Rockville NebraskaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Rockville, Nebraska.
1. Sherman Reservoir State Recreation Area
OUTDOOR RECREATION PARADISE
Sherman Reservoir State Recreation Area offers visitors a beautiful 2,845-acre lake surrounded by 1,766 acres of public land for outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, camping, and wildlife viewing in this scenic natural setting. The area is particularly known for its excellent fishing opportunities, with walleye, northern pike, and white bass among the popular catches.
2. Miletta Vista Winery
LOCAL WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE
Miletta Vista Winery welcomes guests to sample award-winning Nebraska wines in a picturesque setting overlooking the North Loup River Valley. The winery features a tasting room and outdoor patio where visitors can enjoy locally produced wines paired with cheese plates and light fare. Miletta Vista also hosts special events throughout the year, including live music performances and seasonal festivals.
3. Happy Jack Chalk Mine
HISTORIC UNDERGROUND ADVENTURE
Happy Jack Chalk Mine invites visitors to explore the only publicly accessible chalk mine in North America, with guided underground tours through the historic tunnels. The site includes a visitor center with educational exhibits about the geological and human history of the mine, which operated commercially from the 1880s through the 1940s. After touring the mine, guests can enjoy the picnic area and nature trails surrounding this unique National Natural Landmark.
4. Heartland Public Shooting Park
PREMIER SHOOTING FACILITY
Heartland Public Shooting Park provides one of the largest and most comprehensive shooting facilities in the Midwest with ranges for various shooting disciplines. The 420-acre park offers shotgun sports, rifle and pistol ranges, and archery facilities for both recreational shooters and competitive events. Heartland hosts numerous state and national shooting competitions throughout the year, drawing participants from across the country.
5. Arbor Lodge State Historical Park
HISTORIC MANSION GARDENS
Arbor Lodge State Historical Park preserves the magnificent 52-room mansion that was once the home of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day. The beautifully restored mansion is surrounded by 65 acres of arboretum featuring hundreds of tree species, formal gardens, and hiking trails. Visitors can tour the mansion to view period furnishings and historical artifacts while learning about the Morton family's contributions to conservation and Nebraska history.
6. Ash Hollow State Historical Park
OREGON TRAIL LANDMARK
Ash Hollow State Historical Park preserves an important landmark along the Oregon Trail where pioneers stopped for water, wood, and shelter on their westward journey. The park features a visitor center, historic schoolhouse, and the natural spring that attracted travelers to this oasis on the plains. Hiking trails lead visitors through diverse landscapes including rugged bluffs, prairie, and the scenic North Platte River valley.
7. Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park
ANCIENT MAMMAL DISCOVERY SITE
Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park offers visitors the opportunity to view prehistoric animals preserved exactly where they died 12 million years ago after a volcanic eruption. The site's Rhino Barn encloses an active paleontological dig where visitors can watch researchers uncovering new fossils during summer months. The park's interpretive center features educational displays about the ancient savanna ecosystem and the remarkable preservation of complete skeletons including barrel-bodied rhinos, three-toed horses, and saber-toothed deer.
8. Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
WORKING CATTLE RANCH HISTORY
Bowring Ranch State Historical Park preserves the historic ranch home and operations of former U.S. Senator Eve Bowring, providing a glimpse into Nebraska's ranching heritage. The 7,202-acre working ranch continues to raise Hereford cattle using traditional ranching methods, allowing visitors to experience authentic ranch life. Visitors can tour the 1907 ranch house filled with original furnishings, view Western art collections, and explore outbuildings including the barn, blacksmith shop, and bunkhouse.
9. Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park
FRONTIER MILITARY HISTORY
Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park features a meticulously restored 1870s military outpost that protected settlers and maintained peace on the frontier. The fort's limestone buildings include barracks, officers' quarters, and commissary, all furnished to recreate daily life for soldiers stationed at this remote post. Living history demonstrations and special events throughout the year bring the fort's history to life with period-dressed interpreters demonstrating military drills, cooking, and frontier crafts.
10. Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer
LIVING HISTORY EXPERIENCE
Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer immerses visitors in Nebraska's pioneer and early settlement history through its living history experience. The museum's Railroad Town recreates a 1890s prairie community with over 60 historic structures staffed by costumed interpreters demonstrating daily life and trades of the era. Additional attractions include the elegant Stuhr Building designed by Edward Durell Stone, extensive collections of farm machinery, and specialized exhibits on Native American history and pioneer life.
11. The Archway
CROSS-COUNTRY JOURNEY MONUMENT
The Archway spans Interstate 80 with an impressive structure commemorating the nation's westward expansion and the many travelers who passed through Nebraska on their journeys. Inside, visitors experience state-of-the-art exhibits chronicling 170 years of transportation and communication history from the Oregon Trail era to modern times. The attraction combines light and sound, historical artifacts, and life-size displays to create an immersive educational experience about America's pioneering spirit.
12. Sandhill Cranes Viewing
SPECTACULAR WILDLIFE MIGRATION
The Sandhill Crane migration brings over 600,000 cranes to the Platte River Valley each spring, creating one of the world's most spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities. Visitors can observe these magnificent birds from viewing platforms and blinds at the Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center or Rowe Sanctuary from late February through early April. The morning and evening hours offer the most dramatic viewing as thousands of cranes return to or depart from their roosting sites on the Platte River with their distinctive calls filling the air.
13. Carhenge
AUTOMOTIVE STONEHENGE REPLICA
Carhenge is a unique roadside attraction replicating England's Stonehenge using 39 vintage American automobiles painted gray and arranged in the same pattern as the ancient monument. Created by artist Jim Reinders in 1987 as a memorial to his father, the site has become one of Nebraska's most photographed attractions. Additional car-based sculptures have been added to the surrounding Car Art Reserve, creating an eclectic outdoor art park that celebrates American car culture with a quirky sense of humor.
14. Ole's Big Game Steakhouse
TROPHY-FILLED DINING EXPERIENCE
Ole's Big Game Steakhouse combines dining with an impressive display of over 200 exotic animal trophies collected by founder Ole Herstedt during his worldwide hunting expeditions from 1935 to 1976. Diners can enjoy hearty steaks, burgers, and classic American fare surrounded by an eclectic collection that includes a polar bear, elephant head, and giraffes. Since 1933, this iconic eatery has been a popular stop for travelers along the Lincoln Highway, offering both satisfying meals and an unusual museum-like atmosphere.
15. Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning
EDUCATIONAL FARM EXPERIENCE
Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning connects people with agriculture and nature through hands-on educational programs on a historic 1916 farmstead. The center's 78 acres include restored farm buildings, demonstration gardens, prairie restoration areas, and hiking trails open to the public. Throughout the year, Prairie Loft hosts special events including the popular Harvest Festival, farm-to-table dinners, and educational workshops focused on sustainable agriculture and traditional farm skills.