Sioux County
Three and ½ miles up Sandcreek Rd. you will discover High Plains Homestead, an authentic 1880’s village, mercantile and group lodging facility. The village is open to the public daily. Come spend the day or bring your group out for the week and enjoy this "out of the way and out of the ordinary" place. Lodging reservations call 308-665-2592. Our Heritage Guest Ranch provides lodging in a historic guest cottage and the nicely furnished loft of its barn, and offers fossil hunting, train watching, vacation packages and more near the Oglala National Grassland and Toadstool Geologic Park. (308) 430-1239. The 750-foot-long Belmont Tunnel is no longer used by trains, but railroad enthusiasts can watch trains climbing the 10-mile-long Crawford-to-Belmont grade south of Crawford on Highway 2. For more information, contact the Crawford Chamber of Commerce at (308) 665-1817.
Harrison
Nebraska’s Highest Town - 4,865 ft
www.discoverNWNebraska.com
Cabins & Camping
Crawford
2022 Events
CRAWFORD 4TH OF JULY PARADE, RODEO AND FIREWORKS July 3-4. The Pine Ridge’s only PRCA rodeo entertains all comers with thrilling visions of bucking broncos, bullish bulls, calf roping, food and product vendors and welcoming residents. www.owtrodeo.com
ROCK SWAP Sept. 2-5, 2022. Rockhounds of all ages enjoy trading their finds with the many vendors who participate in the swap, and daily field trips allow new and experienced rockhounds to add to their collections. The event also includes an auction, hot dog feed and the annual Fairburn Agate Collectors Gathering.
~ Trails ~ Hunting ~ ~ Stargazing ~ ~ Horse Lodging ~ ~ Rest ~ Relax ~ Repeat ~ Book Now ~ Aunt Myrna’s Cabin Open Year Round ~ Sleeps 10
Coming 2022! Camping Sites & Cabins
Ron & Marisa Betson 308-665-5396
Find Us On Facebook @CabinAuntMyrnas Pine Ridge • WestNebraska.com • 21
Harrison |
pg. 22
Harrison, south of the Oglala National Grassland, is the only incorporated community in Sioux County and is known as Nebraska’s “Top Town” because it has the highest elevation of any Nebraska community, Sioux County Historical Museum chronicles Sioux County from settlement through the 20th century with a schoolhouse, post office and more. Ask to see the museum’s rare hearse. (308) 665-5175. For a scenic drive, head north from town on Sowbelly Road. In 1876, the 5th U.S. Calvary clashed with Cheyenne at what is known as Warbonnet Battlefield. Buffalo Bill killed Yellow Hand here. Go 3 miles east of Harrison on Highway 20, then 16 miles north on Pants Butte Road, then 4 miles east on Montrose Road to see monuments north of the church. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is home to important Native American artifacts. Visitors can walk among the fossils of ancient animals. Located 22 miles south of Harrison or 34 miles north of Mitchell on Highway 29. (308) 436-9760. Contact the Sioux County Travel and Visitors Board (308) 430-8493.
Harrison
Hay Springs |
2022 Events
SIOUX COUNTY FAIR & RODEO July 29-August 7 Take in 4-H exhibits, livestock shows, an art show or the 5K race. Entertainment includes rodeos, a demolition derby and the ever-popular hog wrestling for brave souls willing to jump in a mud pit and attempt the feat (308) 668-2428.
Gordon |
pg. 25
A willow tree known as a landmark to pioneers and Native Americans is where Gordon was founded. The tree along Antelope Creek is still alive. Cowboy artifacts from the late 1800s through today are displayed at Tri-State Old Time Cowboys Memorial Museum at Gordon City Park. Scamahorn Museum is a restored 1880s church with military displays, Native American artifacts and genealogical records at Wayland Park. The Mari Sandoz Memorial Drive begins at Gordon and leads to Mari’s grave near the still-producing fruit orchards planted by her father, “Old Jules” Sandoz. For info on Gordon call (308) 282-0730.
pg. 25
A story in a 1922 issue of the Hay Springs News reported the sighting of a monster at Alkali Lake. We can’t confirm anything larger than big snapping turtles and catfish in the reservoir now named Walgren Lake. We do know that Walgren Lake State Recreation Area has camping, fishing and picnic areas. To find the lake, head south of Hay Springs on Highway 87 and follow the signs. To find the monster—well, you’re on your own. Heritage Center I and Heritage Center II are in the 1884 Methodist Church in the 200 block of Baker Street, and in the building at Second and Main. (308) 27-2374. Contact Hay Springs Chamber of Commerce at (308) 638-7275.
Rushville |
pg. 25
The Sheridan County Historical Museum showcases the colorful and important history of Camp Sheridan and the Spotted Tail Agency. Highway 20 and Nelson Avenue. Contact the Rushville Chamber of Commerce. (308) 327-2221.
Ellsworth
Ellsworth, pop. 14, began in 1888 as Spade Ranch headquarters. A Historical Marker in town tells its epic story.
Harrison
HOTELS & MOTELS
Sage Motel, 398 E. US Hwy 20, Harrison www.sagemotelharrison.com
UNIQUE LODGING
PHONE
ROOMS
308-665-5300
13
PHONE
AMENITIES Pets allowed, adjacent campground
AMENITIES
Harrison House Hotel, 115 Main St., Harrison www.harrisonhousehotel.net
308-665-5199
Restored historic hotel located in scenic Sioux County, rooms with shared bath, free continental breakfast
The Nest B&B Inn, 13 mi. N.E. of Harrison on Hat Creek Rd, www.restinthenest.com
308-432-4227
Fully furnished ranch home, sleeps 10, rooms with shared bath
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE
OPEN
Corral Campground, 410 E. US Hwy 20, Harrison sagemotelharrison.com
308-665-5300
Year Round
22 • Destination western nebraska 2022
AMENITIES RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 12 trailers
RATE RANGE 65-85
RATE RANGE 50-100 75+
FEES •
Crawford
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
ROOMS
Fort Robinson State Park, 3200 Hwy 20, Crawford
308-665-2900
•
Hilltop Motel 304 McPherson St., Hwy 2 & US Hwy 20, Crawford
308-665-1144 800-504-1444
13
Pets allowed, Pizza place on site open Thursday-Saturday
51-75
Crawford Inn & RV 3591 US Hwy 20, Hwy 2 & US Hwy 20, Crawford
308-665-1450 800-903-1450
24
Wheelchair accessible, pets allowed
1-75+
UNIQUE LODGING
PHONE
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Restaurant on premises, indoor pool, pets allowed
AMENITIES
50-245+
RATE RANGE
Crow Butte View Cabins & Camping, 934 Bethel Rd, 5 mi. S. of Hwy 20 between Chadron and Crawford aunt-myrnas-cabin.com
308-665-5396
Trails, hunting, stargazing, horse lodging. Aunt Myrna's Cabin sleeps 10 and other camping sites and cabins are coming in 2022
95+
Down Home Guest Ranch House 10 mi. S. of Crawford on Hwy 2/71 www.downhomeranchhouse.com
602-620-5755
Comfy old 2-story, 4 bedroom, 2 bath home fully furnished and equipped, big beautiful yard, gas grill, hunting, bird watching, stargazing, hiking, abundance of wildlife
Call for rates
High Plains Homestead 263 Sandcreek Rd., 16 mi. N., Crawford www.highplainshomestead.com
308-665-2592
All our “Glamping” rooms have private baths, mini-fridge, microwave and coffeemaker. RV’s and tenting welcome, bath house available. Fully equipped Community Kitchen and large grill on village patio for all to share. Heated pool, group rates. Open seasonally, May 1-October 31.
80+
Our Heritage Guest Ranch 1041 Toadstool Rd, 16 mi. N.W. & 7 mi. N.W., Crawford ourheritageguestranch.com
308-665-2810
Wheelchair accessible, rooms with private and shared bath, full breakfast. Sleeps 15. Ranch activities, hiking and fossil hunting
1-75
Ponderosa Ranch, 10 mi. S.E. of Crawford www.ponderosaranch.net
308-628-7733
Private rustic cabin, full kitchen, BBQ, hunting, bird watching, stargazing. By reservation only.
75+
Schoolhouse B&B, 1312 W. Ash Creek Rd., Crawford
308-665-1814
Cozy schoolhouse with private bath, full breakfast, bird watching, stargazing, hunting
CAMPGROUNDS
51-75
PHONE
OPEN
Crawford City Park, First & Main St., Crawford crawfordnebraska.info
308-665-1462
Year Round
Amenities - Four camping pads, 3 non-pad sites, all with electricity; Dispersed camping allowed.
•
Fort Robinson State Park 3200 W. US Hwy 20, Crawford outdoornebraska.gov/fortrobinson
308-665-2900
•
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 103 trailers. Rest facilities: showers, flush and pit toilets. Cabins: 34
12-21 100 cabin
Soldier Creek Wilderness Trailhead 6 mi. N.W. of Fort Robinson State Park, Crawford
308-432-0300
Year Round
RV Amenities: water. Rest facilities: pit toilets
8/vehicle
Toadstool Geologic Park Nebraska National Park, 19 mi. N.
308-432-0300
•
GOLF COURSES Legend Buttes Golf Course, 3440 US Hwy 20, Crawford 1/2 mi. W. on US Hwy 20
PHONE 308-665-2431
AMENITIES
FEES
Room for 6 trailers, $5 camping, $3 use fee mid-May through mid-Nov.
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times. 9, public
3-5 NE Park Permit
RATE RANGE Under 15
Pine Ridge • WestNebraska.com • 23
Chadron
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
ROOMS
Best Western West Hills Inn 1100 W. 10th St., 1/2 mi. S Jct., US Hwys 20 & 385, Chadron, www.bestwesternnebraska.com
308-432-3305 877-432-3305
67
Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises, indoor pool, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
75+
Bunk House Motel 901 E. 3rd St., Chadron, chadronbunkhouse.com
308-432-5591
21
Pets allowed
1-50
Motel Grand 1050 W US Hwy 20, Chadron
308-432-5595
20
Restaurant next door, pets allowed
Holiday Inn Express 247 Ash St., Chadron
308-747-2223
•
Super 8 Motel 840 W. US Hwy 20, Chadron
308-872-9769
45
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
51-75+
Travelodge 755 Microtel Dr., S. US Hwy 385 & 8th St. Exit, Chadron
308-646-3838
43
Amenities Kids stay free! Free morning coffee, expanded cable, coin laundry, and indoor pool; Wi-Fi access, refrigerators, and microwaves in every room
51-75
Westerner Motel 300 Oak St., W. US Hwy 20, Chadron westernermotel@gpcom.net
308-432-5577 800-947-0847
27
Free wi-fi, cable TV, park in front of your door
60-80
UNIQUE LODGING
AMENITIES
•
RATE RANGE
Rate Varies
•
PHONE
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Crow Butte View Cabins & Camping, 934 Bethel Rd., 5 mi. S. of Hwy 20 between Chadron and Crawford facebook.com/CabinAuntMyrnas
308-665-5396
Trails, hunting, stargazing, horse lodging. Aunt Myrna's Cabin sleeps 10 and other camping sites and cabins are coming in 2022
95+
Northwest Nebraska High Country www.nebraskahighcountry.com
308-665-1580
There are 25 hunting lodges and bed and breakfast operations in this organization. Visit the website to view the list
Olde Main Street Inn 115 Main St., Chadron
308-432-3380
Rustic country inn on National Register of Historic Places, rooms with private bath, full continental breakfast
R Lazy J Country Hideaway 1260 Bethel Rd., 7 mi. S. off Hwy 20, between Crawford and Chadron, www.rlazyj.com
308-665-2377 308-430-0134
Private ranch house, 3 bedroom, 2 full baths, full kitchen, laundry. Great for families or individuals. Wildlife watching, star gazing, exploring encouraged
Rocking Heart Elk Ranch 1138 Table Rd., Chadron, www.elkplanet.com
308-430-4848
2-story log cabin, wheelchair accessible, full breakfast
51-75
Victorian Inn B&B 307 Shelton St., Chadron www.chadronvictorianinn.com
308-432-5696
Built in 1910. High-speed internet, grand piano, central A/C. Rooms with shared bath, full continental breakfast.
1-75
Shared Outdoors 10 Old Dunlap Rd., Hemingford www.sharedoutdoors.com
308-487-3426
Fully equipped lodge with full kitchen, fireplace, laundry, WiFi, phone, satellite TV, 4 bedrooms able to sleep up to 12 people
CAMPGROUNDS
75-110
1-75+
95+
Call for rates
PHONE
OPEN
AMENITIES
FEES
Chadron State Park 9 mi. S. on Hwy 385, Chadron www.outdoornebraska.gov
308-432-6167
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 70 trailers Rest Facilities: Showers, flush and pit toilets. Camping: 18 tents, Cabin rentals
11-65 NE Park Permit
Eagle’s Rest RV Park 1/4 mi. W. on Hwy 20, Chadron
308-432-4349
Elec. Only winter
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 48 trailers. Rest facilities: showers, flush toilets. Camping: 20 tents
25
Red Cloud Campground Nebraska National Forest 8 mi. S. on Hwy 385, Chadron fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska/recreation/camping-cabins
308-432-0300
Year Round
RV Amenities: room for 6 trailers Rest facilities: Pit toilets Camping: 7 tents
308-432-0300
Year Round
RV Amenities: water. Rest facilities: Pit toilets Horse corrals available
308-487-3426
•
Roberts Trailhead Campground Nebraska National Forest, 18 mi. S.W. fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska/recreation/horseriding-camping
Shared Outdoors 30 Old Dunlap Rd., Hemingford www.sharedoutdoors.com
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, Rest facilities: showers, pit and flush toilets Camping: available
5 May-Nov.
8 vehicle, May-Nov.
20-40
Chadron Cont. » 24 • Destination western nebraska 2022
« Chadron Cont.
GOLF COURSES Ridgeview Country Club 16611 US Hwy 385, Chadron
PHONE 308-432-4468
Gordon, Rushville, HOTELS & MOTELS
HOLES & TYPE
&
PHONE
Call for hours & tee times.
•
9 holes, semi-private Under 15
Hay Springs ROOMS
RATE RANGE
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Jefco Inn 308 S. Cornell, W. US Hwy 20, Gordon
308-282-2935
22
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, guest laundry
65+
Western Sands Motel 107 W. US Hwy 20, Gordon
308-282-1795
20
Wheelchair accessible, pets allowed, free wifi
55+
Antler’s Motel, 607 E. 2nd St., Rushville
308-327-2444
20
Free continental breakfast, pets allowed, Patio BBQ grill
Nebraskaland Motel, 508 E. 2nd St., Rushville
308-327-2487
15
Pets allowed, free wifi, large groups welcome, kitchenettes
UNIQUE LODGING
PHONE
AMENITIES
42-77 45+
RATE RANGE
Horse Thief Cave Ranch, 1711 550th Trail Rd., 15 mi. S.E., Gordon, www.horsethiefcave.com
308-282-1017
Rooms with shared bath, continental breakfast
50+
Flying Heart Ranch LLC 6473 440th Ln., Hay Springs, www.flyingheartranch.com
308-638-7426
Rooms with shared bath, 3-bedroom, 2-bath cabin. Solitude, wildlife, hiking/biking trails
90+
Hay Springs Rentals, 213, 221 & 230 N. Post St. & 339 N. Chambers St., Hay Springs www.hayspringsrentals.com
308-638-4466
Rooms with private and shared bath. 3-bedroom houses with kitchens and living rooms
•
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE
OPEN
Hamilton Park E. US Hwy 20, Gordon, www.gordon-ne.us
308-762-3860
Apr.-Oct.
Tomahawk Park 200 W. US Hwy 20, Gordon, www.gordon-ne.us
308-762-3763
•
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 15 trailers
•
Sunset RV Park, 110 S. Post St., Hay Springs
308-762-8660 800-767-8660
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 9 trailers. Camping: 9 tents (First come)
25+
Walgren Lake SRA 4 mi. E. on US Hwy 20, 3 mi. S., Hay Springs
308-665-2900
Year Round
RV Amenities: water, room for 50 trailers Camping: 50. Rest facilities: Pit toilets
Rushville Service Center, W. US Hwy 20, Rushville
308-327-2375
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 6 trailers. Rest facilities: 5 tents
GOLF COURSES
PHONE
AMENITIES
FEES
Room for 6 trailers
HOLES & TYPE
Call for rates
Call for hours & tee times.
6 NE Park Permit 10
RATE RANGE
Gordon Golf and Country Club 6535 210th Ln., 2nd & Willow Sts., Gordon
308-282-1146
18, public
15-23
Hay Springs
308-232-4436
9, public
5
Sand Ridge 3rd St. & Golf Course Ln., Rushville
308-327-2966
9, public
15-30
Pine Ridge • WestNebraska.com • 25
26 • Destination western nebraska 2022
GERING • SCOTTSBLUFF HENRY • MINATARE MORRILL • MITCHELL BAYARD • BRIDGEPORT LISCO • BROADWATER LEWELLEN • OSHKOSH A ROMANTIC ADVENTURE AWAITS
It’s easy to romanticize the American West. Retracing the steps of pioneers who journeyed along the 2000-mile-long trail beginning in the 1830s, modern-day adventurers can’t truly understand or appreciate the perilous adventures that existed along its dusty, dry and often dangerous path. The Trails West region is a safe destination these days—a beautiful landscape. Colorful names like Ash Hollow, Courthouse and Jail Rocks, Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff National Monument inspire visions of adventure. The thrill of discovery continues in this rocky land. Instead of passing through, stay for a while and discover the romances of Trails West country.
Scotts Bluff National Monument pictured left
Trails West • WestNebraska.com • 27
or Here
Picture yourself Here maybe all the way down Here
Visit Nebraska’s Landmark Country. 800-788-9475 | NebraskaLandmarkCountry.com
40+ Murals // 2 Art Galleries VisitGardenCounty.com Lewellen • Oshkosh • Lisco
Under the striking views of the Scottsbluff National Monument, experience the timeless stories of the Nebraska prairie on this 80-acre working farm. Early pioneer artifacts await your discovery along the Oregon Trail.
Oregon Trail Wagon Train: Late August 2022 Harvest Festival: Sept. 17 th & 18 th, 2022 2930 Old Oregon Trail • Gering • LegacyofthePlains.org • 308.436.1989
Trails West is beautifully designed and nestled on the banks of the North Platte River. You will find a stunning view of the Scotts Bluff National Monument. Whether you are interested in our camping or lodging options, our summer camp programs, holding a business meeting, hosting a family reunion or planning a wedding, Trails West is the place to be! To reserve any facilities at the Trails West Camp, please visit www.ymcaofscottsbluff.com/reservations
308-635-2318
trailswest@ymcaofscottsbluff.org
30 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Play Nebraska’s Scenic Golf Destination Call for Tee Times
308.635.2277 or Book Online at
monument-shadows.com
Scottsbluff to Crawford
Berea Knight Museum
Carhenge
Carnegie Arts Center
71
“Old Jules” Sandoz Grave Site Dobby Frontier Town
Sallows Military Museum and Conservatory
Antioch
Alliance
Lakeside
2
26 min.
Riverside Discovery 14 min. Center 7 min.
Henry Morrill
1
Mitchell
Mitchell to Scottbluff
26
4
3
Robidoux Trading Post Five Rocks Amphitheater Legacy of the Plains Museum
Gering
92
Robidoux Trading Post & Pioneer Graves
Chimney Rock Pony Express Station
27
Bayard
8
88
Harrisburg
Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Bridgeport State Recreation Area Northport Pioneer Trails Museum
Bayard Chimney Rock Museum
1
Chimney Rock Bridgeport National Historic Site
27 min Gering to Bayard
4
62A
McGrew
5
Banner County Historical Museum
Lake Minatare State Recreation Area North Platte Wildlife Refuge
7
Minatare
Melbeta
Wildcat Hills Nature Center
9
Wes te
rn T rails
A
Byw
1
27
ay
Lisco Nor
th P
71
Prairie Schooner Museum
10
Broadwater
92
Court House and Jail Rocks
1 hr. 3 min
Dalton
latt
eR
Historical Museum
11
ive
r
385
53 min.
Oshkosh 26
Gurley
Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area Bushnell 30
e eyenn
Kimball
Plains Historical Museum Dix
18 min
Railroad Museum 29 Potter Lincoln Bywa y Duckpin 80 39 min Bowling Alley
Attractions #TRAILS WEST 71
Tri-State Marker Nebraska’s Highest Point
28
1 2 3 4 5 6
western trails scenic byway riverside discovery center scotts bluff national monument Robidoux trading post wildcat hills state recreation area Lake Minatare
Gering |
Hyannis
34 min.
385
Scottsbluff Scottsbluff 6
Midwest Theater Scotts Bluff National Monument
92
Ashby
Bingham
Lake Minatare Lighthouse
Scottsbluff to Gering
2
Ellsworth
pg. 40
The story of Gering is the story of the Oregon Trail. Where hopeful pioneers once passed by the hundreds of thousands, a city of more than 8,500 residents now thrives near the North Platte River. Hard facts are scarce when it comes to Hiram Scott, but legends and lore abound about the fur trapper who died in 1828 near the bluff that bears his name all these years later. Historians argue over the real story of the man’s untimely demise. Was he coldheartedly left for dead while suffering from some unknown ailment, and how did his remains end up on the opposite side of the river from where his corpse was supposedly abandoned?
7 8 9 10 11 12
Fort Sidney Post Commander’s Home
Sidney 16 min
Lorenzo
19
Hillside Golf Course
30
27
Lodgepole Depot Museum
Sunol
32 Cabela’s Retail Store and Wildlife Exhibit
Lewellen
Ash Hollow 12 State Historical Park
Bergstrom Rock & Gem Collection
north platte national wildlife refuge chimney rock courthouse rock & Jail Rock crescent lake national wildlife refuge goose hunting capital ash hollow state park
Scotts Bluff National Monument is in Scotts Bluff County, but it is closer to the city of Gering than it is it is to nearby Scottsbluff. No matter. To simplify things, folks living around here call it “The Monument,” a name as matter-of-fact as the wise Native American moniker for the bluff, Ma-a-pa-te, which means “hill that is hard to go around.” Wagon trains from the Missouri River reached Scotts Bluff only after two months of hard travel across what is now the state of Nebraska. More than 350,000 pioneers are estimated to have passed by here between 1836 and 1869. The ruts left by their many possession-laden wagons still can be seen here, carved into clay and stone, a visible testament to the courage
1
92
L a ke
McCo
44 min.
50 min.
Lodgepole Chappell
30 min. Sidney to Chappell
Pony Express National Monument
18 min.
California Hill Historical Marker Sudman-Neumann Heritage House Big Springs 30
Prehistoric Wonders Settling the west The Great OutDoors Pioneer trails One-of-a-Kinds Unique Geology Welcome Centers/Rest Areas
Brule
naug
hy
Ogallal
80
Mansion o the Hill
39 min. Ogallala to Chappell
30 min.
Brandon 15 min.
and determination of those who were here before us. A harsh and arid land, yes, but ultimately beautiful. Rising 800 feet above the floor of the Platte River Valley, Scotts Bluff is sometimes thought to be a small mountain, which it is not. Mountains are pushed up from below; Scotts Bluff is what remains of the ancient High Plains that were eroded by rivers over millions of years. The uniquely Nebraska formation is part of a series of rocky escarpments known collectively as the Wildcat Hills.
»
Trails West • WestNebraska.com • 31
Gr
« The Scotts Bluff National Monument is near
Gering along the North Platte River and encompasses nearly 3,000 acres of arid land. Among its badlands of sandstone and siltstone, the fossilized remains of ancient oreodonts, tortoises, rhinoceroses, horses, camels and other prehistoric creatures have been discovered.
From atop Scotts Bluff on a clear day, visitors can see Chimney Rock to the southeast. Wyoming’s Laramie Range of the Rocky Mountains can sometimes be viewed when looking to the west. You can drive to the top by way of Summit Road. The route provides a stunning view and takes vehicles through three tunnels carved through the bluff. If you have the stamina, hiking the Saddle Rock Trail from the visitor center to the top is more of an adventure. Rock slides occasionally cause trail closures here. Check in at the visitor center for current information. Seeing the bluffs’ walls up close is spectacular, and at one point, the trail passes through a narrow, rocky tunnel carved through part of the bluff itself. The less strenuous Oregon Trail Pathway allows visitors to walk the same ground where pioneers and their wagons passed long ago. The visitor center/museum displays the remains of ancient creatures that once lived here, the paintings of William Henry Jackson and artifacts from the pioneer era. Look at the taxidermy rattlesnakes at the front desk for a glimpse of the creatures rarely ever seen on the trails. The monument is 3 miles west of Gering on the Old Oregon Trail. It is open daily, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and closes at 5 p.m. the rest of the year. A fee-free park, rangers give interpretive programs on many weekends throughout the year. (308) 436-9700. The community of Gering is named for early settler Edson Gering and his wealthy investor father, Martin Gering. The town was founded in 1887. The community of Scottsbluff sprung up just north of the North Platte River three years later in 1890. Each town retains its own unique identity despite appearing in many ways as one large community. Just east of the monument on the Old Oregon Trail, Legacy of the Plains Museum shows visitors the history and development of the North Platte Valley and High Plains region. The museum’s 80-acre campus includes a machine annex, a historic farmstead house, a late 1880s log cabin and a working farm. (308) 436-1989.
32 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Hot Air Balloon over Scotts Bluff National Monument Across the road from the museum and overlooking the monument is the Five Rocks Amphitheater, which features concerts, car shows and other community events held each summer at this striking, open-air venue unlike anything else in the West. (308) 436-6886. Monument Shadows Golf Course is an 18-hole course with outstanding views of Scotts Bluff National Monument. Clubhouse, cart rental and pro shop available. The course’s gourmet Monument Grill restaurant is known for its steaks and selection of beer. 2550 Clubhouse Drive. Reach the pro shop at (308) 635-2277. Call Monument Grill at (308) 635-6868. Eight miles south of Gering on Highway 71, the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area and Nature Center offers more than 4 miles of winding and scenic hiking trails, picnic facilities and cross-country skiing on more than 1,000 acres of pine and cedar-covered canyons. The Nature Center was recently renovated and received an 8,720-square-foot expansion. A realistic tree “grows” from the bottom floor to tower over visitors on the second level.
Displays include educational exhibits about fossil animals and modern wildlife. Classes and workshops take place here regularly. Viewing wildlife coming and going from the center’s many feeders is a popular activity. A small prairie rattlesnake is known to lurk below the feeders while trying to snatch small birds that are feeding on the ground. Please allow this natural predator some space when visiting. A Nebraska state park entry permit, which can be purchased on site, is required on each vehicle entering the recreation area. The area also includes a shooting range equipped to handle most caliber of firearms, and has archery and air gun ranges, too. (308) 436-3777. In 1851, Plains Indians brought their trapped mammal furs to Robidoux Trading Post (pronounced Roo-bi-doo). In the early days of the Oregon Trail, it was one of the first signs of civilization after many weeks and months spent crossing prairie. The sod-roofed building has been reconstructed with authentic 100-year-old handhewn logs and period furnishings.
Robidoux Trading Post is relocated to a new site on the original Oregon Trail near Five Rocks Amphitheater in Gering. The post sits on the grasslands amidst the backdrop of the sandstone beacons of Saddle, Eagle, Sentinel, Crown, and Dome Rocks. A short drive west from the post takes travelers along Robidoux Road through rugged country past pioneer graves marked and unknown and visible wagon swales. Travel slowly to glimpse elk, mule deer, golden eagles, and huge flocks of wild turkeys. Entrance to the Robidoux Trading Post is at the intersection of Five Rocks Road and D Street on the south side of Gering. For more information on Gering, contact the Gering Visitors Bureau at (308) 436-6886 or www.visitgering.com.
Gering 2022 Events
FATHER’S DAY ROCK-N-ROLL CLASSIC CAR SHOW June. More than 300 classics from seven states roll into Five Rocks Amphitheater for this day-long show and shine. (308) 436-6886.
OREGON TRAIL DAYS July. Nebraska's oldest continuous celebration. Events include parades, a food fair, bands, chili cook-off, art show and a Hill Climb bicycle competition to the top of Scotts Bluff National Monument. (308) 436-6886.
OLD WEST BALLOON FEST August. Scotts Bluff County skies fills with over 80 hot air balloons, bright hues during daybreak launches, balloon glows, food vendors, beer garden and live entertainment. www.theoldwestballoonfest.com
THE FIRST BREWERY IN THE NEBR ASK A PANHANDLE, FLYOVER BREWING COMPANY TAKES PRIDE IN IT’S BEER, FOOD AND LOCATION. EVERY MENU ITEM IS MADE FROM SCR ATCH IN OUR KITCHEN.
HARVEST FESTIVAL September. Celebrate historic agriculture of the High Plains at Legacy of the Plains Museum. Pick your own potatoes. Admission charge of $5 per carload. (308) 436-1989.
308-575-0335 FLYOVERBREWINGCOMPANY.COM WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY 11A M - 11PM 1824 BROADWAY, DOWNTOWN SCOTTSBLUFF Trails West • WestNebraska.com • 33
Affiliated programs are Theatre West, a summer theater company, and the historic Midwest Theater, a downtown movie palace of yesteryear. (308) 632-6311.
Midwest theater
Walking and biking trails along the North Platte River connect Scottsbluff, Gering and Terrytown. Monument Valley Pathways includes 6.3 miles of trails; 26 miles are planned. The area’s frontier history is commemorated on the Oregon Trail west of Scottsbluff near the intersection of Highway 92 and Hunt Dairy Road. Two markers stand here. One is for Fort Mitchell, a cavalry outpost built in 1864. All traces of the fort have vanished, but this marker stands as a reminder of the role the men stationed at Fort Mitchell played in the settlement of the region. The marker was erected in 1923 when people with memory of the Oregon Trail were still alive. The other marker, which depicts a Pony Express rider, commemorates the Scotts Bluff Pony Express Station. The exact location of the original station is unknown and lost to time, but is believed to have been on or nearby Fort Mitchell. Scottsbluff, with 15,000 residents, is the Panhandle’s largest city. Combined with sister city Gering (pop. 8,500) and with Terrytown (pop. 1,200) sandwiched between, the Scottsbluff/Gering metro area is the largest population center in Western Nebraska.
Scottsbluff |
pg. 40
The rugged lands surrounding Scottsbluff are home to mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, elk, bobcats, mountain lions, golden eagles and many other hardy animals. A wild menagerie of chimpanzees, zebras, tigers, cranes, red pandas and other critters live in town at Riverside Discovery Center. The zoo is home to more than 70 animal species from around the world. They include rare species such as Amur tigers, addax and several different kinds of primates. Other special exhibits include the Big Cat Complex, Chimpanzee Conservation Center and Heritage Barn with a petting zoo. Not a fan of the furry? The Riverside Discovery Center has tortoises, turtles, hedgehogs and boa constrictors, too. When visiting during summer, bring swimsuits and flip-flops to enjoy the Splash-pad, a refreshing zero-depth
34 • Destination western nebraska 2022
water feature. South Beltline Highway W. is half a mile west of Highway 71. (308) 630-6236. www.riversidediscoverycenter.org. Riverside Campground is open May through September and includes a playground, disc golf, fishing ponds, hiking and extensive arboretum near the scenic and refreshing North Platte River. (308) 630-6238. Family-friendly attractions abound in Scottsbluff. Westmoor Pool at Avenue I and 20th Street includes water cannons, swimming pool, diving boards, slippery slides, an island and a lazy river. (308) 632-8881. West Nebraska Arts Center, at 106 E. 18th St., is a hub for painting, sculpture, artists-in-residence and the performing arts. (308) 632-2226.
The much younger Terrytown was founded by businessman and politician Terry Carpenter in 1949. Terry’s Lake is a Terrytown landmark and popular fishing, picnic and recreation spot not far from the North Platte River. (308) 632-7212. The pioneering spirit of early Scottsbluff pioneers continues today in the tasty and creative brews produced downtown at the Flyover Brewing Company. The brewery opened in 2018, and staff use brewing equipment made in Lincoln, malt grown in Nebraska and locally grown sugar beets. The historic building housing the Panhandle’s only brewery has a relaxed atmosphere, and head brewer Derek Ordway is known for his pilsners and experimental India Pale Ales. It also includes a restaurant popular for its variety of pizzas. 1824 Broadway. (308) 632-2133. For more information, contact the Scotts Bluff Area Visitors Bureau at www.VisitScottsBluff.com
Scottsbluff 2022 Events
18TH STREET FARMERS MARKET Saturday mornings June through September. Backyard produce, farmers' veggies, locally raised meat, craft and home décor items and more are for sale from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday mornings downtown between Broadway and First Avenue. www.Facebook.com/ScottsbluffFarmersMarket.
PAPA MOON CIDER HOUSE FIREFLY FESTIVAL July. Papa Moon Vineyards and Cider House annual firefly viewing; fireflies are only visible at nightfall and tours begin around 8:45 pm. Fireflies are only out when weather is nice; additional events include food vendors, wine and cider tastings.
OLD WEST BALLOON FEST August. Scotts Bluff County skies fill with over 80 hot air balloons, bright hues during daybreak launches, balloon glows. It includes food vendors, beer garden and live entertainment. www.theoldwestballoonfest.com
RIVERSIDE DISCOVERY CENTER All year. Special events throughout the year create unforgettable family memories at Western Nebraska’s only accredited zoo. Birthday parties, live music concerts, after-hours events and holiday celebrations have visitors and the zoo’s many big cats, roaring loudly with approval. (308) 630-6236.
Henry
Henry is Nebraska’s westernmost town. One mile south, Stateline Island is part of the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge. The 130-acre refuge is a bird-watching mecca and popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts. One mile east of Henry is the place where in 1847 Brigham Young called a special prayer circle. Prayer Bluffs is accessible by a service road.
Minatare |
pg. 42
Lake Minatare isn’t so large that it needs a lighthouse, but it has one anyway and is one of seven inland lighthouses in the United States. It was built by the Veteran’s Conservation Corps, a New Deal agency that provided jobs to unemployed veterans. (308) 783-2911. Located 7 miles north of the community of Minatare, Lake Minatare State Recreation Area offers swimming, boating and fishing. A state park entry permit is required. Lake Minatare is part of North Platte National Wildlife Refuge, which also includes nearby Winters Creek Lake and Lake Alice, and Stateline Island near Henry. All are good bird-watching areas. To provide undisturbed wildlife habitat during the autumn and winter migration season, all but Stateline Island are closed to visitors Oct. 15-Jan. 15. (308) 635-7851.
Morrill |
pg. 42
Morrill, population of 921, is a great place to stay to explore western Nebraska. Morrill’s Travelodge motel makes a great starting point as it is conveniently located off US Highway 26 and 20 miles from Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF). Morrill is perfectly positioned to explore the area’s attractions such as Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Wildcat Hills Recreation Center, Agate Fossil Beds, Fort Robinson, Fort Laramie in Wyoming, and Kiowa State Management Area as well as Stateline Island with walking trails and wildlife refuge. In 1851, 10,000 Plains Indians from 10 tribes met with government officials near Horse Creek to form a peace treaty. Never in recorded history had so many Native Americans gathered at one place at the same time. From the government’s perspective, the purpose of the treaty was to ensure safe passage for people using the Oregon Trail and to put a halt to intertribal warfare. The government broke the treaty almost immediately. Horse Creek Treaty Marker is 3 ½ miles west of Morrill on Highway 26. Every July, Morrill’s Horse Creek Rendezvous commemorates the event.
»
chimney rock
Trails West • WestNebraska.com • 35
« Morrill has a variety of restaurants such as
Penny’s Diner, which is a 24-hour train car diner offering traditional American dishes and desserts in a '50s-themed interior, Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant for traditional Mexican dishes, and the Rustic Tavern Bar and Grill, where you will get one of the best steaks in the valley along with some great down-homecooked lunch specials.
The Village of Morrill offers an outdoor heated pool, one of few in the valley along with a separate baby pool. The pool also has both a high and a low dive. Morrill boasts four parks; City Park with playground equipment and picnic shelters; Veteran’s Park with veteran markers and a gazebo; Legion Baseball field on
Morrill County 2022 Events
GREEK FESTIVAL–TRADITIONAL DINNER Febuary 23. Greek lamb/roast beef dinner with Greek potatoes, Greek salad, spinach pie (spanakopita) and Greek walnut cake.
CAMP CLARKE SPRING RENDEZVOUS: MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND Enjoy the sport of traditional muzzle loader shooting, mountain man runs, breakfast cookoffs and hawk and knife throwing. Step back into the time of the early 1800s as people wear authentic clothing, camp in tipis and cook over fire. See what the mountain man saw as he trapped and traded throughout the Western United States. Vendors are welcome. Activities start time from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday and 9 a.m. to noon on Monday.
CAMP CLARKE DAYS May 28-31. Camp Clarke Days is an annual tradition in Bridgeport and includes a full weekend of activities for families to enjoy.
BROADWATER DAYS June. Broadwater Nebraska’s Annual Community Celebration. Fun for the whole community and surrounding area. Call (308) 279-1024 or check the Broadwater Buzz Facebook page for activities and dates.
FoMo Park and three ballfields at Brownsfield Park. FoMo Park also offers a very popular Farmer’s Market with vendors from Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska. The Sandpits just south of Morrill features three ponds that are stocked with fish annually. Morrill also offers a nine-hole golf course which was established in 1929. Rolling Green Golf Course features a driving range, putting green, fully stocked pro shop and some of the friendliest employees around. There are also 13 other golf courses close to Morrill in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska, and the staff at Rolling Green Golf Course would gladly help you plan your golf excursion. The Village Office is located at 118 S. Center Street. (308) 247-2312.
CAMP CLARKE STAMPEDE RODEO July 3-4. One of the oldest rodeos in Nebraska. All events and fireworks nightly at the Morrill County Fairground, 1 mile south of Bridgeport on Hwy 88.
MORRILL COUNTY FAIR July. There is something for everyone as events are open to all ages. Contact Prairie Winds Community Center (308) 262-1825 for dates and more information.
GREEK FESTIVAL August (2nd or 3rd Saturday) Authentic Greek food ala carte, dancing and music and other activities. Located at the Prairie Wings Community Center in Bridgeport. Call (308) 262-0281 for more information.
CHIMNEY ROCK PIONEER DAYS September. Pioneer Days features BBQ kickoff night with live music, free pancake feed, 5K run, parade, other events and food vendors. Check Chimney Rock Pioneer Days on Facebook for more information.
CAMP CLARKE FALL RENDEZVOUS: LABOR DAY WEEKEND Activities are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Monday.
Mitchell |
pg. 42
Mitchell is the usual point of departure for adventurous travelers bound for unique Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, 30 miles north of the community on Highway 29. Other recreation includes a motocross track at the old airport, Centennial Park and the historic Nile Theater. Scenic Knolls Golf Course is a public, nine-hole course, 2 miles north of the intersections of highways 26 and 29. American West Gallery features the original paintings of award-winning local artist LB Smith. Creations by other artists are also shown and sold here. (308) 672-2628. 1402 Center Ave. Mitchell is also home to the Old West Balloon Fest and Balloon Federation of America’s national hot air ballooning competition in 2020, 2021 and 2022. For more information about Mitchell, contact the city offices. (308) 623-1523.
Bayard |
pg. 41
Visible to wagon trains from days away, Chimney Rock’s 120-foot spire was unlike anything Oregon Trail pioneers had ever seen. The Landmark’s story is told at the Ethel and Christopher J. Abbott Visitor Center at Chimney Rock National Historic Site. It is located 1 ½ miles south of Highway 92 near Bayard. (308) 586-2581. Bayard Depot Museum is housed in a refurbished railroad depot at the south end of downtown. Exhibits of pioneer machinery, tools, quilts, a schoolroom, kitchen and bedroom in the museum document the development of the area and the railroad, farming, and sugar industries. Free admission. Open 1-4:30 pm daily during the summer and at other times by appointment. (308) 586-2297. Chimney Rock Pioneer Crossing offers a gift shop, snacks, a stocked fishing hole, tepee sleeping, RV parking and camper hookups. Take in stunning views while golfing at the nine-hole Chimney Rock Golf Course north of town. (308) 586-1606. The Pumpkin Patch at BE Farm is nestled northwest of Bayard off US Highway 26. Looking south, the patch boasts a beautiful view of one of Nebraska’s most iconic landmarks, Chimney Rock. All pumpkins and squash are planted
36 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Courthouse & Jail Rocks
by hand using organic farming principles. With 60 varieties, you will find your perfect pumpkin here! Located 7 miles off the Western Trails Scenic and Historic Byway. Open every weekend in October. (308) 637-1699. For more information, contact Bayard Area Development. (308) 586-1234.
Bridgeport |
pg. 41
The Camp Clarke Bridge, which opened in May 1876, was the first bridge to span the North Platte River in western Nebraska. It was built to serve Fort Robinson, Indian reservations, gold rush travelers, pioneers, and multiple cattle drives headed north. When the railroad arrived, the original site was abandoned in 1899 and relocated to establish the town of Bridgeport also known as “Trail City, USA.” Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock are prominent in history as two of the most famous landmarks of the westward migration and ancient legends. Westward migrants named Nebraska’s rocky formations after things familiar to their eastern lives. They thought the blocky shape looked like a courthouse; the smaller formation nearby was therefore the jail. They are the easternmost rocky outliers of Nebraska’s Wildcat Hills. The rocks, which are located 5 miles south of Bridgeport on Hwy 88, are visible from many miles away.
Pioneer Trails Museum exhibits items of early settlers and collections of fossils and arrowheads. A tour of the museum highlights stories of the Skidi Pawnee and Sioux Indians, the history of Camp Clarke, local pioneer families, the Old Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, Pony Express, and many other trails that went through the area. Open seasonally from May through September. Free admission. Located at 103 Bell Road north of the river. Learn more by contacting museum@cityofbport.com or visiting the Bridgeport Pioneer Trails Museum Facebook page. Courthouse and Jail Rock Golf Club, a ninehole public course complete with cart rentals and a club house provides golfers a scenic view of nearby Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock. (308) 262-9925. Just off Hwy 26 and 92 on the west edge of town, Bridgeport State Recreation Area offers primitive camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing and swimming. Five sandpit lakes are the heart of this recreation area. Center Lake is open to motorboat traffic. Boat ramps are available for boating enthusiasts and fishermen. Trout are stocked in Northwest and Center lakes. (308) 436-3777. Many community events are held at the Prairie Winds Community Center located on North Main Street. Travelers are welcome to take advantage of the facilities, including exercise room, shower, outdoor swimming pool and more. For more information call (308) 262-1825.
Broadwater |
pg. 41
Among the exhibits at the Broadwater Museum are a petrified turtle measuring 48 inches around, believed to be from the Mesozoic Era which was excavated from the local area, and a bronze ship’s bell from the H.M.S. Broadwater that was presented to Broadwater from the British Embassy in 1951. Visitors can also experience other exhibits portraying the history of the area. Located in the Village Hall, the museum is open the 1st through the 10th of each month or by appointment by calling (308) 279-1024. The Farm House B&B is an extensively renovated and refurbished historic hotel and residence which offers travelers, hunters, and community friends a cozy night’s stay and a place to reminisce and dream of yesteryear. Visitors are also provided a tour of these unique properties by calling (308) 279-1024.
Lisco |
pg. 43
Ancient Bluff Ruins is the most extensive bluff formation on the north side of the North Platte River. The buttes were named by pioneers who thought they resembled European castles. Riverview Lodge and Event Center hosts weddings and other events, and has goose hunting pits for lease. (308) 770-0740.
Trails West • WestNebraska.com • 37
ROBIDOUX
R.V. PARK • Full hook-up, electric & water, tent sites available • All sites 30amp/50amp service
Located in Gering, NE, Monument Inn & Suites offers clean and comfortable hotel rooms near many great attractions in the Gering/Scottsbluff area. We are located by the Scotts Bluff National Monument, Chimney Rock, the Oregon Trail, Wild Cat Hills Preserve, the Legacy of the Plains Museum, and many other great attractions. During your visit, you can see the original wagon migration ruts and learn exactly how pioneers lived.
• Large pull-thru sites • Asphalt roads and concrete pad sites • Pets welcome! • Playground • Beautiful views of Scotts Bluff National Monument. Minutes from premier softball/baseball complex, frisbee golf course, Monument Shadows Golf Course, swimming pool, and Wildcat Hills Nature Center.
We look forward to having you stay with us here at the Monument Inn & Suites!
1130 M St., Gering, NE 69341 1-866-436-1950 Toll-Free monumentinnsuites.com
STAY
AT THE
FARM HOUSE
FATHER’S DAY
CLASSIC CAR SHOW
Take a trip down memory lane when to stay at the Historic Hotel known as the Farm House B & B. Reserve your getaway today in Broadwater! 102 E. Guthrie St. Broadwater, Ne. 1.308.279.1024
A slice of TRADITION Taste cupcakes, breads, cabbage burgers and more— baked daily in Gering. VISIT OUR SISTER BAKERIES: Scottsbluff’s Bluffs Bakery & Sidney’s Rolling Pin Bakery
1446 10th St.,• Gering• 308-436-5500 38 • Destination western nebraska 2022
highplainsautoclub.com visitscottsbluff.com • Gering, NE
Find your next
ADVENTURE. WestNebraska.com
Reservations - 308.436.2046 Book online gering.org/robidoux-rv-park 585 Five Rocks Road, Gering, Nebraska
Lewellen |
pg. 43
Scars from pioneer wagons remain at Windlass Hill at Ash Hollow State Park. Abundant water and trees made it a favorite resting place. The park is 1½ miles southeast of Lewellen on Highway 26. Check out hiking maps on trailheads and at the Visitor’s Center. (308) 778-5651. West of town 1½ miles along Highway 26 is the Blue Water Battlefield marker. It marks the site of an Army raid that destroyed a Lakota village. Lewellen features The Most Unlikely Place, a 1908 opera house that is now a café and art gallery. (308) 778-9557.
Oshkosh |
pg. 43
Oshkosh is known as the Goose Hunting Capital of Nebraska. Outfitters accommodate sportsmen from around the world. Oshkosh is a point of departure for the 46,000acre Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Other local attractions include Oshkosh Swimming Pool. 200 E. First St. Oshkosh Country Club is a nine-hole course 1 mile south of town. Oregon Trail ruts cross the second fairway. (308) 772-3881.
the village of
MORRILL
a recreator’s dream Morrill Village has everything a family vacation needs. Just 20 minutes from the bustle of Scottsbluff, you can hit the range at the public 9-hole golf course, go for a dip at the community swimming pool, stroll through the city park or pick-up a tennis match at the courts. And don’t forget to pack your tackle box and poles for some fishing at the sand pit ponds!
Contact the Garden County Visitors Committee. Visitgardencounty.com.
Garden County 2022 Events
GARDEN CO. ART & MURAL TOUR View more than 40 murals in three towns for a self-guided art scavenger hunt. Lewellen has two art galleries—Blue Water Gallery and The Most Unlikely Place.
START PL ANNING YOUR GETAWAY TODAY
Blue Water features art and photography from local artists and photographers in a restored art deco gas station that also houses a body shop. The Most Unlikely Place is a unique combination of cafe, art gallery, gift shop, and events venue. Reach both at (308) 778-9557.
VILLAGE OF MORRILL VillageOfMorrill.com
308-247-2312 | 118 S. Center Morrill, NE Mon-Fri, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm Trails West • WestNebraska.com • 39
Gering
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
ROOMS
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Arcadia Hotel, 3655 N. 10th St., Gering
308-635-3176
39
Refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, DVD player
51-75
Circle S. Lodge, 400 M St., Hwys 92 & 71, Gering
308-436-2157
30
Pets allowed
1-75
Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, 960 M St., Gering www.staycobblestone.com
308-633-7660 888-693-8262
54
24-hour convenience store, complimentary hot breakfast, fitness center, indoor pool, onsite beer and wine bar
95+
100+
75+
Hotel 21 & Co. 2605 10th St., Gering www.hotel21Gering.com
308-633-5795
32
Elegant hotel suites, private off-street parking, meeting-banquet facilities, 24-hour front desk, lounge and bar, free Wi-Fi, family and business suites, fitness center and coffee and tea makers in all rooms.
Monument Inn & Suites, 1130 M St., Gering www.monumentinnsuites.com
308-436-1950 866-436-1950
61
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
PHONE
OPEN
Robidoux RV Park, 585 Five Rocks Rd., 1/2 mi. S. of Jct. of Hwy 92 & Five Rocks Road, Gering www.gering.org
308-436-2046
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 42 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Camping: unlimited tents
Wildcat Hills SRA, 4235 Hwy 71, Gering www.outdoornebraska.gov
308-436-3777
Year Round
RV Amenities: water, room for 5 trailers. Rest Facilities: pit toilets. Camping: 5 tents
CAMPGROUNDS
GOLF COURSES Monument Shadows Golf Course 2550 Clubhouse Dr., Gering
Scottsbluff
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
AMENITIES
HOLES & TYPE
308-635-2277
FEES 36-40 6 NE Park Permit
RATE RANGE
Call for hours & tee times. 18, public
20-30
PHONE
ROOMS
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Candlelight Inn, 1822 E. 20th Place, Scottsbluffs
308-635-3751
56
Wheelchair accessible, outdoor pool, free continental breakfast
Capri Motel, 2424 Ave. I, Scottsbluff
308-635-2057
30
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
1-50
Comfort Inn, 1902 21st Ave., Scottsbluff www.choicehotels.com
308-632-7510
49
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
75+
Fairfield Inn & Suites Marriott, 902 Winter Creek Dr., Scottsbluff, www.marriott.com/hotels
308-633-3500
85
Wheelchair accessible, free Wi-Fi, free parking, balcony, outdoor fire pit, complimentary hot breakfast, pool & spa
75+
Hampton Inn & Suites Conference Center 301 W. Hwy 26, Jct of Ave B & Hwy 26, Scottsbluff www.hampton-inn.com
308-635-5200 800-HAMPTON
81
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast
75+
Holiday Inn Express, 1821 Frontage Rd., Scottsbluff www.hiexpress.com/scottsbluffne
308-632-1000
70
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast
75+
Lamplighter American Inn, 606 E. 27th St., Scottsbluff
308-632-7108
40
Restaurant on premises, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
50
Scottsbluff Days Inn, 1901 21st Ave., Scottsbluff www.daysinn.com
308-635-3111
136
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
75+
Super 8 Motel, 2202 Delta Dr., Scottsbluff www.super8.com
308-635-1600
55
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
51-75
51-75+
Scottsbluff Cont. » 40 • Destination western nebraska 2022
« ScottsBluff Cont.
UNIQUE LODGING
PHONE
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Elderberry Lane, on old Oregon Trail Rd., 3 mi. W. of Scottsbluff, https://elderberrylane.com
308-632-8647
100-year-old barn in the shadow of Scotts Bluff National Monument, private rooms, full breakfast
75+
YMCA Trails West Camp, 1918 S Beltline Hwy, Scottsbluff, www.ymcaofscottsbluff.org
308-635-2318
Best views of Scotts Bluff National Monument right out of your cabin door; full-service cabins, outdoor pool and wheelchair accessible.
•
GOLF COURSES Riverview Country Club, 100928 Cty Rd. 19, Scottsbluff
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE
HOLES & TYPE
308-635-1555
Call for hours & tee times.
18 holes, public
RATE RANGE Under 115
PHONE
OPEN
Riverside Campground, 1514 Beltline Hwy W.S. www.scottsbluff.org
308-632-6342
May 1Sept. 30
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 43 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Camping: 50 tents
•
Captain Critter Campgrounds, 180454, US-26, Scottsbluff, www.captaincritters.com
308-765-4260
Year Round
36 sites-all pull thru with full hookups, electricity, fresh potable water, sewer at all sites, free Wi-Fi, mature shade trees at most sites.
35; weekly and monthly rates available
Bridgeport, Broadwater
&
AMENITIES
FEES
Bayard
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
ROOMS
Cobblestone Inn & Suites, 517 Main St., Bridgeport
308-262-7900
35
Modern room, fitness center, beer and wine bar
Meadow Park Campground & Motel, 2 mi. N.W. on US Hwy 385 to Mile Marker 77, Bridgeport
308-279-1176
8
Pets allowed
1-75
Meadowlark Motor Inn N. US Hwy 385, Bridgeport
308-262-0557 800-510-1210
22
Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
51-75
UNIQUE LODGING The Farm House 102 E. Guthrie St., Broadwater
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE 308-279-1024
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
AMENITIES
109-135
RATE RANGE
Hunters, friends and family alike will enjoy a step down memory lane in this historic bed and breakfast with a homestyle breakfast.
AMENITIES
50+
PHONE
OPEN
FEES
Chimney Rock Pioneer Crossing, 3 mi. S. of Bayard at Jct Cty Rd. 75 & Hwy 92 www.chimneyrockpioneercrossing.com
308-631-4478
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 16 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Camping: 30 tents
20-30
Bridgeport SRA, N.W. on US Hwy 26, Bridgeport www.outdoornebraska.gov
308-436-3777
Year Round
RV Amenities: water, room for 50 trailers. Rest Facilities: pit toilets. Four sandpit lakes totaling 78 acres. Camping: 100 tents
6 NE Park Permit
Meadow Park Annex RV, 2 mi. N. on US Hwy 385, Mile Marker 77, Bridgeport www.outdoornebraska.gov
308-262-0410
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 18 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush and pit toilets. Camping: 10 tents
•
bridgeport, broadwater & bayard »
Trails West • WestNebraska.com • 41
« bridgeport, broadwater & bayard
GOLF COURSES
PHONE
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times.
RATE RANGE
Chimney Rock Golf Course N. US Hwy 26, Bayard
308-586-1606
9, public
Under 15
Courthouse & Jail Rock Golf Course 5 mi. S. on Hwy 88, Bridgeport
308-262-9925
9, public
Under 15
Morrill, Mitchell HOTELS & MOTELS
Oak Tree Inn
707 E. Webster, US Hwy 26, Morrill
UNIQUE LODGING Angel Wing Outfitters, 400 3rd St. Gering www.angelwingoutfitters.com
CAMPGROUNDS
&
PHONE
308-247-2111
Minatare ROOMS 97
Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises, pets allowed
RATE RANGE 51-75
PHONE
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
308-641-3528
•
•
PHONE
OPEN
Lake Minatare SRA 7 mi. of Minatare on Stonegate Rd.
308-783-2911
•
Scenic Knolls Campground 20548 Hwy 29, Mitchell, www.mitchellcity.net
308-623-2468
Mar.-Sept.
Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds, 130625 Cty Rd. E. Mitchell, www.scottsbluffcountyfair.net
308-623-1828
Zeigler Park, 1280 Center Ave., Mitchell www.mitchellcity.net
308-623-1616
GOLF COURSES
AMENITIES
PHONE
AMENITIES RV Amenities: water, room for 50 trailers Rest facilities: showers, flush and pit toilets Camping: 110 tents
FEES 7-18 NE Park Permit
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 6 trailers
15
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 80+ trailers. Rest facilities: showers, flush toilets, 14+ tents Horse boarding: $10
15
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, room for 4 trailers Rest facilities: flush toilets
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times.
5
RATE RANGE
Scenic Knolls, 20458 Hwy 29, Mitchell
308-623-2468
9 holes, public
Under 15
Rolling Green Golf Course, 520 Railroad St., Morrill
308-247-2817
9 holes, public
Under 15
42 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Oregon Trail
Lewellen, Lisco HOTELS & MOTELS
&
Oshkosh
PHONE
ROOMS
Lewellen Lodge & Living, 215 E. Church St., Lewellen www.lewellenlodge.com
308-672-0690
22
Marina Landing, 5051 Albees, Hwy 92, mile marker 127, Lewellen, www.lakemacmarinalanding.com
308-355-3535 888-767-7791
Otter Creek Lodge, 100 Otter Creek Ct., Lewellen, Lake McConaughy, 12 mi. from dam on Hwy 92
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Wheelchair accessible, workout room, pets allowed
65-100
8
Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises
51-75
308-355-2372
9
Restaurant on premises, pets allowed
1-50
Mesa View Lodge NE Hwy 92 W, Lewellen, Lake McConaughy
308-355-5000 888-568-7620
10
Pets allowed
1-75
Riverview Lodge & Events Center, 14518 Rd. 70, 1 mi. S., 1 mi. W., Lisco, www.riverviewlodgelisco.com
308-772-3829
11
Full bath, satellite TV, hair dryer, broadband internet, handicap accessible, microwave and refrigerator
Shady Rest, 201 Main Street, Oshkosh www.visitgardenco.com
308-772-4111
12
Wheelchair accessible, pets allowed
UNIQUE LODGING
81-119
1-75
PHONE
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Clear Creek Retreat, 2220 Road West O N., Lewellen
308-778-9546
Three bedrooms, full kitchen; cater to hunters and fishermen
90+
Gander Inn B&B 105 E. Church St., Lewellen
308-778-5616
Small-town peaceful setting. Game room & gift shop. Wheelchair accessible, rooms with private and shared baths, full breakfast. Meals arranged around guests
51-75+
Nancy B's Backyard Bunkhouse, 19150 Rd. 44, US Hwy 26 to Rd. 44 W., Lewellen, www.ilovelakemac.com
308-778-5408
3-bedroom guesthouse or tepee, continental breakfast
51-75+
Hunt the Rackett 9250 Rd. 193, Lewellen, www.hunttherackett.com
303-680-2462
Private sleeping quarters, clubhouse, dining hall, weathertight dog kennels
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE
OPEN
AMENITIES
FEES
Highway 26 RV Park and Camping 311 Home St., Lewellen, www.hwy26rvpark.com
308-778-9552
•
RV Amenities: electricity, water. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Camping: available
Call for rates
Oregon Trail Trading Post E. of Lewellen on US Hwy 26
308-778-5879
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 8 trailers. Rest Facilities: pit toilets. Camping: 8 tents. Cabin Rentals: 10
Call for rates
Pleasant View Lodge at Otter Creek 1290 NE Hwy 92 W, Lewellen
308-355-5000 888-568-7620
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 15 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Camping: 7 tents
5-20 fees
Oregon Trail Campsite, 402 W. Ave. A, Oshkosh www.oregontrailcampsite.com
308-778-7395
Apr. 1-Nov. 1
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 15 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Camping: 7 tents
Call for rates
GOLF COURSES Oshkosh Country Club South Hwy 27, 2 mi., Oshkosh
PHONE 308-772-3881
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times.
9 holes, public
200+
RATE RANGE 18
Trails West • WestNebraska.com • 43
44 • Destination western nebraska 2022
NORTH PLATTE MAXWELL • BRADY HERSHEY • SUTHERLAND SIDNEY • POTTER LODGEPOLE • DALTON GURLEY • LEMOYNE OGALLALA • KEYSTONE PAXTON • BRULE BIG SPRINGS • CHAPPELL KIMBALL • HARRISBURG HISTORY ABOUNDS IN NEBRASKA'S WILD WEST Outlaw Sam Bass got away with $60,000 in gold and currency he stole from a train at Big Springs. Is the missing gold buried nearby? Maybe. Who knows? This is just one of the questions raised from Wild West folklore—stories that continue today and drive interest in Nebraska’s Wild West. Buffalo Bill is a big part of those old tales. He dreamed big, and he dreamed up his Wild West Show in North Platte. Today, the Golden Spike Tower provides a bird’s eye view of Bailey Yard, the world’s largest railroad classification yard. You can’t drive I-80 through Nebraska without hearing the call from Chappell and its 52-by-100-foot American flag painted on towering grain silos. Come create your own stories in Nebraska’s Wild West, which also is home to the state’s largest lake—Lake McConaughy. Are you listening?
Lake McConaughy pictured left
Wild west • WestNebraska.com • 45
Just one stay and you’ll see what makes us
SUPER! • New Remodel • Free SuperStart® Breakfast • Pets Accepted • Group Rates Available
& MORE!
NORTH PLATTE
I-80 & Hwy 83, Exit 117 • 308.532.4224 220 Eugene Ave, North Platte, NE 69101 SUPER8.COM | 1.800.800.8000 |
46 • Destination western nebraska 2022
All properties individually owned and operated.
North Platte |
pg. 54
North Platte boasts a heritage of hospitality dating back to one of its most famous residents, Colonel William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. In 1878 Buffalo Bill settled in North Platte and built Scout’s Rest Ranch. He and his wife Louisa loved to entertain. They welcomed locals as well as dignitaries from across the nation and around the world. Buffalo Bill State Historical Park showcases their Victorian home, expansive horse barn, and outbuildings of Scout’s Rest Ranch. The site features Wild West Show memorabilia, period household furnishings, shaded picnic areas, and easy walking trails. During World War II, North Platte continued this spirit of hospitality by starting the North Platte Canteen. Everyone in the community pitched in to greet and serve over 6 million service men and women with food, drinks, gifts, and much needed kindness. As you step through the doors of the Lincoln County Historical Museum, you will find a wide array of local history, including the story of the North Platte Canteen and how a case of mistaken identity started this selfless act. Behind the museum is a village of historical buildings including a genuine Pony Express station and the old Ft. McPherson headquarters. You will notice that the legacy of the North Platte Canteen is sprinkled across the city, including the newly renovated downtown area. Now known as the Canteen District, this area is thriving with unique shops, restaurants, and historical buidings. One of these historical buildings is the 1913 Federal building that now houses the Prairie Arts Center. The Prairie Arts Center hosts art galleries, classes, and many other unique events throughout the year. Tour the historic Canteen District for an experience you won’t soon forget. Located just south of Interstate 80, the 20th Century Veterans Memorial honors all military men and women of the past century. A brick bas-relief sculpture depicts the major wars from World War I to the Persian Gulf. Bronze statues depict the United States armed forces and the ladies of the North Platte Word War II Canteen. North Platte is also the home of Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard. This is the world’s largest classification rail yard, and it covers nearly 3,000 acres. More than 10,000 rail cars pass through daily. The Golden Spike Tower rises eight stories above Bailey Yard to give visitors a bird’s-eye view of the operation. An elevator takes visitors to the seventh floor open air observation
deck, or the eighth floor for a one-of-a-kind enclosed viewing experience. This incredible view is something you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Another North Platte treasure is Fort Cody Trading Post. You can’t miss this unique building, as it looks like a frontier fortress. Take a step inside Fort Cody and you will find Nebraska’s largest souvenir and western gift shop, plus a museum with authentic Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild West memorabilia. Near the back, a mini mechanized Wild West Show is on display with 20,000 handcarved pieces. This one-of-a-kind machine comes to life every half hour with moving parts and storytelling. The surprises don’t end there though, as they also have a taxidermied two-headed calf on display. Out back, there is a stockade complete with a jail, wagons and a log cabin. Each summer the Fort Cody Summer Music Series takes place here under the watchful eye of one of the few remaining Muffler Man sculptures, now decorated as a Native American. The Buffalo Bill theme doesn’t end there though, as he is also memorialized at Cody Park on North U.S. Highway 83. The Wild West Memorial is at the entrance of the park and includes a bronze statue of Cody as well as a flag from each state and nation that his wild west show performed in. As you continue into the park, you will find the Cody Park Railroad Museum where you can sit in the driver’s seat of a Union Pacific 3900 Series Challenger locomotive and a diesel locomotive. Railroad history can be found in the train cars behind the Challenger, and you can check out the old depot that was brought to the park from the neighboring town of Hershey. After the train museum, stop at the concession stand where you will find some of the best soft serve ice cream, as well as other sweet treats and snacks. There is an antique carousel, ferris wheel, and other fun rides that every kid is sure to love. The park is also home to animals that you can watch and feed such as bison, deer, elk, peacocks, llamas, and more. North Platte is also located along America’s Great Platte River Road, which means that it is rich in the great westward migration history. Monuments for the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, California Trail, and the Pony Express can be found in the area. North of Sutherland on Prairie Trace Road, remnants of the Mormon Trail can be seen. At the Sutherland Eastbound Interstate 80 rest area there are remains of ruts left by pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail.
For a true Nebraska experience you can tank down the North Platte river with Dusty Trails, LLC. The perfect vessel for a lazy river float happens to be an empty cattle tank filled with chairs, a cooler, and friends. Nothing says summer like a great day on the river. If water sports aren’t your thing, Dusty Trails also offers horseback riding and a petting zoo. To unwind from a long day of traveling, you can stop at one of North Platte’s local breweries. Pals Brewing Company offers unique craft beer, like their Jalapeno Cream Ale. They also offer a full menu of pizza and appetizers. Peg Leg Brewing is another local favorite and offers a variety of wonderful craft beer including their Irish Red. Peg Leg often hosts food trucks and has a great snack menu. If wine is more your style, then a stop at Feather River Vineyard is a must. The mineral rich soil offers a unique flavor to their wine made from grapes grown right on-site. If you are looking for a unique shopping experience, Grain Bin Antique Town is the place for you! What started as a “She Shed” has blossomed into a boardwalk of 20 antique grain bins and a barn filled with all the antiques you can imagine. The North Platte River Valley is also home to the magnificent Sandhill Crane Migration. Each spring hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes stop in Nebraska to fuel up before heading on north to their breeding grounds. While they are here, they spend their days in cornfields and meadows eating grains and bugs, and their evenings bedding down in the shallow rivers. Dusty Trails offers morning viewing blind, evening viewing blind, and afternoon bus tours that allow guests to experience this incredible migration. Five miles south of town, Lake Maloney State Recreation Area provides fishing, boating, camping, and picnicking as well as archery, golf, and wildlife watching. For indoor recreation, visitors can head to WB’s Fun Center for bowling, laser tag, and more. North Platte offers three 18-hole golf courses, so plan to play a round at Iron Eagle Golf Course, Lake Maloney Golf Course, or River’s Edge Golf Course—or check out Indian Meadows for a beautiful nine-hole course. For more information about North Platte, contact the North Platte/Lincoln County VB at (800) 955-4528 or visitnorthplatte.com.
Wild west • WestNebraska.com • 47
Lincoln County 2022 Events
NORTH PLATTE RAIL DAYS August. Where would you expect to find the greatest rail celebration in the world? Why, at the home of the world’s largest rail yard! The Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center invites you to North Platte to experience our incredible railroad heritage held annually in early August. Rail Days is the one and only time throughout the year when visitors can experience Bailey Yard up-close-and-personal with a motorcoach tour through the yard. goldenspiketower.com
SANDHILL CRANES March. Every year beginning in late February, hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes migrate into the Platte River Valley in Lincoln County. They will spend about six weeks here, roosting in the river bottoms at night and spending their days in the cornfields, alfalfa, and meadows between North Platte and Sutherland. Dusty Trails offers multiple viewing experiences for this magnificent migration.visitnorthplatte.com/springbirding
PRAIRIE CHICKEN DANCE March-April. In the Spring, the hearts of the Nebraska greater prairie chickens turn towards love. To successfully attract a female mate, the male prairie chickens must impress them with their dancing prowess. Males will gather in large numbers on dancing grounds known as leks. They will cackle, jump, and stomp their feet, sometimes scuffling with a rival. Dusty Trails hosts an excursion to a large, busy lek south of Sutherland. visitnorthplatte.com/springbirding
NEBRASKALAND DAYS June. NEBRASKAland Days is the official celebration of the State of Nebraska, held annually the third week of June. The excitement kicks off with four nights of the legendary PRCA Buffalo Bill Rodeo and closes with the Summer Jam Concert Series. This year the performers will be Tim McGraw and Miranda Lambert. Other activities include a craft beer festival, parade, art show, quilt show, pork breakfast, carnival, and more. NEBRASKAlandDAYS.com
MISS NEBRASKA June. The Miss Nebraska pageant is held annually in June with local title holders vying for the title of Miss Nebraska and the chance to compete in the Miss America Pageant. Contestants compete in several categories including talent, evening wear, and on-stage questions during the preliminary night competitions. On the final night a new Miss Nebraska is crowned. missnebraska.org
48 • Destination western nebraska 2022
July. The North Platte Pow Wow showcases Native American dancing, singing, and drumming. There are contests for traditional, fancy, jingle dress, and grass dances. There are also special dances for golden age, tiny tot, and veteran participants. A special dance for local interest is the Men’s Chicken Dance, which mimics the dancing rituals of the greater prairie chicken. visitnorthplatte.com/north-platte-pow-wow
NORTH PLATTE CANTEEN FESTIVAL September & December. This celebration honors the selflessness of the World War II Canteen efforts, a time when North Platte served over six million military persons passing through. This event takes place in the newly revitalized downtown area, which is now known as the Historic Canteen District. This event features performances of a Canteen themed production, live music, and a luncheon. visitnorthplatte.com/north-platte-canteen-festival
FALL FUN October. If you are looking for fall fun in North Platte there are two great pumpkin patches that are sure to get you in the autumn mood. Homestead Pumpkin Patch features a corn maze, zip lines, a bounce pillow, and much more. Dusty’s Pumpkin Fest at the Cody’s is brought to you by Dusty Trails and has a corn crib, horse drawn hayrack rides, a petting zoo, and more. There really is no better way to spend a fall day! visitnorthplatte.com/celebrate-fall
CHRISTMAS IN NORTH PLATTE Every December North Platte transforms into a winter wonderland of Christmas lights. Visit Buffalo Bill State Historical Park to see the house and barn all decked out with holiday cheer during Christmas at the Cody’s. Every building at the Lincoln County Historical Museum also gets lit up with tons of lights and decorations for their Christmas Village. Cody Park joins in the holiday spirit with Santa’s Workshop which has over a dozen tiny, animated houses. visitnorthplatte.com/holiday-fun
Chimney Rock Brid National Historic Site 88
Harrisburg Banner County Historical Museum
1 hr. 3 min
71
Bushnell 30
ne Cheyen From
Kimball 18 min
Plains Historical Society Dix
Duckpin Bowling Alley
Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area
Railroad Museum Potter
2
39 min
71
Tri-State Marker Nebraska’s Highest Point 1 Panorama Point
WESTERN NEBRASKA CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL September. Hosted by Pals Brewing Company the Western Nebraska Craft Beer Festival is your chance to taste wonderful craft beer from across Nebraska. Purchase VIP tickets for early access and you will be able to sample beer that may be gone by the afternoon. Food trucks and live music make this an event you won’t want to miss. palsbrewingcompany.com/beerfest
Chimney Rock Pony Express Station 27 min Gering to Bayard
NORTH PLATTE POW WOW
Bayar Rock
McGrew
Wildcat Hills Nature Center
Maxwell When Fort Cottonwood was renamed Fort McPherson in 1886, its soldiers were already fetching great tasting water from the well of John “Mac” McCullough. Soon, other travelers were also stopping for this crisp, refreshing treat. As the community formed, it was decided to name it after Mac’s well—and Maxwell was born. Maxwell remains a welcoming community today. A Veterans Memorial honoring local veterans adorns the route through town to Fort McPherson National Cemetery, south of Maxwell. Soldiers from conflicts dating back to the Indian Wars, including at least four Medal of Honor recipients, are interred here. The original Pony Express route and Oregon Trail passed through what is now the national cemetery. One mile southeast of the cemetery, a stone monument marks the sight of the original frontier military post. Maxwell Heritage Days, generally held the third weekend in August, welcomes visitors and former residents home to celebrate the community. Activities include a bratwurst feed, live music, car show, parade, kids’ fun in the park, sand volleyball, and a demolition derby.
Brady
On the eastern end of Nebraska’s Wild West Country, Brady is home to several outdoor adventures. Jeffery Canyon Reservoir, known for its massive flathead catfish and large mouth bass, is 5 miles south and 1 mile west of Brady. Potters Pasture, in the beautiful hills south of Brady, consists of 1,300 acres of privately owned land crisscrossed with 15 miles of mountain biking trails and is open to the public. New to Brady is Old Depot Winery a family-friendly winery with delicious Nebraska wine and menu items. In August, this small town celebrates Brady Days in a big way with a barbecue meal, classic car show, live music, children’s games, a parade, and more.
Recreation Area
rd Chimney k Museum
National Wildlife Refuge
25
Northport Pioneer Trails Museum
dgeport
92
Court House and Jail Rocks
61
Arthur
Wes te
rn T rails
27
Byw
ay
92
hP
Dalton
latt
eR
ive
53 min.
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27
Sidney
Sunol
30 Pony Express 4 5 National Monument Hillside 16 min Golf Cabela’s Retail Store and Wildlife Exhibit 19 Course Lorenzo
Bergstrom Rock & Gem Collection
54 min.
Lewellen
8 Haythorn
Ash Hollow State Historical Park
97
32 min.
92
L a ke
McCo
44 min.
50 min.
Lodgepole Chappell
30 min. Sidney to Chappell
92
18 min.
Gurley
Lodgepole Depot Museum
29 min.
Oshkosh
385
Fort Sidney Post Commander’s Home
Ringold Stapleton
Historical Museum
26
L incol n By 3 wa y 80
Tryon
Lisco Nort
Prairie Schooner Museum
83
Broadwater
naug
hy
7
Sudman-Neumann Heritage House Big Springs
30
Brule 80
39 min. Ogallala to Chappell
Ogallala Mansion on the Hill
Sutherland
Little Church Boot Hill of Keystone Roscoe
13 California Hill Historical Marker
Kingsley Dam/ Hydro Plant
6 Front Street
61
Petrified Wood Gallery
Buffalo Bill State Historical Park Hershey
11 13
30
Paxton
North Platte
The Rail Road Museum
10
9
Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse & Lounge
Golden Spike Tower & Visitors Fort Cody Center Trading Post
Sutherland Reservoir
47 min. Ogallala to North Platte
80
Fort McPherson National Cemetery
Lake Maloney
25
Maxwell 12
Brady 30 From
Om aha
Mormon Trail
30 min. 40 min. North Platte to Dickens
Madrid Brandon 15 min.
Grant
57 min. Grant to Dickens
Elsie
Oregon Trail
Dickens Grainton
Wallace
23
83
Attractions #WILD WEST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Panorama Point Potter sundry Lincoln Highway National Pony Express monument Cabela's Front Street Lake mcconaughy
Hershey |
pg. 57
Stones and Bones Gallery and Emporium offers a unique assemblage of Stone Age artifacts and fossils from western Nebraska, along with antique firearms and western art. Along Highway 30, Veterans Memorial Park has a half-mile long walking trail, playground equipment, and outdoor exercise equipment. The local baseball and softball fields are also located in the park. Hershey Fall Fest is held the last week in August and provides family fun for residents and visitors alike.
Sutherland |
pg. 57
Sutherland Reservoir offers swimming, camping, birdwatching and fishing. Releases of warm water from the Gerald Gentleman Station power plant means open water fishing opportunities all year long. The reservoir is also home to hundreds of bald eagles and thousands of waterfowl.
8 9 10 11 12 13
Haythorn ranch Sutherland reservoir golden Spike tower at bailey yard buffalo bill ranch state historical park fort mcPherson national cemetery bird watching
Oregon Trail Golf Course is a nine-hole course on the north shore of the Sutherland Reservoir. The course’s grass bunkers challenge even the best golfers. Anchor Memorial Park in the northeast part of town has a dog park, playground, and disc golf course. The local swimming pool located just off Highway 30 has a zero-depth entrance, small frog slide, and a big water slide—it’s the perfect place to go for a summer cool down. You can also visit the Sutherland History Center which features memorabilia and biographies of Sutherland’s citizens, school, civic, and business community. The annual Independence Day celebration is one of the largest in the area. The festivities include a rodeo on July 3rd and 4th, plus a full day of family fun and entertainment on July 4th.
Prehistoric Wonders Settling the west The Great OutDoors Pioneer trails One-of-a-Kinds Unique Geology Welcome Centers/Rest Areas
Sidney |
pg. 58
Outlaws, gamblers and other riffraff made this railroad town one of the roughest places in all of the American West way back in the 1870s. Stay on the train, lock all the doors and you’ll be fine. Unless there’s a train robbery. Sidney began in 1867 as an Army fort guarding Union Pacific Railroad workers from hostile Native Americans. With the discovery of gold in the nearby Black Hills, Sidney became a trailhead for determined gold seekers. The boomtown days brought easy money for some and outlaws that many had to contend with. Legend has it that one single city block in Sidney once held 23 saloons. Gives historical meaning to the idea of bar-hopping, don’t you think?
»
Wild west • WestNebraska.com • 49
« The tales of Sidney’s rowdy past are many. One local favorite is an incident in which a man was shot and killed at a raucous dance. The body was propped up in a corner and the dancing went on. Another man was shot and likewise displayed. The party only came to its bloody end after the third shooting. Good times.
The community of 6,300 residents is home to Cabela’s first retail store. Brothers Dick and Jim Cabela started the “World’s Foremost Outfitter” at their kitchen table in Chappell and grew it to over 87 stores. See the first “Cabela’s Mountain” with mounted wildlife from all over the world. 115 Cabela Dr. Near the Cabela’s store is the Pony Express National Monument. The monument’s flags can be seen from a long distance by travelers motoring on I-80. Sidney Barracks was established in 1867 to protect Union Pacific Railroad track layers. In 1869, the post was relocated to the present site at Sidney. It was renamed Fort Sidney and was active through the Indian Wars. The fort had 40 buildings. It closed in 1894. Three buildings remain in what is now a residential neighborhood. The grounds of the former Boot Hill Cemetery, established by the military in 1868, feature interpretive panels with stories of some of the people buried there. In 1922, the U.S. Army ordered the bodies of 21 soldiers to be relocated to Ft. McPherson, which they did after uncovering 211 graves. The total number of graves is unknown. The Boot Hill Cemetery Committee has restored Camp Lookout. The outpost built by soldiers from Fort Sedgwick, Colorado, later became Sidney Barracks on the corner of Elm Street and 10th Avenue. At Sixth and Jackson streets, Fort Sidney Museum and Post Commander’s Home consists of the Officer’s Quarters, now a museum of Sidney’s colorful past, and the Post Commander’s Home, which has been restored with original and other period furnishings. The third building is an octagonal stone structure once used as the military fort’s powder magazine. It is at 1047 Fifth Ave. All three buildings are well preserved and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
50 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Fort Sidney Complex is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Memorial Day-Labor Day. (308) 254-2150. Annual Christmas Lamplight Tours are popular and take place every weekend in December from 6 to 9 p.m., and the buildings remain open for holidays through Christmas. Call for reservations. Christ Episcopal Church in Sidney was built in 1866 and was the original church for Fort Sidney. Today, worshippers gather at 1205 10th Ave. in the very same building where Native Americans and the area’s early settlers once worshipped together. In 1942, half a century after Fort Sidney closed, Sidney became home to Sioux Army Depot. Located 6 miles west and 2 miles north of Sidney, it once covered 36 square miles. The facility closed in 1967. Its igloo-shaped bunkers are on private property, however they are visible from the county roads. Sidney is the only Western Nebraska community with a “Historic District” designation due to 29 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. GPS enabled walking tours are available by downloading the TRAVELSTORYS app for Apple and Android. When a local man suggested erecting a flagpole for War Memorial in Legion Park and Memorial Gardens, residents decided to go big to honor the sacrifice of Cheyenne County’s veterans. Volunteers and local companies converted an interstate light pole into a flag pole. At 140 feet, it is the tallest flagpole in Nebraska. The flag is 20 feet tall and 38 feet wide. The park features a railroad monument, pond, docks, playground and a gazebo popular with visitors simply wanting to relax and take in the serenity. Living Memorial Gardens is home of “Nebraska’s First Angel of Hope” (based on the Christmas Box Angel). A trail begins here and winds throughout the community’s most scenic neighborhoods. For visitors seeking a workout, Cheyenne County Community Center, 627 Toledo St., offers indoor basketball and racquetball courts, running tracks, weightlifting equipment, shower facilities and more. Daily passes are available. Open year-round Monday-Friday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. (308) 254-7000.
Aquatic exercise opportunities flow from the six-lane competition pool at Sidney Aquatics Center. Water polo and the aquatic versions of volleyball and basketball entertain teams while the Tree House Slide and Water Bug spray dome delight younger visitors. Open Memorial Day-Labor Day. Located on the scenic bluffs overlooking Sidney, Hillside Municipal Golf Course incorporates the area’s rugged western terrain into its 18-hole adventure. The course twists through a beautiful canyon and offers spectacular views of Sidney and the surrounding countryside. (308) 254-2311. Test your marksmanship skills at Sidney Shooting Park with trap and skeet ranges, a new pistol range, and a 1-mile archery course. ATA registered shoots and steel challenge matches are held during the summer months, as well as league shooting. From I-80 exit 59, go north to U.S. Highway 30, then west to Greenwood Road, then 1.1 miles north. Prices and hours can be found at www.sidneyshootingpark.com. In 1874, a military expedition led by George Armstrong Custer discovered gold in the Black Hills in neighboring South Dakota. Though a treaty reserved the Black Hills for the Sioux tribe, the Army stopped enforcing it. Interlopers trespassed by the thousands and soon an unstoppable gold rush was underway. It led to a tragic war between the Sioux and the United States, a war in which Custer himself was famously killed during the Battle of the Little Bighorn. For would-be gold miners with nothing left to lose, Sidney became a popular jumping-off place for treks overland by horse, oxen, mule and wagon up the 267-mile Sidney-to-Deadwood Trail. Through the early 1880s, the twisting trail carried a majority of the gold rush traffic, including rich shipments of gold from the Black Hills in South Dakota. On Highway 30 west of town, a marker indicates where trail ruts are visible. Highway 30 is the old Lincoln Highway, the nation’s first paved coastto-coast auto route. The Nebraska portion of U.S. Highway 385 is designated as the Gold Rush Byway. From South Dakota to the Colorado state line, the scenic highway connects Sidney with the Western Nebraska communities of Bridgeport, Alliance and Chadron. Vistas are epic along this road.
It follows the old trail for much of the way and rolls through some of the most spectacular scenery in Nebraska. Heading north from Sidney, the highway passes through Gurley and Dalton before descending dramatically into the North Platte Valley beside Courthouse and Jail Rocks near Bridgeport. If you’re looking for the rugged West, you’ve found it here. About 6 miles west of Sidney, the I-80 Golden Link marks where the final segment of Interstate 80 was completed back in 1974. A piece of the link, a six-inch strip of brass plate, is now located in the eastbound rest area signifying the joining of the eastern and western United States through I-80. For more information about Sidney, contact the Sidney/Cheyenne County Tourism. (308) 254-4030.
Potter
| pg. 57 There are many reasons to visit Potter. One of them is dessert. The Potter Sundry is an original soda fountain serving old-fashioned food, phosphates and ice cream. This is where the Tin Roof Sundae was invented. Open for breakfast and lunch, Monday-Friday. (308) 879-4548. The Duckpin Bowling Alley next door is believed to be the only one of its kind west of the Mississippi River. (308) 879-4451. Railroad Museum displays Union Pacific Railroad history. Potter Historical Museum preserves the local history of agriculture and pioneer life. Reach both at (308) 879-4356. Prairie Pines Golf Course is a scenic sevenhole course. Seven-hole golf course? Sure, it’s an odd number, so why not shoot 14 at the only seven-hole public golf course in Nebraska? (308) 879-4469. Point of Rocks, where railroad crews and Native Americans clashed, is 3 miles east of Potter on U.S. Highway 30. Point of Rocks Motel and Campground, located beneath the Point, is in a scenic spot near U.S. Highway 30. For more information about Potter, contact the Cheyenne County Visitors Committee at VisitSidneyNE.com or (308) 254-4030.
Lodgepole
Lodgepole honors its founders during Old Settlers’ Days with a barbecue, parade and tractor pull on Labor Day weekend. (308) 483-5353. Lodgepole Depot Museum displays pony express items and antique farm implements. (308) 483-5353.
Dalton
South Park has picnic areas, a playground and a basketball court. North Park has plenty of shade and the Prairie Schooner Museum along Highway 385. Featuring a log cabin and detailed railroad engine models. (308) 377-2413.
Gurley
Fanny’s Fruit Farm celebrates summer and fall with pick-your-own raspberries, Mr. McGregor’s Garden, haunted barn and hayrack rides and a corn maze. 11549 Rd. 46. (408) 249-2266.
Lemoyne |
pg. 59
The original community of Lemoyne was flooded when Lake McConaughy filled in 1941. In dry summers, the old foundations of its buildings are sometimes exposed. The relocated community is holding its own today. With sandy beaches, boat docks, recreational facilities, fuel, bait, food, resorts, lodging and storage available nearby, little Lemoyne is a relaxing place to be for a hot day, summer or lifetime. Vogl’s Lodge & Lure offers lodging, fishing tackle, supplies, fuel, groceries and bait just north of Highway 92. (308) 355-2321. Travelers can join locals for homemade lunches, see a display of fossils found near the lake and receive fishing advice at Lemoyne Senior Center. (308) 726-5753.
Ogallala |
Sidney
2022 Events
GOLD RUSH DAYS
Second weekend in June. Sidney relives its historic role as a jumping off point for prospectors traveling the Sidney to Deadwood Trail. The Old West comes alive with quick draw competitions, a chuck wagon cookout, gold panning demonstration, wagon rides, cannon firing, live music, blacksmithing, spinning, woodworking, weaving and plenty of enjoyment for all. www.sidneygoldrushdays.org.
CHEYENNE COUNTY FAIR AND RODEO Mid-July. This county fair reaches to the roots of such events with marksmanship contests and 4-H exhibits, livestock shows and judging, an exciting rodeo, dog show, games for all ages, fair food, dancing and live entertainment. (308) 250-1976.
OKTOBERFEST AND CRUISIN’ CLASS CAR SHOW First full weekend in October. The Oktoberfest is continuous free entertainment, a great variety of food and beer from noon to midnight Friday and Saturday in the big tent plus two buildings of crafts, the O’fest market and Weiner Dog Races all at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds. A parade downtown, golf tournament, fun run and the Cruisin Class show and shine in Legion Park all happens in Sidney on Saturday. (308) 254-4441.
LAMPLIGHT TOURS Weekends in December. Fort Sidney Museum and Post Commander’s Home come alive every year for this festive gala. Enjoy hot cider and cookies while touring historic rooms extravagantly decorated for the holidays. (308) 254-2150.
Potter
2022 Events
POTTER CAR BOWL
pg. 61
In the 1870s and 1880s, Ogallala was the end of the trail as cowboys drove herds of longhorns up from Texas to be shipped east on the Union Pacific Railroad. After several long, hard months in the saddle, cowboys were ready for a rip-roaring good time when they reached town.
»
June. Enjoy a car show, melodrama, fireworks, food vendors and other fun activities to benefit local nonprofit groups. (308) 879-4451.
POTTER DAYS Labor Day weekend. This annual event includes a fun run, duck races, prize drawings, games, food vendors and a parade. Enjoy duckpin bowling and tin roof sundaes all weekend long. (308) 879-4332.
Wild west • WestNebraska.com • 51
Stay in
Let’s Celebrate Brady Days
MODERN LUXURY
August 5th, 6 th & 7 th 2022
at the new Holiday Inn Express
Everything needed for a fun filled weekend— Barbecue, Parade, Car Show, Turtle Races and Great People!
Brady welcomes you! villageofbrady.org
Book a room for your Ogallala trip. Enjoy a day at Lake McConaughy, tour the beautiful Mansion on the Hill, and stop at the historic Boot Hill cemetery.
s
Vi
Kimball
The “High Point“ of your Nebraska Adventure
You’ll love your large, clean room, the hot buffet breakfast and business center amenities. Ask about accommodations for furry friends.
Experience wide open spaces in Kimball County. Hunting, fishing, birding, star gazing, feeding buffalo, and more mo await you in Kimball!
206 Pony Express Ln. Ogallala, Nebraska
308-284-6080 • ihg.com Located by I-80 and Hwy 61
You’re always at home with Pals!
Situated on 4 beautiful acres, Pals Taproom and Outdoor Beer Oasis, is the perfect spot to relax while enjoying our locally handcrafted brews and other drinks! With pizzas, ribs, quesadillas and appetizers, you won’t leave hungry. Our warm and friendly staff will treat you like a part of the Oettinger family.
4520 S Buffalo Bill Ave | palsbrewingcompany.com | 308-221-6715
www.visitkimball.com 308-241-0573 visit@kimballcountyne.us
Sidney, Nebraska
308-254-9000
889 E Jennifer LN. Sidney, NE 69162 marriott.com/hotels/travel/bffsnfairfield-inn-and-suites-sidney
ce sin 63 19 North Platte's Premier Roadside Attraction! I-80 & Hwy 83 Interchange • 221 Halligan Drive • North Platte • (308) 532-8081 52 • Destination western nebraska 2022
213 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Venango, NE 69168 308.447.5590
facebook.com/MiddleOfNowhereNE
« Visitors to Nebraska’s “Cowboy Capital” can
enjoy Wild West entertainment at Front Street. Crystal Palace Revue and Shoot Out is Nebraska’s longest-running summer theater, a musical comedy family show where dance hall girls kick up their heels and shots ring out. Adjacent attractions are Front Street Steakhouse and the Cowboy Museum, a free museum that includes a jail, barbershop, funeral parlor and authentic cowboy and Native American artifacts. (308) 284-6000.
The renowned Petrified Wood Gallery is at 418 E. First St. It features the petrified wood art of twin brothers Howard and Harvey Kenfield, as well as fossils, gemstones, geodes, Western sculpture and Native American artifacts collected locally. (308) 284-9996. Museum on the Hill was Ogallala’s finest home when it was built in 1887. Open Memorial Day through mid-September at the corner of Spruce and 10th streets. Three blocks west of the mansion on 10th Street is the original Ogallala cemetery, long known as Boot Hill for the cowboys who were “buried with their boots on.” Haythorn Land & Cattle Co. is a fifth-generation ranch offering wagon rides and chuck wagon dinners to visitors wanting a taste of the old ways. (308) 355-4000. What the old-time cowboys needed but didn’t have was a really big lake in which to cool off. Eight miles north of Ogallala, Lake McConaughy is Nebraska’s largest irrigation reservoir. At full capacity, McConaughy is 4 miles wide, 22 miles long and 142 feet deep at the dam with more than 100 miles of shoreline. When irrigation season is in full swing, miles of white sand beaches provide the perfect perch for a summer vacation. Just below Kingsley Dam is Lake Ogallala. It covers half a square mile and offers excellent fishing for rainbow trout and yellow perch. This reservoir is often called “Ogallala’s Little Lake.” South of Ogallala at Meadowlark Hill, one might expect to see birds. What people come here to see, and smell, are lilacs in full bloom. Max and Darlene Peterson’s passion has grown to fill 14 acres with the flower, and it’s the world’s largest private collection of lilacs. (308) 284-2524. Contact the Ogallala/Keith County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 658-4390.
Keystone |
pg. 60
Keystone is home to the Little Church of Keystone. The town was too small for two churches, so residents built this one as a combined Catholic/Protestant church in 1908. There is a Catholic altar at one end and a Protestant one at the other. Reversible pews face either way. (800) 658-4390.
Paxton |
pg. 59
Ole’s Big Game Streakhouse began as a bar in downtown Paxton. Original owner Ole Herstedt decorated it with the antlered head of a deer he shot, and followed that with more than 200 big game trophies over the next three decades. Great food and drink accompany the menagerie known around the world. 123 N. Oak St. (308) 239-4500.
Brule |
The town of Brule is 9 miles west of Ogallala. The annual Brule Day event includes a parade, fun run, egg toss, street dance, flower show, races and food stands. (308) 287-2596.
pg. 58
Texas outlaw Sam Bass and his gang robbed a train of $60,000 in gold and currency here in 1877. A marker at Eiker Park tells the story of the heist. Phelps Hotel was built in 1993 to house railroad workers. It is open for tours by appointment. (308) 889-3625.
Chappell |
2022 Events
EAGLE VIEWING—LAKE MCCONAUGHY/ LAKE OGALLALA Late December through February. Water discharged from the Kingsley Hydroplant creates open water on Lake Ogallala, attracting bald eagles, waterfowl, gulls and other birds. Viewing takes place in the heated facility below the dam. (800) 658-4390.
Kimball County 2022 Events
KIMBALL RANCH RODEO– KIMBALL
pg. 59
Big Springs |
Keith County
pg. 58
Travelers see lots of grain elevators along I-80, but none like the Farmer’s Elevator with a giant American flag painted on its south side. Golfers swing at the nine-hole Chappell Golf Course. (308) 874-2729, which is right next to Chappell Lake where anglers cast for bass, bluegill and catfish. Sudman-Neumann Heritage House at Fifth and Vincent streets is restored to its 1911 glory. The architecture includes an interesting dogleg staircase. (308) 874-3441. For more information, contact Chappell Tourist Information at (308) 874-2401.
June. Competitors from surrounding states ride broncs, milk wild cows, load trailers and brand cattle. Vendors will keep everyone fed and a beer garden will flow, too. Real cowboys show the skills they use every day. (308) 241-1760.
KIMBALL-BANNER COUNTY FAIR – KIMBALL First full week of August. Featuring 4-H animal shows, free barbeque, a mare and foal parade, and multiple rodeos.
BUSHNELL DAY– BUSHNELL Third Saturday of August. A day filled with fun – a parade, vendor show, kids activities, antique truck and tractor show, cornhole tournament, hog roast, live music and more. (308) 360-1358.
ANTELOPE STAMPEDE – KIMBALL Weekend before Farmers Day. A September gravel bicycle race held in the Western Panhandle of Nebraska, with a 100-mile rolling course traveling through Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming, and 25 and 50-mile courses in Nebraska. A barbecue and cornhole/horseshoe tournament follow the races.
FARMERS DAY– KIMBALL Last full weekend of September. Kimball honors those who grow our food with this flavorful smorgasbord of fun. Demolition derby, gun raffle, RC air show, beer garden, dance, and hamburger feed. www.facebook. com/kimballfarmersday
PARADE OF LIGHTS – KIMBALL Saturday after Thanksgiving. Kimball lights up the night to kick off the Christmas season with a Parade of Lights downtown. Enjoy evening shopping at local businesses along with hot cocoa and Santa.
Wild west • WestNebraska.com • 53
Kimball |
pg. 60
Kimball is the oil capital of Nebraska. It began as a railroad construction camp. Because of large herds of pronghorn in the area, the railroad called the new station Antelope, and the new village, Antelopeville. In 1885, the settlement was renamed for railroad executive Thomas Kimball. The Plains Historical Society has Kimball’s history displayed downtown at the Fraternal Hall, 200 S. Chestnut St., and at the former Kimball High School, 816 E. 3rd St. (308) 241-0573. The community has also been known as “Missile Center, U.S.A.” The area’s first Atlas missile site was completed in 1961. Kimball bills itself as the “High Point of Nebraska.” The elevation of Panorama Point is 5,424 feet and is easily walkable. Kimball Area Tourism offers tongue-in-cheek certificates to those who reach the summit.
North Platte
HOTELS & MOTELS
Call (308) 241-0573. Nearby, Tri-State Marker shows the spot where Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado meet. Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area has a 270acre lake for hunting, fishing, boating, camping, playing on sandy beaches, and bird watching. (308) 254-2377.
Harrisburg
Turning north from Kimball, State Highway 71 will take you to Harrisburg Banner County Museum, an 11-building complex with a 19th-century log schoolhouse, sod house, log cabin, 1910 barn, pioneer church and the old Banner County Bank. (308) 575-0808.
Four Wings Golf Course is 2 miles east of town. The 18-hole greens fee is good for as many holes as you can play in a day. (308) 235-4241. For more information on Kimball, contact Kimball Area Tourism. High Point Welcome Center of Western Nebraska has all the brochures and personal Kimball-area travel advice needed for a fulfilling visit. 204 Kimball Blvd. (308) 241-0573.
PHONE
ROOMS
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
83 Motel 920 N. Jeffers St
308-532-2313
38
•
•
Americas Best Value Inn 602 E. 4th
308-534-4020
33
Best Western Plus 3201 S. Jeffers St.
308-534-3120
Comfort Inn & Suites 2809 Halligan Drive
Outdoor Pool, Pets Allowed
75+
146
Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast, Pets Allowed
95+
308-562-2736
90
Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast, Pets Allowed
95+
Days Inn 3102 S. Jeffers www.daysinn.com
308-532-9321
48
Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast
75+
Fairfield Inn and Suites 319 W. South River Road www.marriott.com/lbffi
308-532-9900
82
Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast
95+
Hampton Inn North Platte 200 Platte Oasis Pkwy
308-534-6000
111
Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast
95+
Holiday Inn Express & Suites 300 Holiday Frontage Rd. www.hiexpress.com/northplattene
308-532-9500
151
Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast, Pets allowed
95+
Husker Inn 721 E. 4th Street
308-534-6960
21
La Quinta Inn & Suites 2600 Eagles Wing Place wyndhamhotels.com
308-534-0700
65
Indoor Pool,Complimenatry Breakfast, Pets allowed
75+
Motel 6 1520 S. Jeffers
308-534-6200
61
Outdoor Pool, Pets Allowed
75+
North Platte Inn & Suites PO Box 788
308-532-0130
74
Complimentary Breakfast , Pets Allowed
Park Motel 1302 N. Jeffers St.
308-532-6834
27
54 • Destination western nebraska 2022
•
•
50-75
51-75+
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
ROOMS
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Quality Inn 2901 S. Jeffers
308-532-6144
90
Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast, Pets Allowed
75+
Rodeway Inn 501 Halligan Drive
308-532-0151
64
Ramada by Wyndham 2102 S. Jeffers www.sandhillcc.com
308-535-6166
123
Studio 6 2701 Halligan Drive
308-532-7038
91
Super 8 Motel 220 Eugene Ave. www.super8.com
308-532-4224
111
Complimentary Breakfast , Pets Allowed
50-75+
Travelodge 451 Halligan Drive
308-535-9900
135
Complimentary Breakfast, Pets Allowed (Former Baymont)
75+
Tru by Hilton 2400 Halligan Drive
308-532-8700
98
Complimentary Breakfast , Pets Allowed
95+
UNIQUE LODGING McNeil House Bed & Brew at Pals 2351 W State Farm Road. Book at airBnB.com
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE 308-221-6715
Pets Allowed (Former Knights Inn)
50-75
Indoor Pool, Complimentary Breakfast, Pets allowed, restaurant on premises
75+
Pets Allowed
95+
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Cute Cottage in the woods, Sleeps 4. Walk To Pals Brewing Company
PHONE
OPEN
I-80 Lakeside Camping 3800 Hadley Rd.
308-534-5077
•
Buffalo Bill State Historical Park 2921 Scouts Rest Ranch Road
308-535-8035
CB's Hideaway 206 W. North Lake Rd
•
AMENITIES
FEES
RV Amenities: Electricity( 30 and 50 amp) water, sewer, Pull through sites. Tent sites available.
18-40
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water. Restroom Facilities: pit toilets. Camping: tent sites available . No reservation required. Nebraska State Park Permit Required
15-30
308-539-3983
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity (year-round) water and sewer (April - October) Restroom Facilities: Showers and Flush Toilets. Tent sites available.
•
Cody Park 1400 North Jeffers St. www.ci.north-platte.ne.us/publicservices
308-535-6700
May 1 - Oct 15
Room for 40 trailers. Restroom Facilities: Flush Toilets. Tent sites available
•
Holiday RV Park 601 Halligan Drive www.holidayparkne.com
308-534-2265
Year Round
RV Amenities: Electricity, water, sewer. Restroom Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Tent sites available
28-43
Lake Maloney State Recreation Area North Lake Road
308-535-8025
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water. Restroom Facilities: Showers, flush and pit toilets. Tent sites available. Nebraska State Park Sticker Required
15-30
Lincoln Highway RV Park 4684 Rodeo Road lincolnhighwayrvpark.com
308-534-4910
Year Round
RV Amenities: 50 AMP electrical hookups, water, sewer, cable and wireless internet. Extra-large pull-through sites.
GOLF COURSES
30
PHONE
HOLES & TYPE Call for hours & tee times.
RATE RANGE
Indian Meadows Public Golf Course 2746 W. Walker Rd., North Platte
308-532-6955
9, public
Under 15
Iron Eagle Golf Course 2401 Halligan Dr., N. of I-80 Exit 179, North Platte
308-535-6730
18, public
15-30
Lake Maloney Golf Club 608 Birdie Ln., 5 mi. S. of I-80 on US Hwy 83, 2 mi. W., North Platte
308-532-9998
18, public
15-30
Rivers Edge Golf Course 1008 W. 18th St., North Platte
308-532-7550
18, public
•
Wild west • WestNebraska.com • 55
Journey to Deuel County @BRIGHAMSTAPROOM
Chappell and Big Springs offer a taste of small-town American Life. An abundance of wildlife provides great fishing and hunting in the area. Easily accessible from Interstate 80, restaurants, lodging, camping, and pioneer history await you. Journey to Deuel County for a relaxing vacation!
DEUEL COUNTY T O U R I S M
FAMILY, COSMIC, & A LA CARTE BOWLING VIRTUAL REALITY GAMES LASER TAG . ARCADE
@WILDBILLSNP . WBSFUN.COM VISITDEUELCOUNTY.COM • 308.464.0983 PO BOX 14 • BIG SPRINGS, NE 69122 56 • Destination western nebraska 2022
(308) 532-5720
1100 S. JEFFERS, NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
lake mcconaughy
Sutherland
&
HOTELS & MOTELS
Hershey PHONE
ROOMS
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
308-386-4384
19
•
1-75
PHONE
OPEN
AMENITIES
FEES
Oregon Trail Golf Course Campground 31200 W Tower Rd., Sutherland
308-386-4653
Mar- Nov
RV Amenities: Electricity and water Restroom Facilities: flush and pit toilets. Tent Sites Available.
Call for rates
Sutherland Reservoir State Recreation Area Sutherland Reservoir Inlet, S. Highway 25
308-535-8025
•
RV Amenities: Electricity and water Restroom Facilities' toilets. Tent Sites Available. Nebraska State Park Sticker Required
10-30
Park Motel 1110 First Street
CAMPGROUNDS
GOLF COURSES Oregon Trail Golf Course, 1 mi. S., 1/4 mi., S. of I-80, Exit 158, 25 S. Tower Rd., Sutherland
Potter
HOTELS & MOTELS
Point of Rocks Motel & Campground 8175 US Hwy 30, Potter 1912 Nostalgic Train Crew B & B Potter, dorihoux.wixsite.com/bedandbreakfast
CAMPGROUNDS Point of Rocks Motel & Campground 8175 US Hwy 30, Potter
GOLF COURSES Prairie Pines Golf Course, 402 Prairie Pine Dr., Potter
PHONE
HOLES & TYPE Call for hours & tee times.
RATE RANGE
308-386-4653
9, semi-private
Under 15
PHONE
ROOMS
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
308-879-4400
9
In country setting
45-65
•
2
Bed and Breakfast, Free parking, Wi-Fi, DIRECTV close to Park and Main Street
51-75
PHONE
OPEN
AMENITIES
FEES
308-879-4400
May - Nov.
PHONE 308-879-4469
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 24 trailers
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times. 7, public
20-25
RATE RANGE Under 15
Wild west • WestNebraska.com • 57
Sidney
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
ROOMS
America's Best Value Inn & Suites 2115 W. Illinois St., W. on US Hwy 30, Sidney
308-254-2081
58
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
51-75
Best Western Plus Sidney Lodge 645 Cabela Dr., I-80 Exit 59, Sidney www.bestwestern.com
308-254-0100
64
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
75+
Blue Iron Oasis, 11552 US Hwy 30, 2 mi. N. of I-80, Exit 59, Jct US Hwys 30 & 385, Sidney
308-250-9911
9
Pets allowed
1-75
Country Inn & Suites, 664 Chase Blvd, Sidney
308-254-2000
85
Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises, indoor pool, pets allowed
75+
Comfort Inn and Suites, 825 Hoffies Dr., Sidney
308-254-4423
81
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, indoor pool, pets allowed
75+
Days Inn, 3042 Silverberg Dr., I-80 Exit 59, Sidney www.daysinn.com
308-254-2121
47
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
75+
Fairfield Inn and Suites, 889 E. Jennifer Ln., Sidney
308-254-9000
75
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, bar/lounge on premises, indoor pool
75+
Hampton Inn, 635 Cabela Dr., Sidney www.hamptoninn.com
308-254-2111
74
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast
75+
Motel 6, 3040 Silverberg Dr., Sidney www.motel6.com
308-254-5463
47
Wheelchair accessible, pets allowed
•
Sidney Inn, 935 9th Avenue, Sidney, sidneyinnbymagnuson.com
308-203-1890
55
55 Newly remodeled rooms, Free breakfast, free laundry, truck parking, handicap accessible (B), Pets allowed, Fitness room, free Wi-Fi
51-75
Sidney Motor Lodge, 2031 Illinois St., W. US Hwy 30, Sidney
308-254-4581
18
Wheelchair accessible, pets allowed
1-75
Sleep 4 Le$$, 954 E. Elm St., I-80 Exit 59, 2 1/2 mi. N. to US Hwys 30 & 385, www.sleepforlessmotel.com
308-254-5011 877-220-0109
11
Pets allowed
51-75
Quality Inn, 730 E. Jennifer Ln., I-80 Exit 59, Sidney www.choicehotels.com
308-254-5011
54
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE
OPEN
Cabela's Campground, I-80 Exit 59, Sidney
308-254-7889
Year Round
GOLF COURSES
PHONE
Hillside Golf Course, 2616 Hillside Dr., Sidney
Big Springs
HOTELS & MOTELS
Motel 6, 111 Circle Rd., I-80 Exit 107, Big Springs
58 • Destination western nebraska 2022
AMENITIES RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 31 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Camping: 6 tents
HOLES & TYPE
308-254-2311
&
AMENITIES
Call for hours & tee times. 18, public
Chappell PHONE
ROOMS
308-889-3671
62
AMENITIES Indoor pool, pets allowed
RATE RANGE
75+
FEES Call for rates
RATE RANGE 15 - 30
RATE RANGE 1-75
UNIQUE LODGING
PHONE
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Phelps Hotel 401 Pine St., Big Springs
308-889-3580
Historic hotel built in 1885, rooms with shared and private bath
51-75+
The Bunkhouse B&B and Stables 30914 Cty Rd. 2, Big Springs www.cowboybunkhouse.com
308-464-1224
Rooms with private and shared bath, full breakfast, full kitchen, 2 full RV hookups and horse stables
51-78
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE
OPEN
AMENITIES
FEES
Creekside RV Park, N. of I-80 Exit 85, Chappell
308-874-2267 888-871-2267
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 28 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, flush toilets. Camping: Unlimited tents
12-25
HQH Stables & Campground, 1625 Rd. 203, Big Springs, www.a-chordpublishing.com
877-241-8653
•
McGreer Camper Park, 693 Rd. 209, Big Springs www.mcgreercamperpark.com
308-889-5093
Apr.-Oct. 31
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 28 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Camping: 8 tents
25-30
The Bunkhouse RV Park and Stables 30914 Rd 2, 3 mi. S. of I-80 Exit 107, 1/2 mi. E., Big Springs
308-464-1224
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 2 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Cabin rentals: 1
Call for rates
GOLF COURSES Oregon Trail Golf Course, US Hwy 385, Chappell
Lemoyne
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 6 trailers. Riding area available 10-20
HOLES & TYPE
308-874-2729
Call for hours & tee times. 9, public
•
RATE RANGE 51-75
PHONE
ROOMS
Admiral’s Cove Resort 999 Lemoyne Rd., Lemoyne, Lake McConaughy Gate 6, wwwadmiralscoveresort.com
308-555-2102
23
Restaurant on premises, pets allowed
1-75+
North Shore Lodge, 5 North Shore Rd., Lemoyne, Hwy 92 near Lake McConaughy, www.northshorelodge.net
308-555-2222
21
Restaurant on premises, pets allowed
51-75+
Mesa View Lodge, 1290 Hwy 92 W., Lemoyne. Lake McConaughy, homesatlakemac.com
308-355-5000 888-568-7620
10
Pets allowed
1-50
Vogl’s Lodge and Lure, 721 Hwy 92 W., Lake McConaughy, www.voglslodgeandlure.com
308-355-2321
12
Pets allowed
51-75+
PHONE
OPEN
Admiral’s Cove Resort, 999 Lemoyne Rd., Lemoyne Lake McConaughy Gate 6, wwwadmiralscoveresort.com
308-355-2102
May-Sept. 3
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 5 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets Camping: unlimited tents. Cabin Rentals: 25
15
North Shore Lodge, Lake McConaughy Gate 5, Lemoyne, www.northshorelodge.net
308-355-2222
•
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 23 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush and pit toilets. Cabin Rentals: 18
Call for rates
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
CAMPGROUNDS
Keystone, Paxton
&
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
Days Inn, 851 Paxton Elsie Rd., I-80 Exit 145, Paxton
308-239-4510
Brule ROOMS 34
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
AMENITIES
FEES
Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
1-75
keystone, paxton & Brule CONT. » Wild west • WestNebraska.com • 59
« keystone, paxton & Brule CONT.
UNIQUE LODGING
PHONE
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Bayside Golf Club, 865 Lakeview West Rd., Brule
308-287-4653
Open Mar-Oct 30. Remodeled cabins, bedroom suites, full minikitchens, full baths, patios/decks, laundry, Wi-Fi and satellite TV
75+
The Beach House, Lake McConaughy, Keystone www.lakemacbeachhouse.com
308-762-2892
Luxury townhomes with lake views, rooms with shared and private bath
75+
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE
OPEN
Eagle Canyon Hideaway, 1086 Lakeview W. Rd., Brule www.eagle-canyon.com
866-866-5253
Apr.-Sept.
Riverside Campground 1000 S. State St., I-80 Exit 117, Brule
308-287-2474 800-809-2921
Apr. 1-Oct. 30
The Lodge, 851 Paxton Elise Rd., I-80 Exit 145, Paxton
308-239-4510
Year Round
GOLF COURSES Bayside Golf Club, 865 Lakeview W. Rd., Brule
Kimball
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
AMENITIES
FEES
RV Amenities: electric, water, sewer Rest Facilities: Wi-Fi, showers, flush toilets, rec room, swimming pool, playground and general store
25+
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 45 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets
15+
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 12 trailers. Camping: 12 tents
20
HOLES & TYPE
308-284-4358
Call for hours & tee times. 18, public
15-30
PHONE
ROOMS
1st Interstate Inn, 1704 S. County Rd. 41, Kimball
308-235-4601
29
Restaurant on premises, pets allowed
1-50
Days Inn, 611 E. 3rd St., Kimball, www.daysinn.com
308-235-4671
30
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
60-80+
Red Door Rentals, 607 E 3rd St., US Hwy 30, Kimball
308-230-2220
16
Internet/cable, kitchenette, wheelchair accessible.
•
Motel Kimball, 1017 E. 3rd St., E. US Hwy 30, Kimball
308-235-4606
19
Wheelchair accessible, pets allowed
45-60
Super 8 Motel, 1701 S. County Rd. 41, I-80 Exit 20, Kimball
308-235-4888
53
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
1-75+
PHONE
OPEN
Dix RV Park
308-230-0241 308-682-5296
Year Round
30/50 amp services
•
High Point RV Park 1508 S Hwy 71, Kimball
308-230-2003
Year Round
15/30/50 amp, water, sewer, WiFi, storage, dog park, tent camping
•
Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area, 8 mi. W. on US Hwy 30, Kimball. 270 acres of water and 917 acres of land
308-254-2377
Year Round
RV Amenities: water, room for 75 trailers Rest Facilities: pit toilets. Camping: 100 tents, Dump site. Overnight camping at Oliver Reservoir available from March 1-October 31
•
Stahla’s North RV Park 9 Laura St, Kimball
308-235-2750 308-235-5373
Year Round
30/50 amp services – RVs, campers, and 5th wheels
•
CAMPGROUNDS
GOLF COURSES Four Winds, 4530 Gilliland Dr., E. US Hwy 30, Kimball
60 • Destination western nebraska 2022
PHONE 308-235-4241
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
AMENITIES
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times.
18 holes, public
RATE RANGE
FEES
RATE RANGE 30
Ogallala
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
ROOMS
Days Inn, 601 Stagecoach Trail, Ogallala www.daysinn.com
308-284-6365
31
Elms Motel 717 W. First St., Ogallala
308-284-3404
12
•
1-75
Holiday Inn Express & Suites 206 Pony Express Ln, Ogallala
308-284-6080
80
Handicap accessible, fitness room, pool, free breakfast, meeting room, pets no more than 50 lbs with a $35 deposit
90+
Kingsley Lodge 1510 N. Hwy 61, Ogallala
308-284-2775
17
Pets allowed
1-75
Lazy K Motel 1501 E. 1st St., Ogallala N. of I-80 Exit 126
308-284-4056
19
Air conditioning, free local calls, refrigerator, microwave oven, TV with cable channels, private bathroom, hair dryer & flat iron
1-50
Lonesome Dove Lodge, 501 Stagecoach Trail, Ogallala
308-284-2266
•
Free Wi-Fi, pet friendly, non-smoking property, spacious rooms, conference suites, complimentary breakfast bar, rec center
75+
Pump & Pantry Motel, 730 E. 1st St., Ogallala Turn right at the overpass, 5 blks
308-284-6119
15
Pets allowed
1-75
Quality Inn, 201 Chuckwagon Rd., Ogallala I-80 Exit 126 N., www.choicehotels.com
308-284-3623
101
Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises, outdoor pool, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
75+
Rodeway Inn, 108 Prospector Dr., I-80 Exit 126, Ogallala, www.rodewayinn.com
308-284-2056
40
Free continental breakfast, pets allowed
1-50
Super 8 Motel, 500 E. A St. S., I-80 Exit 126, Ogallala www.super8.com
308-284-2076
90
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
1-75
The Best Western Plus, 110 Pony Express Ln., Ogallala, www.bestwestern.com
308-284-7011
69
Handicap accessible, fitness room, pool, meeting room, free breakfast
51-75
Travelodge Stagecoach Inn, 201 Stagecoach Trail, Ogallala, www.bestwesternnebraska.com
308-284-3656
100
Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises, outdoor & indoor pool, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
51-75
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE
OPEN
Cottonwood Grove, 1045 Keystone Roscoe Rd., Ogallala
308-284-2282
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 10 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets Camping: 6 tents
20-30
Country View Campground, 120 Rd. E. 80, Ogallala I-80 Exit 126, S. 1/2 mi. left at John Deere www.cvcampground.com
308-284-2415
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 50 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets Camping: 12 tents
27-30
Eagle Canyon Hideway, 1086 Lakeview W. Rd., Brule www.eagle-canyon.com
308-287-2673 866-866-5253
Feb. 28Dec. 30
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 21 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets Camping: 16 tents, Cabin Rentals: 17
Call for rates
Lake McConaughy SRA, 1475 NE Hwy 61 N., 9 mi. N.E. Ogallala, www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov
308-284-8800
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 242 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush and pit toilets. Camping: unlimited tents
Call for rates
Lake Ogallala SRA, 1475 NE Hwy 61, Ogallala. 10 mi. N., E. side of dam, www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov
308-284-8800
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 82 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush and pit toilets. Camping: unlimited tents
Call for rates
Sleepy Sunflower RV Park, 221 Rd. E. 85, Ogallala. I-80 Exit 126 S., https://koa.com/campgrounds/ogallala/
308-284-1300
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 48 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets. Camping: 10 tents
23-26
Van’s Lake View Fishing Camp, Brule, 13 mi. N.W. of I-80 on US Hwy 26, #1 Lake View, www.vanslakeview.com
308-284-4965
May 1-Nov. 1
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 100 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush and pit toilets. Camping 15 tents Cabin rentals: 2
28
GOLF COURSES West Wind Golf Club, 359 Rd. E. 85, Ogallala, 1 1/2 mi. E. of I-80 Exit 126
PHONE 308-284-4358
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
AMENITIES
HOLES & TYPE
FEES
Call for hours & tee times. 18, public
1-75+
RATE RANGE 30+
Wild west • WestNebraska.com • 61
62 • Destination western nebraska 2022
MULLEN • ALLIANCE HEMINGFORD HYANNIS • ASHBY SENECA • THEDFORD HALSEY • TRYON ARTHUR • VALENTINE MERRIMAN • NENZEL & CODY BUILD SAND CASTLES IN NEBRASKA
Nebraska’s Sandhills is an expansive grassland that’s been compared to beautiful waves rolling in from the sea. Many believe this is the most beautiful part of Nebraska. We think they’re right. At nearly 20,000 square region of grass-covered dunes, the cowboy way continues its western adventures every day. The Platte River runs along the southern Sandhills, and three branches of the Loup River reach across this region where cattle outnumber people. The Niobrara River is a bucket list adventure for anyone who’s ever put a paddle in the water. Come build your own sand castle in Nebraska.
kayaking down the niobrara river Pictured left
Sandhills & Scenic Rivers • WestNebraska.com • 63
HALSEY | THEDFORD | SENECA In the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills, we have more chaps than business suits, more horses than SUVs, & a welcome sign as big as the sky. ENJOY YOUR OVERNIGHTS AT THE
While Exploring the Sandhills & The Nebraska National Forest, Bessey Ranger District Sleeps up to 9, with all bedding, fully-equipped kitchen, Wi-Fi, Dish TV, & Gas Grill Hunt, Fish, ATV, Birding, Hiking & Water Recreation on the Middle Loup River Call for Reservations - 402-430-6794 middleloupriverranch.com 5 miles west of Halsey – 10 miles east of Thedford Along NE Hwy 2 – Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway
ROADSIDE INN
Experience Hospitality in the Sandhills Clean rooms, wireless internet and a continental breakfast. We also have RV hook-ups and a full restaurant and lounge next door.
REDWOOD INN AT HALSEY 503 Highway 2, Halsey, NE 69142
308-533-2240
1-308-645-2284 | RoadsideInn.com 39357 Hwy 2 • Thedford, NE
Facebook.com/RedwoodInnHalsey
Perfect Pit Stop
Sandhills Corral Restaurant
ON YOUR SANDHILL VACATION Sandhill Oil Company/Dino Mart is ready to fuel you up with gas, food, and outdoor supplies. Three locations make us a reliable place to stretch your legs on your travels. Also offering tire services!
sandhilloil.com THEDFORD 308-645-2233
HYANNIS
308-458-2237
VALENTINE 402-376-1302
SANDHILL RIVER TRIPS & EWOLDT'S GROCERY
Tank, tube, or kayak down the Middle Loup River. Stock your cooler with tasty provisions and steaks from Ewoldt’s Grocery. 308-645-2235 608 Court St., Thedford, NE sandhillrivertrips.com
East of Thedford on Highway 2 *Steaks *Salad Bar *Beer *Spirits (308) 645-2323 @SandhillsCorral Open Monday through Saturday
11:00 am - 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
C rossroadsofthe s andhills.com 64 Destination western nebraska 2022 •
CarHenge
Mullen |
pg. 73
For a region known for its striking beauty, it’s appropriate that one of the world’s best golf courses stretches out across the land here in the geographic center of the Nebraska Sandhills. Sand Hills Golf Club is an 18-hole private golf course designed by pro golfer Ben Crenshaw. Golf Digest has ranked the Sand Hills Golf Club number one in its Modern List. To get there, travel 12 miles south of Mullen on Highway 97 to mile marker 55, then go west 3 miles. Visitors are welcome at the clubhouse, but to golf, players must be members or sponsored guests. The region is also home to the world-class Dismal River Club. Designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, this is links golf: rugged, windblown, hard and fast. The course is located 2 miles south and 17 miles southwest of Mullen. (308) 546-2900. Mullen also has a fine public nine-hole course called Mullen Golf Club. (308) 546-2446. Experienced canoers and kayakers can test their paddling skills on the Dismal River south of Mullen. It is a fast-flowing, spring-fed prairie river with plenty of twists and challenging submerged debris.
People looking for a family-friendly river trip can float the Middle Loup River just north of Mullen. The Middle Loup’s spring-fed and mostly calm waters meander through sloping Sandhills canyons. Sandhills Motel offers canoe and kayak rental for both rivers, and stock tank rental for the Middle Loup. They take you upstream, then you float down to where your car is parked. This is also headquarters for the annual Polar Bear Tank Race in March. Besides offering lodging, the motel provides tours to view the spring mating rituals of greater prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse. (308) 546-2206. Nebraska National Forest, Bessey Ranger District, lies between the two rivers and campsites are adjacent to the rivers. Fishing is allowed where forest property touches the rivers. A stocked pond near the headquarters provides other aquatic fun. Hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing is allowed. (308) 533-2257. The Dismal River meets the Middle Loup River east of Dunning. For more information on Mullen or the rivers, call (888) 278-6167.
Dismal River Outfitters is a big-game hunting ranch with more than 50,000 acres available for bison, elk, whitetail deer, mule-deer and turkey hunting. Sporting clay shooting and predator hunting are also available. The lodge offers cozy accomodations and a menu heavy on Angus beef. Shuffleboard and billiards keep hunters occupied following the hunt. The ranch is 14 miles south of Mullen. (308) 546-0567.
Mullen 2022 Events
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE AND PRAIRIE CHICKEN VIEWING March and April. Observe the breeding displays of native birds. Other animals are typically spotted, too. (308) 546-2206.
POLAR BEAR TANK RACE March 1-2. Competitors, some much more serious than others, race on the scenic Middle Loup River seeking the fastest times, but this contest is mostly about bragging rights. (308) 546-2206.
Sandhills & Scenic Rivers • WestNebraska.com • 65
Fr Bl
Sidney-Deadwood Trail Ogalala National Grassland Toadstool Geologic Park
Mari Sando Her
Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed
Whitney
High Plains Homestead Trailside Museum
Warbonnet Battlefield
Soldier Creek Wilderness
Fort Robinson State Park
Harrison
26 min.
Crawford
20
28 min.
Nebras Nationa Forest
Fort Laramie to Fort Robinson Trail 2
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Marsland
1 hr. 17 min
51 min. Hemingford to Crawford
29
1 hr. 27 min. Scottsbluff to Crawford
71
Mormon Trail Oregon Trail
Riverside Discovery
Henry Morrill
Mitchell
14 min. Center 7 min. Mitchell to Scottsbluff Scottbluff to Gering
26
Midwest Theater
Lake Minatare Lighthouse
Scottsbluff
92
Scotts Bluff National Monument Five Rocks Amphitheater
Gering
27 min Gering to Bayard
Harrisburg Banner County Historical Museum
THUNDER ON THE PRAIRIE
Alliance |
June. Classic cars cruise to ‘50s and ‘60s music. Poker run, barbecue and dance at Central Park. (308) 762-2761.
Alliance, founded in 1888 and located at the intersection of highways 2 and 385, is the largest city for 50 miles.
BOX BUTTE COUNTY FAIR August. Visit Hemingford for a concert, food vendors, tractor pull, demolition derby, live entertainment, horse show and frog races. (308) 487-5223.
DOBBY’S FALL FESTIVAL September. Quick draw contest, live music and storytelling, Dutch oven cooking and church service. www.dobbysfrontiertown.com. (308) 762-4321.
TREE & WREATH FESTIVAL Late November, early December. Holiday atmosphere with decorated trees and wreaths. (308) 762-2384. www.facebook.com/knightmuseum andsandhillscenter.
66 • Destination western nebraska 2022
pg. 74
Carhenge is perhaps the strangest attraction in all of Nebraska. The replica of England’s Stonehenge is built from 39 old cars, each painted gray. They jut from the ground just like the real Stonehenge’s stones. Free admission. 2151 Hwy 87. Knight Museum and Sandhills Center showcases aspects of western life including Native American artifacts, railroad memorabilia, military history and ranch life. 908 Yellowstone Ave. (308) 762-2384. Carnegie Arts Center hosts art shows at 204 W. Fourth St. (308) 762-4571. Kenneth “Dobby” Lee lamented the decay of Frontier buildings, so he began saving them. Dobby’s Frontier Town’s 26 buildings include a general store, a mortuary, saloon, one-room school and a cobbler’s shop. 320 E. 25th St. (308) 762-4321.
62A
Bayard
Bayard Rock M
Chimney Rock Bridg National Historic Site 88
1 hr. 3 min
71
2022 Events
July. Visit Alliance for sidewalk sales, carnival, parade and Sunday in the Park. (308) 762-1520.
Robidoux Trading Post & Pioneer Graves
Chimney Rock Pony Express Station
Niobrara River
HERITAGE DAYS
92
McGrew
Wildcat Hills Nature Center
Alliance
Minatare
Melbeta
Legacy of the Plains Museum
Lake Minatare State Recrea North Platte Wildlife Re
Prairie S
Oliver Reservoir Central Park Fountain operates Memorial Day Recreation Area Plains Historical Museum Railroad Bushnell weekend through Oct. 1. After dark, it Dix features Museum Kimball 29 Potter Linc 30 min a lights-and-water18display. Wiggly FieldDuckpin Dog 39 min Bowling Alley e Park isChespecially for man’s best friend. 1603 n eyen m Fro 71 Box Butte Ave. Tri-State Marker Nebraska’s Highest Point
28
Golfers find 18 holes of fun at Skyview Golf Course. (308) 762-1446. Nebraska Veterans Cemetery opened in 2010 at the former Alliance Army Air Field on 20 acres once used as a troop training field. (308) 763-2958. Alliance’s brick-lined main street, Box Butte Avenue, is on the National Register of Historic Places. There are many shops, restaurants and other businesses here. Contact the Alliance Chamber of Commerce at (308) 762-1520. VisitAlliance.com.
rom Rapid City & lack Hills Whiteclay
Merriman
White River 37 min.
oz High Plains ritage Center
Chadron Museum of the Fur Trade
ska al
Metcalf Wildlife Management Area
16 min.
1
Nio b r a r a
26 min. Hemingford to chadron
Goldrush Byway
87 Hemingford
14
Sparks
12
15
13
Smith Falls State Park Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
Snake River Falls
Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area
10
Snake River
61
S16B
1 hr.
11
Valentine National Wildlife Refuge
r 250 53 min.
Box Butte Reservoir
Niobrara National Scenic River
12
97
Samuel R. McKelvie 17 National Forest 1 hr. 10 min.
Walgren Lake State 87 Recreation Area
ic R i v e S c en
Cherry County Historical Museum
Niobrara National River
27
385
Pine Ridge Mountain Bike Trail
Kilgore
Valentine
30 min.
Rushville
13 min.
Nenzel
Crookston
Clinton
Hay Springs
Chadron State Park
Gordon
20 min.
Cody
Eli 20
Arthur Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
Tri-State Old Time Cowboy Museum
87
9
1 hr. 15 min.
North Loup River
Smith Lake Wildlife Management Area
44 min. Hemingford to chadron
2
Berea 83
Knight Museum Carnegie Arts Center Sallows Military Museum and Conservatory Dobby Frontier Town
2 7 5
3
Carhenge
4
“Old Jules” Sandoz Grave Site
Middle Loup River
Antioch
Alliance
6
Lakeside
26 min.
2
Ellsworth
Whitman Bingham
Nebraska Veterans Cemetery
Ashby
Hyannis
Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway Mullen
Seneca Thedford
29 min.
Tanking on the Middle Loup and Dismal River
385
ation Area efuge
2
15
45 min.
34 min.
L oup River
18 min.
Thomas County Historical Museum
Halsey
16
2
Nebraska National Forest Bessey Ranger District
Dismal River
27
43 min. 55 min.
Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Bridgeport State Recreation Area
d
Chimney Museum
8
Northport Pioneer Trails Museum
geport
61
Arthur
Wes te
Court House and Jail Rocks
rn T rails
27
Byw
ay
hP
latt
92
Dalton
eR
ive
53 min.
r
26
92
18 min.
54 min.
Lewellen
97
Attractions #SANDHILLS & #SCENIC RIVERS Fort Sidney Post Commander’s Home
Sidney
16 min
Lorenzo
29 min.
Oshkosh
Gurley
30
19
27
Lodgepole Depot Museum
Ash Hollow State Historical Park
L a ke
44 min.
50 min.
McCo
naug
hy
34
40
Sunol
30 min. Sidney to Chappell
Kingsley Dam/ Hydro Plant Little Church of Keystone Boot Hill Roscoe
Sutherland
30
80
39 min. Ogallala to Chappell
61
47 min. Ogallala to North Platte
25
30 min.
15 min.
Hemingford |
pg. 75
Hemingford is a patriotic town. The community located 18 miles northwest of Alliance displays more than 200 American flags along its famous Avenue of Flags during holidays such as July 4th weekend, Flag Day, Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Each flag once draped the casket of a veteran from the area, some of whom served in conflicts dating back to the Civil War.
32 min.
92
Paxton 131 Box 32Butte ReservoirLodgepole 10HillMERRITTOgallala RESERVOIR California Cabela’s Retail Store Historical Marker Hillside Chappell and Wildlife Exhibit Brule Sudman-Neumann Golf 33 Front WILDLIFE Street 2Course Carnegie Arts Center REFUGE Heritage House Big Springs 11 VALENTINE NATIONAL Pony Express Ole’s Big Game Bergstrom Rock & Mansion on National Monument Steakhouse & Lounge Petrified Wood 1 Gem Collection the Hill Gallery 3 Knight Museum & Sandhills CENTER 12 NIOBRARA NATIONAL SCENIC RIVER 4 CARHENGE 13 SMITH FALLS STATE PARK 5 DOBBY'S FRONTIER town 14 FORT NIOBRARA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Madrid Elsie Brandon 6 NEBRASKA VETERANS CEMETERY 15 CANOEING, TUBING, Grant KAYAKING Grainton Wallace 7 SALLOWS MILITARY MUSEUM 16 NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST BESSEY RANGER DISTRICT 8 CRESCENT LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 17 SAMUEL R. MCKELVIE NATIONAl FOREST 9 ARTHUR BOWRING SANDHILLS RANCH STATE HISTORICAL PARK 30
Ringold Stapleton
Historical Museum
385
coln B ywa y 80
Tryon
Lisco Nort
Schooner Museum
83
Broadwater
92
57 min. Grant to Dickens
Hemingford is home to the Box Butte County Fair in August. During the holiday season, Hemingford displays its Christmas Diorama. The drive-thru diorama, which dates to 1955, depicts scenes painted on wood panels. The impressive display stretches nearly three football fields in length. 1100 Niobrara Ave.
Buffalo Bill State Historical Park Hershey
38
North Platte Prehistoric Wonders 37 4 Golden Spike 36 Maxwell Settling Tower &the Visitorswest Fort Cody Sutherland Center Brady 39 Trading Post Reservoir Fort McPherson The Great OutDoorsNational Cemetery Lake Maloney Pioneer trails One-of-a-Kinds Dickens Unique Geology Welcome Centers/Rest Areas 30
The Rail Road Museum
80
40 min. North Platte to Dickens
30 From
Om aha
Mormon Trail
Oregon Trail
23
83
town offers excellent boating, swimming, windsurfing, sailing, picnic areas, hiking and primitive camping. Anglers hope for catches of smallmouth bass, channel catfish and yellow perch. For more information on Hemingford, contact the Hemingford Chamber of Commerce. (308) 487-3300.
Box Butte Reservoir, a 1600-acre lake, is part of the 2,212-acre Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area. The park 10 miles north of
Sandhills & Scenic Rivers • WestNebraska.com • 67
Camping by Niobrara River
One block west of the art gallery, Thomas County Historical Museum depicts Sandhills history by displaying artifacts used by settlers. The museum in the former Paxton home includes firearms and historic photos. (308) 645-2477. Thedford Golf Course is a nine-hole public course built by local volunteers in 2009. The course follows the natural lay of the sandhills, and in addition to challenging buttes of this course are its scenic overlooks of the Middle Loup River. Cart rental and driving range available. One mile west of Highway 83. (308) 645-2233.
Halsey |
pg. 76
Highway 2, also known as the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, begins at Grand Island, passes the Nebraska National Forest at Halsey, crosses the lake country of the western Sandhills, and exits the region near Alliance. This byway is rated in the top 10 scenic routes in the United States.
Hyannis |
pg. 76
Hyannis is home of the Windmill Days celebration each June. To find the event, look for the windmill toward the top of the hill in the center of Main Street. Grant County Museum in the courthouse, 104 E. Harrison St., displays regional history and rare oddities, such as props from actor John Wayne’s stunt man and a world-class barbed wire collection seen nowhere else. Open 1-4 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, or by appointment. (308) 458-2371. Golfers can shoot nine holes at Pelican Beach Golf Course just east of town. (308) 458-2579. Frye Lake Wildlife Management Area offers fishing access northeast of Hyannis. Anglers hook largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish.
Ashby
Calinda’s Pot Shop & Art Gallery showcases owner Linda Lacy’s unique clay and canvas art of award-winning western designs in her newly remodeled gallery in a quaint '60s style recycled café. The artist invites any visitor, young or old, to try their hand at throwing a pot on the wheel themselves. Enjoy specialty coffees, “Soapwood Squeeze” sundaes and edible “cowpies” in the cedar pergola. Open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lacy hosts artists during Follow the Rails Art Trail in October. (308) 458-8051. www.calindaspotshop.com. Find her on Facebook.
68 • Destination western nebraska 2022
Seneca
Northern Plains Studio near Seneca has Native American and Western art for viewing and for sale by appointment. (308) 639-3227. Stable Productions Exotic Animal Ranch offers views of zebra, emu, elk and other critters in scenic settings along the Middle Loup River (308) 639-3218.
Thedford |
pg. 76
Thedford is a crossroads community along Highway 2. Highway 83 leads north to Valentine and south to North Platte. In May of 1891, 5 miles north of Thedford, sisters Tillie and Retta Haumann became lost. Fouryear-old Retta was found alive after three days of searching. Eight-year-old Tillie perished after wandering an estimated 75 miles. A state historical marker near the Thomas County Courthouse in Thedford preserves the memory of the children. Thedford Art Gallery, 509 Court St. sells framed photos, sculptures, pottery, jewelry and other creations made by regional artists. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, May 1-Dec. 3, open the rest of the year 1-5 p.m. or by appointment. (308) 645-2396. Be sure not to miss the bronze sculptures of two girls by artist Linda Egle. Yellow Calf Studio shows and sells sculptures by appointment. (308) 645-2537.
Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest is the largest hand-planted forest in the world. It’s a favorite for camping, ATV riding, horseback riding, hiking, picnicking, birdwatching, fishing and backpacking. Hunting for male deer, whitetail deer, turkey and grouse is allowed. Seasonal bird-viewing blinds are available first come, first served. March and April. Scott Lookout Tower offers a panoramic view of the forest and hills. Used by staff as a fire watch platform, climbing to the top is not for the faint of heart. (308) 533-2257.
Tryon
The Tryon area is sparse in human population but huge cattle herds live here. The local school mascot is the Longhorn, but Angus and Hereford cattle also graze area pastures. The long history of local ranching is chronicled in the McPherson County Historical Society Museum. It includes a historic bank, sod house and implements. Open by appointment. (308) 587-2376.
Arthur
West of Tryon about 40 miles on Highway 2, Arthur is the only town in Arthur County. This ranching town boasts the world’s smallest courthouse. The 26-by-28-foot white frame building was built after Arthur County seceded from neighboring McPherson County in 1913. The former Pilgrim Holiness Church is one of the few places of worship ever made from baled straw. How is that for a true blessing of Nebraska ingenuity?
Yellow Calf Studio Exceptional beauty. Western Inspiration.
Linda Egle 308.650.0855 lindaegle.com 83881 Yellow Calf Lane P.O. Box D • Thedford, NE 69166
Shop year-round at
Hemingford’s specialty meat market
Indulge in fresh cuts of beef, pork, and specialty meats for yourself or gatherings. Custom gift boxes are available with meats, cheeses, local honey, seasonings, and gift certificates.
302-487-5232
815 Box Butte Ave. Hemingford, NE 69348
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Sandhills & Scenic Rivers • WestNebraska.com • 69
Valentine |
pg. 78
Nebraska’s “Heart City” is near the Niobrara River. Outfitters provide everything needed for river fun.
Five miles east of Valentine on Highway 12, bison, elk and deer roam the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge’s prairie dog town is popular for wildlife viewing and photography, and Fort Falls is a waterfall found by hiking a short but narrow trail.
EXPLORE THE NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST, BESSEY RANGER DISTRICT
SEE THE ANNUAL SPRING SANDHILL CRANE MIGRATION
Explore the Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway, Nebraska Highway 2, from Grand Island to Alliance. It makes a memorable day trip or week-long vacation! • The Largest Grass-Covered Sand Dune Formations in the Western Hemisphere • Nebraska National Forest, Bessey Ranger District • Real Cowboys, Working Ranches and over 500,000 Head of Cattle
“TANK” DOWN THE MIDDLE LOUP RIVER
• World-Class Birding
Nebraska National Forest photo courtesy of the USDA Forest Service. Sandhill Crane photo courtesy of E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune. Middle Loup River photo courtesy of Will Saunders and Vist Nebraska.
• Near the Valentine and Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuges • Superb Dark Skies Make for Amazing Stargazing Opportunities
Visitor’s Center
Alliance 2
Grand Island
N E B R A S K A
SANDHILLSJOURNEY.COM
sandhillsjourney.com • 308-546-0636 308.546.0636
WELCOME TO THE WINGSTREET Discover a world-class barbed-wire collection, trace genealogy, and join fans of Chuck Hayward (John Wayne’s stuntman) in Grant County. Open Tues. 10 am-2 pm or by appt. 105 E Harrison, Hyannis 1-308-458-2371
Grant County Historical Society and Museum 70 • Destination western nebraska 2022
DINE-IN • DELIVERY • CARRY-OUT
605 E. HWY 20, VALENTINE, NEBRASKA 402-376-3303 • PIZZAHUT.COM
Attractions include Smith Falls State Park, Merritt Reservoir, McKelvie National Forest and Valentine NWR. The Prairie Club has three destination golf courses, a pro shop, spacious lodge, bunkhouse, cabins, wine bar and an upscale restaurant. (888) 402-1101. Smith Falls, Nebraska's tallest waterfall at 63 feet high, is located in Smith Falls State Park. Stop by on your float down the Niobrara or drive just 18 miles outside of Valentine. A state park sticker is required. Enjoy picnicking, fishing, primitive camping, and hiking. Smith Falls waterfall is just a short walk over the Niobrara river and the relocated Verdigre bridge. Take an extra hike along the Jim MacAllister Trail and revel in the beauty of this area's unique and diverse ecosystem. There is none like it anywhere else in the world. Frederick Peak Golf Club is a public 10-hole course named for a pointed, chalky peak. The course includes a driving range, a pair of putting greens and a clubhouse. (402) 322-2754. Built in 1897, Centennial Hall is the oldest standing high school building in Nebraska. It is a heritage museum of beautifully displayed collections. It has often been the source for paranormal investigation. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day or by appointment. (402) 376-1081. Cherry County Historical Museum is a virtual treasure trove of the history of Cherry County, beginning with how it was settled and by whom. The museum has a variety of displays devoted to early-day cattlemen, Fort Niobrara, Native Americans, U.S. wars and the daily life of the pioneer era. An archival library includes historic newspapers and genealogical records. Located at the corner of Main Street and Highway 20, the museum is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. or by appointment. (402) 376-2015.
Located just northeast of Valentine is Valentine State Fish Hatchery, one of five hatcheries in the state. Spread over 700 acres, the hatchery handles millions of fish eggs annually. In most years, lakes in Cherry County alone are stocked with some 675,000 fish. Just to the north, Government Canyon – a 640-acre area – offers prime wildlife habitat and activities including hiking, biking, bird watching and hunting in specified areas. Among Nebraska’s most spectacular waterfalls, Snake River Falls rushes over a 54-footwide ledge. When the Snake River is full, it is the largest waterfall in the state by volume. Water tumbles and turns like a mountain stream as it flows 12 miles to the Niobrara River. A hiking trail leads you to two viewing areas of the falls. Located south of Valentine on Hwy 97. The 72,000-acre Valentine National Wildlife Refuge lies in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills, a vast area of grass blanketed sand dunes, which flow across north-central Nebraska. Lakes and marshes in the valleys and prairie grasses in the hills and meadows provide habitat for many kinds of wildlife such as the prairie chicken. For Valentine information, call (800) 658-4024.
Merriman |
pg. 78
The grand history of Sandhills ranching lives on at Arthur Bowering Ranch State Historical Park. This Hereford demonstration ranch became a state park in 1985. Sod House Sunday is a popular event held here each June. (308) 282-0730. Cottonwood Lake State Recreation Area offers fishing, boating and camping southeast of Merriman. Largemouth bass, channel catfish and bluegill are hooked from this scenic Sandhills lake.
Nenzel & Cody |
pg. 78
Niobrara Valley Vineyards near Nenzel allows visitors to taste the Sandhills with wines made from grapevines growing on the Nollette family ranch. (402) 823-4131. Cody-Kilgore High School students helped build the straw bale Circle C Market. Now they run it. (402) 823-4099. George Paul Vinegars offers traditionally crafted fruit and wine vinegars made by the Johnson Family's straw bale constructed vinegary. Traditional old-world methods transform wine to vinegar. Visit by appointment.
Smith Falls Samuel McKelvie National Forest is located south of Nenzel in Cherry County. This 116,000acre national forest is a fantastic representation of the unique Nebraska Sandhills prairie ecosystem. Popular uses of the forest include hunting, fishing, horseback riding, camping and bird watching. There is one small campground located on the southwestern edge of the forest. Steer Creek Campground has 23 campsites, 8 horse corrals, potable water, and the 1-mile Blue Jay hiking trail. The Niobrara River Canoe Launch is a day-use site on the Niobrara River perfect for launching small watercraft. Fishing is available in the nearby Merritt Reservoir. The Lord Lakes wetland complex has been recognized for its outstanding fishing.
T homas County 2022 Events
WILDLIFE VIEWING – HALSEY The Nebraska National Forest is a year-round destination for birders. Grouse viewing blinds available in March and April. (308) 533-2257.
THOMAS COUNTY FAIR – THEDFORD July. Thedford’s biggest bash includes a parade, live entertainment, food, vendors, children’s games and a fishing tournament. (308) 645-2646.
Sandhills & Scenic Rivers • WestNebraska.com • 71
Explore Cherry County
VisitValentine.org
e r o l xp
E
We will change how you define Nebraska !
Spring - Summer - Winter - Fall - We really do have it all !
• Tanking, Canoe & Kayak Rentals
• River Adventures in the Sandhills • Wild River Adventures
Find your next
ADVENTURE. 308-546-2206
•
GLIDDENCANOERENTAL.COM
72 • Destination western nebraska 2022
•
LOCATED IN MULLEN, NE
WestNebraska.com
kayaking down the niobrara river
Mullen
HOTELS & MOTELS
Glidden Sandhills Motel, W. Hwy 2, Mullen www.sandhillsmotel.com
UNIQUE LODGING Carter Morris House, 102 N.W. 3rd St., Mullen
Double R Guest Ranch LLC 86091 Double R Dr., Mullen, www.rrguestranch.com
CAMPGROUNDS Glidden Sandhills Campground 5078 S.W. 1st, Mullen (W. Hwy 2) www.sandhillsmotel.com
GOLF COURSES
PHONE
ROOMS
308-546-2206 888-278-6167
19
PHONE
AMENITIES Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises, close to public pool, pets allowed
AMENITIES
308-546-2288
Fully furnished 2-bedroom guest house, sleeps 9, laundry facilities
800-217-2042
Two Private Country Properties: The Lake View House and The Country Cabin. Both fully equipped, big green spaces, Wi-Fi, gas grill. Hunt, fish, stargaze or hike the country trails. Variety of birds and wildlife.
PHONE
OPEN
308-546-2206
Year Round
PHONE
AMENITIES RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 10 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower and flush toilets
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times.
RATE RANGE 1-75
RATE RANGE 51-75+
95+
FEES 25 nightly, 115 weekly
RATE RANGE
Dismal River Club, 83040 Dismal River Trail, Mullen
308-546-2900
18, semi-private
30+
Mullen Golf Course, 102 N. Veteran, W. Hwy 2, Mullen
308-546-2445
9, public
15-30
Sandhills & Scenic Rivers • WestNebraska.com • 73
Niobrara River
Alliance
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
ROOMS
1st Interstate Inn 1207 W. 3rd St., W. on Hwy 2 & Hwy 385, Alliance
308-762-4040
42
Pets allowed
Alliance Hotel & Suites 117 Cody Ave., 3rd & Cody Sts., Alliance www.alliance-hotel.com
308-762-8000
60
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast
Econo Lodge, 1419 W. 3rd St., Alliance
308-762-8300
39
Free continental breakfast, pets allowed
1-75
Holiday Inn Express, 1630 Holsten Dr., Alliance www.hiexpress.com/alliancene
308-761-0970
71
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, pets allowed, indoor pool
1-75
Quality Inn, 1420 W. 3rd St., Alliance
308-762-7600
60
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast
Rainbow Motel, 614 W. 3rd St., Alliance www.rainbowmotelalliance.com
308-762-4980
13
Restaurant on premises, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
1-50
Sunset Motel & RV Park, 1210 E. Hwy 2, Alliance
308-762-8660
20
Indoor pool, pets allowed
49-75
UNIQUE LODGING
PHONE
AMENITIES
1-50
AMENITIES
Go West Guesthouse, 1023 Toluca Ave., Alliance gowestguesthouse@gmail.com
308-760-5072
Room for 1-13 guests, 6 bedrooms, 8 beds, 305 baths, 1 jacuzzi tub, 2-car garage. Full kitchen appliances, cooking and dishware. Washer/dryer, enclosed backyard.
Grandma Lala's Bed and Breakfast 1232 Box Butte Ave., Alliance
308-762-2925
Four rooms with private bath, morning brunch included
CAMPGROUNDS
RATE RANGE
51-75+
RATE RANGE 150+
75-110
PHONE
OPEN
J&C Lawn Services & RV Park 2491 S. US Hwy 385, Alliance www.j-c-lawn-services.business.site
308-762-3860
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 13 trailers
Call for rates
Jeske's Over the Hill Campground 2131 Cty Rd. 59, Alliance
308-760-6932
•
Electricity, water, sewer, Wi-Fi access, country atmosphere
•
Sunset Motel & RV Park, 1210 E. Hwy 2, Alliance www.clicksunset.com
308-762-8660 800-767-8660
Year Round
GOLF COURSES Sky View Golf Course 2613 Cty Rd. 57, Alliance
74 • Destination western nebraska 2022
PHONE 308-762-1446
AMENITIES
51-75+
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 24 trailers. Rest Facilities: showers, flush toilets, indoor pool
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times. 18, public
FEES
18-30
RATE RANGE 15-30
Hemingford
&
Hyannis
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
ROOMS
Double JT & Hyannis Hotel, 1025 Main Ave., Hyannis
308-458-2332
11
Restaurant on premises
51-75
Ranchland Motel, 305 E. Hwy 2, Hyannis
308-458-2264
6
•
51-75
UNIQUE LODGING
PHONE
AMENITIES
AMENITIES
Whisperin’ Angel Inn,101 S. Manderson Ave., Hyannis
308-458-2300
Historic bed and breakfast, rooms with shared bath, full breakfast
Pelican Beach Cabin 43863 E. Hwy 2, 1 1/2 mi., E. on Hwy 2, Hyannis
308-458-2444
Rooms with shared bath. Sleeps 6, full kitchen, laundry facilities, bedroom loft, overlooks lake
CAMPGROUNDS
RATE RANGE
RATE RANGE • 75+
PHONE
OPEN
AMENITIES
FEES
Box Butte Reservoir SRA 9 1/2 N. Hemingford, on the Niobrara River www.outdoornebraska.gov
308-665-2900
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 64 trailers. Rest Facilities: pit toilets. Camping: 60 tents
6-12 & NE Park Permit
Ranchland Motel Campground 305 Hwy 2, Hyannis
308-458-2264
•
Simpson’s Trailer Court 316 Morton St., Hyannis
308-458-2354
Year Round
GOLF COURSES
PHONE
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 6 trailers. Camping: unlimited tents
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times.
• Call for rates
RATE RANGE
Hemingford Golf Course Fremont St., Hemingford
308-487-3639
7, public
Under 15
Pelican Beach Golf Club 2 1/4 mi. E. on Hwy 2, Hyannis
308-458-2579
9, public
Under 15
Sandhills & Scenic Rivers • WestNebraska.com • 75
Halsey
&
T hedford
HOTELS & MOTELS
PHONE
ROOMS
Arrowhead Lodge & Café 39293 Hwy 2, Thedford, Jct Hwy 2 & US Hwy 83 arrowheadlodge.webs.com
308-645-2246
19
Restaurant on premises, pets allowed
1-50
Redwood Inn at Halsey 503 NE Hwy 2 Halsey, NE 69142 www.facebook.com/RedwoodInnHalsey
308-533-2240
11
Family Friendly, In-room Refrigerator, Free Parking, Picnic Areas
•
Roadside Inn, 39357 Hwy 2, Thedford www.roadsideinn.net
308-645-2284
42
Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
51-75
UNIQUE LODGING Middle Loup River Ranch Guest House 4 mi. W. of Halsey, Hwy 2; Mile Marker 221 www.middleloupriverranch.com
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE 402-450-2268
AMENITIES
AMENITIES Two bedroom guest house, rooms with shared bath, sleeps 9, laundry, AC, sat TV, Wi-Fi, gas grill. Next to Nebraska National Forest
RATE RANGE 75+
PHONE
OPEN
Belle's Bunkhouse and Campground 202 Main St., Halsey, Adjacent to Hwy 2, cabin adjacent to campground
308-539-1462
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 9 trailers. Camping: available. Cabin Rental: 1 (2 night minimum, 75+)
•
Bessey Recreation Complex Nebraska National Forest, 2 mi. W., Halsey https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nebraska
308-533-2257
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 21 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, pit and flush toilets. Camping: 13 tents
8-11 3 vehicle
Roadside Inn Campground 39357 E. Hwy 2, 1 mi. E. on Hwy 2, Thedford www.Roadsideinn.net
308-645-2284 800-373-1648
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 10 trailers. Rest Facilities: flush toilets .Camping: 3 tents
GOLF COURSES
PHONE
Thedford Golf Course 1 mi. S. on US Hwy 83, Thedford
Arnold
&
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
HOLES & TYPE
308-645-2634
Stapleton
HOTELS & MOTELS
Call for hours & tee times. 9, public
FEES
18.5
RATE RANGE Under 15
PHONE
ROOMS
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
The Bunkhouse, South end of Main Street, Arnold
308-764-2476
4
Pets allowed
1-50
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE
OPEN
AMENITIES
FEES
308-848-2228
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, room for 20 trailers. Rest Facilities: pit toilets. Camping: 100+ tents
•
Arnold SRA, 1 mi. S. of Jct Hwys 40 & 92, Arnold www.arnoldne.org
GOLF COURSES Augusta Winds Public Golf Course, 1 mi. S. on US Hwy 83, Stapleton
76 • Destination western nebraska 2022
PHONE 308-636-2428
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times. 9, public
RATE RANGE Under 15
• Located in the Sandhills of Western Nebraska • Annual Sandhills Sharptail Shootout (Competitive Hunt) • Clean Rivers with Kayaking, Canoeing and Tanking • Scenic Byway and Adventuresome Back-Country Roads • World-Class Golf Courses
• Friendly Locals and Affordable Amenities • Frisbee Golf Course • Tennis Courts • Grassed and Fenced Dog Park • Art Center Feauturing Local Artists
Hooker County Visitors Committee • 308-546-0636 • PO Box 28 • Mullen, NE 69152 • www.Hooker-County.com
Sandhills & Scenic Rivers • WestNebraska.com • 77
Valentine, Merriman HOTELS & MOTELS
Cody
&
PHONE
ROOMS
Comfort Inn, 101 Main St., Valentine www.choicehotels.com
402-376-3300
50
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast
75+
Harmony Inn 340 E. US Hwy 20, Valentine harmonyinn.com
402-376-3131
72
Wheelchair accessible, free continental breakfast, pets allowed
75+
Motel Raine, 618 US Hwy 20, Valentine www.sleepintheraine.com
402-376-2030 800-999-3066
31
Conference room, Wi-Fi, fitness room
75
Super 8 Motel, 223 E. US Hwy 20, Valentine www.super8.com
402-376-1250
60
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, free continental breakfast
51-75+
Trade Winds Motel, 1009 E. US Hwy 20, Valentine www.tradewindslodge.com
402-376-1600
32
Free continental breakfast, pets allowed
51-75+
The Niobrara Lodge, 803 E. US Hwy 20, www.niobraralodge.com
402-376-3000 877-376-3003
61
Wheelchair accessible, indoor pool, pets allowed
75+
UNIQUE LODGING
PHONE
AMENITIES
AMENITIES
RATE RANGE
RATE RANGE •
Cody’s Country Cabin, US Hwy 20, Cody
402-823-4182
3-bedroom house, rent to one party at a time
Cottonwood House
402-376-1109
Kitchen, TV, essentials, heating/air conditioning
75+
Heartland Elk Guest Ranch Valentine, 17 mi. E. on Hwy 12, 2 1/2 mi. S. www.heartlandelk.com
402-376-1124
Outdoor activities available
75+
Kate Songer Air BNB
402-322-0275
4-Bedrooms, wi-fi, fenced yard, garage, laundry
Lord Ranch Resort, 17 mi. S. on Hwy 83 to Mile Marker 9, 1 mi. E. on 16 B Spur, Valentine
402-376-5984 800-270-0181
Rooms with private bath. Cabins surrounded by the Sandhills
75+
Merritt Trading Post, 26 mi. S.W. on Hwy 97, Valentine, www.merritttradingpost.com
402-376-3437
Wheelchair accessible, restaurant on premises, pets allowed
75+
Niobrara River Ranch 15 mi. E. on Hwy 12, S. 3/4 mi., Valentine
402-890-1245 866-282-8677
Rustic, handcrafted log cabins
75+
Rock Creek Lodge
402-376-3082
4-Bedrooms, cable tv, hot tub, wi-fi
75+
Schlagel Creek Ranch 5 mi. S. on Hwy 20, 1 1/2 mi. W., Valentine www.schlagelcreekranch.com
402-376-2679
Outdoor activities. Fall and spring hunting packages
GOLF COURSES
PHONE
The Prairie Club, 109 S. Main St., Valentine
888-402-1101
46 holes, 3 courses, semi-private
Frederick Peak Golf Club, 1000 Dowden St., Valentine www.outdoornebraska.gov
402-322-2754
10 holes
78 • Destination western nebraska 2022
HOLES & TYPE
Call for hours & tee times.
•
•
RATE RANGE Over 30 Under 30
CAMPGROUNDS
PHONE
OPEN
Berry Bridge Resort, 13 mi. E. on Hwy 12, 3 mi. S., Valentine, www.niobraracamping.com
402-376-3474
May 15Oct. 15
Cody City Park, One block N. of Hwy 20, off Western Nebraska Ave, Cody
402-823-4118
Cottonwood Lake SRA, 1/2 mi.E., 1/2 mi. S., Merriman www.outdoornebraska.gov
AMENITIES
FEES
RV Amenities: electricity, room for 8 trailers Rest Facilities: shower, flush and pit toilets Camping: 18 tents. Cabins: 4
Call for rates
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer
Call for rates
308-684-3428
Year Round
RV Amenities: water. Rest Facilities: pit toilets Camping: unlimited tents
4, NE Park Permit
Fishberry Campground, HC 14 Box 1, 4 1/2 mi. N. on US Hwy 83, Valentine www.fishberrycamp.com
402-376-1662 866-376-1662
May 1Nov. 1
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 22 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, flush toilets. Camping: 10 tents
28
Fritz’s Island Campground, 7 1/2 mi. S.E. of Sparks www.campniobrara.com
402-376-3791 866-376-1662
May-Oct.
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 20 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, flush and pit toilets. Camping: 60 tents
6 Youth, Under 10 Free
Graham’s Camp, 5 mi. S. of Sparks www.grahamoutfitters.com
402-376-3708 800-322-3708
Apr. 1Nov. 1
Rest Facilities: shower, pit toilets. Camping: 50 tents
7 - 14 NE Park Permit
Merritt Reservoir, 28 mi. S.W. on Hwy 97, Valentine www.outdoornebraska.gov
402-376-3320
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 215 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, flush and pit toilets. Cabins: available
14 - 22
Merritt Trading Post, 26 mi. S.W. on Hwy 97, Valentine www.merritttradingpost.com
402-376-3437
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 7 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, flush toilets. Cabins: 15
14 - 22
Rock Barn Outfitters, Sparks, E. on Hwy 12 to Mile Marker 28, 5 mi. S., 1/2 mi. E. www.rockbarnoutfitters.com
402-376-1764 800-335-6252
May 15 Sept. 15
RV Amenities: water, room for 6 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower and pit toilets. Camping: 40 tents
5
Rocky Ford Camp & Outfitters LLC, 13 mi. S. of Sparks, www.rockyfordoutfitters.com
402-497-3479
Apr. 15Sept. 15
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 8 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, flush and pit toilets. Camping: 35 tents. Cabins: 5
3
Shady Spot RV Camp, 402 N. Main St., 1 block N. of Jct US Hwt 20 & Hwy 61, Merriman
308-684-3330
June 1Sept. 1
Smith Falls State Park, 3 mi. W, 4 mi. S. of Sparks www.outdoornebraska.gov
402-376-1306
Year Round
RV Amenities: water, room for 5 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, flush and pit toilets. Camping: 25 tents
4, NE Park Permit
Sparks Store & RV Camp, 101 Main St., Sparks, 18 mi. E of Valentine on NE Hwy 12, www.drylandaquatics.com
402-376-1119 800-337-3119
Apr.-Nov.
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 6 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, flush and pit toilets. Camping: 30 tents. Cabins: 2
Call for rates
Steer Creek Campground Samuel R. McKelvie Nat’l Forest, 20 mi. S. of Nenzel
308-533-2257
Year Round
RV Amenities: Room for 23 trailers. Rest Facilities: pit toilets. Camping: 23 tents
5
Sunny Brook Camp LLC, 11 mi. S.E. of Sparks www.facebook.com/sunny.brook.camp
402-376-1887 877-376-1887
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, room for 3 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, flush and pit toilets. Camping: 20 tents. Cabins: 2
Call for rates
Valentine City Park, N. Main St., along Minnechaduza Creek, Valentine
402-376-2323
May-Sept.
Rest Facilities: shower, flush toilets. Camping: 5 tents
Village Park, 3rd & Main Streets, Wood Lake
402-967-3054
May-Sept.
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 2 trailers. Rest Facilities: flush toilets
Donation
Wacky West Travel Park, 702 E. C St., Valentine
402-376-1771 866-376-1771
Year Round
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 31 trailers. Rest Facilities: shower, flush toilets. Camping: 10 tents
Call for rates
Penbrook Campground 90281 Berry Bridge Rd., Valentine
402-376-3474
Apr.-Nov.
RV Amenities: 5 electric spots, water, pit toilets. Camping: 1 mi. of riverfront camping
Call for rates
RV Amenities: electricity, water, sewer, room for 6 trailers
10
5
Sandhills & Scenic Rivers • WestNebraska.com • 79
GO WEST.
HikeWestNebraska.com
NOT ALL ADVENTURES REQUIRE A HELMET. Sure there’s something to be said for shooting rapids. There’s also something to be said for just paddling along. For the opportunity to get a photo of a bald eagle high up in the trees, or a curious doe at the riverbank as you float by. There’s something to be said for the peace and solitude of a gentle river. If you’re an adrenaline junkie we get it. If it’s not adventure without the rush and chance of bodily harm that’s fine. But if adventure means new horizons and new experiences then come float, come paddle, take a trip. Find your next adventure.
Come to Western Nebraska.
FloatWestNebraska.com
PLAN YOUR ESCAPE TO LAKE MCCONAUGHY: Nebraska’s Year-Round Outdoor Recreation Paradise
Photo by AlwaysKayak
Photo by Teri Elmshaeuser
• FISH & BOAT AT THE LARGEST LAKE IN THE 3-STATE AREA • BEAUTIFUL WHITE SAND BEACHES • HOTELS, CABINS, BEACH CAMPING & PRIVATE CAMPGROUNDS AVAILABLE • INCREDIBLE FOUR-SEASON BIRD WATCHING • EXPLORE THE OLD WEST HERITAGE OF OGALLALA AND KEITH COUNTY AT THE PETRIFIED WOOD & ART GALLERY, BOOT HILL AND MANSION ON THE HILL MUSEUM
Download the Lake McConaughy App for maps, tours and more! @Lake Mac – Visitors Guide
PLAN YOUR TRIP AT ILOVELAKEMAC.COM • 800-658-4390 • JUST OFF I-80, EXIT 126 PRESENTED BY THE KEITH COUNTY VISITORS COMMITTEE
You never know what you’ll find when you go the extra mile.
V is itGer i ng .c om
TA K E T I M E TO
UNWIND
Travel with you in mind
Get refreshed and refueled in Sidney/Cheyenne County Nebraska. We offer every comfort a road-tripper needs right off Interstate 80, including restaurants, hotels, gas stations, convenience stores and more. •
Dalton
•
Gurley
•
Lodgepole
•
Potter
•
Sidney
VisitSidneyNE.com