BANNER COUNTY For information on tourism in Banner County, visit the Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce’s website, kimballbannercountychamber.com.
BANNER COUNTY MUSEUM
HARRISBURG — A 12-building complex, located at 200 N. Pennsylvania, stores hundreds of articles of times gone by. The Banner County Museum complex includes a machine shed that houses hundreds of old tools, an immense 65 horsepower Case steam engine and a vast collection of farm machinery and implements. A sod house replica constructed in 1985 out of Banner County sod, a genuine 1888 log house from William C. Spahr’s homestead, an original 1880 pioneer church, a log schoolhouse from 1880 that was used as a chicken coop before being donated to the museum, a 1930s service station, a 1910 barn, a replica of an early drug store and a late 1800s bank in its original location, are all structures located on the museum grounds. Artifacts from the early 1900s are on display at the museum’s general store, which is located in a rock building. All of the structures on the museum grounds are originally from Banner County. Copies of all the original Banner County newspapers are also housed in the museum on microfilm, allowing for extensive genealogy research. The annual Historical Day/Museum Open House is the first Saturday in June each year. The museum is open every Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day, or yearround by appointment. Admission is free. Information: bannercountyhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com, www.bannercountyhistoricalsociety.com or Facebook.
BOX BUTTE COUNTY
BOX BUTTE RESERVOIR STATE RECREATION AREA HEMINGFORD — Camping and water recreation adventures await visitors to this 1,600-acre reservoir on the Niobrara River. Located 9 1/2 miles north of Hemingford or approximately 30 miles north of Alliance, and just south of the majestic Pine Ridge, the 7-mile-long Box Butte Reservoir offers a scene of aquatic recreation in the summertime and serves as one of the
area’s more popular ice fisheries in the winter. Anglers can find walleye, yellow perch, bluegill, channel catfish, northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and crappie in the waters of the reservoir. A fish cleaning station is also onsite for the successful fisherman. In the summertime, sailboats, powerboats and personal watercraft cruise the waters of Box Butte Reservoir, launching from an upgraded ramp. The lake’s vast expanse allows room for a variety of water sports. A children’s swimming area is marked and protected by buoys for safety. Also, primitive camping areas and picnic spots dot the shores of the lake. Campers must register at a box located near the reservoir’s entrance. Created by the Works Projects Administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1940 and 1941, the Niobrara River dam plays to thousands of boaters, fishermen and swimmers each year. Box Butte Reservoir is a Nebraska State Recreation Area managed by the Game and Parks Commission and park permits are required for entry. The permits may be obtained at several Hemingford businesses. Reservations are not required. For more information on Hemingford, contact the Hemingford Chamber of Commerce, 308-487-5578 or visit www.ci.hemingford.ne.us.
CARHENGE
ALLIANCE — The Stone Age meets the Industrial Revolution just a few miles north of Alliance, where automobiles from the 1950s and 1960s have been arranged into a replica of the ring of stones erected in southern England. Buried trunk-first, the bodies of the cars used in the structure rise between 15 and 18 feet above ground, some straight into the air, others at an angle, faithful to the design of Stonehenge. For the sake of uniformity, all the cars used have been painted “Stonehenge gray.” Former Alliance resident Jim Reinders envisioned Carhenge and ultimately created it on the farm that was once a wheat field. The site was dedicated on the summer solstice in 1987. The major stones of the Stonehenge creation are re-created with cars of approximately the same dimensions, placed in the same compass headings as the British stone circle. The 10-acre Carhenge site has grown to include other forms of car art, including sculptures of animals, both modern and prehistoric, all crafted from automobile parts. For those inclined to prolong their visit, picnic tables and plenty of parking are available. Carhenge is open all year with no admission fee. It is handicap accessible and group tours are available. The Pitstop visitor center is also open during the summer months beginning in May. A variety of Carhenge souvenirs and refreshments are available to help support the site. Donations accepted. Information: 308-762-3569 or visit www.carhenge.com.
DOBBY’S FRONTIER TOWN
ALLIANCE — Dobby’s Frontier Town, located at 320 E. 25th St., is a recreation of Kenneth “Dobby” Lee’s vision. His love of antiques and collecting encouraged him to give others a chance to see and feel what life in rural Nebraska was like at the turn of the 20th century. He started the town by “fitting out” an authentic general store. Since Dobby’s death in 2009, a nonprofit organization, Dobby’s Frontier Towners Inc., has taken on the task of refurbishing and preserving Dobby’s dream. The town is home to the first Black Homestead of Robert B. Ander-
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DOBBY’S FRONTIER TOWN son and one of the area’s first gas stations from Chadron State Park. Antiques and tools are set for visitors to pick up and examine, giving Dobby’s Frontier Town a hands-on feel and making the unusual attraction a fun and recreational experience. The town features an 1880s post office, bootlegger’s shack with lookout cupola, 1889 District 100 Sheridan Country school, 1912 German Immanuel Evangelical Church, dress shop, cobbler’s shop, saloon, bordello, Rex’s Hamburger Shop, bank, photo parlor, doctor’s and dentist’s offices, jail and the print shop is home to of some of the original Ironman Magazine equipment. There are 27 buildings in all. Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday, from April
1 to Oct. 10. Admission is free. Information: 308-762-7157, 308-760-3574 or http:// dobbysfrontiertown.com or on Facebook: Dobby’s Frontier Town.
KNIGHT MUSEUM AND SANDHILLS CENTER
ALLIANCE — Pioneer memorabilia, Native American artifacts and railroad history highlight the collection of the newly renovated Knight Museum and Sandhills Center, located at 908 Yellowstone in Alliance. Museum visitors can get a glimpse of the life lived by the people who settled in the Box Butte County area and the Nebraska Sandhills. Smithsonian style displays are designed to accent the extensive collection of pioneer history.
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The Knight Museum and Sandhills Center has compiled many of the city and county records into a digital database that is available to the public. They offer a large research room providing records from Box Butte and the Panhandle, all microfilmed local newspapers and area authors. Photo and genealogical files are available for research and volunteer researchers are available to consult and help. Admission is free. Group tours are available and the building is handicap accessible. The Newberry Gift Shop, carrying local authors and unique gifts, is open. The facility’s winter hours (Oct. 1 through April 30) are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat. Summer hours (May 1 through Sept. 30) are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Information: 308-762-2384 or 308762-5400, email museum@cityofalliance.net or visit the website at www. knightmuseum.com.
SALLOWS MILITARY MUSEUM
ALLIANCE — Exhibits from the Civil War, the Iraqi War and every war in between adorn the Sallows Military Museum. Sitting adjacent to the Sallows Arboretum at 1101 Niobrara, the museum opened in September 2004 and focuses much of its attention on the Alliance Air Base. Available for viewing are two display rooms and a library with materials honoring the nation’s veterans. Displays feature artifacts that tell their stories of bravery and courage. The museum is open daily May through Oct. 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. The building is handicap accessible and tours are available. Information: 308-762-2385, or email museum@cityofalliance.net or visit the website at www.sallowsmilitarymuseum.com.
1993. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tues. through Sat. and Sun., 1 to 4 p.m. (May through Sept.). Information: 308-762-4571, email art@ carnegieartscenter.com, or visit www.carnegieartscenter.com
NEBRASKA VETERANS CEMETERY AT ALLIANCE
ALLIANCE — Three miles east of town and 200 yards from the Alliance airport sits Nebraska’s first state veterans cemetery. Spreading over 20 acres, the facility is an inspirational stop for traveling families as well as regional residents. Shadow boxes in the administration building’s lobby hold photos and medals of recently interred veterans. A committal shelter, resembling a church sanctuary, is available for graveside services. Native grasses, bushes and trees dot the cemetery’s landscape, reflecting the prairie of western Nebraska. Pre-placed crypts allow for more graves per acre and reduce maintenance costs related with sunken graves. The site can accommodate more than 8,000 casketed and cremated internments. Spreading of ashes is also allowed in the Memorial Garden. Concrete sidewalks and roads make access easy for those using wheelchairs and motorized vehicles. Business hours are Mon. through Fri. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; visitation of graves is available dawn to dusk, seven days a week. For more information, contact Allen Pannell, cemetery administrator, at 308-7638426 or email allen.pannell@nebraska.gov.
CENTRAL PARK FOUNTAIN
ALLIANCE — This historic fountain can be found at 10th St. and Niobrara, just south of the Sallows Military Museum, along with the sunken garden, shelters and playground. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was built during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s term by the Works Projects Administration. Having been refurbished and modernized, the fountain offers a magnificent computerized light show during evening hours. Operates Memorial Day through Oct. 1, open all hours. Handicap accessible and tour groups available. Information: info@cityofalliance.net; 308-762-2384 or visit www.cityofalliance.net.
CARNEGIE ARTS CENTER
ALLIANCE — The Carnegie Arts Center is a bastion of the fine arts in the Nebraska Panhandle. Located at 204 W. 4th St., the center features a Sculpture Garden and fine art displays from local and regional artists. The main-floor gallery averages 19 different shows a year and showcases the works of artists from Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas and Wyoming. Carnegie has also hosted such renowned exhibits as the Albrecht Durer and Rembrandt print collections. Group tours are available and Carnegie visitors can purchase fine art gifts such as blown glass, pottery, prints, original works and jewelry. Admission is free and the facility is handicap accessible. Originally built in 1911, it opened as the restored Carnegie Arts Center in
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CHEYENNE COUNTY For information on tourism in Cheyenne County, visit its website: http:// sidneycheyennecountytourism.com/.
LODGEPOLE DEPOT MUSEUM
LODGEPOLE — Founded in 1867, Lodgepole was platted in 1884 and incorporated as an official village in 1901. It is the second oldest community in Cheyenne County. The village takes its name from the creek bearing the same name, harkening back to a time when Native Americans cut poles for teepees (lodges) along its banks. The Lodgepole Depot Museum offers visitors a peek into the past. Museum displays include horse buggies, antique furniture, historical clothing, a unique collection of antique clothes irons and bells as well as a large assortment of antique machinery and other items from Lodgepole’s early days. The museum is wheelchair accessible and group tours are available. Hours: Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and by appointment. Information: 308-483-5620.
CABELA’S
CABELA’S
SIDNEY — Cabela’s, a business that began on a kitchen table and now bills itself as the “World’s Foremost Outfitter,” offers visitors the opportunity to browse through a wide array of quality outdoor merchandise, including hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor gear. Visible for miles, the green-and-gold water tower bearing the Cabela’s logo stands tall at exit 59 on I-80. The impressive 100,000-square-foot showroom and boat shop is also an educational and entertainment attraction, featuring a décor of museum-quality animal displays and mounted trophy animals interacting in realistic recreations of their natural habitats. Open 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Mon.-Sat. and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. RV parking and tent camping available with 27 pull-through sites, four backin sites, as well as six tent sites. Additional amenities include semi parking and use of dog kennels and a horse corral for animals while shopping. Information: 308-254-7889 or visit www.cabelas.com.
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ANGEL OF HOPE & LIVING MEMORIAL GARDENS
SIDNEY — A beautiful, peaceful setting is tucked away in the Living Memorial Gardens in Sidney’s Legion Park. Nebraska’s first Christmas Box Angel was unveiled in October 2008 and dedicated on September 26, 2009. The bronze sculpture, The Angel of Hope, lifts its arms to the heavens, surrounded by four-foot granite memory walls and reflection benches. When one looks closely at the angel, the word “hope” can be found in the angel’s right
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wing. The Angel of Hope and Living Memorial Gardens offers a serene environment for visitors and is dedicated to people who have lost a loved one. Rita Schinzel-Anest, one of the organizers of the project, said the Angel of Hope was done as a way to provide a quiet spot where people could go and further the healing process. For more information, visit http://nebraskaangelofhope. info/sidneyangel.html. The Living Memorial Gardens is a recycled garden project using a 1940s vintage municipal swimming pool. Ablaze with color, this park is a panorama of beauty during the growing season and offers a gazebo to enjoy your surroundings. Also in Legion Park is the War Memorial, which honors veterans of Cheyenne County with the largest flag and flagpole in Nebraska. Brass plates depicting the wars and the local veterans who fought in those wars flank the flagpole. For more information on the Living Memorial Gardens and Legion Park, call the Cheyenne County Visitor’s Center at 866-545-4030.
FORT SIDNEY COMPLEX
SIDNEY — The complex, located at 1108 Sixth St., consists of the powder house, the married officer’s quarters, which houses the Cheyenne County Museum, and the Post Commander’s Home, restored and refurbished with authentic articles of the late 1800s. The Museum and the Post Commander’s home are a major attraction for the county. The complex opens the day after Memorial Day through Labor Day from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Mon. through Fri., and Sat. and Sun., 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free and the facilities are handicapped accessible. Information: 308-254-2959.
PRAIRIE SCHOONER MUSEUM
DALTON — The agricultural town of Dalton is a community of 315 residents situated along U.S. Highway 385, 20 miles north of I-80 at Sidney’s east interchange. Construction on the Burlington-Northern Railroad began in 1898 and was completed in 1900. The first depot was built in 1908 and Dalton was incorporated the following year. It was then that the first school was built. The history of this small community is on display at the Prairie Schooner Museum. Step into the past with model railroad engines and a visit to the log cabin, adjacent to the museum at 109 US Hwy 385. Open Sundays beginning in May, 1-4 p.m. Also open Memorial Day and Labor Day or by appointment. For information, call 308-377-2652.
cated three miles west of Crawford on Highway 20. Situated near Crawford, Fort Robinson was once the home of cavalry soldiers and, later, German prisoners of war. It has since transformed into a popular stop for in- and out-ofstate outdoor enthusiasts. The park occupies some 22,000 acres, which are textured with buttes, forested hills and grassy pastures. Longhorn cattle, antelope and buffalo graze and bighorn sheep may be spotted along the park’s Legend Buttes. Deer and elk also wander through on occasion. Anglers may try their luck in the fort’s ponds and streams, and excursions for horseback riders are offered daily during the summer season, as well as stagecoach and jeep tours. Facilities are on-site for tent and recreational vehicle camping. Rooms fashioned out of reconditioned barracks are available for overnight stays. Most of them have kitchen facilities. Fort Robinson boasts a rich military history and history buffs can explore the Nebraska Historical Society’s Fort Robinson Museum. Located in the park, the museum documents the years of the fort’s activity. Also, those interested in the area’s paleontology and geological history will find a wealth of information at the University of Nebraska’s Trailside Museum. On summer evenings, the sounds of live theater entertainment pour from the Post Playhouse, a building that once served as the fort’s old quartermaster warehouse. The playhouse’s roots stem from a summer theater production at Chadron State College in 1964. In 1992, the theater underwent a $240,000 renovation project, including an exterior makeover, installation of 180 new seats and air-conditioning. The building offers full handicapped accessibility. Fort Robinson State Park offers activities ranging from jeep, stagecoach and trail rides and tours to trout fishing, swimming, hiking crafts and cookouts.
DAWES COUNTY For more on tourism in Dawes County, visit Discover Northwest Nebraska, discovernwnebraska.com.
FORT ROBINSON MUSEUM & STATE PARK
A former military post now serves as the largest Nebraska state park, lo-
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Trail rides are available, as well as activities at the trading post such as tomahawk throwing, archery and ceramics. Snacks, food items, and drinks are also available. Park permits are required for vehicles to enter the park. Information: 308-432-6167 or ngpc.chadron@nebraska.gov.
MUSEUM OF THE FUR TRADE
CHADRON STATE PARK Grounds are open year-round for day use for hiking and camping, mountain biking and hunting seasons. The cabins, lodge, modern facilities, big-game firearm and wild turkey season cabins are open April 1 through mid-November. During winter hours, park office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Hours switch to 24 hours a day between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Visitor activities run Memorial Day through Labor Day with a limited schedule in the fall. Park entry permit required. Camping fee charged. Handicapped accessible. Information: 308-665-2900. For more details, visit http://outdoornebraska.gov/fortrobinson/, call 308665-2900 or email Fort.Robinson@nebraska.gov.
A cornerstone of the North American Fur Trade heritage lies three miles east of Chadron on Highway 20. Explore the history of North America’s first business, the fur trade. On display is an entire range of goods traded to the Indians, such as textiles, costumes, beads, paints, kettles, knives and silver. The museum also boasts the largest and most complete collection of Northwest guns made for the Indian trade from 1670 to 1900. The Bordeaux Trading Post, located on the museum grounds, was built in 1837 by the American Fur Company and operated until 1876. The Indian heirloom garden features varieties of corn, squash and beans used by the Northern Plains Indians. The museum is open May 1 through Oct. 31, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and by appointment during the off-season. Admission is $5 for adults, and children under the age of 18 are free when accompanied by an adult. Handicapped accessible. Information: 308-432-3843 or visit www.furtrade.org.
MARI SANDOZ HIGH PLAINS HERITAGE CENTER
CHADRON — The Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center at Chadron State College celebrates the works of the noted prairie author. Nebraska’s Storyteller of the Plains, Mari Sandoz, not only wrote about
CHADRON STATE PARK
Nebraska’s first state park, Chadron State Park sits eight miles south of Chadron, nestled in the heart of Nebraska’s Pine Ridge. Its grounds feature rugged, ponderosa pine-clad hills and open meadows, with Chadron Creek weaving its way through the park. The park pond has been renovated and is stocked with rainbow and tiger trout. Paddle boating is available on the pond. A modern, heated pool continues to be a source of recreation for visitors seeking to escape northwest Nebraska’s summer heat. Spring turkey hunting and fall deer hunting open and close the park’s busy season, however, visitors are welcome throughout the year. Hunting is not permitted within the park, but is allowed in the surrounding national forestland and nearby Chadron Creek Wildlife Management Area. The park maintains sixteen rustic cabins from mid-April through midNovember. There are also six duplex cabins available year around for those who prefer a more comfortable setting. Campers will also find wellgroomed primitive tent camping and electrical RV sites for an evening’s rest. The park’s trail system accommodates a variety of hiking and biking options and the open picnic grounds are equally conducive to recreational activities and restful idling. The park also provides an 18-hole disc golf course that ranks one of the nicest in the state.
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HUDSON-MENG BISON KILL ENCLOSURE the challenges of life on the prairie, she lived it. Sandoz was born on Mirage Flats, south of Hay Springs on May 11, 1896, to Swiss immigrant parents. After years of struggle and rejection that left her destitute to the point of malnutrition, Sandoz finally published her first book, “Old Jules,” a biography of her father. In addition to “Old Jules,” Sandoz is best known for her books “Cheyenne Autumn” and “Crazy Horse.” In all, she authored 23 books. The center also preserves the history of the cattle ranching industry of the High Plains through the C.F. Coffee Gallery. Named for the longtime ranching family, the Coffee Gallery explores the development and evolution of the ranching industry in northwest Nebraska. The college’s former library building, built in 1929, serves as a museum and research center. Museum hours are Mon. through Fri., 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Information: 308-432-6401 or at http://www.sandozcenter.com.
HUDSON-MENG BISON KILL ENCLOSURE
More than 600 bison skeletons lie in heaps at the Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Enclosure and is the largest bison kill site connected to early Native American peoples. This “bonebed” contains fossil remains of up to 600 bison, generally believed to have been killed and butchered between 10,200 and 11,200 years ago. A visit to Hudson-Meng Education & Research Center is a visit to a modern archaeological excavation in progress. Interpretive exhibits and guided tours help you to understand the important discovery. Turn off Nebraska Highways 2 and 71 approximately 4 miles north of Crawford and head west on Toadstool Road, following signs along 15 miles of gravel
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fees and park permits are $5 one-time or $26 annually. Information: 308665-2929.
WARBONNET BATTLEFIELD
Five miles north on Nebraska Highways 2 and 71, two miles west on gravel, turn right, proceed one mile past the Toadstool Park turnoff, turn left on Orella Road, cross tracks and follow main gravel west to Church of Montrose. North of the church is a high conical hill, where an encounter took place between the 5th U.S. Cavalry and a group of Native Americans in 1876. Southeast of the hill, a monument memorializes the slaying of Cheyenne warrior, Yellow Hair, who was killed there by Buffalo Bill Cody.
TOADSTOOL PARK
TOADSTOOL PARK
The moon-like landscape of the Badlands makes for a scenic and unusual setting for a picnic. Four miles north of Crawford on Nebraska Highways 2 and 71, turn west onto Toadstool Road (gravel road), following the signs to Toadstool Park. A self-guided trail brochure helps visitors explore the area’s fascinating geology. Open year-round. Admission is $3 per day. Handicapped accessible camping facilities are onsite. Camping fees are $5 per night, which includes a one-day admission fee. Information: 308-4320300.
road to the enclosure. Guided interpretive tours are available. The enclosure is open daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children, and free for ages four and under. Senior and group rates are available. Information: 308-665-3900, forest supervisor’s office at 308-432-0300 or email nnf@fs.fed.us.
SOLDIER CREEK WILDERNESS
Near Fort Robinson, this federal wilderness encompasses 7,794 acres and offers 16 miles of trails for non-mechanized use only. The area now provides habitat for elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, turkeys, coyotes, bobcats, eagles, hawks, the threatened bald eagle and numerous other wildlife. Open yearround. Deer and turkey hunting is also available. Camping fee at Soldier Creek Trailhead is $8. Additional camping areas, Roberts Trailhead and Red Cloud, offer camping for $8 and $5, respectively. Camping fees are in effect from mid-May through mid-November. Restroom facilities are handicap accessible. Information: Pine Ridge Ranger District Office, 308-432-0300 or email nnf@ fs.fed.us.
TRAILSIDE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
This museum tucked away in the historic Fort Robinson State Park is three miles west of Crawford, on Highway 20 and about two hours from Interstate 80. The main f loor of the museum where the exhibits, rock shop and restrooms are located is wheelchair accessible. However, the gift shop, located on a lower level, is not. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The museum is also open April and May, Thurs. through Sun, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sept. through Oct. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fees are $3 for adults, $1 for youth ages 5 to 18 and free for children under 4 years of age. Families of two adults and children are $6. Program
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ASH HOLLOW STATE HISTORICAL PARK
DEUEL COUNTY BIG SPRINGS Located along the Oregon-California Trail, the town is named after the pure spring water that poured out of a hillside. The original spring still flows down above a park with a swimming pool, playground, historical museum and a veterans memorial across the street from the park. Kingsley Dam and Lake McConaughy are approximately 20 miles northeast of the community.
THE PHELPS HOTEL
Built in 1885, the Phelps Hotel, at 401 Pine St., is viewed as the most important 19th century landmark in Deuel County. The historic Phelps Hotel has been restored. The building is a large two-story frame structure with a hip roof. Phelps Hotel is also enrolled on the National Register of Historic Places. To tour the hotel, 308-889-3246. For more information on Big Springs, contact the village clerk at 308-289-5534 or visit http://www.ci.big-springs.ne.us.
CHAPPELL
The town has a Pony Express marker, Chappell Lake, municipal golf course, city swimming pool, a Legion Baseball park and a library that includes an art display. The city’s museum, located at the corner of Third Street and Babcock, includes paintings by well-known artists and a rock collection donated by a local collector. The Sudman-Neumann Heritage House, located at Fifth and Vincent, is an example of 1911 architecture, built and inhabited by members of one family. Information: City of Chappell, 308-874-2401 or visit the Chamber of Commerce website, http://chappellchamber.com/.
Sweet spring water made this park near Lewellen a major stopover on the Overland Trail. Southeast on U.S. 26, the ruts etched by westbound wagons are visible on the bluffs at Windlass Hill. A visitor center helps interpret the area’s history, archaeology and paleontology. The park has four hiking trails. One hiking trail takes travelers from the visitor center to the spring at the bottom of the canyon. Grounds are open 8 a.m. to sunset year-round. The visitor center is open Tues. through Sun. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May 24 to Sept. 5. Admission is $2 per adult and $1 for children under 13. There is no admission for children under 3. Park entry permits are required. Facilities are handicap accessible. Information: 308-778-5651.
GARDEN COUNTY CRESCENT LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
OSHKOSH — This little-known refuge, located 28 miles north between U.S. 26 and Nebraska 2 in the Nebraska Panhandle, consists of 45,818 acres of rolling Sandhills, the largest continuous sand dune area in America. The grasscovered dunes were created from the wind-blown sands of an ancient sea. The 21 lakes and numerous ponds are supported by an aquifer lying below the hills.
GARDEN COUNTY MUSEUMS
OSHKOSH — The Rock School Museum, an early 1900s schoolhouse, and the Silver Hill Theater Museum, an old 1906 opera house/theater, are filled with historic artifacts. The Rock School Museum contains a large collection of arrowheads, pioneer memorabilia, fossils, farm machinery and local history. Silver Hill Movie Theater museum includes local celebrity Miles Maryott’s collection of local birds, period tableaux, and the original theater movie projector. Both museums are operated by the Garden County Historical Society. Summer hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m or by appointment. Admission is
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free. Information: 308-772-384 or 308-772-4643.
The Most Unlikely Place
Lewellen — The Most Unlikely Place in an extraordinary attraction in the village of Lewellen. The former silent movie theater serves as an art gallery, coffee shop, restaurant, music venue, gift shop and gathering place. Its hostess and manager, Cynthia, can be seen on roller skates. Look for the art-deco murals on Highway 26 and turn onto Main Street to find The Most Unlikely Place, which opened March 17 for its summer season. More than 40 art murals in three towns (Lewellen, Oshkosh and Lisco) form an art scavenger hunt for visitors. The communities are small; you’ll find them all. For more information, contact The Most Unlikely Place, 308-778-9557, or visit its website, http://www.themostunlikelyplace.com.
GOSHEN COUNTY For more about tourism opportunities in Goshen County, visit www. gogoshen.net.
FORT LARAMIE NATIONAL HISTORICAL SITE
Located 3 miles southwest of the town of Fort Laramie, Wyoming, off U.S. Route 26. The fort grounds are open from dawn to dusk every day of the year. The joint Junior Ranger program with Guernsey State Park, about 13 miles west on U.S. Highway 26, is a new addition to the park. A completed scavenger hunt, directed by the special Junior Ranger booklet at either site, earns a badge. If completed at both sites, a special coin, depicting Old Bedlam at Fort Laramie, and the museum at Guernsey State Park, is the prize. Admission is free. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the fort museum and visitor center are open at 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and during the winter months from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Handicap accessible. Information: 307-837-2221.
HOMESTEADERS MUSEUM
TORRINGTON, Wyoming — The museum, located at the old Union Pacific Depot, displays homesteading in Goshen County, including the Trout Homestead Shack, the Yoder House, Midway School and the Memorial Transportation Building housing the first car in Goshen County, and a stage coach. The museum was founded as a bicentennial project. Located at 495 Main St., spring hours are Mon. through Fri. from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; summer hours are from Memorial Day to Labor Day Mon., Tues. and Weds. from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thurs. and Fri. from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free and donations are accepted. Information: 307-532-5612 or email Sarah Chaires, museum director, or schaires@torringtonwy.gov. The museum is also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HomesteadersMuseum/.
HAWK SPRINGS RECREATION
Located off Highway 85 in Goshen County, Hawk Springs offers boating, waterskiing, picnicking and camping. The reservoir has a blue heron rookery and visitors might see a Canadian goose, mallard, blue-winged and green-winged teal, gadwall, pintail, wood duck, avocet and the great horned owl. Fishing is offered at the site, and game fish include walleye, large mouth bass, yellow perch and channel catfish. Ice fishing is a winter activity. The reservoir has 24 camping units for trailers or tents, comfort stations and a boat ramp. The reservoir is open daily and entrance for residents is $4 and for non-residents, $6. Non-residents pay $17 for camping and residents pay $10.
THE WESTERN HISTORY CENTER
LINGLE, Wyoming — In this log building, visitors will find archaeological items ranging from mammoth tusks and prehistoric tools to rotating displays of geological and historic collections. In addition, there is a hands-on “dig” for children of all ages and a bookstore. Located 5 miles west of Lingle, Wyoming, and 5 miles east of Fort Laramie, Wyoming, a mammoth cutout points visitors to the museum grounds from the road. Summer hours between June 1 and Aug. 31, are Tues. through Sat., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For special tours and extended hours, call 307-837-3052. Handicap accessible.
KIMBALL COUNTY For more on tourism in Kimball County, visit kimball.com.
GOTTE PARK
KIMBALL — Located on East Highway 30, the park offers a horseshoe ring, tennis and basketball courts, shelters and swimming pool. Information: 308235-3639.
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Shop Downtown Gering
5,424 ft. See the Three-State Marker (Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado). Panorama Point certificates are available at Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce downtown Kimball, or the High Point Welcome Center, located at Exit 20 off Interstate 80. For information, call 308-241-0573.
MORRILL COUNTY CHIMNEY ROCK NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE AND VISITORS CENTER
Near Bayard, about 1 mile south of Highway 92 and County Road 75, “towering to the heavens” is how one pioneer described Chimney Rock, the most recognized landmark along the Oregon Trail. Today, an interpretive center operated by the Nebraska State Historical Society pays tribute to those who
CHIMNEY ROCK OLIVER RESERVOIR RECREATION AREA Eight miles west of Kimball on U.S. 30. Open year-round, 24 hours a day for camping and fishing. Excellent facilities for boating, water-skiing, fishing, swimming, ice fishing, camping, and ice-skating. Sandy beaches. No entry permit required. No camping fees. Registration is required for a camping space. Donations are accepted too. Information from the South Platte Natural Resources District: 308-254-2377.
PANORAMA POINT AND THREE-STATE MARKER
Located 33 miles southwest of Kimball, visit Nebraska’s highest point at
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Serving Coffee, Drinks, Breakfast and Lunch! Delivery Available Mon-Fri 8-11am Mon-Thur - 6:30am-2:30 Fri - 6:30am-5pm Sat - 8am-12pm Sun - 9am-1pm
BRIDGEPORT STATE RECREATION AREA
house and Jail Rocks. Bridgeport State Recreation Area is open year-round. Anglers will find a lot of variety, including rainbow trout. Boating is also popular, though smaller lakes are limited to non-powered vessels or conventional electric outboard motors. The area offers 125 picnic tables, 100 grills and a picnic shelter. Trailer dump stations are open April 30 through Oct. 1. Park entry permit required. Primitive camping is available. Information is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by calling the Wildcat Hills Nature Center at 308-436-
COURTHOUSE AND JAIL ROCKS traveled the trails and features original maps made from Captain John C. Fremont’s 1842-43 exploration of the Oregon Trail. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitor center is open on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Admission is $3 for adults; children 18 and under are free. Handicapped accessible. Information: 308-586-2581 or email loren.pospisil@nebraska.gov. Visit online: history.nebraska.gov.
BAYARD DEPOT MUSEUM
The museum is located at the south end of Main Street in Bayard (Hwy 26). The museum strives to preserve the history of Bayard, including displays regarding the Sugar Factory and its history, the history and pictures of the Pageant “Gift of God” presented at Chimney Rock in the ‘30s and ‘40s which drew thousands of people from across the United States. The museum also has a school room containing class pictures, annuals, books, uniforms from the school and a display of military uniforms from Bayard veterans. The museum is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, Mon.-Sat., 12:30 to 4 p.m. and Sun., 12:30 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Information: 308-586-1711, http:// bayardmuseum.tripod.com/home or on Facebook, https://www.facebook. com/BayardDepotMuseum/.
BRIDGEPORT STATE RECREATION AREA
BRIDGEPORT — West of Bridgeport off Nebraska Highways 26 and Highway 92, Sandpit lakes provide recreation within a few minutes of Chimney, Court-
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3777. Information: http://outdoornebraska.gov/bridgeport/ or email Wildcat. Hills@nebraska.gov.
PIONEER TRAILS MUSEUM
BRIDGEPORT — North end of Main Street. Displays and demonstrations regarding irrigation, black powder shoots and American Indian history. Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon. through Sat., and from 1 to 6 p.m. Sun. Free admission. Information: 308-262-0123.
COURTHOUSE AND JAIL ROCKS
Near Bridgeport, about 6 miles south on Nebraska 88, these unusual rock formations were two of the first “road signs” met by westward travelers. Open year-round during daylight hours. Admission is free.
SCOTTS BLUFF COUNTY
GERING CIVIC CENTER
Gering’s 26,250 square foot, multi-function banquet facility seats up to 1,150 people and hosts conventions, wedding receptions, meetings and all special occasions. Located on the Old Oregon Trail, the center is right in the heart of downtown Gering and the site of many community events. At the Gering Civic Center, its professional staff is proud of its commitment to ensuring that every event goes off exactly as planned. The team of professionals work tirelessly to ensure that everything is in order — the food will surpass your expectations, the AV will be set-up and everything will run on schedule. Staff have decades of experience meeting and surpassing planners’ expectations for events large and small. Whether organizing a convention, business meeting, family reunion, wedding reception, sports banquet or any event, the Gering Civic Center is ready to create the experience tailored specifically for your group and committed to being the best hosts they can be. For information about the Gering Civic Center, call 308-436-6888, visit www.geringcivicenter.com or email judyk@geringciviccenter.com.
LEGACY OF THE PLAINS MUSEUM
Located on the historic Oregon Trail, Legacy of the Plains Museum is a destination for people interested in stories of human and agricultural history in the North Platte Valley and High Plains. New state-of the-art, interactive exhibits focus on the archeology of Native Americans and Westward Expansion, the lives of pioneering settlers, the establishment of irrigation, the development of rural communities, the diversity of cultures on the High Plains, and the innovative technologies and cultural practices of raising animals and crops in a
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semi-arid environment. Legacy of the Plains is located on a 100-acre campus with 80 acres of working farmland. The museum is located in the shadow of Scotts Bluff National Monument at 2930 Old Oregon Trail just west of Gering. Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. through Sat. and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sun., April through Oct. 31. Winter hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues. through Sat., January through April 30. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 6 to 18, $5 for college students with valid ID and children under age 5 are free. Group rates available. For more information: 308-436–1989, website at www. legacyoftheplains.org, Facebook: www.facebook.com/LegacyOfThePlains/ or on Instagram, @legacyoftheplains.
LAKE MINATARE STATE RECREATION AREA
The Lake Minatare State Recreation Area is an ideal camping, picnicking, fishing, wildlife watching, hiking and water sports area awaits only 12 miles from Scottsbluff/Gering. The lake area is open and annual and day permits are available. Both can be purchased at the park headquarters. The lake provides opportunities to view waterfowl and wildlife, as well as hiking, fishing, boating and photography. The park has campsites with electrical outlets. There are also about 150 to 180 primitive campsites throughout the 2,158-acre park. Lake Minatare also features one of only seven inland lighthouses in the United States. The lighthouse was built during the Depression to be “a point of light and hope” for Panhandle residents. The lake is part of the North Platte Wildlife Refuge, and is closed to the public Oct. 15 through Jan. 15 each year to provide undis-
LAKE MINATARE LIGHTHOUSE turbed habitat for waterfowl during the migration period. As temperatures
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rise and ice gives way to open water, the four refuge units — Lake Minatare, Winters Creek Lake, Lake Alice and Stateline Island — are ideal resting spots for waterfowl. The refuge is also important as a nesting location for bald eagles. The stone lighthouse and swimming beach are open from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 7 days/week. Information: 308-783-2911 or email ngpc.lake.minatare@ nebraska.gov.
FIVE ROCKS AMPHITHEATER
Five Rocks Amphitheater is an outdoor entertainment venue located a quarter-mile south of the junction of Five Rocks Road and M Street in Gering. Each year, the amphitheater is host to a variety of concerts and entertainers. The Five Rocks Amphitheater venue is host to many annual community events and private-party activities. Check out the public events schedule at www.gering. org. Summer schedules and information are also available at the City of Gering office at 1025 P St. Tickets and information: 308-436-5096.
MIDWEST THEATER
The Historic Midwest Theater in Scottsbluff is the last of three “grand theaters,” which were built in the Scottsbluff/Gering area. Seating 700 people, the theater opened on May 3, 1946, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. A nonprofit group, Friends of the Midwest Theater, was established in 1998 to renovate and keep the theater active for the community. The group regularly coordinates mainstream and specialty films, visual and performing arts, and school and community educational programming. The theater can also be reserved for special events. The theater is designed in the art modern style of architecture and exhibits an exceptionally high degree of architectural and artistic integrity, both on its interior and exterior. The theater’s most striking feature, as described in a 1946 newspaper article, “is the marquee with a stainless steel and aluminum tower extending 60’ above the entrance.” The lighted tower was designed to be seen at night for a radius of 20 miles. The “modern” interior decor and the dominant marquee and tower add to the architectural excitement of the streetscape of Scottsbluff’s downtown business district. For more information, call 308-632-4311 or visit www.midwesttheater.com.
RIVERSIDE DISCOVERY CENTER: ZOO & SPLASHPAD
Great family fun and entertainment await at the Riverside Discovery Center. Located at 1600 S. Beltline Highway West in Scottsbluff, the zoo exhibits approximately 180 animals, including reptiles, birds, invertebrates and mammals, and 16 different endangered species in this AZA accredited facility. New animals coming this year include: Grizzly bears, more Bison, Red Ruffed Lemurs and more. Also new this summer, the Rowdy Reptile Show. An interactive reptile themed show on weekends and Wednesdays. Guests can also enjoy feeding waterfowl on the zoo’s lake and farm animals in the petting zoo. The “Children’s Museum Without Walls” features a playground, interactive water table, splash pad and Dino Dig where children can excavate a T-Rex skull, a 7-foot brachiosaurus leg bone, egg clutches and lots of other fossils. Summer hours April through October are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Admission rates apply. Discounts available for groups of 20 or more and for military individuals. The facility is handicapped accessible. For information, call 308-630-6236, visit www.riversidediscoverycenter.org or e-mail info@riversidediscoverycenter.org. Check its Facebook page, www.
facebook.com/riversidediscoverycenter, for the latest activities which occur year round.
SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT
From 1841 to 1869, more than 250,000 pioneers traveled one of three trails that included Oregon, Mormon and California through the Mitchell Pass as a final gateway to the Rocky Mountains. The Pony Express Trail also traipsed through the area. Today, Scotts Bluff National Monument looms above the historic Mitchell Pass and North Platte River Valley three miles west of Gering. The monument’s Visitor Center will be closed from the summer of 2018 to the summer of 2019 for expansion and installation of new exhibits. A temporary Visitor Center will be open during operating hours. Visitors can view a 15-minute orientation video. Living History at the wagons and 20-minute Trail Talks at 10 a.m. will be regularly offered. Monument hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily but will have extended hours Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is open on all holidays except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Summit Road closes at 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per car, $3 for motorcycles and $3 for walkers. People ages 62 and over are free with an Interagency Senior Pass. The annual pass is $15 and is valid for one year from the date of purchase. Handicapped accessible. Information: 308-436-9700, email scbl_ranger_activities@nps.gov, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scottsbluffnps or on Twitter@scottsbluffnps.
THEATER WEST
Theatre West Summer Repertory is a semi-professional summer theater company operating in Scottsbluff in June & July. TWSR is housed at Western Nebraska Community College and shares a partnership with the college for the benefit of the greater community. The 2018 season presents a change of venues as WNCC is undergoing renovations to the theater. The company will present two mainstage musicals, “Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’” and “Footloose,” and a children’s musical, “Annie Kids.” These productions will be presented at the Scottsbluff High School Auditorium. In addition, the season will present a children’s library tour musical production “Adventures in Storyland” to be performed in Panhandle libraries and a series of 4 musical cabarets will be held at 16th Empire in Scottsbluff. Theatre West offers professional directors, designers and actors from across the United States, collegiate theater majors, as well as talented musicians, actors and singers from the community, an opportunity for experience training and performance while presenting live theater productions for audience members.
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sual art workshops to youth ages 10-15 each June and much more. Visit the gallery Tues. through Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends 1 to 5 p.m., closed Mon. For more information, call 308-632-2226 or visit www.thewnac.com or on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/wnac.1.
WILDCAT HILLS NATURE CENTER & WILDCAT HILLS SHOOTING SPORTS COMPLEX
WILDCAT HILL NATURE CENTER WNCC and high school internship programs are offered for students interested in theater. The TOFY Camp invites youth, ages 6-14, to participate in a two-week theater camp and produces a musical involving all camp attendees. Performance tickets may be purchased online at www.theatrewestnebraska. com or by calling 308-635-6193. The Box Office is located in the John Harms Center at 2620 College Park Drive. Dates of operation are June 3 - July 29 and maintains hours from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekdays. Performance night Box Office location will be a the Scottsbluff High School and opens one hour prior to curtain time. Choice reserved seating is available. The theater is handicapped accessible. For information concerning Theatre West, the internship program or the TOFY Camp, call 308-635-6794.
WEST NEBRASKA ARTS CENTER
Established in 1967, the West Nebraska Arts Center provides artists a lively public venue to share their talents with the community. The arts center’s eclectic programming leads adults and youth to a better understanding and appreciation of the arts. The gallery, at 106 E. 18th St., features local, national, and international artists and represents a wide variety of visual art forms with a new exhibit each month. Original artwork and a variety of unique gift items are available for sale. The gallery provides annual opportunities for local artists with the Visionaries Student Art Exhibit, the North Platte Valley Artist Guild Show, the IMAGE Photography Exhibit, the WNAC President’s Show, and the Juried Art Exhibit. Educational exhibits have featured original artwork by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Rembrandt van Rijn, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Andy Warhol. Gallery exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public. Arts professionals offer a variety of studio art classes and workshops to adults and youth throughout the year. Students grades 1-6 get inspired during after-school art classes each Tues. afternoon during the school year. WNAC’s summer Art Camp offers vi-
Overlooking the North Platte Valley, the Wildcat Hills Nature Center offers tourists the chance to learn about the ecology and history of the area, while providing a scenic view of the surrounding hills. Upon entering the building, visitors find a 27-foot artificial ponderosa pine tree that spans two floors inside the split-level building. The Nature Center has three levels of observation decks. Along with the chance to learn about nature and history in an intriguing environment, the nature center also provides its visitors with a wide variety of programs. The center offers educational activities for students from kindergarten through sixth grades, including children’s day camps and Wildcat Weekends, which take place one Saturday a month in the summer. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day weekend. Winter hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Opportunities for hiking, biking, picknicking and birdwatching and watching wildlife can be enjoyed in the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area. The Wildcat Hills Shooting Sports Complex is a family-friendly shooting sports education center with a focus on safety, education and fun. The center features archery, small bore, pellet, shotgun and rifle ranges. Educational programming, quality instruction and equipment rental is available. Twelve grassy sites for primitive campers are available on a first-come basis. Visit http://outdoornebraska.gov/wildcathills/ for more information or call 308-436-3777.
ROBIDOUX PASS & HISTORIC TRADING POST
At the junctions of Five Rocks Road and M Street, go 1 mile south on Five Rocks Road, then turn west and go 8 miles. Western traffic flowed through this pass from 1843 to 1851. Left of the road is a monument for the blacksmith shop; to the right are pioneer graves. Reconstructed trading post in Carter Canyon, south of Gering; turn right at Cedar Canyon Road. Grounds open yearround. Groups by appointment. Free. Information: 308-436-6886.
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REBECCA WINTERS’ GRAVE About 2 miles east of Scottsbluff at the junction of U.S. Highway 26 and S. Beltline Highway, travelers will find the grave of Rebecca Winters. Born in New York State in 1802, Winters was a pioneer in the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. In June 1852, Rebecca, with her husband Hiram, joined others of their faith, in the great journey to Utah. Along the way, she contracted cholera and died. A friend chiseled her name and the year on an iron wagon tire to mark her grave on the prairies. In 1899, surveyors for the Burlington Railroad found the crude marker and changed the right-of-way for the railroad. The site was one of the more famous historical locations along the Mormon Trail. With heavy coal train traffic along the railroad, it became necessary to relocate the grave of Rebecca Winters on Sept. 5, 1995, to the area of the current historical marker. The site is handicap accessible.
SHERIDAN COUNTY SCAMAHORN MUSEUM Gordon — West Fifth Street in Wayland Park. The history of the Gordon area is in this 1884 church. Open Mon., Weds. and Fri. from 1 to 4 p.m.; Tues. and Thurs. from 7 to 9 p.m., or by appointment. Admission is free.
BOWRING RANCH
Located 30 miles east of Gordon, just north of Merriman, this historical museum is a working ranch that tells the story of Arthur and Eva Bowring, who both served in the U.S. House of Representatives. The ranch features a visitor’s center of artifacts and memorabilia of early day ranching and the Bowrings’ political careers and a replica of a sod house from the 1800s. The ranch also offers tours of the original Bowring home, which is filled with antique china and glassware. Tours begin in May and close Sept. 1. Information: 308-6843428.
TRI-STATE OLD TIME COWBOYS MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Located in the city park one block west of Main Street between Third and Fourth streets, this log building contains cowboy artifacts such as saddles, hats and boots, plus a chuckwagon with more than 200 cattle brands. Open Memorial Day through mid-Sept, 1-5 p.m.; or by appointment. Free admission. Handicapped accessible. Group tours available. Information: 308-282-1115.
centers offer the history of the Hay Springs area. The centers are open by appointment. Free admission. Information: 308-638-7643.
SHERIDAN COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Just off Highway 20 in Rushville. The complete story of Camp Sheridan and the Spotted Tail Agency can be found here, along with numerous exhibits showing life on the frontier. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, Mon. through Fri. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment. Admission is free. Handicapped accessible. Information: 308-360-0999.
SIOUX COUNTY WALGREN LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA
Located 2 miles east, 3 miles south of Highway 20, legend has it that a Loch Ness-style creature inhabits this unusually tranquil Sandhills lake, with its enticing camping, fishing, hiking and picnic facilities. Open year-round, reservations are not required. Handicapped accessible, park entry permit required. Information: 308-432-6167.
AGATE FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT
Harrison — Set in a high plains ecosystem along the Niobrara River and the upper Niobrara River wetlands, Agate Fossil Beds is a 3,055-acre national park located near Harrison. The fossil beds were once part of “Captain” James H. Cook’s Agate Springs Ranch, where mammal fossils dating back some 20 million years to the Miocene epoch were found in a bone bed. The ranch was also known as a gathering place for Oglala Lakota Sioux and Chief Red Cloud. The visitor center features a collection of American Indian artifacts reflective of the time period between the 1880s and the early 1900s, paleontology • Excavating • Demolition • Grading • Trenching • Hauling • Dozing • Basements • Tile Lines
• Site Work • Septic Systems • General Const. • Carpentry • Concrete Work • Free Estimates • By Job or Hour
HERITAGE CENTER I and II
Hay Springs — The first center is at Second and Main streets in an old hardware store, the second center is on North Baker Street in an 1884 church. The
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AGATE FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT exhibits and a 12-minute movie, “The Fossil Hills,” available with closed captions. Two hiking trails, the Fossil Hills Trail and the Daemonelix Trail, visit the historic dig sites and Daemonelix burrows. The visitor center and museum winter hours are daily, Labor Day through Memorial Day, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and summer hours are daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The trails are open year-round from dawn until dusk. Admission is free.
post office and country store, telephone office and home, as well as the main museum, tell the story of the settling of Sioux County and on into the 20th century. Open May 31 through Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon. through Sat., and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sun. Admission is free and group tours are available. Information: 308-668-2110.
OGLALA NATIONAL GRASSLAND
Fifteen miles north of Harrison, the Oglala National Grassland begins 5 miles northwest of Crawford and ends up in the corner of Nebraska, where Nebraska meets Wyoming and South Dakota. The grasslands cover almost 95,000 acres of prairie grasses providing hunting in season, hiking and nature study in the high country of western Nebraska. Tourists are encouraged to be aware that some of the land is privately owned among the grassland and may not be appropriate for recreation. Information: 308-432-0300.
SIOUX COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
HARRISON — Located on the east side of South Main St. A schoolhouse,
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS April 28-May 1 Fort Laramie — Honoring the Spirit on the Northern Great Plains, commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the signing of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Information: www.nps.gov/ fola or https://rosebudsiouxtribe.wixsite.com/fortlaramie. May 1 Terrytown — Family Fishing Day, 4 to 6 p.m., Terry’s Pit. Information: OutdoorNebraska.org/FamilyFishing or Facebook.com/FamilyFishingNebraska. May 6-12 Scotts Bluff County — National Tourism Week 2018, a week-long celebration commemorating the importance of tourism to the local economies 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, Gering and Scotts Bluff County attractions and venues. Information: Gering Visitors Bureau at 800-2450717. May 10 Gering — Gering Civic Center celebrates 25 Years of Service Business After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m. 1050 M St., Gering, NE For more information, call Gering Visitors Bureau at 800-2450717. May 12 Gering — 10th Annual Summit to Summit Run-Walk Shuttle 7.2 miles, family fun walk-run event 6:30 a.m., Registration Start/Finish at Summit Christian College – 2025 21st St. For more information, visit www.summittosummit.org. May 13 Scottsbluff — Family Fishing Day, 4 to 6 p.m., Riverside Zoo Pond. Information: OutdoorNebraska.org/FamilyFishing or Facebook.com/FamilyFishingNebraska. May 12, 19, & 25 Gering — Stock Car Racing at HiWay 92 Raceway Park Enjoy the sights, sounds and thrills of weekly racing at one of two asphalt tracks in Nebraska 5 p.m. race start. 4 miles east of Gering on Highway 92 For more information, visit www.hiway92.com. May 19 Gering — Robidoux Quick and Dirty Gravel Bike Race
ROBIDOUX QUICK AND DIRTY
West Nebraska Bicycle Club 75-mile gravel race Race start-finish, meet & greet, entertainment at Five Rocks Amphitheater – 200701 County Road P. For more information, visit www.robidouxquickdirty.wixsite.com. Gering — Wildlands Day-Free Park Entry Day at Wildcat Hills Nature Center Take part in several activities throughout this day long celebration; bird hike, wildflower walk, kid’s crafts and more. Park permits
Travel back in time as you roam through frontier life at Dawes County Museum. Explore the new collection of farm implements produced by Dawes County farmer, Marcus Cain. From a grain drill to crawler tractor, see the equipment that helped tame the frontier!
308-432-4999
341 Country Club Road Chadron, NE
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or email info@campclarkeraiders.com. May 26 Gering — Wildflower Walk, 3 p.m., with Professor Steven Rolfsmeier, Scotts Bluff National Monument. May 28 Fort Laramie — National Moment of Remembrance, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Opening weekend of the summer season and its Park Living History and Interpretive Program. Information: www.nps.gov/ fola. June - September Scottsbluff — Weekly 18th Street Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. , downtown Scottsbluff between Broadway and First Avenue. Information: www.facebook.com/ScottsbluffFarmersMarket. June Chappell — Chappell Flag Days Car show, kids’ fishing derby, city-wide garage sales. Information: 308-974-9912.
CELTIC FESTIVAL
June 1 Crawford — Fort Robinson Playhouse, opening The Little Mermaid. Tickets: http://postplayhouse.com/productions/2018.
are not required for this event. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wildcat Hills Nature Center – 210615 Highway 71 For more information, visit www.ngpc.wildcat.hills@nebraska. gov. Statewide — Free Park/Fishing Day at all State Parks
June 2 Mitchell — City-wide Garage Sale, TBA. Information: www.mitchellareachamber.org or 308-623-2766. Harrisburg — Banner County Museum Open House/Historical Day. Information, Kurt Baker, 308-230-0279, or Sharon Sandberg 308-436-3207.
May 25-27 Gering — Second Annual Scotts Bluff Celtic Gathering Foods, music, activities and events of the Welsh, Scottish and Irish cultures 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday/Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Five Rocks Amphitheater – 200701 County Road P – Gering For more information, visit www.scottsbluffcelticgathering.com.
June 1-3 Scottsbluff- Gering — 30th Annual Sugar Valley Rally Not a speed race; precision timed event on a set course with cars 50 years and older competing Start-Finish in Gering and Scottsbluff; rally school, craft show, car
May 25-28 Scottsbluff — Rock Show, Riverside Discovery Center Campground. Rocks, gems and fossils for show, swap and sale. Information: 308-436-4888. Bridgeport — Camp Clarke Spring Rendezvous, 4 miles south of Bridgeport on Highway 88 near the base of Courthouse & Jail Rock. Information: 308-279-0659, website, http://campclarkeraiders.com/
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preview and end of race lunch For more information, visit www.sugarvalleyrally.com. Alliance — Thunder on the Prairie. Classic cars cruise to 50s and 60s music. Poker Run, barbecue and dance, Central Park. Information: www.354cruisers.com, 308-762-2761. June 1-4 Bridgeport — Camp Clarke Days. Parade, 5K Run/Relay, annual Camp Clarke Play, all-school reunion. Information: www.facebook.com/campclarkedays June 2 Bridgeport — Platte Valley Bank Beef Cook-off, 3 p.m., Prairie Winds Community Center. Information: www.facebook.com/WyoBraskaBeefCookOff. June 2, 9, 16, 23 & 29 Gering — Stock Car Racing at HiWay 92 Raceway Park Enjoy the sights, sounds and thrills of weekly racing at one of two asphalt tracks in Nebraska 5 p.m. Races start 4 miles east of Gering on Highway 92 For more information, visit www.hiway92.com.
Fort Robinson — Fort Robinson Vendor Blender, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artists, crafters, vendors and businesses. Gering — The Dating Game – Old West Style, 3 p.m., with Ranger Lesley Gaunt, Scotts Bluff National Monument. June 10 Terrytown — Family fishing event at Terry’s Lake from 4-7 p.m.
June 14-17 Sidney — Nebraska Chautauqua, World War I. Presented by Humanities Nebraska, the Nebraska Chautauqua offers opportunities for audiences to come together to develop a fuller understanding of the lasting influences of the “forgotten War.” Scholars will entertain by portraying key WWI figures. Information: 402-474-2131. June 15 Crawford — Fort Robinson Post Playhouse “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” opening weekend. Tickets: http://postplayhouse.com/productions/2018/.
June 8-10 Sidney — Gold Rush Days. Quick draw competitions, chuck wagon cookout, pie-baking contest, gold panning demonstration, wagon rides and more. Information 866-545-4030. June 8 Crawford — Fort Robinson Post Playhouse, “Footloose,” opening weekend. Tickets: http://postplayhouse.com/productions/2018. Gering — Wildflower Walk at Wildcat Hills Celebrate Nebraska Wildflower week with a walk; uncover many of the area flowers in bloom and discover key characteristics for identifying. Please bring water and hiking shoes for this mile-long hike. 7 p.m., Wildcat Hills Nature Center – 210615 Highway 71 For more information, visit www.ngpc.wildcat.hills@nebraska. gov. June 9 Kimball — Kimball Ranch Rodeo Bronco riding, wild cows, branding cattle, beer garden. Information: 308-241-1760.
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CIRCLE THE BLUFFS POWWOW Discover Us • 29
266 North Wehn, Broadwater 308-489-5677 Sunday Worship ~ 9:00AM
Mass Times: Summer: Sat. 5PM ~ Sunday 8AM & 10AM Winter: Sat. 5PM ~ Sunday 8AM & 10:30AM Confessions: Saturday 3-4PM Father Michael McDonald
Minister Ann Bairn PMA
Calvary Lutheran Church 17 East 27th Street, Scottsbluff, NE (308) 632-8023
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
An Open and Affirming Congregation
2102 Avenue A, Scottsbluff, (308) 635-1023 http://fccscottsbluff.org
WORSHIP:
Children’s Church School ~ 9:30AM Sunday Worship ~ 10:30AM
Saturday ~ 5:30PM Sunday ~ 10:00AM Sunday School ~ 9:00AM
The Lord’s Supper, Communion, is celebrated in weekly worship. It is open to all who seek to follow Jesus Christ.
We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. God is calling the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to be a faithful, growing church that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice. (Micah 6:8)
www.calvarylutheranscottsbluff.org
Gering Zion Church 11th & O Street, Gering 308-436-2788 1102 12TH Avenue Scottsbluff (308) 632-2845 www.guadalupescottsbluff.com
Weekend Masses:
Saturday ~ 5:00PM Sunday ~ 8:00AM Domingo ~ 11:00AM (Español)
Call for confessions & daily Mass times. Our Lady welcomes all her children!
Senior Pastor Paul Hebbert Lead Pastor Tim Hebbert
Sunday Worship Service ~ 9:30AM
Holy Apostles Episcopal Church 1730 18th Street Mitchell 308-623-1969
www.holyapostlesmitchell.org
Sunday Worship 10:30AM Sunday School, children & adult 9:30AM
“Where Jesus is the way, the truth and the life”
“All peoples and nations are of one family, the children of one Father, and should be to one another as brothers and sisters!” - Baha’i writings
Please join us for Fellowship preceding Sunday morning Worship
For information about discussion groups, youth activities, children’s classes and devotions call (308) 632-3338, (308) 765-5477 (402) 476-5661
Federated Church 1451 Center Avenue Mitchell 308-623-1933
Pastor Bill Marietta
Adult Bible Study ~ 9:00AM Worship Service ~ 10:30AM
St. James Lutheran Church, LCMS
Proclaiming God’s Word Corner of 12th Ave. & 14th St. Scottsbluff Sunday Worship Service 308-632-8001 10:30AM Celebrating 108 Years
St. John’s Lutheran Church, LCMS 2220 Broadway Scottsbluff 308-635-1722
Worship Services: 6:30PM ~ Saturday 9:00AM ~ Sunday Sunday School for all ages following Pastor Jeffrey Grams www.ScottsbluffLutheran.org
FORT ROBINSON June 15-June 16 Gering — Father’s Day Rock-n-Roll Classic Car Show 325 Classic cars; original intent-modified-under 21-trucks-street rods showcased at show-n-shine event, Gering Civic Center and Five Rocks Amphitheater. 9 a.m. – Parade of Cars through Downtown Gering 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Car Show & Shine Five Rocks Amphitheater – 200701 County Road P. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.highplainsautoclub.com, Daryl Wills at 970-219-4087 and 308-436-7462.
Lewellen — Ash Hollow pageant. Chuckwagon supper and annual outdoor musical of Oregon Trail Life. Ash Hollow State Park. Information: 308-778-5548. June 16 Crawford — Ride the Ridge, Fort Robinson. Horseback guided trail rides. Information: 308-469-6289. June 16-17 Gering — Circle the Bluffs Pow Wow
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Traditional social-dance competition; singing w/traditional drum groups and Native American dancing 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Legacy of the Plains Museum – 2930 Old Oregon Trail For more information, visit www.circlethebluffspowwow.com. June 22-24 Broadwater — Broadwater Days. Community parade, potluck brunch, Bingo, toad races and movie in park. Information: www.facebook.com/broadwaterdays. June 23 Minatare — Tabor Days Annual community celebration. LaGrange — Mini-Fair, 7 a.m. breakfast Gering — 5K for United Way Color Dash Run/Walk Event Annual fun run-walk; pit stops along course where you’ll be colored with corn starch paint 8 a.m. Race Start Start/Finish at Five Rocks Amphitheater – 200701 County Road P For more information, visit www.unitedwayofwesternnebraska. com.
Crawford and Chadron. TBA for Old West Trail Rodeo Queen and Princess Contest and Kids Fun Day Rodeo. Information: www.owtrodeo.com or 308-665-1817. July 4 Crawford — Annual White River Trail 5K Run Information: http://crawfordnebraska.net. Fort Laramie — Annual Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.; Michael “Bad Hand” Terry, noted Native American actor, writer and historian will present his program, “The Hunter-Warrior of the Plains.” 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, 11 a.m., Thursday. Information: www.nps.gov/fola. July 5, 12, 19 & 26 Chadron — The 100 block of Bordeaux Street is the place to be on Thursday evenings when music, food, drink and vendors mix downtown. Information: 308-432-4401. July 6 Crawford — Opening weekend, 42nd Street, Post Playhouse, Fort Robinson. Information: http://postplayhouse.com/productions/2018.
Gering — A Different Color for an Old Gray Mare, with volunteer Jerry Lucas, 3 p.m., Scotts Bluff National Monument. June 27 Gering — Pony Express Re-Ride, approximately 5:30 p.m., Scotts Bluff National Monument. June 29-30, July 6-7 Scottsbluff — Theatre West, Broadway Cabaret, 16th Empire. Tickets and showtimes: http://www.theatrewestnebraska.com. June 29 Crawford — Opening weekend, Urintown, the musical, Post Playhouse, Fort Robinson. Information: http://postplayhouse.com/ productions/2018. June 30 Gering — Lichens Walk, 3 p.m., with Bethany Bergstrom & Steve Rolfsmeier, Scotts Bluff National Monument. Mitchell — 14th annual Concert in the Park, TBA. Information: www.mitchellareachamber.org. July 3-4 Bridgeport — Camp Clarke Stampede Crawford — 72nd Old West Trail PRCA Rodeo, PRCA Rodeo, with Fourth of July celebration. Ticket locations in
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July 7, 14 & 21 Gering — Stock Car Racing at HiWay 92 Raceway Park Enjoy the sights, sounds and thrills of weekly racing at one of two asphalt tracks in Nebraska 5 p.m., races start 4 miles east of Gering on Highway 92 For more information, visit www.hiway92.com July 8 Scottsbluff — Family Fishing Day 4 to 6 p.m., Riverside Zoo Pond. Information: OutdoorNebraska.org/FamilyFishing or Facebook. com/FamilyFishingNebraska. July 11-15 Chadron Fur Trade Days. Celebration commemorating America’s fur trade heritage. Events include a buckskinned camp, historic presentations, Traders’ Market and parade. Information; 308-432-4401. Lingle — Lingle 100th anniversary celebration. July 12-15 Gering — 97th Annual Oregon Trail Days Celebration Longest, continuous running celebration in Nebraska; family-fun week honoring Gering’s Oregon Trail history. Parades, chili-cookoff, international food fair, art show, quilt show, mud-volleyball tournament, concerts, carnival and more Events day to evening; Thursday thru Sunday Downtown Gering and Five Rocks Amphitheater – 200701 County Road P – Gering For more information, visit www.oregontraildays.com July 14 Gering — KNEB Radio welcomes “Josh Turner in Concert” to Five Rocks Amphitheater 2018 Oregon Trail Days Celebration concert; Josh Turner with special guest Justin Kane. Concert under the stars at scenic Five Rocks; food, beer garden and more. 7:30 p.m. Five Rocks Amphitheater – 200701 County Road P For tickets and information, visit www.kneb.com Gering — Bighorn Sheep Hike at Wildcat Hills Let’s find these creatures of the Wildcat Hills, the Bighorn Sheep. Come along and learn about their amazing adaptations. This may be a long, hot hike; please bring water and hiking shoes for this 1-3 mile hike. 9 a.m. Wildcat Hills Nature Center – 210615 Highway 71 – Gering For more information, visit www.ngpc.wildcat.hills@nebraska.gov
July 14-21 Sidney — Cheyenne County Fair and Rodeo. Information: http:// cheyennecountyfairandrodeo.com.
July 16 Mitchell — Festival of Hope Grassroots fundraising event organized by volunteers committed to assisting area cancer patients during their treatment. Events include run/walk, live auction, butterflies and wall of hope. For more information, visit www.festivalofhope.net. July 16-21 Sidney — Cheyenne County Fair and Rodeo Marksmanship contests, 4-H exhibits, livestock shows and judging, rodeo and live entertainment. Information: 308-250-1976
July 17-22 Alliance — 2018 Heritage Days theme as “School Spirit.” The community is encouraged to celebrate their past, present and future heritage. Dust off the letterman jacket, grab the old pom-poms and drum up some School Spirit. Call the Alliance Chamber of Commerce at 308-762-1520 or visit their Facebook page facebook.com/ AllianceHeritageDays for more information.
July 18-21, July 22 Scottsbluff — Theatre West production, Dolly Parton’s, 9 to 5, Scottsbluff High School. Tickets and showtimes: http://www.theatrewestnebraska.com. July 20-21, July 26-28 Scottsbluff — Theatre West Production, “Footloose,” Scottsbluff High School. Tickets and showtimes: http://www.theatrewestnebraska.com. July 20-28 Sheridan County Fair. Information: http://www.visitsheridancounty.com. July 21 Gering — Lunar Legacy, 9 a.m., with Ranger Lesley Gaunt, Scotts Bluff National Monument. Morrill — Horsecreek Rendezvous Days. Class reunions, 5K Walk/Run, car show, historical walk, hamburger fry and free barbecue. Information: Kim Lessert, 308-562-0069, or Pete Cawiezel, 308-641-1761, or email morrillrendezvous@gmail.com. July 21-28 Bridgeport — Morrill County Fair
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WILDCAT HILLS Discover Us • 35
July 26-Aug. 4 Chadron — Dawes County Fair July 28 Gering — Trail Trek, First Impressions: Monumental Discoveries by Pioneers on the Overland Trails in Western Nebraska with staff from the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Scotts Bluff National Monument. July 28-29 Scottsbluff — TOFY Camp Children’s Musical, Theatre West production, Annie Kids, Scottsbluff High School. Tickets and showtimes: http://www.theatrewestnebraska.com. July 29 Crawford — Annual Peabody Hale Fiddle Contest. Gates open 8 a.m., Crawford City Park. Fiddle & Vocals, Quilt Show Horseshoes July 28 - Aug. 4 Mitchell — 131st Annual Scotts Bluff County Fair, July 28th thru Aug. 4th. Events will be: Saturday, July 28 - Sand Volleyball Tournament Tuesday, July 31 - FFA Donkey Races Wednesday, Aug. 1 - Heartland Tractor Pull Thursday, Aug. 2 - Built Ford Tough Bull Fighting Friday, Aug. 3 - 35th Annual Rubber Check Races Saturday, Aug. 4 - KNEB is hosting Kansas in concert, with opening act Star Ship. For more information, visit www.scottsbluffcountyfairgrounds. com. July 29 — Aug. 4 Chadron — Dawes County Fair, Livestock shows, 4-H projects, tractor pull, rodeos, Tough Truck contest and concert. Information: 308-432-3373.
Torrington — Goshen County Fair Aug. 6-12 Hemingford — Box Butte County Fair Aug. 7 Scottsbluff — National Night Out, 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 10, 11, 18, & 25 Gering — Stock Car Racing at HiWay 92 Raceway Park Enjoy the sights, sounds and thrills of weekly racing at one of two asphalt tracks in Nebraska 5, p.m. Races start 4 miles east of Gering on Highway 92 For more information, visit www.hiway92.com.
Aug. 11 Gering — Night Sky, 9 a.m., with Professor Tom Robinson, Scotts Bluff National Monument. Aug. 11- 12 Bridgeport — Annual Greek Festival. Greek heritage celebrated with music, dancing, food and games. Information: 308-262-0281. Kimball — Kimball County Fair and Rodeo Aug. 12 Fort Laramie — Starry, Starry Night and A Bat Attitude presentation, 7:30 p.m. Information: www.nps.gov/fola.
Aug. 17-19 Scotts Bluff County — 2018 Old West Balloon Fest 30+ Colorful hot air balloons will rise in the Western Nebraska skies for the fourth annual ballooning event. Sunrise launches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday; popular evening Balloon Glow and concert Saturday night, food, vendors and more Sunrise launches at the Mitchell Air Field, Mitchell
Aug. 3-5 Crawford — Senior Pro Rodeo Aug. 4 Gering — Wildcat Weekends, topic: Going Batty at Wildcat Hills Tag along to explore the winged mammals of the night, bats. Let’s glide over and uncover their adaptations, dispel myths and learn what we can do to help these nocturnal critters. 8 p.m. Wildcat Hills Nature Center – 210615 Highway 71 For more information, visit www.ngpc.wildcat.hills@nebraska. gov. Aug. 4-Aug. 11
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Balloon Glow and Concert at Five Rocks Amphitheater – 200701 County Road P - Gering For more information, visit www.oldwestballoonfest.com. Aug. 18 Scottsbluff — Panhandle Pride celebration, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Frank Park. Aug. 18-19 Gering — High Plains Rat Rod Show 200+ Cars on display; rat rods, muscle cars, low riders and pedal cars featuring at the show known as the “working class answer to high-dollar hot rods.” 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weborg 21 Center – 2625 10th St. For more information, visit www.visitscottsbluffcounty.org. Aug. 25 Gering — Horse Creek Treaty, 3 p.m., with volunteer Jerry Lucas, Scotts Bluff National Monument. Aug. 26-27 Hay Springs — Friendly Festival Ice cream social, golf tournament, free swimming, parade, lawnmower races and more. Information: 308-638-7132 Aug. 31-Sept. 3 Bridgeport — Camp Clarke Spring Rendezvous, 4 miles south of Bridgeport on Highway 88 near the base of Courthouse & Jail Rock. Information: 308-279-0659, website, http://campclarkeraiders.com/ or email info@campclarkeraiders.com. Potter — Potter Days
Aug. 31 — Sept. 3
September Crawford — Annual Legend Buttes Hot Rods, Customs & Classic Car Show, Downtown Crawford. Visit crawfordnebraska.net for more details. Sept. 1-3 Crawford — Northwest Nebraska Rock Swap Buy, Sell, Swap rocks, minerals, fossils, Crawford City Park. Information: crawfordnebraska.net. Rushville — Fun Days. Information: http://www.visitsheridancounty.com/. Sept. 1, 7, 8, 15 & 22 Gering — Stock Car Racing at HiWay 92 Raceway Park Enjoy the sights, sounds and thrills of weekly racing at one of two
OLD WEST BALLOON FEST NIGHT GLOW asphalt tracks in Nebraska 5 p.m. Races start 4 miles east of Gering on Highway 92 For more information, visit www.hiway92.com. Sept. 7-9 Bayard — Bayard’s annual hometown celebration, Chimney Rock Pioneer Days.
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MONUMENT MARATHON
The Wildcat Hills Shooting Sports Complex is a family-friendly shooting sports education center with a focus on safety, education and fun located at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area. The center features archery, small bore, pellet, shotgun and rifle ranges. It provides educational programming and quality instruction. Equipment rental is available. Thursday – Friday: 10 am – 5 pm Sat: 9 am – 5 pm Sun: 10 am – 5 pm
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Food, fun and entertainment for the whole family, family and class reunions. Information: City of Bayard, 308-586-1121 or 308-586-1846. Sept. 8 Gering — Wildcat Weekends, Birds and Bagels at Wildcat Hills Nature Center Uncover the birds that call the Wildcat Hills home. 7 to 11 a.m. Wildcat Hills Nature Center – 210615 Highway 71 For more information, visit www.ngpc.wildcat.hills@nebraska.gov Gering — Night Sky, with Professor Tom Robinson, Scotts Bluff National Monument. Sept. 8-9 Gordon — Gordon Willow Tree Festival. Information: http://www.visitsheridancounty.com/ Sept. 9 Scottsbluff — Family Fishing Day 4 to 6 p.m., Riverside Zoo Pond. Information: OutdoorNebraska.org/FamilyFishing or Facebook. com/FamilyFishingNebraska. Sept. 15-16 Gering — 22nd Annual Legacy of the Plains Harvest Festival Family-fun weekend of hands on activities and events celebration history of agriculture; tractor parades, blacksmithing demonstrations, pedal tractor course, hay bale fort, potato harvesting, food, music and more Legacy of the Plans Museum – 2930 Old Oregon Trail. For more information, call 308-436-1989. Alliance — Dobby’s Fall Festival Quick draw contest, live music, storytelling, Dutch oven cooking. Information: www.dobbysfrontiertown.com, 308-762-4321.
LEGACY OF THE PLAINS HARVEST FESTIVAL October Rushville — Octoberfest, TBA. http://www.visitsheridancounty.com.
Oct. 5-7 Sidney — Oktoberfest Parade, market, crafts, entertainment, ethnic food and a beer garden. Information: 866-545-4030. November Crawford — Annual Crawford Cattle Call, TBA. To enter contact Samantha Dyer, 308-458-7160. Nov. 24 - Dec. 2 Alliance — Tree & Wreath Festival, Knights Museum and Sandhills Center. More than 100 decorated trees and wreaths.
Sept. 28-30 Kimball — Farmer’s Day Hamburger feed, demolition derby, gun raffle, horseshoe tournament, beer garden and more. Information: www.kimballbannercountychamber.com. Sept. 29 Gering — Platte Valley Companies Monument Marathon 5K and ½ Marathon Start-Finish at Five Rocks Amphitheater. Full starts at Wildcat Hills, finish at Five Rocks. Five Rocks Amphitheater – 200701 County Road P. For registration and information, visit www.monumentmarathon.com
Mention this ad & RECEIVE 15% OFF your next booking King Suites with whirlpool tubs Free Wi-Fi Complimentary Breakfast Pets Welcome Indoor Pool & Fitness Facility Business Center At the corner of Old Oregon Trail Road & 10TH Street
308.633.7660
Gering, NE
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WESTERN NEBRASKA PIONEERS
The Western Nebraska Pioneers is a wood-bat collegiate level baseball team based in Gering. A new stadium with a capacity of 1,200 fans in Oregon Trail Park will be the site of the team’s summer home games beginning in May 2018. The team, complete with bearded mascot sporting a coon skin cap, is a charter member of the new Expedition League. The team’s busy schedule has them on the road often, but also playing 32 games at home. For tickets or information, call 308-633-2255 or visit wnpioneers.pointstreaksites. com.
Saturday, July 7 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hastings Sodbusters Sunday, July 8 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Souris Valley Sabre Dogs Monday, July 9 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Souris Valley Sabre Dogs Tuesday, July 17 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hastings Sodbusters Saturday, July 21 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Spearfish Sasquatch Tuesday, July 24 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Casper Horseheads
Home Games Schedule 2018 Oregon Trail Park – Gering All games start at 6:35 p.m.
Wednesday, June 6 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Casper Horseheads
Monday, June 25 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Pierre Trappers
Tuesday, May 29 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Spearfish Sasquatch
Thursday, June 7 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Casper Horseheads
Tuesday, June 26 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Pierre Trappers
Wednesday, May 30 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Spearfish Sasquatch
Friday, June 8 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hub City Hotshots
Wednesday, June 27 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hastings Sodbusters
Thursday, May 31 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Spearfish Sasquatch
Saturday, June 9 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hub City Hotshots
Thursday, June 28 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hastings Sodbusters
Friday, June 1 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hastings Sodbusters
Sunday, June 10 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hub City Hotshots
Friday, June 29 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Badlands Big Sticks
Saturday, June 2 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hastings Sodbusters
Monday, June 18 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Pierre Trappers
Saturday, June 30 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Badlands Big Sticks
Wednesday, Aug. 1 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Casper Horseheads
Sunday, June 3 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hastings Sodbusters
Tuesday, June 19 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Pierre Trappers
Friday, July 6 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Hastings Sodbusters
Saturday, Aug. 4 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Spearfish Sasquatch
Wednesday, July 25 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Badlands Big Sticks Thursday, July 26 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Badlands Big Sticks Monday, July 30 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Casper Horseheads Tuesday, July 31 Western Nebraska Pioneers vs. Casper Horseheads
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