Sheridan County: Nature, History and Cowboy Culture
Accommodation in Sheridan County
Sheridan County combines wide-open landscapes, lakes, wildlife viewing and a particularly vivid history of the American West. Those choosing a vacation rental or holiday home for this region can therefore plan their trip according to different interests: active days on trails, quiet hours by the water or cultural discoveries in museums and historic sites.
Trails, Lakes and Wildlife
The Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail is suitable for walking, cycling, running and horseback riding. Sheridan County has a completed 16-mile section of the Cowboy Trail between Gordon and Rushville. The trail follows the route of the former Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. This allows daily plans to be organized around the preferred mode of transportation, without requiring all travel experiences to take place in the same way.
At Walgren Lake, birds and other wildlife are the focus of nature observation. Hunting opportunities are also available there for waterfowl, rabbits, doves and pheasants. Walgren Lake State Recreation Area offers 40 basic campsites beneath shade-providing cottonwood trees. Smith Lake adds a concrete boat ramp and a dock. It also has a basic campground and a picnic area; fishing is possible there in summer and winter. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore consider whether you are primarily looking for trails, water-based experiences or peaceful time outdoors.
Landscape between the Sandhills and Pine Ridge Country
In northern and central Sheridan County, large rock formations and limestone cliffs amid ponderosa pine forests shape the landscape. A scenic route follows Highway 250 through the Sandhills from Lakeside to Rushville and onward toward Pine Ridge Country. The Niobrara River is the county’s most important flowing waterway. Deer, doves, elk, ruffed grouse, squirrels and turkeys are among the species commonly found in the Metcalf Wildlife Management Area.
These varied landscapes can help with deliberate trip planning: Those who want to focus on wide-open spaces and nature can plan a rural exploration. Those who also want to visit museums and historic sites can take this desired combination into account when searching for a vacation rental.
Museums and Cowboy Traditions
The Scamahorn Museum is located in Gordon’s oldest building. The building originally served as a Methodist church and was dedicated in 1884. The museum displays quilts, household items, clothing from the early 20th century, military uniforms, as well as art and artifacts of the Indigenous peoples of North America. The Tri-State Old Time Cowboys Memorial Museum focuses on something different: The wooden building, constructed in 1969, measures 40 by 80 feet and displays artifacts from ranching as well as more than 200 cattle brands.
The Tri-State Old Time Cowboys Memorial Museum’s public program includes an Old Timers Picnic held year-round, featuring Western music, cowboy poetry and stories. The Sheridan County Fair and Rodeo is also part of the region’s character; it includes a parade on Main Street, an Old Time Cowboy Breakfast and a Buyer Bonanza.
Historic Traces in the County
The Spotted Tail Agency was established in 1874 to distribute treaty provisions such as food, clothing, weapons and household utensils under the terms of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie. At this agency, Crazy Horse surrendered on September 4, 1877, after fleeing from the Red Cloud Agency. In Gordon, Gourley’s Opera House still retains its original theater seats; the building was constructed in 1914 by Dave Gourley and is listed as a site on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Spade Ranch also represents the history of cattle ranching. Its headquarters are listed as a site on the National Register of Historic Places. In Ellsworth are the business offices built around 1890 and the residence built in 1902 of cattleman Bartlett Richards (1862–1911), a native of Vermont. Around 1900, the Spade Ranch’s grazing range covered approximately 500,000 acres, primarily in the particularly rugged Sandhills areas of Sheridan and Cherry Counties. Mari Sandoz was born in Sheridan County, Nebraska, and is buried there in her own western homeland.
If you would like to compare your trip with other places, you can also visit Bingham. This allows you to combine the search for suitable accommodation with the experiences that make the greatest difference to your trip.
For the higher-level travel overview: Nebraska.
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