Since the Norris Power District covers such a wide area of southeast Nebraska, there is a variety of recreational activities and tourism sites visitors can take advantage of when they come to the area. These sites include the state's only national monument, historical homes, a Pony Express station, lakes and campgrounds. Visitors can examine the wagon wheel ruts left by the prairie schooners which crossed along the Oregon Trail or stop by the first homestead granted in the state as part of the Homestead Act of 1862.
Places of Interest:
Homestead National Monument of America
Visitors to the Homestead National Monument can enjoy a trip back in time to the late 1860s, learning about the settlers as they made their way west in search of new homes. One such settler, Daniel Freeman, joined the flood of those in search of free land and laid claim to a 160 acre parcel of land west of Beatrice in 1863.
The monument features a furnished pioneer cabin built in 1867, a one-room schoolhouse and nature trails that run along bottom lands and through 100 acres of tallgrass prairie. Living history displays and homesteading artifacts are on display in the visitor center, which is open free to the public. For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov.
Rock Creek Station State Historical Park
Rock Creek Station was like many of the Pony Express and stagecoach stations that dotted the Oregon Trail in 1861 until "Wild Bill" Hickock killed station owner, David McCanles, launching his famous career as a gunfighter.
Rock Creek Station is now a state historical park being developed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The 350-acre park is located about six miles southeast of Fairbury. The development of Rock Creek Station as a state historical park began in 1980. The park includes an interpretive center, picnic and playground areas, hiking and nature trails, and modern campground facilities with 25 electrical hookups and modern restrooms/showers on an adjoining tract. Development is now complete on the reconstruction of the buildings and corrals on both the East and West ranches. The station is open year-round.
Branched Oak State Recreation Area
Branched Oak Lake stretches for nearly four miles with many miles of shoreline. The largest of the Salt Valley areas, Branched Oak has some of the finest camping facilities in the state park system, including solar-heated showers, electrical hookups, and a trailer dump station. There are two new fish cleaning stations, one on either side of the lake. Boaters and picnickers will find ample facilities there. With dual classification as a wildlife management area, hunters may take to the wild spots come fall and can usually scare up pheasants, quail, doves, ducks, and more. The Game and Parks Commission has established an arboretum there, with over 100 species of trees and shrubs.
Pawnee State Recreation Area
Pawnee Lake, is the second largest lake located in the Salt Valley with 740-water acres. This area, located two miles north and one and a half miles west of Emerald, offers electric hookups, modern restrooms and showers for visitors with 275 sites. About 1,800 acres of land are open to hunters, photographers, and hikers. Boaters will find four boat ramps for easy access and the chance to catch northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish.
Bluestem State Recreation Area
The 325-acre lake, located two and a half miles west of Sprague, offers diverse action for anglers with plenty of largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, walleye and northern pike. Boating is allowed at Bluestem, and boaters find easy access to the water from strategically located ramps. The 417-acres of land around the lake give hunters plenty of room to maneuver for pheasants, quail, squirrel, cottontail rabbit, waterfowl and deer. The area has up-to-date facilities, a swimming beach, drinking water, toilets, and a dump station.
Conestoga State Recreation Area
Conestoga State Recreation Area, located three miles south and a half-mile west of Emerald, offers outdoor enthusiasts 716-acres of recreation. Some 486-acres of land surround the 230-acre lake providing fun for the entire family. Picnicking, camping, boating, nature hikes, fishing, hunting and more can be found at Conestoga. Facilities include: campground, boat ramp, drinking water, picnic shelter, toilets, dump station, and a fish cleaning station. Bass, walleye, channel catfish and northern pike are just a few of the species available to test anglers. In season, there is hunting for pheasants, quail, cottontail, squirrel, waterfowl and deer.
Stagecoach State Recreation Area
Stagecoach State Recreation Area, located south of Hickman, provides a variety of outdoor activities the whole family will enjoy. Although not as large as other area reservoirs, the 195-water acres offer basically the same fish species as the other Salt Valley lakes. There are two fishing piers on the lake, one is handicap accessible, as well as two boat ramps.
Olive Creek State Recreation Area
Olive Creek State Recreation area, located two miles east and 3/4-mile south of Kramer has 612-acres of land and water available to outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Although small, the 175-acre lake supports a variety of fish; largemouth bass, bluegill and two kinds of catfish. Boats are restricted to 5 mph. Habitat management on the 437-acres of land provides hunters with the possibility of bagging upland game, waterfowl and deer. As on all the Salt Valley lakes, only steel shot may be used for waterfowl hunting. Camping and picnic facilities are also available.
Wagon Train State Recreation Area
Located two miles east of Hickman, Wagon Train covers 745-acres of land surrounding a 315-acre lake. This popular area provides year-round angling for largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, bluegill and others. Visitors will find 70 sites in the campgrounds, drinking water, a dump station, toilets, picnic shelters, a swimming beach, playground, fire grates and more. A ramp offers access to the lake, but boats are limited to 5 mph. In season, hunters can take a bead on pheasant, dove, quail, cottontail, squirrel, waterfowl, and deer.
Alexandria State Recreation Area
Alexandria State Recreation Area, located four miles east of Alexandria, encompasses 55 acres of land with two lakes totalling 46 acres of water. The area offers primitive camping with some sites having 30-amp electrical hook-ups. Campers can fish, picnic, and enjoy wildlife viewing.
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