Mansion on the Hill
An authentic Victorian style home, the Mansion on the Hill was Ogallala’s finest residence when it was completed in 1887. L.A. Brandhoefer, a wealthy banker from Chicago, became intrigued with the open prairies, the Platte River valley, cowboys & Indians, and early pioneers whose fortitude and determination to win the West inspired him. Mr. Brandhoefer was engaged to a girl in Chicago and as a wedding gift he built the large three-story red brick mansion. Upon its completion, he returned to Chicago for his sweetheart only to find that she had married another.

The mansion has many unique features including ten-foot ceilings, sixteen inch thick walls of solid brick, deep, narrow windows with shutters of walnut, two beautiful hand carved fireplaces, solid brass hardware throughout, carved corner blocks and panel inserts on the doors and window frames, solid cherry wood throughout, and a beautiful curved staircase leading to the second floor. The red brick used to build the mansion was kilned in Ogallala.

The beautiful structure stands as a monument in memory to the area’s pioneers. It is owned by the Keith County Historical Society and has been preserved and maintained as a historical landmark, as a tourist attraction, and as an educational institution and for the preservation of the area’s history. The mansion is open from Memorial Day through mid-September.
 

Boot Hill
In the stirring days of the 1800’s, when the present city of Ogallala was an infant town on the Union Pacific Railroad, Boot Hill Cemetery was the final resting place for cowboys, drifters, and settlers, who helped make Ogallala a booming cow town. Numerous stories are told of those days when gun battles took their toll on human life. Many buried at Boot Hill ran afoul of the law and the streets of Ogallala echoed with gunfire as some slick gambler or horse thief met his waterloo. One burial was that of “Rattlesnake Ed,” who was shot down over a nine dollar bet in a Monte game in the “Cowboy’s Rest Saloon.”

In his book “Log of a Cowboy”, trail driver Andy Adams wrote, “We finally scaled the last divide and there below us in the valley of the South Platte River nestled Ogallala, the Gomorrah of the cattle trail. From amongst its half hundred buildings, no church spire pointed upward, but instead, ¾ of its business houses were dance halls, gambling houses and saloons.” One trail boss, who let his trail drivers go into Dodge City for recreation when they arrived there, refused to let his cowhands come into Ogallala because of its wild and unsavory reputation - thus giving rise to a phase that Ogallala was the “town too tough for Texans.”

Most were buried with their boots on, thus the name Boot Hill. The bodies, placed in canvas sacks, were lowered into shallow graves and marked with a wooden headboard. Boot Hill is unique –buried in its sod are the many stories of the early days of Ogallala
 

Front Street
Not so long ago, Front Street was the headquarters for Texas drovers, tin-horn gamblers, pretty dance hall gals and some of the fastest guns in the West. Now you can relive this rip-roaring era along the famed street of old. Push aside those swinging doors of the Crystal Palace and suddenly it is 1875 again. Walk right up to the old bar, put a foot on the brass rail, cock an elbow and down a cold mug of sarsaparilla. The trail dust washes down and you relax…the house lights dim and the stage fills with the prettiest gals west of the Missouri River…the Front Street show is under way! Front Street is open year round. The Crystal Palace Revue is featured in the summer months.

Lake McConaughy
Nearly everything about Lake McConaughy is big! Its 30,500 surface acres make it Nebraska's largest reservoir with over 100 miles of shore line. At full storage, McConaughy is 22 miles long, four miles wide and 142 feet deep at the dam.  The dam is among the largest of its type in the world, and the fish grow to trophy proportions, accounting for several state records. Even its nickname, "Big Mac" reflects its giant stature.

To most Nebraskans and residents of neighboring states, McConaughy is known as a place for outdoor good times. Its waters and white sand beaches provide the setting for many different kinds of outdoor recreation. Obviously such a fine piece of water offers excellent fishing and boating. But, Big Mac has become a favorite with campers, sailboaters, wind surfers, swimmers, water skiers, picnickers, scuba divers, hunters, ice boaters, and many other outdoor funseekers.

Fishing has long been the primary drawing card at Big Mac, with its cool, clear, deep waters. Game fish vary from sporty rainbow trout to the everyday catfish. Prized most highly by the local angler is the walleye, and Nebraska's current state record of 16 lbs. 2 oz. came from Big Mac. Also top ranked is the white bass fishing. In recent years, a close relative of the white bass has been stocked, and the striped bass offers a tackle-busting contest an angler will not soon forget. Although smaller in size, the smallmouth bass provides some dynamite action.

Come fall, when campers, anglers, water skiers and other warm-weather sports enthusiasts pretty much abandon the lake, Big Mac becomes waterfowl hunting territory. Clear Creek Waterfowl Management Area at the west end of the lake attracts substantial numbers of Canada geese, which can be hunted on the controlled shooting area, as well as much of the rest of the lake. Winter is an invitation to ice boaters, skaters and backpackers, adding to the lake's year-round appeal.

Kingsley Hydroplant, Dam

                               & Eagle Viewing Facility
Water from Lake McConaughy is the “fuel” for the Kingsley Hydroplant, which went online in 1984. The Outlet Tower and the Morning Glory Spillway are used to release water from Lake McConaughy. The Outlet Tower is used for normal water release operations. Water enters the tower at the bottom of the lake with flows controlled by gates; a steel reinforced concrete tube connects the tower to the Hydroplant. The Morning Glory Spillway is the flood control outlet and used only in the event of very high water levels. The immense spray of water coming through the bypass valve, is the noted feature of the Kingsley Hydroplant. The bypass valve is used regularly during the summer to add oxygen to the water in Lake Ogallala for the benefit of the lake’s trout population.
 

Kingsley Dam, one of the largest earthen dams in the world, holds back the waters of the North Platte River to form Lake McConaughy. The dam is 3½ miles long, 162 feet high and 1100 feet wide at its base and was built for irrigation purposes.

Eagle Viewing facilities are provided by Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. The eagle viewing building is located on the shores of Lake Ogallala and provides a wonderful vantage point to watch eagles as they catch fish from the lake, sit on the ice and in nearby trees, and soar in the skies above.

Petrified Wood Gallery
Ogallala’s Petrified Wood Gallery is a showcase of natural history specializing in ancient woods and fossils collected over 45 years by Howard & Harvey Kenfield.  On display at the gallery are many rare pieces of petrified wood collected from all over the world.  Also featured are hand-crafted music boxes, prize-winning, petrified wood pictures, knothole framed pictures, and Indian artifacts. The gallery is open April through December.

Historic Walk of Fame
The Ogallala Historic Walk of Fame features historic markers depicting all facets of transportation that helped form the west. Featured are the Great Platte River Road, the End of the Texas Trail, the Pony Express Trail, the Mormon Trail, the Union Pacific Railroad, California Hill, Highways 26/92, Interstate 80, and the Lincoln Highway. Walking maps are available to visitors.

Ole's Big Game Steakhouse & Lounge
Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse & Lounge, located 20 miles east of Ogallala in Paxton, became a showcase for the adventures of Rosser O. Herstedt, known as "Ole" to locals. Over a period of 35 years, Ole traveled to every continent, gathering the trophies from his hunting safaris that became part of the more than 200 mounts, now showcased at Ole's. Photographs and other artifacts of his adventures line the walls.

Ole’s opened his tavern on Paxton's main street at 12:01 a.m. on August 9, 1933, one minute after prohibition in the United States came to an end.  Ole’s is open year round.

Scenic Byways
The Lincoln Highway Scenic and Historic Byway was the first transcontinental highway in the country.  The idea of a road to connect the coast was conceived in 1913, and once it was completed, it was a well-traveled route across the United States.

The Lincoln Highway travels across Keith County, through Paxton, Ogallala and Brule. Today, many people travel this route for something that can’t be found along the Interstate-genuine small town Americana. 

Western Trails Scenic & Historic Byway is Nebraska’s first scenic byway.  Highways 26 and 92 trace the most fabled stretch of the Oregon and Mormon Trails.  Never straying from the North Platte River and the tall groves of cottonwood trees lining its banks, the byway takes you past one famous landmark after another.

You’ll see gently rolling hills, acres of prime farmland, grass covered sand dunes and wildlife including bald eagles and bison.  Superb scenery, quaint towns and celebrated history make this drive well worth it!
 

Fishing:
Fishing has long been the primary drawing card at Big Mac, with its cool, clear, deep waters. Game fish vary from sporty rainbow trout to the everyday catfish. Prized most highly by the local angler is the walleye, and Nebraska's current state record of 16 lbs. 2 oz. came from Big Mac. Also top ranked is the white bass fishing.

In recent years, a close relative of the white bass has been stocked, and the striped bass offers a tackle-busting contest an angler will not soon forget. Although smaller in size, the smallmouth bass provides some dynamite action.

Hunting:
In the fall, Lake McConaughy becomes waterfowl hunting territory. Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area at the west end of Lake McConaughy encompasses more than 6,000 acres of land and water, attracting thousands of Canadian geese.

Geese, ducks, pheasants, quail and turkey can be hunted, by permission, on private land or through commercial outfitters. Adjacent Garden County is considered Nebraska’s Goose Hunting Capital.

Big Mac Sportmen’s Club:
The Big Mac Sportsmen’s Club offers several divisions for outdoor sports lovers. 

The Trap Shooting Club offers leagues in April-May-June and has several registered shoots each year.  The Ogallala Trap Shooting Range, located just south of Ogallala, has 5 trap stands and available concessions.  Next to the trap range is a 100 Yard Rifle Range, where hunters can sight in their rifles in preparation for deer hunting.

The Archery division, called the Big Mac Bow Hunters holds several events each year and provides information about other bow hunting club events.  The Archery Range is located near Lake McConaughy.

The Big Mac Fly Fishing Club meets once per month and offers instruction on the art of fly fishing.  The club takes monthly fishing trips, shows videos, and teaches classes to those interested in learning about fly fishing.

The Big Mac Sports Club also features a Black Powder Club.