Visit North Platte

Nebraska Travel Conference 2007

2007-10-18T20:40:00.001-07:00

Tonight I'm writing this blog at the close of the 2007 Nebraska Travel Conference in Columbus. As always, the staff of the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism, especially Paula Bohaty, did a fantastic job in organizing the conference.

Deb and the staff and volunteers of the Columbus/Platte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the New World Inn, were wonderful hosts. Thanks also to Governor Heineman for making Tourism a priority, attending the event and presenting the Travel Industry Awards, and to Richard Baier, the Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and Christian Hornbaker the Director of the Division of Travel and Tourism for their leadership in the industry.

Lincoln County was especially fortunate this year as two of our tourism partners were presented with Travel Industry awards.

Dancing Leaf Cultural Learning Center in Wellfleet was awarded the 2007 Outstanding Eco-Tourism Entity. Les and Jan Hosick were on hand to receive their award from Governor Heineman. You can learn more about their attraction at www.dancingleaf.com.

The 2007 North Platte Rail Fest received the award for Outstanding New Event for communities with populations over 10,000. Dave Harrold accepted the award on behalf of the many volunteers who made this event possible. The North Platte Rail Fest website is www.nprailfest.com.

Congratulations to these winners and to all of the other award winners from across the state.

The Nebraska Travel Conference is a fantastic networking and educational event. The North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau has been fortunate to participate in this event for a number of years. We encourage every business involved in tourism in Nebraska to consider attending. Next year's event will be hosted by the Kearney Visitors Bureau.

See you all next year at Kearney!

Community Unity Obelisk Tile Project

2007-10-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

The dictionary definition of an Obelisk is: an upright 4-sided usually monolithic pillar that gradually tapers as it rises and terminates in a pyramid.

North Platte's definition of an Obelisk is a community art project that will draw the entire community together and create a series of art objects that will beautify our community. While not technically obelisks because they won't taper as they rise to their nine-foot height, these beautiful tile-covered sculptures will be a sight to see. The Creativity Unlimited Arts Council has named this project Community Unity, and it has lived up to it's name.

Each Obelisk will be covered by nearly 400 hand-painted 6-inch square tiles. Tile painting events are being held throughout the community, at schools, in the mall, at local events, and by appointment. It doesn't take a professional artist to paint a tile (I should know, I have actually painted a tile myself!). Designs can be drawn on paper and then traced on to the tile and then painted. Designs painted so far have depicted local school mascots, family milestones, local attractions and historical landmarks.

Five Obelisks will be produced, one in Iron Horse Park near Interstate 80, in Centennial Park, on the Courthouse Lawn, on the Lutheran Family Services park at the junction of Highway 30 and Highway 83, and in Cody Park. Making an effort to see all five Obelisks will draw visitors into the heart of our community. Other Obelisks will follow through the years.

Each tile will be numbered, and the location recorded, so that in years to come, your decendents can come to North Platte and see the tile you painted. The Obelisks will not only be beautiful sculptures, but also treasured family heirlooms.

You can find more information about the Obelisk project and tile painting opportunities by visiting the website of Creativity Unlimited Arts Council at www.artsinnorthplatte.com, or by calling the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau at (308) 532-4729.

Happy painting!

Christmas Craft Shows

2007-10-15T05:33:00.000-07:00

Even though the trees have barely begun to turn, let alone lose their leaves and there's a cold drizzle falling outside, my thoughts did turn to Christmas today. I'd rather think about all of the upcoming Christmas Arts and Craft shows than take a trip down the already-displayed Christmas aisles at the local box stores.

The Platte River Mall at 1000 S. Dewey hosts their Fall Art & Craft Show on October 6 through 28.

The Cowboy Christmas Gift Show is November 3 and 4 at the D & N Event Center, 501 E. Walker Road.

The annual St. Pat's craft show is November 10 at 415 N. Chestnut.

The 20th annual Methodist Church Craft Show is December 1 at 1600 West E.

If your thoughts are turning to Christmas shopping, be sure to check out one of these events. You can find out more information by checking out the CVB website Calendar of Events at www.visitnorthplatte.com, or calling (308) 532-4729, or 800-955-4528

Author Open House at A to Z

2007-10-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

I just updated the Calendar of Events with a notice from A to Z Books about their upcoming Author Open House. Just in case you miss the listing there, I'm going to remind you here in the blog.

Authors on hand to read from their books and sign copies will be Ken Huebner (My Life and Community), Wayne D. Dundee (The Day After Yesterday), Lori Clinch (Are We There Yet and Don't Make Me Pull Over), Dixie Eckhoff (Just a Little Bull), D. Jean Smith (Medicine Creek Journals), and Billie Thornburg (City and Prairie Bones, Birdie and Me, Birdie and Me and Miles Too, and Sandhills Kid in the City).

The event is scheduled for Saturday October 6th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at A to Z Books, 507 North Jeffers.

As I've mentioned in this blog before, A to Z Books also hosts an "Open Mic" night every 2nd and 4th Fridays beginning at 7:00 p.m. There's poetry and prose readings from local writers, live music, food and lots of fun!

Nebraska Hall of Fame

2007-10-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

The Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission will meet in North Platte at 7:00 p.m. on October 11 at the Holiday Inn Express. The Commission holds hearings in each of Nebraska’s congressional district, and this is the last of such meetings. The commission is considering its choice for the next person to be named to the Nebraska Hall of Fame. One of the people being considered is North Platte native Bill Jeffers. Mr. Jeffers rose through the ranks to become President of Union Pacific Railroad during the years of World War II. He is responsible for offering the use of the North Platte Depot to the North Platte Canteen.

Other candidates for the Nebraska Hall of Fame are: Grover Cleveland Alexander, Charles Edwin Bessey, Georgia Arbuckle Fix, Andrew Jackson Higgins, Malcom X and Evelyn Genevieve Sharp.

This sounds like it will be an interesting and educational evening.

North Platte Community Playhouse

2007-09-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

The talented players of the North Platte Community Playhouse will debut “State Fair” on September 28 with a performance at 8:00 p.m. The Rodgers and Hammerstein play is directed by Jennifer Winder, with Willa Brinkmeyer assisting.

In a slight change of schedules for the 2007-2008 season, performances the first weekend (September 28, 29 and 30) of a production will be on Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The second weekend (October 6 & 7) there will be no Friday night performance. Saturday’s performance will again be at 8:00 p.m., with an additional matinee on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

The description on the Playhouse website reads:

A Midwestern tradition provides a backdrop for a farmer and his family who go to the Iowa State Fair. Pop has high hopes of winning a Blue ribbon with his prize hog and Mom has aspirations of winning a prize with her pickles, while their son and daughter find both romance and heartbreak. Musical numbers by Rodgers and Hammerstein include "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "It's a Grand Night for Singing".

More information can be found on the website at http://northplattecommunityplayhouse.org/

2007 Rail Fest is History

2007-09-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

The 2007 North Platte Rail Fest is officially history, and everyone involved feels it was a great success. Judging from some of the comments I’ve heard from Union Pacific Bailey Yard employees (my husband included), the #1 goal of the festival was achieved – that of making local UP employees feel appreciated. The secondary goal was showcasing the Railroad itself and capitalizing on the popularity of all things Railroad among a segment of the population, and that was accomplished as well.

According to our un-scientific map of the United States, on which visitors were invited to insert a pin indicating their home town, we had visitors from 38 states and the District of Columbia, four Canadian provinces, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Germany, Israel, Bahamas, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, Japan and Mexico. We even had a pin indicating Antarctica, but I’m still trying to figure out if someone is pulling my leg or not.

I just got off the telephone with chief organizer Dave Harrold, and he’s already making plans for next year. Stay tuned to the North Platte Convention and Visitors Bureau website, www.VisitNorthPlatte.com, or the Rail Fest website, www.nprailfest.com for future plans.

First Day of Rail Fest

2007-09-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

So… the first day of the first-ever Rail Fest is behind us, and, Wow, what a day it was. Actually, as I write this, the first day isn’t behind a lot of people, who will be at Cody Park until 10:00 p.m., when the dance ends and the booths close. Visitors this first day came from Japan, Israel, the Netherlands and across the United States.

Rail Fest starts on Saturday at 7:30am with the pancake breakfast. The first Bailey Yard tours and the Operation Lifesaver trains depart at 8:30, and continue throughout the day. Don’t worry if you don’t have tickets. Today, everyone who was on standby was able to board both the trains and the buses.

Not all of the Rail Fest activities are going on in Cody Park, either. The Rail Fest Art Show and Sale is at the Platte River Mall, the Cemetery tour is, of course, at the Cemetery, and the Lincoln County Historical Museum is hosting special displays on Bill Jeffers and the early unions.

For a complete schedule of events, visit www.nprailfest.com. Hope to see you sometime this weekend in North Platte.

Ghosts of the Union Pacific Cemetery Tour

2007-09-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

Buried deep within the Rail Fest schedule of events (no pun intended!) is an event that every true history or rail buff will enjoy.

From 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Saturday September 23 is the “Ghosts of the Union Pacific Railroad” cemetery tour at the North Platte Public Cemetery, just down the street from Cody Park, the site of most of the Rail Fest activities.

Hosted by the North Platte Library Foundation, the Cemetery tour features local actors portraying characters from the past, whose lives were, in some way, touched by the Union Pacific Railroad.

One character is George W. Vroman, born Sept. 27, 1841, who represented Union Pacific employees at the first arbitration case in United States history between railway employees and the company that took place in North Platte in 1879.

Another is Rae Wilson, who organized the North Platte World War II Canteen, which served more than 6.5 million service men and women between Christmas Day 1941 and April 1st, 1946.

These and more than a dozen more characters from the past will come to life at the Cemetery tour. Tickets are available at the gate, and will include a booklet containing the biographies of the characters and the actors.

The complete schedule of events can be found at the North Platte Rail Fest website at www.nprailfest.com, or at any of the information booths located in Cody Park during Rail Fest.

Living History at Rail Fest

2007-09-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wished you could turn back the clock to the time when rail travel dominated the nation? When every little town had a depot and getting to the nearest big city was as easy as a walk across the platform in your hometown depot?

You can relive those days at the Cody Park Railroad Museum during Rail Fest, when local station masters, retired railroaders, telegraphers, and even volunteers from the North Platte Canteen will be sharing their stories.

Visit with them, ask questions, hear their stories, and share your stories or those of your family with them. Whether you’re a rail fan, a history buff, or just have a nostalgia for “the good old days”, you’ll enjoy meeting these wonderful people.

Check the schedule of events out at www.nprailfest.com, or stop by any of the information booths at Rail Fest to see what time the different people are available for a visit.

Most of the preparations have been made, all that's left to do is to see you all here! Remember, the first-ever North Platte Rail Fest will begin with the first tours of Bailey Yard at 8:30 a.m. on Friday September 21.

Rail Fest is Coming Soon

2007-09-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

I'm out of town for a few days at the Upper Midwest Convention and Visitors Bureau meeting, but I know all of my friends in North Platte are still busily preparing for the first-ever Rail Fest coming up fast on September 21, 22 and 23, and anxiously watching the forecast. I've checked out the weather channel, and I think the weather is going to be perfect.

So, if you haven't heard, North Platte, home of Union Pacific's Bailey Yard, the world's largest Railroad Classification Yard, and home to more than 3,000 Union Pacific employees and more than 1,500 UP retirees, is hosting it's first-ever celebration of the railroad, it's importance to North Platte and the United States, and how much we appreciate UP's employees.

If you want to find out about everything that is going on, visit the Rail Fest's website at www.nprailfest.com. Just a few highlights include non-stop entertainment, tours of Bailey Yard, rides on the Operation Lifesaver train, tours of the UP training facility at North Platte Community College, a kids hobo costume contest, the UP's #844 Living Legend, and many of the Heritage Units.

Remember these are just the hightlights! From the time the Bailey Yard tours start at 8:30 a.m. on Friday the 21st to the closing ceremonies at 4:00 on Sunday the 23rd, you will find something celebrating railroading going on in North Platte

The Beautiful Outdoors

2007-05-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

My husband and I don’t often get the opportunity to go out and do non-work related fun stuff together, but we had a great time over Memorial Day weekend, and I wanted to share it. I guess if I’m blogging it, it wasn’t totally non-work related!

We got the camper ready for the first time in 3+ years (I know… we’re pathetic!), and drove up to Diamond Bar Lake in rural McPherson County. The beautiful, Sandhill groundwater lake is exactly 31.8 miles north of Sutherland, and right around 25 of those miles are on pavement! The rest are gravel/sand roads, so if you are pulling a camper, a four-wheel drive is extremely recommended.

We pulled in just before noon on Monday and set up camp. Mind you, it is completely bare-bones. No facilities at all. We were the only ones there, so we set up right near the shoreline of the lake. Diamond Bar has 120 surface acres of water, and is extremely shallow. While we didn’t try it, one could probably wade nearly halfway across the lake and not be in water over your head. The shore, except for a few places is choked with cattails and reeds. We could have fished, as did the three groups of locals who joined us later in the afternoon for awhile. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission website lists the possible species as Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike and Yellow Perch, but what everyone caught was Bullheads.

I would say that we reveled in the silence, but silence isn’t really what you could call it. Granted, there were almost no man-made noises, an occasional jet high overhead, and an infrequent traveler on the nearby county road, but, that’s not to say it was quite. Hundreds of yellow-headed blackbirds nest in the cattails, and the pasture is thick with meadowlark and other song birds, then there’s the ducks, even a pheasant, the cows, and the coyotes. We did revel in the sounds of nature, but who knew blackbirds could make such a ruckus, and would sleep for such a short time. Full dark came after 10:00 p.m., and ended before 5:00 a.m. Unless it was full dark, the birds were singing.

The views are what I would consider breathtaking. The rains have been plentiful this spring, so the surrounding hillsides are lush with green grass and wildflowers. The cows with their young calves grazing in the pastures are quite contented. While we were hoping for clear skies to view the spectacular Milky Way, we were instead treated to a light show from the thunderstorms that surrounded us (and thankfully, stayed away).

Whether you live in one of the towns of Lincoln County, or you’re a visitor to the area, you don’t have to drive too far off the beaten path to enjoy communing with nature, as we did this weekend. There are four major lakes in Lincoln County – the Sutherland Reservoir, Lake Maloney, Jeffery Lake and Wellfleet lake, not to mention numerous Interstate 80 barrow pit lakes (all well stocked with fish, I might add), and many Wildlife Management Areas maintained by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

No matter where you decide to go, you will get to take in Nebraska’s spectacular scenery, wide-open spaces, numerous and widely-varied birds and wildlife, and best of all – peace and quite (kind of!).

For more information, visit the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission website at: http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/. For most of the areas, you’ll need a state park sticker, either annual or daily, which are available at numerous locations.

There are also a number of private entrepreneurs who would be more than happy to host you for a back-to-nature getaway. These include Prairie Sands Hunting and Bed and Breakfast, Knoll’s Country Inn Bed and Breakfast, Tin Camp Ranch, McDermott Ranch Resort, Fort McPherson Campground, and Dancing Leaf Cultural Learning Center. Visit the North Platte Convention and Visitors Bureau website for more information: http://www.visitnorthplatte.com/recreation.htm.

Now is the time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors of Nebraska.

Something for Everyone

2007-03-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

The words "something for everyone" can seem tired and overused, but they just happen to describe the events going on in North Platte during the month of April. You'll see what I mean when you scroll down this list:

If you want to learn more about computers, the North Platte Public Library is offering the following classes:

Smart Internet Searching - April 5
Beginning and Intermediate MS Word
Beginning and Intermediate MS Excel
Beginning PowerPoint
Pictures Plus
Mail Merge using MS Word

April is also the time of the Friends of the Library Book Sale and Library Foundation Bake Sale. The Library is located at 120 West 4th, or you can call 308/535-8036 for more information.

Do you like music? Then do we have the events for you in April:

Naomi Judd - Love Can Build A Bridge - April 3 at the Neville Center for the Performing Arts, 301 East 5th Street, call 308/530-8488 for more info.
Community Concert Series presents Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum - April 16 at the North Platte High School Performing Arts Center, call 308/534-8135 for more info.
Jim Rice and Tina Cool (both up-and-coming Country Artists) in concert April 21 at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. Call 308/534-8191 for more info.
7th Annual Country Bluegrass Show, April 25, 26, 27 and 28 at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds, for more information call 308/532-1465, or visit their website at www.CountryBluegrassShow.tripod.com
6th Annual Western Nebraska Junior High Honor Band Concert, April 27 at the McGahan Activity Center, 1002 East E. Call 308/532-1874 for more info.

What about trains?

14th Annual Train Show and Swap Meet, April 7 & 8 at the D & N Event Center, 501 East Walker Road. Call 308/386-2489 for more info.

Interested in the environment?

Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event, April 7, 1402 N. Sycamore. Call 308/534-8100 for more info.

Do you want to see some excellent local live theater?

North Platte Community Playhouse presents Grace & Glorie, April 13, 14, 15, 20 and 21. Call 308/534-6162 for more info.

Are you interested in literature, poetry and local authors?

Open-Mic night at A to Z Books, April 13. Call 308/534-0140 for more info.

Get excited by sports?

28th Annual Eagles State Pool Tournament, April 13, 14, and 15 at the D & N Event Center, 501 E. Walker Rd. For more info call 308/ 539-5059.
Roller Skating and 30' Climbing Wall on April 14, in the gym at Maranatha Bible Camp, exit 190 at Maxwell. For more info call 308/582-4513.
James O'Rourke Memorial Triathlon and Tinker Triathlon, April 28 and 29, presented by the North Platte Recreation Center. For more info call 308/535-6772.
Sports Card Show, April 14 & 15 at the Platte River Mall. Call 308/534-3090 for more info.

What about Arts & Crafts & Flea Markets?

Spring Arts & Crafts Show, April 20, 21 and 22 at the Platte River Mall. Call 308/534-3090 for more info.
Antique Flea Market, April 26, 27 and 28 at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. Call 308/530-9248 for more info.
High School Art & Tech Competition, April 27 through 29 at the Platte River Mall. Call 308/534-3090 for more info.
There's always an interesting special exhibit hanging at the Art and Gift Gallery, along with their regular artists. 516 N. Dewey, 308/534-1946 for more info.

Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park is open all during the month of April, Monday through Friday.

Surely everyone can find something of interest in all of these events! Get out and enjoy the beautiful spring weather while it lasts (can you tell this is one of the few beautiful days we've had so far? I'm wishing hard that it will continue through April). If you need more information about any of the events listed above, you can call the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-955-4528 or visit us on the web at www.visitnorthplatte.com.

North Platte Railfest

2007-02-20T08:40:00.000-08:00

We have just received the first draft of information concerning the first-ever RailFest in North Platte, scheduled for September 21 through 23 2007. It is billed as “railroad appreciation days for railfans and employees".

North Platte is certainly the right place to hold railroad appreciation days. Home to the largest railroad classification yard in the world, Union Pacific Bailey Yard, North Platte is definitely a railroad town! The statistics are sometimes conflicting, because the yard is constantly expanding, but it is estimated that more than 3,000 men and women work at Bailey Yard, it covers 2,850 acres and switches 10,000 rail cars daily. The main rail line through North Platte is the busiest rail freight corridor in the nation, with more than 135 trains operating over the line every 24 hours.

The goals for the RailFest include recognition the contributions made by the rail industry and its employees to the past, present and future development of North Platte, show support for members of our existing railroad family and extend a welcome to new members relocating to North Platte from other cities and states, and create an interactive festival for railroad and steam engine enthusiasts and employees from across the United States.

Some of the festivities already being planned are
NebraskaLand Bank Pancake Feed
Tours of locomotives on display locally:
Tours of the 1903 Baldwin UP #480 Steam Locomotive
Tours of the 1943 UP #3977 “Challenger” Steam Locomotive
Tours of the 1969 UP #6922, the world’s largest diesel locomotive

Interactive Locomotive Simulator
The Radio Shack
Literary Guild speakers and authors
Graffiti Contest
Harley Owners Group Motorcycle Rally & Show
Gold Wing Owner’s Group Motorcycle Rally & Show
Haz-Mat Seminars
Live Music in the Pavilion
Union Pacific Railroad Choral
Women of Railroading Fashion Show and Luncheon
Tours of Mid-Plains College Railroad Technology Center
Railroad Equipment Manufacturers booths
Railroad Art and Collectibles Vendors
Games for children and families
Food vendors and carnival rides.

If you love railroading, either the big stuff or models, you are going to find something to enjoy at the first-ever RailFest in North Platte.

You can get more information on the festivities by contacting the North Platte Original Town Association, 1021 North Jeffers, PO Box 1704, North Platte, NE 69103. Phone: 308-534-3648, Fax: 308-534-6175, e-mail railfest@nque.com.

You can get the scoop on everything going on in North Platte by contacting the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-955-4528 or visiting the CVB website at www.VisitNorthPlatte.com.

Sandhill Crane Migration

2007-02-09T13:53:00.000-08:00

Even though the North Platte area is still shivering under an unusual deep freeze, the first calls of the annual Sandhill Crane migration can be heard overhead. Each year, from mid-February through mid-April, a half a million Sandhill Cranes stop over in the Platte River valley to feed and rest on their way to their nesting grounds in the North.

Information from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: An individual crane spends about 29 days along the Platte. During that time, it will deposit up to a pound of fat, which provides the energy necessary to complete the migration and initiate nesting. About 90 percent of their diet consists of corn while the remaining 10 percent is made up of invertebrates such as earthworms, snails, and insect larvae. It has been estimated that the cranes consume nearly 1,600 tons of corn during their stay.

At dusk, the cranes gather along the broad, shallow reaches of the Platte to roost for the night. They prefer to stand in water about six inches deep, taking on the configuration of submerged sandbars.

At dawn, the cranes leave the river and head into the fields to feed. They usually range within five miles of the river. The cornfields provide cranes with a source of energy, while meadows and alfalfa fields provide essential proteins and minerals. They also serve an important social function as loafing and courtship areas.

The "dance" of the Sandhill Crane is well known. Pairs engage in elaborate bowing displays with outstretched wings and leap high into the air. Often, a corncob or stick is picked up and thrown upward repeatedly.

At midday when the sun is shining, look for soaring "kettles" of cranes over the river valley. These groups appear as wisps of smoke from a distance. The birds are testing the thermals and keeping their flight muscles toned for the journey that lies ahead.

Thousands of these birds can be seen within a short drive from North Platte. The North Platte Convention and Visitors Bureau can provide a circle tour driving map that will allow you to get up-close and personal with these majestic birds. There is a viewing blind available at Buffalo Bill State Historical Park. Visit the CVB website at www.visitnorthplatte.com or call (308) 532-4729 for more information.

Group Tour Itineraries

2007-01-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

Lisa Cox, the executive director of the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau has developed two exciting group tour itineraries. Whether you are a group tour operator, a bank club manager, or the “queen mother” of a Red Hat organization, your group will enjoy one of these thrilling events.

The North Platte Canteen Group Tour Itinerary

The first celebrates the hospitality and patriotism of the North Platte Canteen. For those of you not familiar with this moving story, from Christmas Day 1941 through April first 1946, volunteers from North Platte and surrounding communities met every troop train that came through town on Union Pacific’s main line. By the end of the war, more than 6.5 MILLION service personnel had been served.

This story has been told in a book by Bob Greene entitled “Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen,” and by a documentary on Public Television entitled “The Canteen Spirit.”

Now your group can experience this story in the town where it all happened. On May 25 and 26, 2007, at the Quality Inn & Suites/Sandhills Convention Center, a play written by H.R. Long, “The North Platte Canteen” that has touched audiences all up and down the west coast will be performed in a dinner-theater setting. This will be followed by a Big Band Dance played by the Centennials.

The entire itinerary calls for a tour of Fort McPherson National Cemetery, the America’s 20th Century Veterans’ Memorial, and a guided tour of the North Platte World War II Canteen display at the Lincoln County Historical Museum. A special meeting of Canteen volunteers can also be arranged for your group.

Above The Chutes Group Tour Itinerary

NEBRASKAland DAYS is Nebraska’s official state-wide celebration held in North Platte each year in June. Now your group can experience the rodeo excitement up-close and personal with a Above The Chutes tour.

We have set up a special night of rodeo for your group on June 14, 2007. The evening begins with a catered meal at the rodeo grounds pavilion. When the rodeo action begins, you will view the action from high above the bucking chutes. See just what goes on behind the scenes to put on an exciting PRCA rodeo.

The entire itinerary includes a tour of the NEBRASKAland DAYS competitive art show where you will see some of the finest local talent on display, a tour of the historical Buffalo Bill Scouts Rest Ranch and a visit to the Fort Cody Trading Post.

All of that is the good news. Now for the bad news… Because of the limited seating capacity above the bucking chutes, this tour is limited to JUST ONE BUS GROUP! If you’re interested, you need to call Lisa Cox today to get your group booked.

For more information on both of these group tour itineraries, call the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-955-4528, or e-mail at lcox@visitnorthplatte.com.

Winter Weather

2007-01-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

The North Platte area is experience something we haven't had to contend with for a long time: Winter weather! Winter in this part of the Platte River Valley is usually extremely mild, with light snows and cold, but not frigid, temperatures. All of that changed just before Christmas when the first of two back-to-back storms hit us. There is now about 8-10 inches of snow on the ground, although all of the highways in the area, and most of the major streets have been cleared and are dry. Side streets and some of the streets in the smaller towns are a different matter, though, so EVERYONE BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

Now the weather service is predicting 2-4 inches of new snow tomorrow. By now everyone should be ready for it, but our hearts go out to those who are still experiencing power outages from the last two storms.

For everyone making travel plans this winter, I would like to give you a couple of pieces of advice: First, keep an emergency kit in your car when you travel. This should contain:

An emergency first aid kit
ice scraper, shovel and small bag of sand
three pound coffee can
matches and candles
blankets or sleeping bag
high energy or dehydrated foods
jumper cables
flashlights
battery operated radio
extra batteries
red flag or bandana to signal that you are in trouble.

These items could mean the difference between life and death should you become stranded in a snow storm.

Next, please check out the road conditions before you travel, or while you are on the road. You can do this easily by dialing 511 from any phone - landline or cellular. You can also check current conditions on the Nebraska Department of Roads website: http://www.511nebraska.org/ndortip/index.jxp

Checking current weather conditions and forecasts may also be a good idea. You can find these online at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov.

While we love to show off our hospitality to stranded travelers, we know it can be frustrating for you to not be able to reach your destination. If you're traveling through, have a safe trip, and make plans to stop and stay awhile.

Let the Games Begin

2006-12-26T08:03:00.000-08:00

The North Platte Public Library is the center of activity in January. While the cold winter winds blow outside, stop in at the Library for good friends and fun. “LET THE GAMES BEGIN” starts on January 6 with a Scrabble Tournament and continues all through the month with a Chess Tournament on January 13, a Cribbage Tournament on January 20, and the month finished up with a Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament on January 28.

The Scrabble, Chess and Cribbage Tournaments are individual competitions and the cost to enter is $10.00 per person. The Scrabble, Chess and Cribbage Tournaments are limited to 40 participants per tournament. Contact the Library at (308) 535-8036 or stop in at 120 West 4th Street to register.

The 2007 Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament cost is $100 per 2-person team and $200 for a 4-person team. There are both student and adult divisions. Participants are encouraged to obtain their own corporate sponsors, however, the Jigsaw Puzzle Coordinator will try to find team participants and/or sponsors if necessary. Call the Library at the above number for more information.

The Brown Bag Lecture Series continues in January, on the 11th, 12pm - 1pm, Harry Spohn presents "Return to Antartica". Bring your own brown bag lunch or call the Library the day before to reserve a lunch.
No matter what your interest or enthusiasm is, there is always something going on in North Platte. Check out the Calendar of Events on the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau website for a complete, up-to-date listing of events. http://www.visitnorthplatte.com/calendar_of_events.htm

Fall Fun Fest and More!

2006-09-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Fifteenth annual Fall Fun Fest runs September 8 – 17 in North Platte. Originally begun as a collection of events sponsored by local non-profit organizations, Fall Fun Fest is now that and much, much more. There are still plenty of fun and quirky non-profit fundraising events, but also many other events everyone will enjoy.

Friday September 8th’s events include city wide garage sales (which run through the 17th), PTA clothing exchange, BPW wine and cheese tasting party, NPHS tailgate party prior to the NPHS-Lincoln East football game, and a teen street dance.

Saturday September 9th opens with a 5K fun run & walk, Farmer’s Market, Colonel Cody’s cruise show & shine, “Barks in the Park” and “Drool in the Pool” (I’ll just let everyone guess what those are), Paws-itive Partners Humane Society “raising the woof”, chuckwagon cook-off and two performances of the Nebraska State Rodeo Finals.

Sunday brings an archery shoot, Arts in the Park, fishing in the park at the Cody Park swimming pool, a continuation of Col. Cody’s Cruise Show and Shine, and another performance of the Nebraska State Rodeo Finals.

The following weekend starts with the Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning, followed by a multi-cultural art show, high school rodeo, Master Gardener demonstrations, the Ducks Unlimited Banquet and auction, with another performance of the high school rodeo on Sunday.

And if that isn’t enough for you, September 22nd and 23rd mark the 4th annual North Platte Literary Festival. The theme of “murder in the heartland” will thrill you with all of the mystery and mayhem that can happen in small rural towns. Workshops at the North Platte Public Library on the 22nd include: writing your own epitaph, old time embalming practices, tombstone rubbings and stories in stone – what the words and symbols on a tombstone tell about the person buried there.

At 7:00 p.m., Winfield Delle will present Nebraska History in Cemeteries at A to Z Books.

Saturday starts with lunch with international bestselling writer Alex Kava at 11:00 a.m. at the North Platte Community College South Campus Little Theater. This is followed by a living history presentation of “Voices from the Grave”, a historical cemetery tour at the North Platte City Cemetery from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. The day ends with a reception and open mic at A to Z Books at 8:00 p.m.

A little further afield, and you can attend the Grand Duke Alexis Rendezvous at Hayes Center, only 50 or so miles from North Platte. Held on September 29th – October 1st, the Rendezvous commemorates the buffalo hunt hosted by Buffalo Bill Cody for the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia.

All of this fun, coupled with the fall sports of golf, football and cross country makes this one of the busiest times of the year in Lincoln County. Get out of the house and enjoy one of these great events or your local sports team in the beautiful autumn weather.

August is a Busy Month!

2006-08-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Judging by the number of back-to-school sale ads that come in the newspaper, the summer of 2006 must be drawing to a close! However, you couldn't tell it by the warm (all right, HOT) weather, and the many festivals, events and fairs that are going on, and the many attractions that will have summer hours in place through Labor Day.

The Lincoln County Fair kicked off on July 28 & 29 with the 8th Annual Sandhills Shootout Race. It's not too late to get in on lots of action at the Fair, though. Wednesday August 2 features Splatterbox Paintball, 4-H and commercial exhibits and Go Kart Races. Thursday August 3 includes a Weiner Dog Race and Rough Stock Rodeo. Friday August 4 is the Demolition Derby and the Team Penning. Saturday's premier event is the Guiltee by Association FMX Freestyle Motocross Extreme Show along with the Kids Ranch Rodeo. So, what are you waiting for... Get on out to the Fair!

The County Fair isn't the only thing going on in August. Brady Days is an award-winning local celebration scheduled for August 4th, 5th and 6th. The best that small towns have to offer is included with Balloon Fun, Family Fun Night including Talent Show and Ice Cream Social, a Quilt Show and what local celebration would be complete without a PARADE! There will also be Turtle Races, Frisbee Golf, Corn Eating Contest, Sand Volleyball, Concert and Demo Derby! Whew!

To celebrate the importance of the Platte River to North Platte, the first ever Plattepus Waterfest is scheduled for August 11-13. Water-related activities such as River-to-River Progressive Dinner, Morning at Maloney, Water Carnival, and Canoe Races will keep you cool while the temperature soars.

August is also a busy month at Camp Maranatha. Waterfront Days will be August 6 & 13, Paintball Day August 26, and Sporting Clays Fun Shoot August 27.

Another local small-town celebration is the Hershey Fall Festival on August 26th. Lots going on, so keep the date open!

The North Platte Farmer's Market kicks into high gear with garden produce ripening by the bushel! You will find the Market in the Alco/Ace Hardware parking lot on Saturdays and Tuesdays 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Sample fresh home-grown produce, free-range chicken and organic lamb, jams, jellies and honey, and lots of delicious baked goods.

You'll be looking forward to September just to rest up from the flurry of activity in August!

Our hearts go out to our neighbors in north central and north west Nebraska as they struggle to put out all of the fires that are destroying so much beauty. Do a web search and look at some of the disheartening pictures. There is also information available for how to donate to the recovery effort.

See you around town.

It's About Time!

2006-06-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know which is worse, not updating the blog since I brought you Christmas happenings in North Platte, or the fact that no one has complained about it! I suppose it is possible that no one has read this blog since December, but I certainly hope not!

Now, I bring you Independence Day celebrations!

All is still quiet in North Platte, as fireworks do not go on sale within the city limits until June 28th. However, in Sutherland, where I call home, the dogs began cowering in the garage on June 25th as the explosions began.

Sutherland's Independence day celebration begins on July 2nd, with the running of the slack of the annual rodeo. In case you're not familiar with the term "slack", that is an additional performance where all of the "extra" cowboys compete. Often, many more cowboys than there is time for will sign up to compete in a rodeo, and these will perform in the slack. Don't think that you won't see quality performances at a slack, either! Since the 4th of July is known as "Cowboy Christmas" because of the number of rodeos that are scheduled at that time, often very talented athletes will request to compete in the slack so that they can boogie on down the road to squeeze in one more rodeo during that time.

July 3rd will see the first performance of the rodeo, then the real fun begins on the 4th. Kids races are held on the soccer fields, with foot races, three-legged races, sack races, shoe kicks and such. No one goes away a loser, as the organizers treat each contestant to a quarter just for competing! Following the human races, Seifer Farms sponsors the frog races. While most of the competitors are actually toads, a good time is had by all... except for maybe... the frogs!

After the fun and games, there is a beef dinner in the park, followed by a free watermelon feed. Then it's time to get ready for the parade that starts at 2:00. After that, find time to visit with friends and neighbors, light off lots of firecrackers and wait for the rodeo to start at 8:00.

North Platte is home to the area's professional fireworks show that begins at dusk on the 4th at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds.

If rodeo's aren't necessarily your cup of tea, check out the Independence Day celebration at Maranatha Bible Camp in Maxwell. There is Waterskiing & tubing, Kayaks and Canoes, Paddleboats, Sand Volleyball, 100 foot waterslide, Water Trampoline, and a Sweet Shop. No admission except for triathlon participation. Find out more at http://www.maranathacamp.org/ or call 308-582-4513.

There is no better time to feel a part of hometown American life than over the 4th of July. Pick your favorite small town and enjoy the celebration!

Christmas Celebrations

2005-12-16T09:22:00.000-08:00

Christmas at the Cody's will begin on December 20 and run through December 23.

In the spirit of the hospitality that Buffalo Bill was known for, his home is decorated for the holidays. Nightly events include hot cider, cookies and roasted chestnuts, music of the holiday season, the armed services honor tree, horse-drawn rides and Santa Claus. It is open from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park.

Admission at the door is $3 per person, accompanied children 12 and under are free.

Another popular Christmas event, Santa's Workshop & Winter Wonderland in Cody Park will run through Christmas.

Drive through the North Pole and watch Santa and his Elves in Santa's Workshop. The North Pole will be open through December 30th from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.

The Winter Wonderland in Cody Park will be open through December 23rd from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. Cody Park Concession stand and carousel will be open. Free carousel rides will be given every night. While you are there you can warm up with a cup of hot chocolate or cider, enjoy popcorn, cookies, cotton candy and you can also roast marshmallows over an open fire.

Come and visit Santa on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. If you would like a picture with Santa... bring your own camera or have us take a picture for only $1.00.

Free Hay Wagon Rides will be held on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Also enjoy free Donkey Cart rides on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Merry Christmas to all!

Geocaching

2005-12-07T11:54:00.000-08:00

With several inches of snow on the ground, a chill wind blowing, and temperatures hovering around the zero mark, it hardly seems the time to discuss an outdoor activity. However, Cathy Weaver from the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Service gave a wonderful presentation at the Tourism Advisory Committee meeting last week on the growing sport of geocaching, and I wanted to share some information here.

By now you're probably asking yourself - what is geocaching? Thanks to the geocaching.com website, I have an easy answer for you. Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users. Participating in a cache hunt is a good way to take advantage of the wonderful features and capability of a gps unit. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they get something they should try to leave something for the cache.

What is a gps unit? A GPS unit is a electronic device that can determine your approximate location (within around 6-20 feet) on the planet. Coordinates are normally given in Longitude and Latitude. You can use the unit to navigate from your current location to another location. Some units have their own maps, built-in electronic compasses, voice navigation, depending on the complexity of the device.

What is a cache? A cache can come in many forms but the first item should always be the logbook. In its simplest form a cache can be just a logbook and nothing else. The logbook contains information from the founder of the cache and notes from the cache's visitors. The logbook can contain much valuable, rewarding, and entertaining information. A logbook might contain information about nearby attractions, coordinates to other unpublished caches, and even jokes written by visitors. If you get some information from a logbook you should give some back. At the very least you can leave the date and time you visited the cache.

Larger caches may consist of a waterproof plastic bucket placed tastefully within the local terrain. The bucket will contain the logbook and any number of more or less valuable items. These items turn the cache into a true treasure hunt. You never know what the founder or other visitors of the cache may have left there for you to enjoy. Remember, if you take something, its only fair for you to leave something in return. Items in a bucket cache could be: Maps, books, software, hardware, CD's, videos, pictures, money, jewelry, tickets, antiques, tools, games, etc. It is recommended that items in a bucket cache be individually packaged in a clear zipped plastic bag to protect them.

What are the rules of geocaching?
1. Take something from the cache
2. Leave something in the cache
3. Write about it in the logbook
Where you place a cache is up to you.

Now you know as much as I do about the sport of geocaching.

There are currently 265 caches hidden within 100 miles of North Platte. There's one called "Saving Private Ryan" in the area of the 20th Century Veterans Memorial, one called the "100 acre wood" that's appropriate for children near the I-80 exit, and one out at Buffalo Bill's Scouts Rest Ranch that gives some history of the ranch and encourages geocachers to come during crane season.

Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it? Let's everyone ask for a gps unit for Christmas, and when the spring thaw comes, get out there and find a cache!

The Holiday Season is Nearing

2005-11-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

The cold winds are beginning to blow, but Holiday season activities are really starting to warm up.

In case you didn't catch it this past weekend, you can still catch performances of "I Remember Mama" at the North Platte community playhouse in downtown North Platte on November 18 and 19. The show starts at 8pm at the Neville Center at 301 East 5th Street.

The 22nd Annual Carousel Tour of Homes is Saturday, November 19th from 1 - 5pm and 7 - 9pm. See some of North Platte's most beautiful homes decorated for the Holiday season. For ticket information call 532-5613.

Santa will arrive at the Platte River Mall on November 25th, just in time for the busiest shopping weekend of the year!

One of the most popular Holiday displays is the Winter Wonderland in Cody Park. Hundreds of animated figures show off the spirit of the season. It is open nightly from 5pm to 7pm November 28 to December 24. The Winter Wonderland is the anchor of the Old Fashioned Christmas at Cody Park that occurs the first three weekends in December. Activities will include hayrides, caroling, hot apple cider, marshmallow roasting, donkey cart rides and carousel rides.

The forecast doesn't call for snow, but my kids at least still have their hopes! Enjoy this flurry of activities in the run-up to Christmas. Remember, there's a long, cold winter left after the Holidays!

Bailey Yard

2005-10-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

The massive Union Pacific railroad classification yard - Bailey Yard - continues to be one of the most asked-about tourist attractions in and around North Platte.

The yard covers 2,850 acres, reaching a total length of eight miles. There's room enough for 3,097 football fields.

Every 24 hours, Bailey Yard handles 10,000 railroad cars, comprising approximately 135 trains. Of these, 3,000 are sorted daily in the yard's eastward and westward yards, nicknamed "hump" yards. The humps are a mound 34 feet high on the eastbound side and 20.1 feet high on the westbound side. These humps allow four cars each minute to roll gently into any of 114 "bowl" tracks where they become part of trains headed for dozens of destinations.

While there is no ideal way to see the railroad operations, there are a couple of options. Approximately 2.4 miles east of the Buffalo Bill Avenue/Front Street junction, there is a one story viewing platform that overlooks the west hump. This is open 24/7, and there is no charge.

Another option is the Buffalo Bill Avenue overpass itself. Parking is available at The Barn Store, a convenience store located on Front Street under the overpass. From there, you can walk to the south end of the overpass and walk up the pedestrian walkway. The walkway is on the west side of the street, and provides an interesting overview of the railroad yard.

Anyone wanting more information about viewing the operations at Bailey Yard can call the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-955-4528.

UPDATE: The old one-story viewing deck has been demolished, pending the construction of the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center, located at the corner of Homestead and Bailey Yard Roads. The tower will open in the spring of 2008. For now, you can observe the yard from the overpass at Buffalo Bill Avenue. See you all next spring for the opening of the Tower!