9 Most Welcoming Towns In Nebraska's Countryside
With so many Midwest events and small-town stops competing for your attention, Nebraska's countryside offers a refreshing way to narrow the map: welcoming, eclectic towns full of history and local charm. Sidney will entice you with its Cheyenne County Fair, Big Springs has Our Lavender Co. just south of town, and Haythorn Land & Cattle Co. sits north of Ogallala. Meanwhile, the incomparable Stonehenge lookalike, Carhenge, stands near Alliance. In these towns, you can go from throwing a buffalo chip in Chadron to putting below par at Crawford's Legend Butte Golf Course to hiking Daemonelix Trail outside of Harrison. Together, they can form a narrative for you to value and share for years to come.
Sidney
If you always wanted to go to a county fair that also features a rodeo, Sidney has an answer for you: the Cheyenne County Fair in late July. It has a rodeo, barrel racing, monster truck bash, demo derby, you name it. And of course live music and a beer garden. Or maybe a summer concert is more your style, so check the schedule because Sidney has one every month in Hickory Street Square. Don't miss going to Historic Downtown Sidney, a district where you can stroll at your own pace, delighting in the historic buildings, local shops, and great places to eat. Someone is sure to suggest you chow down on a Cowboy Ribeye in Sidney's one and only Dude's Steakhouse & Brandin' Iron Bar, where you would do well to end up after a fun day in Sidney.
Ogallala
Continuing east and heading for Ogallala, consider bypassing it at first and driving the short distance to Haythorn Land & Cattle Co., a working ranch breeding commercial Black Angus cattle as well as foundation-bred Quarter Horses, and a fascinating place to visit. En route back to Ogallala, there is the incomparable and very popular Lake McConaughy, a 30,000-acre reservoir known for its white sand beaches and clear waters. Your next stop will be right in Ogallala at its Mansion on the Hill, a three-story Victorian home open to the public daily except Mondays and providing the opportunity for a bird's-eye view of town, where, if you squint, you just might spot your next stop: the Petrified Wood Gallery on 1st Street, a unique gallery displaying an amazing collection of petrified wood and artifacts. Finally, it is imperative you find your way to the highly recommended Driftwood and, after a long day, enjoy one of their Chicken-Fried Steaks paired with a Lake Mac Water, and you will be so glad you discovered Ogallala, Nebraska.
Kimball
"All trails lead to Kimball," says their website, an intriguing premise, but in this case, it has the ring of truth to it. Located in the scenic Lodgepole Valley, Kimball is surrounded by beautiful trails that beckon you to follow. For starters, eight miles west of Kimball is Oliver Reservoir with 917 acres of land, a 270-acre lake, 48 campsites, two boat ramps and docks, and a swimming beach, to name a few. Another, more local option is Kimball Community Trails, a 2.5-mile looping trail providing safe, easy walking in a bucolic setting.
If you would like to find a fun event where your only walking is a slow lap past the vendor stalls, take note: on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays from May through October, Kimball hosts a farmers market at Gotte Park with multiple local vendors. Maybe you love to golf, so head for Kimball's Four Winds Golf Club and get your tee on. Whatever you decide, the friendly Kimball residents will show you the way and then meet you at The Sagebrush for one of their Rodeo Burgers at the end of the day.
Big Springs
Traveling east from Sidney, you will come upon the town of Big Springs, where you might want to check out their local Eiker Park. It is a great place to meander, but it is also known as the site of the first and largest robbery of a Union Pacific train in 1877. Now that you have read the historical marker, head over to the Phelps Hotel, AKA the "House of Three Chimneys," and read the historical marker there, noting its completion in 1885. Townspeople are proud of this old hotel because they see how it encourages tourism by increasing appreciation for Deuel County's role in westward expansion, something close to the natives' hearts.
You might also consider walking to Big Springs Depot Museum, which features railroad artifacts and military uniforms from local veterans. At this point, you might decide you are educated enough to break away and head a few miles out of town to Our Lavender Co., Nebraska's largest lavender farm, where you can wander the fragrant lavender fields as you sip some lavender lemonade and plan where, in this great panhandle territory of Nebraska, you might head next.
Arthur
Named after President Chester A. Arthur, Arthur, due north of Ogallala, is a worthy stop as you explore these small towns in Nebraska's countryside. You would be remiss if one of the first places you stopped into wasn't its old Straw Bale Church, built in 1928, and a source of pride for the community because, yes, it was innovatively constructed of straw bale. Another worthwhile visit is to Arthur's Courthouse Museum. Once listed by "Ripley's Believe It or Not" as the world's smallest courthouse, how can you resist walking into this 26-by-28 room and trying to picture how trials took place inside? A big attraction in Arthur is The Bunkhouse: right in the center of town, it is the place to go to hang with the locals, learn about the area, and devour a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich that is so good, you will be tempted to order another.
Alliance
If you have been thwarted in your intentions to travel to Stonehenge in England, Alliance has an answer for you: Carhenge! Just north of this welcoming small town is a replication of Stonehenge consisting entirely of 39 cars placed in a way that mimics the proportions of Stonehenge and measures approximately 96 feet in diameter. Created by artist Jim Reinders and completed in 1987, it is a must-see for any visit to Alliance. Another treat for the senses is Alliance's very own Dobby's Frontier Town. This is a hands-on journey through time as you step into this reproduction of a frontier village, getting up close and personal to what life was like from the turn of the century through the 1930s. Continuing your exploration of Alliance, find your way to Central Park, where you can stroll through gardens and large grassy areas, maybe stop for a picnic under a shade tree, or simply sit on a bench and decide you really don't need any trip to England after all!
Chadron
Due north of Alliance is the town of Chadron, and you are going to want to be there in mid-July for their Fur Trade Days. This is an annual celebration of the town's fur trading heritage, which includes the World Championship Buffalo Chip Throw in Courthouse Square, and, if you have a great sense of humor and a good throwing arm, you won't want to miss this fun activity. In a more subdued activity, pay a visit to the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center, located on the Chadron State College campus. Aside from honoring Sandoz, a local author famous for chronicling the West, the Center preserves and illuminates the history of the cattle ranching industry that was so integral to the history of this vicinity.
Chadron Art Alley is another worthy destination: Painted onto several Main Street walls, you will see murals created by local artists, brightening several downtown facades, and on a Paint the Town weekend, you can even grab a paintbrush and join in. As you head out of town, be sure to visit Pine Ridge National Recreation Area, consisting of 6,600 acres of semi-primitive wilderness just waiting for you to explore before you continue on your way.
Crawford
A mere 24 miles from Chadron is the town of Crawford, and before you settle in, take the time to drive to Toadstool Geologic Park, and you will be glad you did. With its "moonscape" surface and various trails, the landscape is guaranteed to fill you with wonder. Not quite as exotic, but more accessible is Crawford's Legend Buttes Golf Course. Situated near the White River and surrounded by the striking "Red Cloud Buttes," this 9-hole golf course is worth a visit. After you have played a game, continue driving until you reach Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford, a more than 22,000-acre park that has partially reopened after the South Fork Fire (visitors are advised to check current closures before planning activities).
At this point, you may be ready to explore the town of Crawford, and a big draw is its aptly named Crawford Historical Museum, where you can browse all kinds of historical records and memorabilia, ranch tools, obituary files, and an impressive collection of agate. As the day begins to fade, relax at Tailgate Bar & Grill on 2nd Street: indulge in one of their famous Philly Cheesesteaks and start pondering your next small-town adventure.
Harrison
Incorporated in 1888, Harrison is fond of calling itself "Nebraska's Top Town" because its elevation is that much higher than any other town in the state, but regardless of what it's called, you are guaranteed to enjoy your visit. Let's start you a few miles away at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, consisting of approximately 3,000 acres of protected prairie and fossil-rich land. While there, follow signs to the Daemonelix Trail, a one-mile trail that affords you views of ancient sand dunes and paleosols and, from its highest point, a lookout over the vast landscape that epitomizes this region.
In the opposite direction of Agate Fossil Bed National Monument is Hudson-Meng Bison Kill, another fossil site, discovered serendipitously by a rancher in 1954 when he was excavating a pond. Viewed as one of North America's most significant paleo-archeological discoveries, it should be on anyone's itinerary. Back in town, consider the "Sole to Soul" walking tour of Harrison, a wonderful way to gain perspective on this historic area, starting at Sioux County Historical Museum, which tells the story of the settling of this County into the 20th century, and working your way to Mary Coffey Home, the Harrison Depot Site, and on to the Harrison House Hotel, a fully functional hotel built in 1887, which will welcome you into its historical rooms and make you feel at home.
Tying The Panhandle Together
Now that you have traveled the vastness that is Nebraska and familiarized yourself with the network of small towns that add so much character and history to its diverse landscape, you are ready to look back at all you have done and seen and be amazed. Yes, you did go back 20 million years walking the trails of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, you did get yourself a paintbrush and add your art to a mural on Chadron's Main Street, you marveled at Arthur's tiny courthouse, and you swam in Kimball's Oliver Reservoir. Nebraska will never again be a stranger to you. And you will never be a stranger there.
