Sand Hills, Nebraska


Gentle rivers meander along pine-studded canyons, towering waterfalls and a veritable ocean of prairie grasses alongside America's largest man-made forest, a wildlife refuge of gigantic proportions and cattle ranches that are better comprehended from the air than the ground. It's a wide-open landscape. A landscape that inspired Mari Sandoz to produce some of this country's finest fiction. A landscape you'll enjoy exploring by car or canoe.
Explore Sand Hills
Merritt Fishing
Merritt Reservoir offers some of Nebraska's premiere fishing. It is a deep lake with excellent inflow from the Snake River and Boardman Creek, Consequently, the reservoir is well-insulated against excessive drawdown
, NE FishingBessey Nursery
Located near Halsey, the Bessey Nursery, as originally established, comprised fifteen acres of land south of the Middle Loup River and included a two-story headquarters building, mess hall, barn, and shop building. The nursery was created in 1903
Thedford, NE National RegisterArthur Bowring Sandhills Ranch Historical Park
Ever wonder what ranch life was like during the settlement of the Sandhills in the late 1800's? A visit to the Arthur Bowring Sandhills State Historical Park will let you see
Valentine, NE MuseumsScotia Chalk Building
The Scotia Chalk Building is a one-story structure located on the main street of Scotia. Erected in 1887
Scotia, NE Historic BuildingsDiscover Llamas
An outing to Rainbow Llamas owned by the Dickman's of Thedford, Nebraska, is educational as well as enjoyable, and the Dickmans are outstanding hosts and can answer all questions about llamas and their care.
Thedford, NE One Of A Kinds
Thomas County Historical Society Museum
The area's newest museum is the Thomas County Historical Society Museum. Each room of the former residence of one of Thedford'
Thedford, NE MuseumsCentennial Hall and Museum
The bond issue to build the Valentine Public School was approved in February 1897. It was designed by Omaha architect Charles F. Beindorff, and construction was completed in 1898. The two-story brick structure
Valentine, NE MuseumsKeya Paha County Courthouse
This building has supported the official business of Keya Paha County since is construction in 1914
Springview, NE Historic CourthousesSpringview Murals
These murals displayed inside the Keya Paha County Courthouse were created by Shirley Nelson in 1984 and depict a view of main street Springview in its early years and an inspiring reflection of Keya Paha'
Springview, NE ArtsScott Lookout Tower
You can see the trees and beautiful sand hills countryside for miles when you climb to the top of the Scott Lookout Tower. Visitors may view the sandhills scenery and tree plantations as well as learn about forest fire spotting techniques. The stairway to the observation deck is steep;
Thedford, NENational Wildlife Refuges
One of the world's unique geological areas,k the 19,000-square-mile Sandhills in north-central Nebraska is a vast region of sand dunes blown in by winds about 8,000 years ago. The nearby unchartable maze of grass-covered dunes scared away early pioneers.
Valentine, NE Wildlife Refuges
Cowboy Trail
By the late 1800s, the United States saw railroad tracks stretched, like a giant web, across its entirety, carrying cargo and travelers towards settlement in the West. Long silenced, abandoned, and almost forgotten, a hundred years later the rails are beginning to see travelers once again. They'
Valentine, NE Recreation