Discover Ainsworth: Swimming Pool, Museums and Nature

Swimming, history, and nature around Ainsworth

Ainsworth offers a range of options for a stay: the swimming pool and museums tell stories of recreation and regional history, while Keller Park State Recreation Area offers activities in a landscape of wooded bluffs. Depending on your interests, you can focus on visiting the town, spending time by the water, or exploring the nearby area.

Time in the water at the Ainsworth Swimming Pool

The Ainsworth Swimming Pool has a swimming area with a water depth of 3 to 11 feet. There is also a wading pool for children. The regular season runs from the first week of June through the weekend before school starts. Weather permitting, the pool is open daily from 12:00 to 18:00. These details can help you plan a possible visit to the pool; the season is tied to the start of the school year and should not be understood as a year-round offering.

Exhibits on Brown County history

At the Sellors Barton Museum, you will find historical artifacts and an interpretive exhibit about the Sandhills. Exhibits and archives also cover the history of the Brown County area. The museum is located in Courthouse Park, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Main Street in Ainsworth. It is open to visitors between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you are interested in the area's landscape and history, you will find a range of topics here, from the Sandhills to historical collections and archives.

Another historical collection is housed at the Brown County Historical Coleman House and Dixon House museum in Ainsworth. Its holdings include clothing, furniture, and memorabilia, as well as a genealogical index and other historical information about Brown County. Unlike the Sellors Barton Museum, the focus here is on the personal and domestic traces of regional history. Together, the two sites offer different ways to explore the county's past.

Activities nearby

Keller Park State Recreation Area lies northeast of Ainsworth on Bone Creek. This 196-acre landscape includes wooded bluffs and offers opportunities for fishing, camping, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The activities range from spending time by the creek to exploring the surrounding landscape. If you would like to spend time outdoors as well as visit the museums and swimming pool, you can consider this area as a separate destination nearby.

Ainsworth Municipal Golf Course is a 9-hole course located 5 miles west of Ainsworth on Highway 20. Another option for an outing is Ainsworth City Pond: the pond covers 1 acre, is owned by the City of Ainsworth, and is subject to municipal regulations. The golf course and pond are separate options; the details describe each location, its size, or its facilities, not a shared route.

Where to stay and planning your visit

East City Park also has specific rules for overnight stays: tents and RVs are allowed, but reservations are not possible. Sites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Ainsworth itself is the main focus for museum visits and the local swimming pool; Keller Park and the nearby area are additional destinations to consider for outdoor activities.

For an overview of the wider area: Brown County.