Explore wild prairies and fishing lakes around Ogallala, a town that combines authentic American dining, welcoming locals and a proud history. The town flourished in the late 19th century as the end point for cattle drives travelling north from Texas. Today, it remains a fantastic place to immerse yourself in the cowboy heritage of Midwest America.
Experience Ogallala’s town spirit along 1st street, where you’ll find steakhouses and lively pubs for an afternoon drink with the locals. Shop for alpaca wool goods before examining the intriguing patterns of fossilized trees at the Petrified Wood Gallery. In the evenings, see a music or dance performance at the Historic Prairie Theater or take the kids for a game at the Cornhusker Lanes Bowling Alley.
Ogallala features excellent fishing, camping and hunting opportunities not far from town. Take some time to soak in the expansive wonder of Lake McConaughy. This 30,500-acre (12,340-hectare) lake is known locally as “Big Mac.” Try windsurfing, canoeing and Jet Skiing on the lake, or fish for trophy-sized trout from a boat. Camp on-site to enjoy a night amongst nature, under a star-speckled sky.
Nearby, try to catch a prized walleye fish from Lake Ogallala, which is also home to rainbow trout and yellow perch. Come fall, Lake Ogallala becomes a fowl-hunters paradise. Go on a hunting tour to shoot for your dinner while majestic bald eagles circle the skies above. In winter, bring some ice-skates to the frozen water for slip-sliding fun.
To learn more about the region’s indigenous inhabitants, visit the Ash Hollow State Historical Park. Visit the Ash Hollow Cave to see where Native American’s once lived and hear their stories, which have been passed down through generations.
Ogallala is a 3-hour drive west from Denver. Get around town on foot or travel to surrounding parks by car.
Be sure to visit the Mansion on the Hill, a gorgeous red-brick manor built by a Chicago banker in 1887. It is one of Ogallala’s most treasured architectural landmarks.
