No Better Direction 2021 Welcome to Northwest Nebraska NEBRASKA LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT. Northwest Nebraska defies expectations. You won’t find cornfields and flat landscapes here. What will you find? How about a rich historical and geological record and an unexpected forest? From towering buttes to the sweeping features of the Oglala National Grassland, Northwest Nebraska defines the Great American Road Trip. Throw in a lunar landscape and a budding arts and culture scene at Chadron State College and Post Playhouse, and there is truly No Better Direc- tion. The region is accessible by two of Nebraska’s specially-designated scenic byways - the 385 Gold Rush Scenic Byway (Hwy 385) and the Bridges to Buttes Scenic Byway (Hwy 20). Ad- ditionally, Hwy 2/71 is part of the Fossil Free- way, which carries travelers to several stops that tell the story of the area’s fossil history, reaching from the southern Panhandle of Ne- braska to southern South Dakota. This is a place for people to explore and discover new things, like ancient fossils and hidden landscapes. A place for people who want to get off the interstate and away from the crowds. A place for people who want to find themselves by getting lost. What are you waiting for? TABLE OF CONTENTS -Communities 5 -Attractions 10 -Recreation 28 -Events 39 -Lodging 43 Discover Northwest Nebraska 706 West Third St Chadron, Nebraska 69337 308-432-3006 Open Monday-Friday Year Round Open Saturdays Memorial Day-Labor Day Crawford Visitors’ Bureau Junction of Hwys 20 & 2/71 Crawford, Nebraska 69339 Open Summers Only discoverNWNebraska.com Live Like You Are Always On Vacation Looking for someplace you can stretch out, shake off the pressure and relax at the end of the day? Northwest Nebraska is the place you’ve been looking for. • Family friendly communities with great schools • 4 year accredited state college – Chadron State College • Clean air and water with unspoiled natural resources • Recreation for all levels from casual to true enthusiast • Digital infrastructure to keep you connected • Modern hospital and health services Contact us for a business relocation packet and see what we can do to assist your move to Northwest Nebraska. www.nndc-chadron.com 337 Main St Chadron, NE 69337 308-432-4023 COMMUNITIES Chadron Home to Chadron State College, Chadron was established as a railroad town at its pres- ent-day site in 1885. Today, its downtown is listed on the National Register, it features a year-round aquatic center and new hospital, and provides easy access to the nearby Ne- braska National Forest & Chadron State Park. Whitney Incorporated in 1888, Whitney was originally known as Dawes City and later as Earth Lodge. It was re-christened as Whitney in honor of railroad offical Peter Whitney and was the lo- cation of Old Fort Useless, built for settlers’ protection but never used. Today, visitors and residents enjoy fishing & boating on Whitney Lake, home of an annual ice fishing tourney. Northwest Nebraska Rock Club welcomes you to Crawford Rock Swap 2021 Sept. 3-6 | Crawford, Nebraska | City Park Buy, Sell, Trade Field Trips 35th Demonstrations Annual Event rd For Information Contact: 23 Annual Valerie - 308-430-4404 Wade - 308-430-1399 or at Fairburn Agate [email protected] Collectors Meeting Facebook - Crawford Rockswap Open Year Round! FEATURES 15-Foot Slide Splash Pad Children’s Slide 6 Lap Lanes Zero Depth Entry Therapy Pool Diving Board Dump Buckets Summer Winter Open Swim Monday 12-6 pm 1-6 pm Tues-Fri 12-7 pm 1-8 pm Saturday 12-8 pm 1-8 pm Sunday 12-5 pm 1-5 pm Lap Swim Mon-Fri 6-9 am 6-9 am Mon-Sat 11am-12pm 12-1 pm Water Aerobics Mon-Fri 6:30-8:15 am All Year Tues & Thurs 5:30-6:30 pm 308.432.0524 Walking Track 540 E 10TH STREET Available During Normal Facility Hours CHADRON, NEBRASKA Summer Hours: facebook.com/chadronaquaticcenter Memorial Day to Labor Day COMMUNITIES Crawford Nestled under the towering buttes of the Pine Ridge, Crawford began as a tent city, notori- ous as a wild frontier town. By 1911, it was a booming town full of industry. Today, nearby Fort Robinson State Park and Legend Buttes Golf Course, as well as the city’s July 4 cele- bration, draw visitors from across the country. Harrison Harrison, established in 1889, is situated at 4,865 feet above sea level and bills itself as “Nebraska’s Top Town” due to its elevation. Several nationally-known attractions surround the town, including Toadstool Geologic Park, the Oglala National Grassland and Agate Fos- sil Beds National Monument. Journey to The Garden Beyond the Sandhills Crawford, Nebraska Established as a railroad town in 1886, Crawford is full of Old West atmosphere. Follow in the footsteps of the Native Americans who first called the region home, or watch trains snake through the pine trees and badlands. With trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding on our doorstep, as well as lakes, streams and rivers for boating, fishing and kayaking, our community is an outdoor recreation paradise. Hunting & wildlife viewing opportunities abound, and the region is rich in fossils. Come visit a spell & consider calling it home! Explore Enjoy Legend Buttes Golf Course Old West Trail Rodeo Whitney Lake Crawford Rock Swap Fort Robinson Crawford Cattle Call Crawford City Hall Crawford Chamber 308-665-1462 308-665-1817 crawfordnebraska.net crawfordnebraska.info Set High Expectations. Discover Sioux County. Harrison Nebraska’s Highest Town - 4,865 ft www.discoverNWNebraska.com ATTRACTIONS Toadstool Geological Park Toadstool is named for its unique rock for- mations of clay topped by slabs of sandstone, preserving fossils and footprints of extinct species like tortoises, rhinos, saber-toothed cats and more. Hiking and interpretive info available. (308) 432-0300 Fort Robinson State Park Fort Rob is Nebraska’s largest state park with 22,000 acres to enjoy hiking, biking, horse- back riding, hunting, fishing, jeep and stage coach rides. As former military post, it features historic buildings, museums and more. (308) 665-2900 ATTRACTIONS Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed Ranchers discovered a treasure trove of 600 Bison antiquus bones in 1954 while surveying for a stock pond. Ex- cavation of the site, where the ani- mals died 10,000 years ago, continues today. Considered one of the most important archaeological discoveries in North America, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and its role as a Paleo-Indian site is still being explored. (308) 665-3900 ATTRACTIONS Chadron State Park Chadron State Park is Nebraska’s oldest state park, designated in 1921. Hike, bike or horse- back ride along its trails, or fish and paddle- boat at the pond while enjoying the scenery of the Pine Ridge escarpment and the nearby Nebraska National Forest. (308) 432-6167 Nebraska National Forest & Oglala National Grassland The Pine Ridge District of the Nebraska Na- tional Forest is 52,000 acres of landscape per- fect for hiking, biking, fishing, camping and sight-seeing. The Oglala National Grassland adds another 94,000 acres to view wildflowers and wildlife like Pronghorn antelope, deer and a variety of birds. (308) 432-0300 You’re invited to visit the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center At Chadron State College Carmen and John Gottschalk - Mari Sandoz Gallery The Carmen and John Gottschalk Mari Sandoz Gallery tells the story of the life and literature of Mari Sandoz. The exhibit examines the topics of her writing – landscape, advocacy for Native Americans, writing style, and dedication to research – through the lens of her personal experience. C.F. Coffee Gallery The C. F. Coffee Gallery is dedicated to the history of Cattle Ranching on the High Plains. Exhibits in the gallery space begin with the movement of cattle from Texas to the High Plains, the open range era, and the transition to the ranching system we know today. The primary focus of the gallery’s work has been collecting archival resources for use by students at Chadron State College and researchers from around the world. Heritage Gardens The Heritage Gardens reflect the region’s prairie, native, and ranching cultures. The gardens are a cultural, historical, and environmental learning space and consist of several collections: • Old Jules’ Orchard • The Sandhills Collection • Immigrant Plants Traditional Plants of the Lakota • Woody Plants of the Pine Ridge • The Claude Barr Collection Free admission Check online for hours of operations and for more information about Sandoz Center sandozcenter.com ATTRACTIONS Pine Ridge National Recreation Area Photo courtesy USFS This specially-protected area of 6,600 acres preserves land for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, picknicking and wildlife viewing. Trails are dedicated to non-motor- ized use. (308) 432-0300 Wildlife Management Areas Northwest Nebraska is home to six WMAs and one State Recreation Area. They are: • Gilbert Baker WMA • Soldier Creek WMA • Chadron Creek Ranch WMA • Bighorn WMA • Ponderosa WMA • Bordeaux Creek WMA • Box Butte Reservoir SRA discovernwnebraska.com/parks-and-wildlands/ Dawes County Historical Museum Home of History in Action Day Last Sunday of September Open May 1 - September 30 Monday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm Sundays & Holidays 1-5 pm Or By Appointment Anytime We welcome organizations, families, reunions, groups of all ages to arrange an evening meeting and enjoy a private tour. 341 Country Club Rd, Chadron, NE 308-432-4999 [email protected] IT'SS�ALL�YOURS�ALL�YOURS atat�Nebraska�National�Forests����Nebraska�National�Forests��� andand�Grasslands�Grasslands Download the National Forest Explorer App and let it guide your explorations. GET OUTSIDE. Enjoy hiking, biking and picnicking in the Pine Ridge Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest.